Spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign in the 2024 general elections, Dennis Miracles Aboagye,has denied claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had prior knowledge of their defeat, specifically as early as February 2024.
This statement came in response to comments made by Nana Akomea, a member of Bawumia’s campaign team, who had earlier mentioned that the NPP was aware of the likely outcome of the elections from research conducted in February.
Akomea revealed that the NPP’s research showed that John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, had a ten-point lead at that time. He also mentioned that although the gap had narrowed by October 2024, the final results aligned closely with the initial projections.
Akomea added that while the NPP expected Mahama’s victory, the scale of the margin was a surprise and warranted further examination.
Aboagye’s response, however, refutes the idea that the NPP had accepted defeat before the elections took place.
“In February and March, they [NDC] were leading with about 10 percentage points, which was quite alarming. But by September and October, it had come down to about 2 points. So we were very confident. There was new momentum, and we knew there was a lot of apathy and disgruntlement among our supporters.
Anything else would just be a projection. So the monthly polls showed us clearly [Mahama’s victory], and for a massive 2 million people to stay away, it’s really significant, and we have to find out why,” Akomea said.
However, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, speaking on Joy FM’s News File show, monitored by Ghanaweb, described Nana Akomea’s claims as inaccurate.
“Maybe he [Nana Akomea] does, but that is not accurate. That is not accurate. I mean, in February, we had just had our candidate for two months. That can’t be correct. Unless maybe Nana Akomea was referring to the polls. You know, as of 2022, it was a drastic loss.
“In fact, before Dr. Bawumia was elected, people were even wondering what kind of messaging we were going to put out and tell the people. So maybe that is what Nana Akomea was referring to.
But February was two months after Dr. Bawumia’s election—you couldn’t have even done a proper poll on him anyway, so that cannot be correct.”
The National Democratic Congress (NDC)flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, emerged as the winner of the December 7, 2024, presidential election, garnering 6,328,397 votes (representing 56.55%), while the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, finished second with 4,657,304 votes (representing 41.61%).
Vice Chairman of the Bawumia Campaign Team, Nana Akomea, has questioned Alan Kyerematen’s expectations of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, asking why Kufuor should endorse him after his departure from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Akomea’s remarks come in response to Kyerematen’s criticism of Kufuor for endorsing Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the NPP’s flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
The former President declared his support for Bawumia during an interaction with journalists on Sunday, November 17, prompting Kyerematen to argue the following day on Oyerepa TV that the endorsement unnecessarily exposed Kufuor to political attacks.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Nana Akomea described Kyerematen’s comments as unfortunate, expressing disappointment that Kyerematen, now the leader of the Movement for Change, would criticize Kufuor for supporting his party’s candidate.
“It’s sad that Alan Kyerematen feels that way. Who did Alan expect Kufuor to support? He [Alan]? He’s not a member of the NPP. If Kufuor goes to support Alan Kyerematen, he has taken himself out of the NPP,” Akomea said.
He likened Kufuor’s role in the NPP to the respected Akan figure of “Abrewatia,” or the elder stateswoman, emphasizing that the former President’s allegiance remains with the party. Akomea further highlighted Kufuor’s past appointments of Kyerematen as U.S. Ambassador and Trade Minister, despite other qualified party members, as a testament to Kufuor’s goodwill towards him.
Akomea urged political leaders to focus on issues that matter to Ghanaians rather than engaging in personal disputes, advocating for constructive political discourse centered on policies and initiatives that benefit the nation.
He also slammed critics who expressed their displeasure with the NPP flagbearer, Dr Bawumia, spending two weeks campaigning in the Ashanti Region. He contested that the presidential candidate spent ample time in all the regions he toured.
Nana Akomea, former Minister for Information, has sharply criticized Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assurance Committee, for what he views as an unwarranted attack on Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the current Minister for Works and Housing.
The confrontation began when Ablakwa, during a committee meeting, demanded that Nkrumah retract and apologize for his comments, which Ablakwa described as a misuse of his position—a “bully pulpit.”
This controversy unfolded amid growing concerns over delays in finalizing housing projects for victims of the Akosombo dam spillage. Ablakwa accused Nkrumah of making inappropriate remarks and called for a formal apology.
Minister Nkrumah responded by questioning whether he was not permitted to address and defend himself against the criticisms.
Despite Nkrumah’s defense, Ablakwa maintained that his demand for a retraction and apology was valid, emphasizing that his actions were in line with parliamentary standing orders.
“Honourable Minister you will be well advised to watch your diction. You will be well advised. You will be well advised. I will not take that. To suggest that I am using this position as a bully pulpit.”
“You have to retract that because that is not what I am doing here. You must retract and apologise. I am well within my standing orders. You have to retract that. You have to retract and apologise,” he stated.
However, Mr. Nkrumah countered by questioning whether it was appropriate for the committee chairman to accuse him of insincerity and deflection without granting him the opportunity to respond or present an alternative perspective.
He stressed that he should have the right to address any allegations of insincerity or distraction, asserting that he deserved a chance to defend his position.
But Mr Nkrumah replied, questioning if it was acceptable for the chairman of the committee to accuse him of being insincere and deflecting without allowing him the right to respond or share a different view.
He emphasised that if he is accused of insincerity or introducing red herrings, he must have the right to respond.
During a discussion on Metro TV, Nana Akomea, Managing Director of Intercity STC, advised Okudzeto Ablakwa, his fellow panelist, that he could have approached the situation more effectively without targeting the Minister.
“Clearly, Sammy, I don’t think you acted well. You are talking about the victims, the 1,300 people. All of us are concerned about the plight of these people living in tents for over a year. The concern is that their plight is addressed; that is why you brought the minister to the committee to find out how the government is going to deal with their plight.
“But you see, in all of the week, what is being discussed is not the plight of these people. What is being discussed is your attack on the minister and his counterattack. You are entitled to your facts, and he’s also entitled to his facts. Both of you, your entitlement to the fact is what is being discussed now, instead of the plight.
“What I am saying is that the people who appear before you are your guests. You have invited them; you can be forthright with them, but you have to protect their integrity, but you didn’t do that. So, that was a problem. I disagree with your conduct at the sitting, but I am not going to attack you. I will not say you were arrogant; you will see that as a personal attack.” Nana Akomea said.
Vice Chair of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer’s Campaign Team, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has revealed that £400,000 was gathered from the fundraising event hosted by the party in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2024.
Party leaders and the Young Executives Forum organized a fundraising dinner in London on that date to support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s 2024 election campaign.
Reports from the event indicated an impressive £1.2 million was raised, with attendees including Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, his wife, Samira Bawumia, and other prominent NPP members.
However, during an appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show, Nana Akomea disclosed a significantly different amount.
In a discussion with the show’s host, Dr. Randy Abbey, about his time in the UK, Nana Akomea denied socializing there.
Nana Akomea stated that his visit was to assist in the successful organization of the fundraising dinner for the party’s 2024 election campaign and expressed satisfaction with the funds raised from the event.
“We were campaigning. We were raising funds for the campaign. We had about £400,000,” he told Dr. Abbey, who hit him with a barrage of questions about the event.
During the fundraiser, Dr. Bawumia sincerely thanked the NPP-UK and YEF for their steadfast support. He reiterated his dedication to running a strong campaign, with the goal of achieving a landmark victory for the NPP, often called “breaking the 8.”
Dr. Bawumia highlighted his aim to instill a mindset of possibilities among Ghanaians, shifting away from the common attitude of impossibilities.
He mentioned that the initial phase of his campaign had been effective, and he plans to escalate his efforts as the election approaches.
“The campaign has started in earnest. We have done a tour of the 16 regions, and we just finished with Ashanti. I would like to thank the Ashanti regional chairman and all the campaign team in Ashanti for the massive show of force that everybody saw when we got there,” Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia remarked.
“I think going through the 16 regions, it is clear that the narrative is changing. There were people who, six months ago, did not believe that the NPP was going to win the 2024 elections, but I think that after talking about our record and talking about our vision for this country, minds have changed dramatically and NPP is in the position to win the 2024 elections.
“We are not going to be complacent. We are just beginning. This first tour of the 16 regions is the first gear of the campaign. We are going to go into the second gear in July, the third and fourth gear by November, and I believe at every stage, we are going to up the ante,” Dr. Bawumia remarked.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, smeared the reputation of the Managing Director of Intercity STC Coaches Limited, Nana Akomea, in the mud over the company’s ineffectiveness over the years.
In an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Mr Ablakwa berated Nana Akomea for watching STC continuously run at a loss from 2017 to date.
Reading an excerpt of a SIGA report that highlights the company’s ineffectiveness, he pointed out that due to mismanagement, the company from 2017 to the present times, has incurred a loss of GHC162.4 million.
Mr. Ablakwa provided a breakdown of the financial losses recorded over the years:
2017: Losses of 28.9 million
2018: Losses of 18.1 million
2019: Losses of 27.9 million
2020: Losses of 35.1 million
2021: Losses of 52.4 million
The current average loss is GHC32 million.
He empathised with the company for the losses recorded in 2020 due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, chastised the management for its failure to see a comeback as observed by some other state institutions such as Labadi Beach Hotel.
“In 2020, when Labadi made a small loss and not as huge as this. In 2021, they had picked up making GHC38 million profit. Nana Akomea’s STC couldn’t pick up,” he said.
Watch how @S_OkudzetoAblak disgraced Nana Akomeah on live TV @metrotvgh on how he has mismanaged State Transport Corporation (STC) as a Managing Director and has been making Loses Yearly since 2017
Nana Akomea, the Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), has voiced his strong opposition to the issuance of licenses for mining activities in forest reserves.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Akomea expressed his confusion and disapproval over the policy, which he believes contradicts the very essence of a “reserve.”
Mr. Akomea emphasized that the fundamental definition of a reserve is an area set aside and protected from certain activities to preserve its natural state.
“This business of giving licenses to mine in forest reserves, I have never understood it. This is because the very word of ‘reserve‘ means it is reserved. Unless we don’t understand the language,” he argued.
He pointed out the inconsistency in regulations that restrict local landowners from engaging in small-scale farming within these protected areas while simultaneously permitting large-scale mining operations.
“When you classify a place as a forest reserve, the people who own the land cannot go there and cultivate cassava. They cannot, it is a reserve. There are other places they can farm, but they cannot go into the reserve and farm cassava,” he explained.
Highlighting the contradiction, Mr. Akomea questioned the rationale behind allowing mining, an activity with significant environmental impact, within these sensitive areas. “So how do you have a provision that would allow other people to go in the reserve and mine?” he quizzed.
The STC Managing Director’s comments come amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of mining activities in forest reserves. Environmentalists and conservationists have long argued that mining in these areas leads to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystems.
Mr. Akomea’s stance aligns with these concerns, as he stressed the need to uphold the principles of conservation and environmental protection.
“We must preserve our natural heritage and ensure that our forest reserves remain intact for future generations,” he said.
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has stated that the government is not satisfied with the outcomes of the battle against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
He attributed this dissatisfaction to the significant efforts and commitments made, which have yielded limited results.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Akomea highlighted the persistent challenges in combating illegal mining, noting that despite the efforts of every President to stop illegal mining in the country, the results remain unsatisfactory.
“Every President has made efforts to stop illegal mining in the country, but despite their commitment and efforts, the results remain unsatisfactory,” he noted.
Mr. Akomea commended the investigative work of Joy FM and its Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Erastus Asare Donkor, stating that their work has made it clear that the fight against illegal mining is far from being won and that new approaches are needed.
“Based on the good work by Joy FM and Erastus, it is so clear that the fight is far from being won, and we have to look at new ways of fighting it. The commitment is there, the effort has been made, but the results are not satisfactory,” he stressed.
Despite efforts such as the launch of Operation Vanguard and Operation Halt by President Akufo-Addo and various policies to combat the menace, many Ghanaians have expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of progress. There is also a widespread belief that the involvement of government appointees and other prominent personalities in society will continue to undermine the fight against illegal mining.
In interview with Johnie Hughes on 3FM, Nana Akomea was questioned on why the state-owned enterprise does not do business with SIC, a government institution, that also provides insurance packages.
Initially, Nana Akomea noted that he is not able explicitly determine why Enterprise Insurance which is owned by fomer Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was being engaged.
But later explained that working with Enterprise Insurance is a condition set by the Agric Development Bank, the financial institution STC sought a credit facility from.
“I can’t comment on why the government is not conducting business with one of its own, but all I know is that we procure with Enterprise Insure because it’s ADB’s package.”
Watch video below:
Nana Ankomea in the Lion’s Den lol. Why is Enterprise insurance owned by Ken-Ofori Atta aka Smooth criminal getting all the government contracts instead of SIC🤷🏾. Agyapadie Secret Book: Akufo-Addo, Akyem mafias, NPP’s grand scheme to capture Ghana on my mind. pic.twitter.com/wi0OdW8W4T
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC) and a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has called on the government to promptly settle the outstanding arrears owed to members of the Nation Builder’s Corps (NABCo).
Despite the program’s completion, NABCo trainees have been seeking payment for several months of overdue stipends.
In an interview, Nana Akomea, who also serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the Campaign Team for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, described the situation as embarrassing.
He emphasized that it is a significant issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Nana Akomea expressed hope that the government will take the necessary actions to resolve the matter.
“It’s a stigma that government must correct quickly. I am saying that government should correct it quickly by paying them. It is an embarrassment. And I’m hoping that they will be paid very soon,” he said on Accra-based 3FM.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea, has expressed his regret regarding Alan Kyerematen’s departure from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He believes that if Kyerematen, whom he considers a stalwart of the party, had remained, he would have likely been selected as the running mate.
Mr Akomea emphasized that third parties face challenges in Ghana’s political landscape, asserting that Kyerematen’s stature within the NPP could have resolved the running mate issue had he stayed.
“He’s a stalwart in the political party. If he had stayed, this issue about running mate would have been settled,” he said.
In the upcoming 2024 elections, numerous Independent candidates and minor political parties are vying to challenge the existing political order.
Notably, Alan Kyerematen leads the Movement for Change, which has formed an alliance with Abu Sakara.
Deputy Chairperson of the Campaign Team for NPP Flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has criticized the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) for inaccuracies in the ongoing Limited Voters’ Registration Exercise.
Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Morning show on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Akomea expressed concern over the EC’s struggle with basic arithmetic.
He recalled the EC’s miscalculation of figures during the 2020 presidential election, which led to multiple announcements of results and caused significant issues.
“The Electoral Commission getting it wrong in adding 1 and 1 is not acceptable, and they have to look at it.
“During the 2020 election, they did the same thing, and they announced election results about two times. It is disgusting; it doesn’t help,” he said in Twi.
Mr Akomea, also the Managing Director of Intercity STC Coaches Limited, argued against the appointment of EC commissioners by any political party members.
He noted that both the NPP and NDC have done this when in power, which he believes is detrimental.
He proposed amending the law to prevent the president from appointing EC commissioners, suggesting this would enhance fairness.
Deputy Chairperson of the Campaign Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Akomea, has made some startling revelations, which are yet to be confirmed, in reaction to the concerns that have stemmed from the sale of state-owned Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels to Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
The Managing Director of Intercity STC Coaches Limited has indicated that some properties of SSNIT have been sold to politicians including leading members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the past.
The STC boss, who is a former MP and former Minister of Information, went on to list properties of SSNIT that were sold to leading members of the NDC without mentioning names, which were sent to him by a staff member of SSNIT.
“The minority owner of the SSNIT hotel in Cape Coast is a high-ranking NDC member. When this person bought it, the NDC was in power. The catering rest house in Tamale was also bought by somebody who is a high-ranking NDC member.
“The catering rest house in Sunyani was also bought by a high-ranking NDC member. The catering rest house in Kumasi was also bought by a high-ranking NDC member,” he stated.
Nana Akomea made these remarks during a panel discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on May 17, 2024.
He made this known when he criticized the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over his recent exposé on the sale of state-owned Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
Nana Akomea pointed out that while Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Bryan Acheampong regarding the transaction, he is making statements as if the minister has already committed a crime.
“Sammy Okudzeto has already pronounced on the matter. He is calling it sleazy and all kinds of accusations, which I don’t think is right.
“You must be careful with these matters. You’re calling people out for what you call engaging in sleazy acts, but you have called for an investigation by CHRAJ,” he chided the MP.
He further mentioned that unlike the NDC bigwigs who purchased SSNIT properties while they were in power, Bryan Acheampong has demonstrated his ability to revitalize hotels that are not profitable.
“Now these people are not even known to be hoteliers, unlike Bryan Acheampong, who has put up what people call the biggest hotel in Africa on his own, and so he is eminently qualified to run hotels that are failing,” he emphasised.
He also suggested that the CHRAJ investigation should be broadened to encompass all SSNIT properties that were sold to politicians, including members of the NDC.
Mr. Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate and halt the minister from acquiring the following hotels: Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and Trust Lodge Hotel.
He argued that the minister’s actions not only constitute an abuse of power but also indicate a lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, graft, and a violation of the Constitution of Ghana.
SSNIT has also clarified that it is selling 60% shares of the six hotels to Bryan Acheampong’s company because they presented the best offer. The shares of the hotels were advertised for all interested parties to bid on.
Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. cast doubt onDr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s chances in the 2024 elections as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Nana Akomea, a member of Bawumia’s campaign team, dismissed Pratt’s scepticism during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on April 19, 2024.
Akomea challenged Pratt’s beliefs about Bawumia’s electoral prospects, citing the vice president’s leadership role in the campaign and his own confidence in Bawumia’s abilities.
Pratt, however, maintained his doubts, citing a lack of evidence supporting Bawumia’s potential victory.
Read an excerpt of their conversation below
Nana Akomea: Kwesi, don’t you believe that Bawumia can win the elections?
Kwesi: I haven’t said that.
Nana Akomea: But don’t you believe?
Kwesi: Do you believe it yourself?
Nana Akomea: If not, why would I be working for him?
Kwesi: What work are you doing?
Nana Akomea: The work that Iam doing for Bawumia.I am working as a national campaign vice chairman.
Kwesi: Okay, but people become campaign chairman and still fail.
Nana Akomea: Failure is different from belief, Kwesi. For me, I believe that he can win. That doesn’t mean that I am the only person that votes. But for you, don’t you believe that he can win?
Kwesi: I haven’t seen anything that shows that he can win. There is nothing that I have seen that indicates or shows that he can win.
Managing Director of the State Transport Company, and former Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, last year expressed embarrassment over being confronted with past promises made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that remain unfulfilled.
During an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana in June 2022, when host Randy Abbey questioned him about his feelings regarding these unfulfilled promises, Akomea admitted, “Absolutely; it’s embarrassing”, emphasizing that these were not mere propaganda but commitments the party had pledged to fulfill.
Akomea elaborated on his discomfort, stating, “I mean, when I come and sit here, and you play pronouncements that have been made, I am embarrassed because these are not propaganda; these are things we said we’d do.”
He also noted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)could be held to similar standards, suggesting a pattern of unmet promises across parties.
Akomea however, distanced himself from personal accountability for the party’s promises, explaining that specific individuals in charge of various sectors should be questioned.
“It’s a very simple explanation: you have to ask those who are in charge, because the things that we said we’ll do, there are sectors and there are people in charge,” he said.
Recounting an incident where he was personally held accountable, Akomea shared, “You know, somebody sent me something [clip] last week and I laughed. He said: ‘Nana Akomea said the government was going to pay rent and now we can’t find him; we’ll do aluta against him because we can’t pay our rent’.”
Nana Akomea clarified that such promises were made by the party, not him personally, and directed inquiries about the rent promise to the responsible ministry.
“I didn’t communicate those things on my behalf. This is what the party says it will do, so, probably, if you want to know what’s happening to the rent promise, you have to go to the ministry in charge of rent, in charge of housing,” he noted.
The interview highlights the challenges political figures face when their party’s promises come under scrutiny and the public’s demand for accountability.
A prominent figure within Ghana’s political landscape, Nana Akomea has disclosed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is adopting a careful approach in unveiling its running mate for the upcoming elections.
Formerly representing Okaikwei South in Parliament, Akomea emphasised that extensive groundwork is underway to identify the most suitable candidate to complement Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Akomea highlighted that despite the National Democratic Congress (NDC) maintaining Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as their candidate, the NPP remains unfazed.
“Bawumia is in no hurry to announce a running mate, but the public will be informed by May,” Akomea assured.
He further commented on the NDC’s decision, expressing scepticism about their chances and suggesting it could lead to another electoral defeat.
However, Akomea firmly denied any rumours of his interest in serving as Bawumia’s vice president, clarifying that while his name may have been circulated on WhatsApp platforms, he has no intention to pursue the role.
“I have no desire to be Dr. Bawumia’s Vice President; there are other deserving candidates,” Akomea affirmed.
CEO STC and Spokesman for the Bawumia campaign, Nana Akomea, has justified his actions towards NDC General Secretary, Fiifi Kwetey, after his bais tribal comment.
Fiifi Kwetey, characterized the NPP flagbearer and Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as a disgrace to northerners.
In response, Nana Akomea, not typically known for aggressive rhetoric against opponents, decided to confront the NDC Chief secretary head-on.
“If Fiifi Kwetey is looking for a politician who has been a “disgrace” to the North, he need not look further than in his party, as testified by a Northern NDC politician.”
Justifying this unusual reaction, Nana Akomea explained that it was just necessary for him to correct Fiifi Kwetey to do better next time regarding his choice of words.
“I am a Tiger, and the like of these must be straightened….and the only way to straighten them is to show them that where they are headed to is not the best,” he clarified.
Former Communication Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has disclosed that the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will announce his running mate by May.
Contrary to media reports suggesting that certain personalities have already been settled on, Akomea clarified that Dr. Bawumia has not yet made a decision regarding his running mate. He emphasized that several factors, including gender, origin, originality, and personality, will be considered in the selection process.
“The choice of the running mate is left to the flagbearer. He will consider a lot of factors… When he’s got a name or two, he will bring it to the political party,” Akomea stated.
He projected that Dr. Bawumia might make the announcement in April or May, allowing ample time for deliberation and decision-making.
Discussing the dynamics of the upcoming 2024 elections, Akomea highlighted the NPP’s majority presence in the Northern Region, attributing this success in part to Dr. Bawumia’s influence. He underscored Bawumia’s significance as a presidential candidate and noted the perceived threat he poses to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Akomea asserted that Bawumia’s candidacy has caused panic within the NDC, as evidenced by their focus on him during the election campaigns.
As Dr. Bawumia continues to engage with the nation and promote his ideas, Akomea predicts a further decline in the NDC’s influence.
A Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea has indicated that the party’s journey to regaining public favor begins with internal unity.
Speaking on Peace FM, Nana Akomea emphasized the need of unity as party members gear up to cast their votes this Saturday, January 27, 2024, to nominate parliamentary candidates for the impending general elections in December.
“The NPP’s MP elections are scheduled for this Saturday, and it’s nothing ordinary. Now is the pivotal moment for the party to rally together, fostering unity is imperative for our success in the elections. The journey begins now, acknowledging our current popularity challenges.”
Meanwhile Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has issued a call to fellow aspirants and party members, urging unity in pursuit of the NPP‘s goal to retain power in the 2024 election.
In his inaugural speech on Saturday, November 4, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the democratic contribution of fellow contenders, acknowledging that their efforts have invigorated the party base.
He expressed determination to collaborate with all aspirants and party supporters to collectively achieve the party’s objective of “breaking the 8.”
“Their energy, time, engagement and resources have contributed to energizing the base of the party and has prepared us all for the crucial battle of 2024,” he added.
Chief Executive Officer of the InterCity State Transport Corporation, Nana Akomea, has questioned former President John Mahama about the role he will play should he be re-elected into office after the abysmal performance he showed during his tenure.
Mr Akomea noted that he is concerned as the former president, while in office, compared himself to a dead goat in response to some strike actions.
“Was it not the same Mahama who when was hit by strike by teachers and organized labor, said he was a dead goat. And he will no longer listen to their pleas. Is that not what he said when he was president?” he quizzed during an interview on Peace FM.
Nana Akomea noted that Mahama cannot be given the nod after his concerning administration and his inability to be candid about the factors that have contributed to the worsening of the Ghanaian economy under the Akufo-Bawumia government.
“One of the things that hurts me about the NDC and Mahama is that, when we gave him the opportunity to be president from 2012 to 2016, didn’t you see things were difficult? During that period, he noted that one of the major reasons for the economic crisis was because Chinese economy had challenges.
“This time around, there are challenges, and you say we should blame Akufo-Addo and Bawumia when we have been hit with two major incidents: COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“When he goes to the international body, he makes mention of COVID, but when he comes to Ghana, he only blames Bawumia. So which of the two should we believe?” he said.
In 2015, the former president said he had become impervious to threats of strikes and demonstrations in Ghana and would not yield to any of such threats in the then-upcoming election year.
Adopting what he calls a “dead-goat syndrome”, the former president said he would not be hoodwinked by such strategies by workers.
“I have seen more demonstrations and strikes in my first two years. I don’t think it can get worse. It is said that when you kill a goat and you frighten it with a knife, it doesn’t fear the knife because it is dead already.
“I have a dead goat syndrome,” he told a Ghanaian population in Botswana where he was on a three-day official state visit.
Seven years down the line, Mahama has explained why he said he had dead goat syndrome. According to him, he used the idiomatic expression due to the frustration associated with the deregulation of petroleum prices.
This, he stated, is because he knew that if the fuel prices went up, the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other unions will not leave him in peace.
Mr. Mahama said he could not bear the mass labour unrest that was prevailing at the time.
“I am the only government in the Fourth Republic where all organised labour came together and went on strike and shut down the country.
“I was one of the most harassed Presidents by Organised Labour. That is what led to the dead goat syndrome… because when you kill a goat, you cannot frighten it with the knife again, really!… I don’t know why I said that, but of course our opponents took it out of context. They said I have said that I won’t listen to anybody,” he explained during a lecture at Academic City University College.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2024 presidential candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), is poised to unveil his vision in the upcoming weeks, as confirmed by the Director of Communications for the Bawumia Campaign Team, Nana Akomea.
Dr. Bawumia secured his candidacy by obtaining 61.43% of votes from nearly 200,000 NPP delegates during the November 2023 elections.
Since his election, Dr. Bawumia has embarked on various nationwide tours to express gratitude to the party’s delegates and members for their support in choosing him as their leader.
In an interview with Asaase Radio on Tuesday, January 16, Nana Akomea acknowledged that the Vice President cannot distance himself from the government’s shortcomings.
However, he highlighted that Dr. Bawumia possesses his own set of ideas and is preparing to share them with the government in the near future.
“Bawumia will not distance himself from the performance of the economy, I can imagine Bawumia going to stand somewhere to say I am not part, it is a collective responsibility, but the important thing is that he gives us the chance for a different experience.”
“When the campaign starts, Bawumia should be speaking to the nation pretty soon … he hasn’t really spoken to the nation.”
“But I can assure you that very soon, in the next few weeks, he is going to speak to the nation to outline his vision. I can tell you the conversation is going to be more powerful than what we saw with 2015/2016,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has noted that there is significant pressure on Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Mahama concerning the selection of their running mates.
Both Dr. Bawumia and Mahama are presidential candidates for the NPP and NDC, respectively.
Nana Akomea, discussing the intense lobbying for the running mate positions on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo,’ emphasized the importance of allowing the two candidates to make their own choices.
Chief Executive Officer of the InterCity State Transport Corporation, Nana Akomea, has entreated parents of first-year students in Senior High School (SHS) to be bold and make public the identities of schools that are failing to adhere to the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) harmonized prospectus.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has introduced the first-ever harmonized prospectus for senior high and technical schools in the country. The ‘National Prospectus’ aims to provide clarity on the requirements for prospective first-year students and standardize the information across all schools.
Per reports and call-ins from some parents on Peace FM, some SHSs are demanding items not on the harmonised prospectus.
Reacting to this, Nana Akomea noted that the situation will continue to persist unless parents come out and point out the schools involved in the illegal act.
“We have a standard prospectus. So if you are a parent and the school is providing you something different, that is a problem. We want this corrected so if you have been to a particular school that is doing this, you should be able to name the school. Even if you won’t mention your name, give the identity of the school. When you do this, you are being a good citizen so authorities can go to confirm.
“If you don’t do this, how do we proceed on that?” he quizzed.
Under this new system, all schools are expected to strictly follow the national prospectus, eliminating the imposition of additional items beyond the officially prescribed list. This move aims to simplify the process for parents, who will no longer need to wait until the rollout of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) before purchasing items for their children.
The national prospectus is organized into categories for basic needs and cleaning materials, streamlining the shopping process for parents.
Category ‘A’ covers basic items such as hard body suitcase or trunk, chop box or hard plastic container, toiletries, beddings, a pair of footwear (school specific), underwears, cutlery, and other educational materials such as mathematical set and scientific calculator, among others.
The second category includes, detergents, sanitary and cleaning materials such as liquid soap, hand gloves, washing powder, bleach and cleaning materials such as brooms, standing mob, mob bucket, and a scrubbing brush.
Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea, has accused the former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of contributing to the challenges faced in the fight against illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in the country.
Nana Akomea contends that the promise made by Mr Mahama, who is the flagbearer of the NDC, and other proponents of his party to pardon illegal small-scale miners in the event of an NDC government is a significant factor hindering the efforts of the President Akufo-Addo government in combating galamsey.
He further states that Mahama’s promise is a strategic move to secure votes, and the data indicates that it was effective for the NDC in the galamsey-prone regions of the country during the 2020 election, as reported by 3news.com.
”Don’t go there and be telling the people that when they vote for [NDC] you will remove these people from jail to come and do galamsey, when you do that we will not win the fight against galamsey.
“All the governments that have come have fought galamsey but we all know the efforts have not yielded the results. We undermine our own fight when you have a party going to incite people against government telling them that ‘when you vote for you all those who have been arrested will be released,” he is quoted to have said in an interview on TV3’s New Day on December 5, 2023.
Akomea, a former MP and minister of state, added, “When you tell people this, you are undermining the fight, it is part of the reasons why we have failed”.
John Dramani Mahama, ahead of the December 7, 2020 elections, pledged to grant a general amnesty to individuals convicted for offenses related to small-scale mining if he were re-elected as president.
During an engagement with the chiefs and residents of Abesewa in the Ahafo Ano South East constituency on Tuesday, November 10, 2023, at the commencement of his five-day campaign tour of the Ashanti Region, Mahama reiterated his commitment to providing a second chance to those convicted for galamsey (small-scale mining) offenses.
The former president argued that individuals funding galamsey activities are often spared legal consequences, while the youth engaged by these financiers, seeking a means of livelihood, are the ones frequently apprehended and imprisoned.
He further stated that a future NDC (National Democratic Congress) government, under his leadership, would reassess the small-scale mining policy to bring regularization to the activities of illegal small-scale miners.
“Because of the fight against galamsey, some of the youth have been arrested. But with our new policy on small-scale mining when we come into power, we are going to start afresh.
“We know they have offended the law but I believe that these galamsey operators are remorseful so we will give them another chance,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo has been committed to fight galamsey and has really put in the effort towards it, but it is unfortunate that the results has not been up to what we want – Nana Akomea#TV3NewDaypic.twitter.com/I5MEkxMbko
A member of the communications team of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has noted that Ghana’s economy has no time limit.
During an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 25, in response to former President Mahama’s idea of a 24-hour economy, Nana Akomea stated that there is no legal or social barrier preventing any business from operating for 24 hours.
He added that it depends on the presence of opportunity or demand rather than any inherent restrictions.
“As we speak, our economy has no time limit. Businesses operate up to 6 pm, some operate up to 10 pm, some operate up to 6 am depending on the opportunities that are available,” he said.
Nana Akomea’s comments came in response to former President John Mahama’s promise to establish a 24-hour economy as a central part of his campaign for the 2024 presidential election.
While Mahama argued that such a policy would boost economic growth and create jobs, there have been mixed reactions to the proposal.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP flagbearer, downplayed the idea, and Nana Akomea suggested that a 24-hour economy already exists, emphasizing the need to enhance public services and improve street lighting for businesses to operate more efficiently around the clock.
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has slammed the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram,Sam George, for his ‘filthy’ and ‘ugly’ attack on the religious beliefs and practices of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Nana Akomea was speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo with host Kwame Sefa Kayi on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
Expressing his dismay at recent remarks made Sam George, Nana Akomea remarked, “The recent language Sam George used is so filthy, I cannot comprehend. That an elected member of parliament will speak such words as though you are inciting some people, Muslims, that Bawumia is not a proper Muslim.”
Sam George had recently said about Vice President Bawumia, who is contesting for presidency is a ‘religious prostitute,’ and thus not a true Muslim.
“The best description you can give him is that, he is a Muslim by day and a Christian by night, a religious prostitute cannot be our president. No true Muslim anywhere in this world believes that Jesus Christ is our lord and saviour. No true Muslim kneels before a Catholic priest or a pastor to lay hands on them – only Bawumia,” he said during a recent appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show.
In response to Sam George‘s comments, Nana Akomea questioned the appropriateness of a Member of Parliament making such statements, stating, “Is this something that should come from a member of parliament? Calling a whole Vice President of Ghana a prostitute. It is dirty.”
“That an elected member of parliament will speak such words as though you are inciting some people, Muslims, that Bawumia is not a proper Muslim. You, Sam George, are not a Muslim. You say you are a Christian. Are you the one to determine who a true Muslim is? Even with the Christian that you are, you are not qualified to determine who a proper Christian is. Are you, Sam George, a proper Christian?” he added.
Nana Akomea emphasized the importance of religious tolerance in Ghana’s development, saying, “One of the main reasons for Ghana’s development is religious tolerance. Christians and Muslims living together in peace, across the country. A lot of countries do not have that.”
“Even the chief imam went to the Catholic Church when he was celebrating his 100th birthday and was earnestly prayed for by Father Campbell. The Quran and Bible talk about tolerance for each other, so if you are someone with good intentions, you should be praising people like the chief imam for being tolerant. It is the same God. Our worship may be different, but it is the same God. So why insult Bawumia because he went to a Catholic Church and got prayed for? Why are you inciting Muslims against Dr. Bawumia? Let’s stop this moving forward,” he noted.
Nana Akomea urged Sam George to refrain from insults, stating, “Sam George should change his ways and let the Holy Spirit work in him because this behavior is not good. He should stop.”
As the political landscape gears up for the 2024 elections, the focus on candidates and their messages becomes crucial. As such, Nana Akomea dvised the public to focus on the message and policies of the aspirants for the 2024 general elections, and not on their personal attacks and propaganda.
The 2024 general elections will be held in December 2024 to elect the president and members of Parliament for the next presidential term.
Former Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, Nana Akomea, has stated that if the newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, chooses him as his running mate for the 2024 general elections, victory is assured.
Nana Akomea, who previously served as the campaign spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia during the flagbearer contest, believes he possesses the qualifications and skills required for the role.
He made his views known during an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana.
He stated, “If he chooses me, victory is assured. But it would be unfortunate if the selection of a running mate degenerates into chaos.”
Amid concerns about potential discord over the selection process, Nana Akomea urged aspirants for the running mate position to maintain conduct that preserves harmony within the party. The Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC) emphasized the importance of allowing Vice President Bawumia the necessary time and space to recuperate from the contest and make a well-considered decision in consultation with the party.
Within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), tensions are escalating as Members of Parliament vie for the position of running mate to Dr. Bawumia, subsequent to his recent victory in the flagbearership election.
During the first day of parliamentary sessions following the flagbearership announcement on Tuesday, November 7, intense discussions and coalitions emerged among MPs from the ruling party regarding potential choices for the running mate position.
Several names have been circulating, including Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister for Energy; Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu; and Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has come to the defense of Charles Adu Boahen, who was accused of influence peddling following an investigative report.
Akomea pointed out that there is currently no concrete evidence proving that the money requested by Adu Boahen in the recorded conversation was actually paid to him.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had recently cleared Charles Adu Boahen of allegations related to influence peddling, which stemmed from an undercover investigation report titled “Galamsey Economy” by Tiger Eye P.I.
This report implicated Adu Boahen, a former minister of state, who was allegedly seeking money from supposed investors. In the recorded conversation, Adu Boahen appeared to request an appearance fee for the Vice President and accepted a cash gift of $40,000.
Nana Akomea emphasized during a discussion on TV3 that while Adu Boahen may have appeared to seek an advantage from the situation, there is no solid evidence to confirm that the requested monies were paid to him.
“He sought to profit from the opportunity; he didn’t set out to go and commit the crime. But the opportunity was presented, and he said, Wow, I can let you go and see the vice president and many others. But in return, you have to do something for me that was clearly captured on tape. What we also know happened was that the transaction did not follow through.
“For the transaction to be followed through, the money should have been paid to him; then he would have been seen collecting the money, then the legal case is stronger. But in this case, we don’t have any evidence that the monies that he demanded to go and pay to the vice president and invest in zone business were paid,” he said in an interview with TV3
He underscored the moral implications and legal consequences surrounding the matter. He pointed out that while the situation might raise moral concerns, the legal framework regarding influence peddling in Ghana is not explicitly clear.
“The issue is quite delicate. If we were talking about morality, I don’t think that there would be any dispute because there seems to be a certain moral shortfall. But if we are talking about legality, then the law is not very clear about influence peddling,” he explained.
According to him, the mere solicitation of funds does not inherently equate to a crime.
Nana Akomea emphasized that the crucial element of criminality hinges on the actual receipt and use of such funds for the alleged purposes, which, in this particular case, lacked concrete evidence.
“The person is using their influence with you to procure an advantage for somebody. Morally, if you hear that your friend has gone to take money or some gift from an applicant for a job, and when your friend comes to speak to you, it is because he has been influenced.
Even if he even said to the person, if you give me GH¢ 100, and I can give it to the person, and then the person will facilitate and get you a job, morally you will be upset that a friend of yours will go and involve themselves in that transaction using your name.
“But if they actually collected that money and didn’t bring it to you, or even brought it to you (which makes you an accomplice), then some crime has been committed,” he added.
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has offered advice to the Electoral Commission (EC), suggesting that they should not entirely dismiss the possibility of conducting the limited voters’ registration exercise in Bawku.
The NPP member has emphasized that there is still potential for peace to be restored in the community. Therefore, the EC should remain prepared to proceed with the registration if the security situation improves.
“It is never too late to secure peace so if some provision has to be made for a few extra days [it must be done],” he said.
“Because you don’t want to go and force something through and it will create security problems, then you would have regretted.”
He made these remarks during an appearance on Newsfile on Saturday, September 30, 2023.
“Let’s urge all the parties to come to an agreement particularly because of the volatile security situation.”
His remarks come in light of the Electoral Commission (EC) suspending the limited voter registration exercise due to escalating tensions in the area.
Reports suggest that this suspension stems from disputes between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Williams Obeng Darkwa, the Upper East Regional Director of the Commission, has confirmed this incident to JoyNews. However, he attributed the suspension to security concerns and refrained from elaborating on the specific issues.
Deputy EC Chairman Eric Asare Bossman has indicated that no alternative solution is available at the moment. He emphasized that their current priority is safeguarding the lives of EC officials.
The spokesperson for the Vice President’s campaign team, Nana Komea, has expressed confidence that Alan Kyerematen’s departure from the NPP will not adversely affect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s prospects if he emerges victorious in the party’s primaries to lead.
Nana Komea emphasized that the breakaway move would have no significant impact on the party, dismissing any claims suggesting otherwise as mere speculation. He noted that during the Super Delegates Conference, they did not observe any significant shift in voter sentiment.
During an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, Nana Akomea underscored the importance of how their candidate effectively communicates their campaign message to both the party’s delegates and the wider Ghanaian electorate. Ultimately, their focus is on winning the upcoming presidential race scheduled for November 4.
“Looking at what is happening in the past within the NPP with one or two personalities breaking away, what is happening in other parties where key personalities broke away, we don’t think that this is going to have any significant impact on the electoral fortunes of Dr Bawumia,” he told host, Evans Mensah.
This development follows Mr. Kyerematen’s recent announcement of his decision to officially part ways with the NPP. He declared his intention to run as an independent presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 election.
He explained, “My decision to contest as an Independent Candidate will not destroy the Party, but instead provide the Party an opportunity to participate in a Government of National Unity in the future, and avoid the risk of going into opposition with no dividends, in what arguably will be a difficult general election in 2024.”
In response to the resignation, he expressed a sense of disappointment regarding Mr. Kyerematen’s choice. He noted that Mr. Kyerematen had been a dedicated and involved member of the party since his initial affiliation.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that such departures have occurred periodically over the years, making it a familiar occurrence.
“If we go back into history, we have had similar incidents across parties, across political parties. In the lead-up to the 2000 election with candidate Kufuor, there was a breakaway from the party by some leading personalities at that time and they formed a party called UGM.”
“And if you also remember even the campaign manager of President Kufuor also broke away from the party and then joined the NDC but the NPP under Kufuor at that time still won the 2000 election,” he explained.
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has noted that he is aware of the current wobbling stands between the government and the general public.
But he assures that government is still working tirelessly to restore the country’s misplaced fortunes as they head to the 2024 presidential elections.
“We are aware that the present government is facing significant unpopularity, largely stemming from the multitude of hardships experienced by citizens and the expression of widespread discontent. However, in the realm of politics, it has been said that even a single week can bring about substantial changes. The government remains dedicated to making concerted efforts to improve the situation, particularly in terms of governance and the economy. The goal is to provide a greater level of comfort to the citizens, ” he told the media during an interview.
Mr. Akomea has also called on the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, to exercise restraint in his statements concerning Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
This appeal follows a bold statement made by the Assin Central MP regarding the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
Mr. Agyapong stated that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should be aware of the individual responsible for the journalist’s killing, dismissing any suggestions of the Vice President’s involvement in the crime.
Mr. Agyapong made these remarks during an interview on Kessben TV on Monday, September 18, 2023.
“Those who wrote the 10 sins (of Ken Agyapong) in support of Bawumia, he (Bawumia) is the vice president, he is the head of the police council, they know the killers of Ahmed Suale, why have they not spoken out? And they are coming to blame me for it,” he is quoted to have said.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Transport Company of Ghana, Nana Akomea, has urged presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, to be temperate in his utterances that pertain to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
His appeal comes after the Assin Central MP made a bold statement over the murder of Tiger Eye investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
He noted that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia should know the person responsible for the killing of the journalist, rejecting assertions of any involvement in the crime. Mr Agyapong made this known during an interview on Kessben TV on Monday, September 18, 2023.
“Those who wrote the 10 sins (of Ken Agyapong) in support of Bawumia, he (Bawumia) is the vice president, he is the head of the police council, they know the killers of Ahmed Suale, why have they not spoken out? And they are coming to blame me for it,” he is quoted to have said.
This comment, according to Nana Akomea, who is also a part of the Bawumia campaign team, does not augur well with the ongoing investigations into the matter.
He noted that the death of Ahmed Suale is of national concern and must not be driven by propaganda.
“We all have to tone down. We are one party. Ken was saying the police know the intricacies of the issue and have not made it public. If he says it that way, it makes sense so we all ask if you are aware of this and Ken has been implicated, why has nothing been said.
But to bring Bawumia into the picture, all the good questions we need to ask the Police will now be about something else.”
However, he noted that probing must be done into the statement made by Mr Agyepong to ensure the truth about the matter comes to light.
“If indeed the police has spoken to him, we need to ask the police and find out the needed information and why nothing is being done,” he said.
Communications Director for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, Nana Akomea, has voiced his support for former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen’s decision to withdraw from the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries scheduled for November 4, 2023.
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a recurring presidential aspirant, announced his withdrawal from the presidential race’s second round on Tuesday, September 5.
He cited concerns over electoral irregularities, perceived unfair treatment, and bias during the super delegates’ conference, where he unexpectedly secured third place.
While Kyerematen has not disclosed his future plans following his withdrawal, he mentioned his intention to consult with his family and team members. He plans to make an announcement regarding his future role in Ghana’s political landscape.
In response to this announcement during an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on Wednesday, September 6, Nana Akomea, representing Dr. Bawumia’s campaign, expressed his view that Alan’s withdrawal is a positive development for the party.
He encouraged other contenders to follow suit and throw their support behind the party’s apparent frontrunner.
“My elder brother, Alan Kyerematen’s withdrawal from the second round of the NPP flagbearer race is good news. It is something I was expecting, and now I am expecting more people to withdraw from the race.”
Mr Ken Agyapong, one of the candidates has made known his unwavering commitment to participate in the NPP Primaries come November 4.
Asked by the host of the show, Osei Bonsu [Alias OB], whether he expects Mr. Kyerematen and his supporters to throw their weight behind Dr. Bawumia, Nana Akomea responded in the affirmative.
“I think so. Once you take the lead, you are the one everyone wants to associate with. Everybody likes a winning team. So, we will speak with Alan and his supporters to come and join us. The reason why I said I expect all the others to withdraw from the race is that, the party has clearly shown where its heart is. If in an election of 10 contestants, the vote of nine people cannot even match the half of what one person got, then it is really clear where the party’s heart is so what is the need for the contest?” he quizzed.
“And that’s how the NPP behaves. When it decides on where it wants to go, it is very clear. So once the party decides there’s nothing anyone can do. With how the results went on August 26, if I was among the race I would have withdrawn, and that’s why I am not surprised Alan pulled out” he noted.
“Apart from 2008 where there were about 17 people, one person still had 47 percent and that’s Akufo-Addo. When he [Akufo-Addo] came back in 2010, look at the votes he got, it was decisive. In 2014, the election was done twice like we did now because the people were more than five. In that super delegates’ conference Nana Addo had 80%. When they still insisted on going to the second round, Nana Addo moved from his 80% to 94%” he argued.
In response to the claims made by Mr. Kyerematen as his basis for withdrawing from the race, Nana Akomea said he sympathizes with the former Trade Minister who is speaking out of hurt because his effort has gone down the drain.
“It’s not even two weeks after the election. Election is hard work and it entails a lot. Look at the time Alan resigned from cabinet and the campaigning he’s been doing, one can easily be pained after such a process only to perform this way. We are humans with emotions, we are not machines, so losing an election hurts. So we expect some emotional reaction which is normal. But when the heart is calm, I believe everyone will see good reason and come to terms with the reality.”
The one-time Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), said Alan’s reaction today is similar to what he exhibited prior to the 2008 elections where he resigned and later rejoined the party to campaign for Nana Akufo-Addo.
“This is not the first time. If you remember what happened in 2008, the same Alan Kyerematen resigned from the party. He also said the party intimidated his supporters and so he was leaving the party which he did. But eventually when he was calm, he joined Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign for the election. So, for those of us who won, we are prepared to be magnanimous in victory and won’t disrespect anyone.
Nana Akomea also downplayed all the issues Alan raised as the basis for his withdrawal.
“If you look at the issues Alan raised, they’re not fair. If you say the rules were tilted for one person to have an advantage, what do you mean by that? The election committee engaged all aspirants and gave people the register and listened to everyone’s concerns. The balloting was done fairly, and the Electoral Commission supervised the elections fairly. So, how was the process skewed for one person? The only issue they raised was that the election should be centralized, but the party said that couldn’t be done in the midst of the arrangements that had been made. So, if you wait to lose the election only to claim that the rules have been skewed, then that’s unfair” he argued.
According to Nana Akomea, Alan Kyerematen equally got the support of some key party people including MPs and Chief Executives as well as Ministers of state, and so it would be unfair for him to have issues with similar support for Dr. Bawumia.
“He [Alan] also had leading members and influential people making pronouncements for him. So if he says utterances or pronouncements by leading members showed that the process was skewed, that is neither here nor there.”
Mr. Akomea also expressed his disagreement with Mr. Kyerematen’s allegations of supposed intimidation of his supporters during the election.
Regarding the incident involving Mr. Kyerematen’s agent in the North East Region, who sustained injuries, Nana Akomea asserted that the agent’s actions led to his unfortunate situation. He claimed that the agent initiated an altercation when he had the alternative to report his concerns to the election officials overseeing the process.
Nana Akomea emphasized that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his team had invested considerable effort in securing the results and support they had garnered. They achieved this by extensively touring the country to engage with the party delegates.
Spokesperson for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, Nana Akomea, has chided former President John Dramani Mahama over his recent comment that casts aspersions on the integrity of the judiciary.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has claimed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has selected individuals with close ties to the ruling party to hold positions within the judiciary.
Mr Mahama contended that President Akufo-Addo’s appointments to the judiciary seem to be a deliberate strategy aimed at installing judges who might lean toward his interests once his tenure ends.
The 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer proposed that the president’s actions are designed to protect himself from accountability once he finishes his term in office.
Mr. Mahama said: “Currently, the judiciary is packed with NPP-inclined judges because this government has carried out a deliberate policy of putting their people onto the bench.”
“He has appointed the biggest number of judges onto the bench, it is more than 80 towards 100 and counting. You can see what the current president has done. He has packed the court, and we know they have packed the court because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office.”
He made this assertion while addressing the closing ceremony of the 3rd Annual Lawyers Conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, September 2.
In reaction to the statesman’s comment, Nana Akomea noted that it is unacceptable for Mr Mahama to make such an accusation without providing any evidence.
According to Mr Akomea, the statement uttered by the former president must be condemned by all.
“The statements former president Mahama made should be condemned by every right thinking Ghanaian has only placed NPP supporters at the Judiciary without any proof that those there align with the NPP.
More dangerous is that he said because of this, should he return to power, he will put NDC individuals at the courts. It is a dangerous statement and everyone who respects our democracy must condemn it.
He has no basis. Someone who is a former president and still wants to be president. This is the reality Ghanaians are facing.
He therefore quizzed, “If you speak this way, do you deserve to be president?”
He accused the former President of consistently condemning state institutions when things don’t go his way.
A prominent spokesperson of the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia campaign team, Nana Akomea, has voiced his strong support for the Vice President as the ideal candidate to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2024 general elections.
He believes that Dr Bawumia is the most suitable person to break the eight-year cycle of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning the presidency and also possesses the ability to gain support from both parties’ traditional strongholds.
During an interview with the media, Nana Akomea asserted that Dr Bawumia’s leadership could pose a threat to the NDC in their strongholds, such as the Volta Region, the Northern Region, and the Zongo settlements.
He emphasized that Dr Bawumia’s appeal lies in his capacity to bridge the gap between NPP and NDC strongholds, making him the most suitable candidate among all aspirants.
Furthermore, Nana Akomea expressed astonishment at the remarkable responses from party delegates to Dr Bawumia’s message of being the best candidate to break the eight-year cycle. He cited the extraordinary reactions, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where seven of the contesting aspirants hail from. Despite this, Dr Bawumia’s reception among delegates in Ashanti has been surprising and promising.
Nana Akomea’s statements reflect the growing support and belief within the NPP that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is the right leader to steer the party to victory in the 2024 elections and bring an end to the NDC’s presidential reign.
“The NDC has their traditional strongholds in the Volta Region, the Northern Region, and the Zongo settlements. With Dr Bawumia, we believe that the NDC in the Northern Region and the Zongos will be threatened.
“He is the best person to reach across the NPP strongholds and the NDC strongholds. He is the best person among all the aspirants.
“Delegates’ responses everywhere have been extraordinary, particularly in Ashanti. I was particularly shocked by the reaction of the delegates because seven of the gentlemen in the contest are from Ashanti, so I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction Dr Bawumia got in the Ashanti region,” he added.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has denied reports that he has been married twice.
According to him, he has only married once in his lifetime.
In a Facebook post on Friday, July 7, the former Okaikwei South MP, even though he had a relationship with lady 17 years ago and had two children with her, they never tied the knot.
He stated that the said relationship broke down 15 years ago.
The former Education Minister added that since then, he only married his “beloved Eno” in 2018 with whom he has a son with.
“Yes l had a relationship with a lady some 17 years or so. We have two lovely children but the relationship broke down more than 15 years ago. Since 2018, l have been married to the lovely Eno and we have a lovely baby boy together.”
Meanwhile, he accused the his former girlfriend of cyber bullying his wife to the extent of accusing her of murder.
“The mother of my first two children has engaged in cyber bullying of my wife for a long time. My wife has totally ignored her until she was accused of attempted murder. She has rightly gone to court to vindicate her name, as anyone would.”
“It is only recently in a response to the court(about a month ago) that l learnt l am married to the First Lady.”
“For the records, l have never been married to the first woman whether traditionally or otherwise. That can only be a figment of some malicious imagination.”
He concluded that his wife has not engaged anyone in a fight over him.
“This is another clear attempt at cyber tantrums/bullying which will not wash with me nor stop the court case.”
“My wife Eno is not engaged in any fight with another woman over me. Why would she? We are actually looking forward to another anniversary this year, by God’s Grace.”
A member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communication Team, Nana Akomea, has joined the many who believe that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are worried by the candidature of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
During an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana this week, Nana Akomea revealed that he came by the realisation after carefully assessing the actions of the opposition party.
According to him, out of the 10 individuals contesting in the flagbearer race of the NPP, none but one has been heavily criticised in the campaign message of members of the NDC.
He stated that Dr Bawumia has been singled out by the NDC due to his influence. He asserted that the party is deliberately discrediting the Vice President to make him unpopular before the public.
“People say it, but I have not given the seriousness to that. But people say that the NDC is really afraid of Bawumia.
“Alan has filed and I didn’t hear NDC talk about Alan’s filing and criticizing him like they are doing to Bawumia. Why will the NDC focus on one person out of the 11 or 12 candidates,” he said.
Nana Akomea is not the only individual who shares such thoughts. The Vice President, the subject of the matter, also believes so since he asserts that the NDC will lose majority of its votes in the north should he contest.
“They know John Mahama cannot take me on in the North. I will beat him in the North. This is why they don’t want me be to flagbearer,” Dr Bawumia said to some NPP supporters over the weekend.
Former president John Dramani Mahama has refuted the accusation made by Nana Akomea, the managing director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), that he insulted him.
In a tweet, Mahama clarified that he did not use any insulting language towards Akomea.
However, he stated that he believes Akomea’s decision to provide misleading information about ex-gratia payments was politically motivated.
“My friend Nana Akomea. I did not insult you. I know you know the difference between a lump sum ex-gratia payment and a monthly pension. Why you chose to misinform the public was because of politics,” Mahama wrote.
The former president’s comments come after the managing director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea on Saturday criticised same for insulting his critics.
The former Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South in a statement copied to GhanaWeb admonished Mahama to stop insulting people if he wants to be president again.
“Even if President Mahama disagrees with me, I am sad that he chose to lace his disagreement with insults to my person, by implying politics had caused me to lose my ‘fine mind’.
“The last time other citizens commented on these same sentiments of President Mahama, he met them with similar insults, calling them ‘silly’.
“I urge President Mahama, that if he wants to be President of Ghana again, he should refrain from insulting citizens. I assure him I am still his friend and I still have a fine mind,” parts of the statement read.
Nana Akomea, last week in a radio interview asked the former president to forego his ex-gratia entitlements to set an example for his readiness to scrap the benefits should he assume office in 2025.
In a rebuttal, the former president tweeted that he was concerned about what politics could do to a fine mind like Nana Akomea.
“My friend Nana Akomea. Really sad what politics can do to a fine mind! I don’t take ex-gratia. I receive a monthly pension,” he tweeted.
Former Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has said that the vote of censure filed by the minority caucus of Parliament against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta might amount to nothing even if it is passed.
According to him, the 1992 Constitution indicates that the President of the Republic, which is now Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has the final say even if Parliament passes a vote of census against any of his appointees.
Nana Akomea, who made these remarks during a panel discussion on Good Morning Ghana monitored by GhanaWeb, added that the vote of censure might not even pass because the minority caucus does not have the support of the majority that they need.
“Even if you get the support of the majority on your vote of censure, what the Constitution says is very simple, it says in Clause 5 of Article 82 that where a vote of censure is passed against a minister the president may revoke (it).
“So, this vote of censure that you’re coming to beat us, that is the way to go and that is what will succeed; even if you succeed which is not likely if you don’t get the support of the majority; but even if you succeed and you have the numbers and you do it, it will still be left with the president.
“So, what is the rush (by the minority caucus),” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referred a vote of censure filed by the minority caucus of Parliament for the removal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to an 8-member ad hoc committee which started meeting on Monday, November 14, and is expected to decide on the removal of the minister within 7 days.
The minority caucus has cited mismanagement of Ghana’s economy, conflict of interest, misrepresentation of figures on Ghana’s economy and unconstitutional withdrawal from the consolidated fund among others.
The majority caucus, who have also indicated that they want the minister removed, have, however, stated that they will not support the vote of censure spearheaded by the minority caucus of the House because they do not agree with the reasons the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs cited.
Following President Nana Addo’s speech on Sunday, October 30, 2022, about the state of the economy at the moment and the steps his administration is taking to address the economic difficulties, Nana Akomea made this call.
Sika Mpɛ Dede
Speaking to the nation, the President said; “Fellow Ghanaians, as the French would say, l’argent n’aime pas le bruit, to wit, money does not like noise, sika mpɛ dede. Where there is chaos, where there is noise, where there is unrest, you will not find money. If you talk down your money, it will go down. If you allow some unidentifiable person to talk down your money, it will go down.”
“The recent turbulence on the financial markets was caused by low inflows of foreign exchange, and was made worse in the last two to three weeks, in particular, by the activities of speculators and the Black Market. An anonymous two-minute audio message on a WhatsApp platform predicting a so-called haircut on Government bonds sent all of us into banks and forex bureaus to dump our cedis, and, before we knew it, the cedi had depreciated further.
“All of us can play a part in helping to strengthen the cedi by having confidence in the currency, and avoiding speculation. Let us keep our cedi as the good store of value it is. To those who make it a habit of publishing falsehoods, which result in panic in the system, I say to them that the relevant state agencies will act against such persons.”
1) enhanced supervisory action by the Bank of Ghana in the forex bureau markets and the black market to flush out illegal operators, as well as ensuring that those permitted to operate legally abide by the market rules. Already some forex bureaus have had their licenses revoked, and this exercise will continue until complete order is restored in the sector;
2) Fresh inflows of dollars are providing liquidity to the foreign exchange market, and addressing the pipeline demand;
3) the Bank of Ghana has given its full commitment to the commercial banks to provide liquidity to ensure the wheels of the economy continue to run in a stabilized manner, till the IMF Programme kicks in and the financing assurances expected from other partners also come in;
4) Government is working with the Bank of Ghana and the oil producing and mining companies to introduce a new legal and regulatory framework to ensure that all foreign exchange earned from operations in Ghana are, initially, paid to banks domiciled in Ghana to help boost the domestic foreign exchange market; and
5) the Bank of Ghana will enhance its gold purchase programme.”
President Has Spoken, It’s Time To Act
Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ show, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah called on the State authorities not to let the President’s orders be in vain.
“The President cannot go and stand at Airport Police station to arrest those selling money on the black market when he has given this direction and the Governor is there, the IGP and the Police officers are at the Airport Police station this morning. So, action must follow . . . and you see if we all decide to dump everything on the President as the only source of our interest and our criticisms, people will go scot free . . . We have to ensure action happens but it is the collective effort and pressure on all the agency Heads to get the action happening,” he stated.
No Arrests
But Nana Akomea disagrees with the idea that the black market and forex operators should be apprehended as a solution to fixing the forex markets.
Making his submissions on ‘Kokrokoo’, he called for amicable resolution between the authorities and the forex operators.
“You must sit with them to find out their ways. Why doesn’t the Bank of Ghana have dollar but some are at Cow Lane? You have to ask yourself that question and before you can find answers, you must sit with these people,” he said.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has received plaudits for Ghana’s push toward digitalization from former Minister of Information and current Managing Director of the Intercity State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea.
Speaking on the Kokrokoo Morning Show on Peace FM, Akomea claimed that the Vice President’s digital agenda has set Ghana on a trajectory that puts it on par with the world’s most developed nations and far ahead of other African nations.
With his digital effort, he claimed, Dr. Bawumia is “actually altering the [Ghanaian] society.”
Speaking about the state of Ghana at the time, Nana Akomea noted that despite alleged difficulties, there is still much to be thankful for.
He pointed to Ghana’s unrivaled safety and security in comparison to other African countries and also, the digitalisation agenda.
“We are very stable. We are one of the most stable countries in West Africa, if not Africa. We have peace in this country. When you look at our tourism figures, it’s overwhelming. We have stability and security. We are modernizing rapidly. When you look at the digitization programme by Dr. Bawumia, it is changing society,” Nana Akomea said.
He added: “We are ahead of other African countries by far and now, in the world economy, if you don’t become digital; you will die. We are moving very, very quickly on this digital [economy]. When you take our security, we have maintained the peace and security and stability of this country…These are all the very good news that you can’t even calculate its value.”
Digital Agenda
Ghana has embarked on a digital drive since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government took over power in 2017, with Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as its main proponent.
The Vice President argues that digitalisation is the only way for underdeveloped nations to fix the perennial problem of a domestic revenue shortfall.
“Many developing countries have found it difficult to reach high levels of domestic revenue mobilisation because their economies are characterised by a number of features. For these developing countries that we’re talking about, in the presence of these characteristics…you can have as many tax laws or tax increases as you want but you’re unlikely to achieve the goals of a significant increase in domestic revenue mobilisation,” Dr. Bawumia said during a speech at the 10th annual International Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana.
“Our goal as a government on the assumption of office was to quickly transform our economy by leveraging on technological innovations as a means to leapfrog the development process, overcome legacy problems, and improve both economic and public sector governance.
“This is why we have focused on digitalisation to build this new system, this machinery that can address this problem of domestic revenue mobilisation. You need to have a machinery that is integrated that addresses these shortcomings….” he added.
Digitalisation has addressed these issues by widening the tax net via the Ghana card, which now serves as a tax identification number for every Ghanaian, widening the property tax net through the digital address system and other innovations.
Meanwhile digitising operations at state agencies such as the DVLA and the Passport Office has seen an exponential jump in revenue generation whilst eliminating the role of corrupt middlemen.
Ghost names eliminated from the SSNIT payroll have saved the nation GH¢320 million at SSNIT alone.
Digitisation of operations at the Passport office alone increased revenues to the state from GH¢1.1 million in 2017 to a current figure circa GH¢56.7 million.
Similarly, the DVLA increased year-on-year revenues by 100% from 2019 to 2020 following the introduction of digitalisation.
The Managing Director of Inter City STC, Nana Akomea says he has not lost hope in Ghana and called on Ghanaians to be confident in the government to salvage the economy.
Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” morning show, Nana Akomea asserted that “there is so much good news” in Ghana, therefore asking the citizenry to heave a sigh of relief.
He pointed out why one should be proud of this nation stressing, “we are very stable. We are one of the most stable countries in West Africa, if not Africa. We have peace in this country. When you look at our tourism figures, it’s overwhelming. We have stability and security. We are modernizing rapidly. When you look at the digitization programme by Dr. Bawumia, it is changing the society”.
He continued; “We are ahead of other African countries by far and now, in the world economy, if you don’t become digital; you will die. We are moving very, very quickly on this digital [economy]. When you take our security, we have maintained the peace and security and stability of this country…These are all very good news that you can’t even calculate its value.”
The STC Boss, after highlighting the pride in being a Ghanaian, however called on the leaders of the country to stop their corruptible practices.
In October 2021, STC’s managing director, Nana Akomea, observed that every two weeks, his company spent GH2 million on fuel.
He also lamented the market’s constant price hikes for fuel products.
We give GHC 2 million to Goil every two weeks, Nana Akomea remarked on PeaceFM’s kokrokroo show.
The CEO of STC, Nana Akomea, has made a startling admission about the company’s fuel costs.
The Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy (PSRL) should be eliminated, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) recently demanded, in order to stop the ongoing price increases for petroleum products.
In this second pricing window of September 2021, “the two primary indicators, namely international market prices and foreign exchange differentials, are all projected to affect average pump prices of petroleum products by between 2% and 3%, or (10p/Litre for both products).”
“This would likely translate to reviewed figures by the various Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) as those selling at current prices for gasoline and gasoil at GH¢6.38 could be reviewed upwards to between GH¢6.45/-GH¢6.52/L for both Gasoline and Gasoil,” a COPEC statement read.
Nana Akomea, like COPEC, is equally worried about the petrol price increases.
There seem to be an on and off debate surrounding founder’s or founders’ day celebration in the country. Some claim Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is the sole founder of the country while others insist he’s not the only one.
It may be recalled that every Founder’s Day was to recognize Dr. Nkrumah as the founder of Ghana. However, President Akufo-Addo changed that when he came into power in 2017, ensuring that other contributors to Ghana’s independence were included.
Therefore, August 4th is a national public holiday to commemorate the contributions of all the people who led the struggle for Ghana’s independence, notably called the “Big Six”, while September 21st has been set aside to celebrate Nkrumah’s Birthday.
Contributing to Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, Nana Akomea said: “Indeed Nkrumah played a pivotal role but you can’t also neglect those who formed the political party and invited him (Nkrumah) to join. They’re also part and so for Akufo-Addo to recognize all of them is fantastic.”
Intercity STC Managing Director, Nana Akomea, has lauded the Ghana Police Service for their arrest of a suspect in connection with recent killings in Wa municipality in the Upper West Region.
Fear has gripped residents at Wa following serial killings and kidnapping in the municipality.
The suspect, Kankani Adongo, was arrested at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa after extensive collaboration between the Police and community search parties.
The suspect is in custody and will be arraigned to face justice.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has also assured the community that the Police will arrest all the perpetrators as they don’t believe the crimes were committed by one suspect.
“Be assured that we will keep improving on the security situation because we are there for you,” IGP assured the residents.
Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show with Nana Yaw Kesseh, Nana Akomea bemoaned the shocking incident but strongly believed the Police will find all the accomplices.
He asked the residents to assist the Police to bring closure to the murders in the Region saying, “let us all support the Police to ensure these killings at Wa come to an end and the suspects arrested . . . even if it’s in Accra that about 10 people have been killed in three weeks – one month – there will be fears, not to talk of Wa. So, we commend the Police for taking swift steps and pray for a way forward so that our people in Wa will have peace”.
The party’s national elections came off on Saturday, July 16 with some notable names like Kate Gyamfua maintaining her position as National Women’s Organizer and Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) National Organizer.
General Secretary John Boadu was dethroned by the delegates and his position handed over to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Justin Frimpong Kodua, popularly called “JFK.”
Stephen Ntim was elected National Chairman after four failed attempts.
Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme, Nana Akomeacommended all the winners for putting up a good fight and advised them together with the defeated aspirants to iron out any differences and unite to achieve the party’s goals.
He further singled out some positions like the General Secretary position stressing it was one of the surprising events.
Nana Akomea emphasized that JFK “deserves a lot of commendation for going against the expectation and to beat a stalwart like John Boadu” but proposed he should include John Boadu in his administration stating the latter has a rich experience to guide him (JFK).
“If Kodua allows John Boadu to play a role in his administration, it will help him a lot; at least to stabilize because John has done this job for a long time,“Â he asserted.
He also called on the National Chairman, Stephen Ntim, to also enlist the help of the Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Stephen Asamoah Boateng who also contested the National Chairman position.
“If Ntim open his arms and give Asabee a good role in the administration, it will also help because we all know Asabee’s enthusiasm for the party. So, we applaud all of them, both the winners and losers,” he stated.
The Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has deflated all arguments that Parliament is a master of their own, therefore the Supreme Court giving a verdict on the Deputy Speakers of Parliament is an interference of the parliamentary rules.
The Supreme Court has come under intense public heat after a seven-member panel unanimously ruled that a “Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a Member of Parliament for quorum” and can “vote and take part in the decision of Parliament”.
While some critics like former President John Mahama say the Supreme Court, by their ruling, has set a “dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future”, others like the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, describe the decision as “despicable”.
In a series of tweets, he said; “The sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!†he said in a tweet.
“Abi we all go dey the Chamber inside. Come and give the referee the ball to play some let us see. The sweetness of the pudding is in its eating.”Â
The Supreme Court, to some critics, is by this ruling interfered with the business of Parliament because, to them, the House has its own rules and regulations.
Reacting to the issue, Nana Akomea noted that Parliament has no choice but to obey the Supreme Court ruling.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, he emphasized; “If they refuse, it means Parliament is breaking the law. It’s a very simple matter; it means you’re breaking the law. So, you cannot refuse.”
He expounded that, “there is no contradiction in what the Supreme Court is saying. They are saying they cannot give rules for Parliament, so go and do your rules. There’s no contradictions. How Parliament, the procedure that Parliamentwill use to obey the law is left to Parliament. That’s why we say Parliament is the master of its own rules but Parliament is not a master of its own laws. Parliamentis subject to the law”.
To him, the Legislative House must begin implementing the verdict because “they cannot and they will not choose to disobey what the court has said”.
“They would have to bring a procedure to allow the Deputy Speakers to vote because that is the law,” he stressed.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea has called on State authorities to check the influx of children hawking and begging in the streets.
The culture of children under the age of eighteen (18) years hawking or begging for alms on the streets has become a matter of concern and a disturbing issue in the country.
It is currently easy to spot the young children, some even toddlers between the ages of four and five, on the street begging for alms.
Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme, Nana Akomea queried the authorities why they have relaxed the laws of the land ensuring no child is found on the streets.
He warned against such act stressing it poses a threat to the lives of the children, therefore calling on the authorities to prevent the children, particularly ones belonging to parents who are natives of sub-Saharan African countries, from going into the streets.
“The law is the law. Children should not be on the streets begging. It’s enshrined in the Children’s Act,” he stated.
A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has said his party expects to win Ghana’s general elections.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC) said the governing NPP has good records in government, hence Ghanaians, he said, will renew the mandate of President Nana Akufo-Addo in the polls.
He told TV3 on Sunday, December 6 that, â€many of the independent surveys like the Political Science Department of Legon, if you remember, they predicted four years ago that Nana Addo will win by ten percentage points and he did and they have predicted this year too and Ben Ephson has come out to say we will win by some ten percentage points so we expect to winâ€.
Ghanaians go to the polls to elect a president and Members of Parliament.
The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) said on Sunday, December 6 that it was “fully†ready to conduct the eighth successive elections in the Fourth Republic.
Meeting journalists at the headquarters of the Commission, Chairperson Jean Adukwei Mensa assured that all is set for the polls.
“As a Commission, you recognize that we are accountable to the citizens of Ghana and I am pleased to inform you that by the grace of God, we are fully ready to conduct successful, credible, fair, orderly, and peaceful elections tomorrow Monday, December 7, 2020,†she said.
The Managing Director (MD) of the State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea has asked Ghanaweb, an online news portal to retract and apologize for a story published about him.
According to the former Communication Director of the NPP, he did not make any statement about the issue being attributed to him.
Ghanaweb reported on Sunday, June 14, a story with the headline ” You don’t match Pius to debate Felix on radio or TV – Nana Akomea slams NPP”. The story suggested that, MD for STC Nana Akomea had expressed displeasure towards his party for pairing Deputy information minister, Pius Enam Hadzide with former deputy information Minister, Felix Ofosu Kwakye on Joy Fm’s Newsfile on a discussion about infrastructure and NDC’s claims in their famous Green Book.
This comes after some Ghanaians, especially NDC supporters took to social media to mock Mr. Hadzide for his inability to adequately debate his points while struggling to answer some questions posed to him by the host of the show.
A social media user bearing the same name as Nana Akomea, in a since deleted post on Facebook, said the NPP should not have paired Pius with Felix. Ghanaweb wrote a story on post assuming it was that of MD for STC Nana Akomea’s.
Few hours after the publication, Nana Akomea took to his Facebook wall, stating that, for the avoidance of doubt, he did not make any such post about the deputy minister of information as stated in the publication by Ghanaweb, he added that, Ghanaweb should withdraw the story and apologise for such error, describing it as “highly unprofessional”.
Below is a screen shot of his post
 Â
Meanwhile, Ghanaweb has since published a story, retracting and apologizing to Nana Akomea.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC) Nana Akomea says there will be some difficulty in paying their staff after almost a month of being out of business.
This was down to the partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi which lasted for three weeks.
This saw no movement in and out of Accra and Kumasi thereby compelling the STC to halt its business for that period.
President Akufo-Addo last week lifted the lockdown and the STC have begun work again but Nana Akomea says they will struggle a bit to pay their staff because no revenue was generated during the lockdown period.
“During the lockdown, we were not operating at all, there is going to be some difficulty in paying salaries as a result of losing almost a month of operations”.
Nana Akomea also announced some measures the STC has put in place to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus now that they are back in business.
Aside practising social distancing by loading their buses to just 60% full, the STC also checks the temperature of all passengers boarding their buses.
“We test the temperature of every passenger and also check for the wearing of the face mask which is key”
He also said they are doing everything possible to ensure that all passengers follow safety measures which in the long run ensure the rate of infection does not shoot up.
As of April 19, Ghana had recorded 1,154 COVID-19 cases with 120 recoveries and 9 deaths.
