AN aspiring parliamentary hopeful for the New Abirim constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Osei Frimpong, has urged other aspirants and their supporters to ensure their utterances and deeds were geared towards positioning the party to win the 2012 elections.
He said aspirants and their supporters should not resort to strategies that would divide and weaken the support base of the party, a situation that would affect the party’s aim of winning the 2012 general elections.
Mr Frimpong, who was addressing the media in Accra, noted that since 1992, he had observed that anytime NPP parliamentary aspirants used clean campaign, avoided throwing mud at each other and united after the primaries their chances of wining the elections were always greater.
Four other aspirants, popular actress, Ms Grace Omaboe, affectionately called Maame Dokono, an Engineer, Mr Daniel Kwaku Afriyie are challenging the Member of Parliament, Ms Esther Abena Dapaah in the party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries.
Mr Frimpong expressed optimism about his chances of winning the primary and maintaining the seat for the party and even increase the votes to ensure that the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, win the 2012 elections.
He described himself as a consensus candidate whose deposition would even attract supporters of other party including those in the NDC to vote for the NPP for a landslide victory for the party.
He noted that when he was given the nod as the party’s candidate and ultimately wins the seat, he would operate an open door policy, represent the aspirations of the constituents and assist in making laws that would bring development to the nation.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
CPP organiser backs Delle’s call for congress to be postponed
The National Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Ms Evelyn Anabila, has backed the call by a former National Chairman of the CPP, Dr Edmund Delle, for the rescheduling of the April 30 national delegates congress.
She said that it was “impossible” for the party to hold all ward, polling station, constituency and regional elections before it goes to congress on April 30, 2011 to elect national executive.
She explained that the large numbers of the wards and polling stations in each constituency, coupled with the fact that the rainy season was just around the corner made it extremely difficult for all these elections as well as the regional congresses to be organised before the CPP holds a national congress.
The CPP National Organiser said it was only the Central Region which had completed its ward elections.
According to Dr Delle, the postponement was necessary to ensure a more effective organisation of the congress and proposed a date in June for the congress to give ample time for all the constituency and regional branches of the party to elect their respective executives to pave the way for the national congress to be held.
He said given the short space of time between now and April 30, 2011, it would be difficult for all the constituency and regional branches to organise their congresses early enough for the national congress to take place.
Ms Anabila cited the Bolga Central Constituency which had 37 wards and wondered how the constituency could organise all the 37 elections before the April 30 national congress.
She hinted that the issue had been discussed at the party’s Central Committee meetings and there was positive indication that it might be postponed. She added that “people should not take undue advantage of the short space of time to delay the organisation of their various elections”.
Ms Anabila suggested May ending as a convenient time that would allow all the various structures throughout the country to organise and properly elect their leaders for the regional and national delegates congress.
She debunked claims that the party existed only at the national level and said throughout the country the party’s wards, polling stations and regional structures were vibrant and working very hard.
She said that it was “impossible” for the party to hold all ward, polling station, constituency and regional elections before it goes to congress on April 30, 2011 to elect national executive.
She explained that the large numbers of the wards and polling stations in each constituency, coupled with the fact that the rainy season was just around the corner made it extremely difficult for all these elections as well as the regional congresses to be organised before the CPP holds a national congress.
The CPP National Organiser said it was only the Central Region which had completed its ward elections.
According to Dr Delle, the postponement was necessary to ensure a more effective organisation of the congress and proposed a date in June for the congress to give ample time for all the constituency and regional branches of the party to elect their respective executives to pave the way for the national congress to be held.
He said given the short space of time between now and April 30, 2011, it would be difficult for all the constituency and regional branches to organise their congresses early enough for the national congress to take place.
Ms Anabila cited the Bolga Central Constituency which had 37 wards and wondered how the constituency could organise all the 37 elections before the April 30 national congress.
She hinted that the issue had been discussed at the party’s Central Committee meetings and there was positive indication that it might be postponed. She added that “people should not take undue advantage of the short space of time to delay the organisation of their various elections”.
Ms Anabila suggested May ending as a convenient time that would allow all the various structures throughout the country to organise and properly elect their leaders for the regional and national delegates congress.
She debunked claims that the party existed only at the national level and said throughout the country the party’s wards, polling stations and regional structures were vibrant and working very hard.
PNC leaders extend olive branch
The People’s National Convention (PNC) will hold its national congress on November 25, 2011 to elect new national executive to man the party for the next four years.
It has however, extended an olive branch to all its members who are challenging the eligibility of the current executive in court and also urged those who have been occupying the party’s offices to vacate and “apologise to the law abiding rank and file of the party, because the party believes that the courts are the place to settle inter party disputes”.
All constituency elections would be held between May and July while the all regional elections would be held within August. They have not fixed charges for nominations.
Members of the embattled national executive committee (NEC) who are in a legal tussle with some members, who call themselves an Interim Management Committee (IMC), led by Dr Sontim Tobiga challenging the NEC’s eligibility to hold themselves as such
This was after the NEC had broken into the party’s national headquarters at Abavana Junction in Accra which had been under lock and key of the IMC over the last two months to old a press conference there.
The breaking in and changing of the locks by the NEC, led by Dr Edward Mahama who is the leader of the party, was under the supervision of Detective Sergeant Henry Nettey from the Maamobi Police Station.
The supervision of the entry by the police became necessary because the occupancy was part of the case pending before the law court. All the national executive members had earlier in the day held its meeting at the Kingsby Hotel at Achimota and after that drove to the locked headquarters to break and change the locks.
Addressing the press at the headquarters, which was attended by all regional executives, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Chairman, Bernard Mornah, General Secretray, Dr Mahama said while he had accepted his share of responsibility for the problems facing the PNC, other leading members should as well accept their role in the party’s difficulties.
Reacting to claims by the IMC that it was illegal for Dr Mahama contest as the flag bearer for more that two consecutive times, Dr Mahama said it their claims were to be true, the Electoral Commission (EC) which had a copy of the PNC would not have supervised the party congress that elected him and also accept his nomination.
He said for those other party members who were anxious to occupy party positions, they should bid their time, respect the party’s constitution and structures and offer themselves when nominations opened.
On March 11, 2011, the Accra Fast Track High Court quashed the decision of the Adjabeng District Magistrate’s Court which had remanded three executives IMC into police custody.
According to the High Court, it was wrong in law for the district court to revoke a bail it (district court) had earlier granted to the accused persons because it had no jurisdiction to do so.
The lower court had, on February 24, 2011, remanded Baba G. Seidu and Ahmed Gado who had appeared before it on the grounds that they had flouted the court's order.
On March 3, 2011, it declined to renew its orders that revoked the bail granted to the accused persons and, accordingly, remanded a third accused person, Dr Somtim Tobiga, who was absent on February 24, after revoking his bail.
On February 24, 2011, the presiding District Magistrate, Mrs Faustina Mary Addington, after revoking their bail, had further ordered the agents, assigns and workmen of the accused persons to vacate the premises until the final determination of the case.
It has however, extended an olive branch to all its members who are challenging the eligibility of the current executive in court and also urged those who have been occupying the party’s offices to vacate and “apologise to the law abiding rank and file of the party, because the party believes that the courts are the place to settle inter party disputes”.
All constituency elections would be held between May and July while the all regional elections would be held within August. They have not fixed charges for nominations.
Members of the embattled national executive committee (NEC) who are in a legal tussle with some members, who call themselves an Interim Management Committee (IMC), led by Dr Sontim Tobiga challenging the NEC’s eligibility to hold themselves as such
This was after the NEC had broken into the party’s national headquarters at Abavana Junction in Accra which had been under lock and key of the IMC over the last two months to old a press conference there.
The breaking in and changing of the locks by the NEC, led by Dr Edward Mahama who is the leader of the party, was under the supervision of Detective Sergeant Henry Nettey from the Maamobi Police Station.
The supervision of the entry by the police became necessary because the occupancy was part of the case pending before the law court. All the national executive members had earlier in the day held its meeting at the Kingsby Hotel at Achimota and after that drove to the locked headquarters to break and change the locks.
Addressing the press at the headquarters, which was attended by all regional executives, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Chairman, Bernard Mornah, General Secretray, Dr Mahama said while he had accepted his share of responsibility for the problems facing the PNC, other leading members should as well accept their role in the party’s difficulties.
Reacting to claims by the IMC that it was illegal for Dr Mahama contest as the flag bearer for more that two consecutive times, Dr Mahama said it their claims were to be true, the Electoral Commission (EC) which had a copy of the PNC would not have supervised the party congress that elected him and also accept his nomination.
He said for those other party members who were anxious to occupy party positions, they should bid their time, respect the party’s constitution and structures and offer themselves when nominations opened.
On March 11, 2011, the Accra Fast Track High Court quashed the decision of the Adjabeng District Magistrate’s Court which had remanded three executives IMC into police custody.
According to the High Court, it was wrong in law for the district court to revoke a bail it (district court) had earlier granted to the accused persons because it had no jurisdiction to do so.
The lower court had, on February 24, 2011, remanded Baba G. Seidu and Ahmed Gado who had appeared before it on the grounds that they had flouted the court's order.
On March 3, 2011, it declined to renew its orders that revoked the bail granted to the accused persons and, accordingly, remanded a third accused person, Dr Somtim Tobiga, who was absent on February 24, after revoking his bail.
On February 24, 2011, the presiding District Magistrate, Mrs Faustina Mary Addington, after revoking their bail, had further ordered the agents, assigns and workmen of the accused persons to vacate the premises until the final determination of the case.
Let’s resource EC to undertake boimetric registration — NPP
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged the government to ensure that the Electoral Commission (EC) receives adequate resources on time to enable it undertake the biometric registration to replace the current bloated voters register.
He argued that the widespread irregularities that had characterised previous general elections, particularly double registration, voting and involvement of minors in the polls, all leading to confusion, misunderstanding and violence required the introduction of a biometric voters register to address those challenges.
The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, who was commenting on the issue to the Daily Graphic noted that these irregularities posed the greatest threat to the nation’s democratic process because elections and its related issues had been the breeding grounds for most precariousness in Africa countries.
In February this year, the EC advertised in the Daily Graphic requesting for an expression of interest in the biometric technology to replace the existing voters register that was compiled in 2004.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie noted that although the biometric registration did not hold the magic wand to solve all election disputes that might erupt, it would minimise them drastically, including affording the stakeholders the greatest opportunity to have easy verification when there was any doubtful situation.
He said the EC had shown commitment to use the biometric technology to register, the party was also aware that the commission was in the process of submitting the budget for the use of the technology to Parliament in a supplementary budget and appealed to the “Mills Administration not to repeat its attitude of cutting down on budgets submitted.
“The NPP is calling on the Mills-Mahama Administration to be bold and ensure that when the EC submits its supplementary budget, which included funds for the implementation of the biometric register to replace the 2004 register, it would receive funds needed.
“They should walk the talk because the voters register was the basic to every election process. Although the NDC government lacks credibility when it comes to fulfilling promises, it should not exhibit such unreliability when the time for releasing funds for the process was due,” he added.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie advised the EC to exert its independence guaranteed under 1992 Constitution and make the Ghanaians aware of any constraints they would encounter in the process of requesting for funds to undertake the project and “not to sit idle and fall into the pockets of the government”.
He noted that there was no denial of the fact that democracy was expensive and a country that professed to be committed to democracy must put its money where its mouth was.
Regarding the NPP’s parliamentary elections, Mr Owusu-Afriyie expressed satisfaction at the turn of events and attributed the peaceful nature of the process so far to the guidelines set out and the nation wide tour embarked upon by the party Chairman, Mr Jake Obetsbi-Lamptey, the Flag Bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other executives.
He added that the party had not had any course to put any of its members before any committee to solve parliamentary primary disputes and urged the members, especially the constituency executives to maintain the level playing field for all aspirants.
He paid a glowing tribute to the Upper East Regional Chairperson of the opposition NPP, Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia, for respecting the party’s rules and stepping down to contest the Builsa North slot, where she used to be the Member of Parliament.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie said contrary to speculation that the party filing fees were exorbitant, parliamentary hopefuls had paid without complaint.
Early this year, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey wrote to the EC Chairman, urging him to reconvene an immediate meeting of the political parties to consider matters that would ensure a hitch-free 2012 polls.
The Inter-Parties Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings, the chairman stated, would enable the parties to sort out major issues before the next elections. Such a meeting would afford the parties the opportunity to brood over key electoral matters such as the aftermath of the release of the census results and the possible re-demarcation of constituencies and the creation of new ones. Also making such meetings necessary, he noted, was the compilation of a new, verifiable biometric voters' register.
He argued that the widespread irregularities that had characterised previous general elections, particularly double registration, voting and involvement of minors in the polls, all leading to confusion, misunderstanding and violence required the introduction of a biometric voters register to address those challenges.
The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, who was commenting on the issue to the Daily Graphic noted that these irregularities posed the greatest threat to the nation’s democratic process because elections and its related issues had been the breeding grounds for most precariousness in Africa countries.
In February this year, the EC advertised in the Daily Graphic requesting for an expression of interest in the biometric technology to replace the existing voters register that was compiled in 2004.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie noted that although the biometric registration did not hold the magic wand to solve all election disputes that might erupt, it would minimise them drastically, including affording the stakeholders the greatest opportunity to have easy verification when there was any doubtful situation.
He said the EC had shown commitment to use the biometric technology to register, the party was also aware that the commission was in the process of submitting the budget for the use of the technology to Parliament in a supplementary budget and appealed to the “Mills Administration not to repeat its attitude of cutting down on budgets submitted.
“The NPP is calling on the Mills-Mahama Administration to be bold and ensure that when the EC submits its supplementary budget, which included funds for the implementation of the biometric register to replace the 2004 register, it would receive funds needed.
“They should walk the talk because the voters register was the basic to every election process. Although the NDC government lacks credibility when it comes to fulfilling promises, it should not exhibit such unreliability when the time for releasing funds for the process was due,” he added.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie advised the EC to exert its independence guaranteed under 1992 Constitution and make the Ghanaians aware of any constraints they would encounter in the process of requesting for funds to undertake the project and “not to sit idle and fall into the pockets of the government”.
He noted that there was no denial of the fact that democracy was expensive and a country that professed to be committed to democracy must put its money where its mouth was.
Regarding the NPP’s parliamentary elections, Mr Owusu-Afriyie expressed satisfaction at the turn of events and attributed the peaceful nature of the process so far to the guidelines set out and the nation wide tour embarked upon by the party Chairman, Mr Jake Obetsbi-Lamptey, the Flag Bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other executives.
He added that the party had not had any course to put any of its members before any committee to solve parliamentary primary disputes and urged the members, especially the constituency executives to maintain the level playing field for all aspirants.
He paid a glowing tribute to the Upper East Regional Chairperson of the opposition NPP, Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia, for respecting the party’s rules and stepping down to contest the Builsa North slot, where she used to be the Member of Parliament.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie said contrary to speculation that the party filing fees were exorbitant, parliamentary hopefuls had paid without complaint.
Early this year, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey wrote to the EC Chairman, urging him to reconvene an immediate meeting of the political parties to consider matters that would ensure a hitch-free 2012 polls.
The Inter-Parties Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings, the chairman stated, would enable the parties to sort out major issues before the next elections. Such a meeting would afford the parties the opportunity to brood over key electoral matters such as the aftermath of the release of the census results and the possible re-demarcation of constituencies and the creation of new ones. Also making such meetings necessary, he noted, was the compilation of a new, verifiable biometric voters' register.
CPP committed to offering leadership roles to women—Evelyn Anabila
The National Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Ms Evelyn Anabila, has described the CPP as the only political party that is committed to offering more women opportunities to be in leadership positions.
She said the party did not only pay lip-service to offering chances for women to realise their political potential, but had backed such pledges with concrete actions that included amending its constitution to allow women to be appointed to all leadership positions.
Ms Anabila, therefore, urged other political parties and institutions to refrain from the rhetoric about women’s participation and ensure that there were rules and regulations that were targeted at increasing the number of women in leadership positions.
Ms Anabila, who is the only female national organiser of a political party in the country, said the CPP had since independence proven beyond doubt that it was committed to the cause of offering women the necessary platform to actively participate in the democratic process and voted for a female as its current National Organiser.
She explained that the CPP Central Committee at its recent meeting directed its constitution review committee to ensure that the amended constitution made provision for more women to take up national positions and include clauses that made it mandatory for the party to appoint at least one woman each as a deputy for all national executive positions after the general conference.
Ms Anabila recalled the concrete affirmative steps by Dr Kwame Nkrumah during the First Republic to ensure that more Ghanaian women were given the opportunity to participate in political activities to the highest level, which was amply demonstrated when he appointed 10 women from the various regions as Members of Parliament (MPs).
She said the enormous contribution and tremendous work of these women in the male-dominated Parliament was commendable and that if the affirmative action was continued in subsequent democratic dispensations, Ghana would have had at least 60 women in the 230-member parliament and the situation where currently there were only 18 women in the House would be avoided.
She argued that comparatively, the CPP’s filing fees had always been the lowest, compared with other political parties, especially the two main parties — National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Ms Anabila said apart from reducing its original filing fees by 50 per cent, it had further given female aspirants another 25 per cent rebate as a way of encouraging women and levelling the playing field for them.
She said the party believed that once women were given such opportunities it would prop them up and they would use their positions to prepare adequately to be able to contest male-dominated positions in future without fear of intimidation and the use of other rough tactics associated with elections.
She paid glowing tribute to her female colleagues in political positions, especially those in the CPP, including Mrs Susan Adu Amankwah, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the CPP, for keeping the flame burning.
The party, at its central committee meeting, reduced all filing fees by 50 per cent.
Additionally, all women who want to contest any national or regional executive position would have their filing fees further reduced by 25 per cent.
With the 50 per cent reduction the new fees are as follows: National Chairman, GH¢10,000.00; Vice-chairman, GH¢ 7,500.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 7,500.00; General Secretary, GH¢ 7,500.00 and Organisers – GH¢ 2,500.00.
For the regional positions the fees are: Chairman, GH¢ 500.00; Vice-chairman, GH¢400.00; Regional Secretaries, GH¢ 400.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 400.00 and all others GH¢ 250.00.
She said the party did not only pay lip-service to offering chances for women to realise their political potential, but had backed such pledges with concrete actions that included amending its constitution to allow women to be appointed to all leadership positions.
Ms Anabila, therefore, urged other political parties and institutions to refrain from the rhetoric about women’s participation and ensure that there were rules and regulations that were targeted at increasing the number of women in leadership positions.
Ms Anabila, who is the only female national organiser of a political party in the country, said the CPP had since independence proven beyond doubt that it was committed to the cause of offering women the necessary platform to actively participate in the democratic process and voted for a female as its current National Organiser.
She explained that the CPP Central Committee at its recent meeting directed its constitution review committee to ensure that the amended constitution made provision for more women to take up national positions and include clauses that made it mandatory for the party to appoint at least one woman each as a deputy for all national executive positions after the general conference.
Ms Anabila recalled the concrete affirmative steps by Dr Kwame Nkrumah during the First Republic to ensure that more Ghanaian women were given the opportunity to participate in political activities to the highest level, which was amply demonstrated when he appointed 10 women from the various regions as Members of Parliament (MPs).
She said the enormous contribution and tremendous work of these women in the male-dominated Parliament was commendable and that if the affirmative action was continued in subsequent democratic dispensations, Ghana would have had at least 60 women in the 230-member parliament and the situation where currently there were only 18 women in the House would be avoided.
She argued that comparatively, the CPP’s filing fees had always been the lowest, compared with other political parties, especially the two main parties — National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Ms Anabila said apart from reducing its original filing fees by 50 per cent, it had further given female aspirants another 25 per cent rebate as a way of encouraging women and levelling the playing field for them.
She said the party believed that once women were given such opportunities it would prop them up and they would use their positions to prepare adequately to be able to contest male-dominated positions in future without fear of intimidation and the use of other rough tactics associated with elections.
She paid glowing tribute to her female colleagues in political positions, especially those in the CPP, including Mrs Susan Adu Amankwah, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the CPP, for keeping the flame burning.
The party, at its central committee meeting, reduced all filing fees by 50 per cent.
Additionally, all women who want to contest any national or regional executive position would have their filing fees further reduced by 25 per cent.
With the 50 per cent reduction the new fees are as follows: National Chairman, GH¢10,000.00; Vice-chairman, GH¢ 7,500.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 7,500.00; General Secretary, GH¢ 7,500.00 and Organisers – GH¢ 2,500.00.
For the regional positions the fees are: Chairman, GH¢ 500.00; Vice-chairman, GH¢400.00; Regional Secretaries, GH¢ 400.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 400.00 and all others GH¢ 250.00.
Yakubu commends PNC NEC, Mahama
A MEMBER of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Usman Yakubu, has commended the National Executive Committee of the party and Dr Edward Mahama, the leader of the party for extending an olive branch to some members of the PNC who are battling the leadership of the party in court.
He has also urged the members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), who are in court, to accept the olive branch and assist in amicably settling what he termed “family matters out of court so that we can spend our meagre energies and resources not litigating in court but reorganising the party to win the 2012 general elections”.
Last Friday, Dr Mahama extended an olive branch to all members of the party who are challenging the eligibility of the current executive in court and also urged those who have been occupying the party’s offices to vacate and “apologise to the law abiding rank and file of the party, because the party believes that the courts are not the place to settle inter party disputes.”
Mr Yakubu was elated that the lock to the party headquarters and the photographs of the leading party members which were the main issue at the court could easily be taken out of court.
That, he said, was because in the full glare of the media and national executive members of the party, all the photographs were found intact at the headquarters and also a police officer witnessed the breaking into and changing of the locks to the headquarters.
He noted that now that the National Executive had entered their offices without let or hindrance, they should pursue peaceful settlement with the IMC and should not let the extension of the olive branch be only a rhetoric, adding that “it also behoves on the members of the IMC to work towards smoking of the peace pipe.”
The three members of the IMC, Dr Sontim Tobiga, Baba G. Seidu and Ahmed Gado, were arrested and charged with unlawfully breaking into the national headquarters and stealing framed photograph of leading members of the party totalling GH¢ 1,700.
Mr Yakubu also pleaded with members of the IMC to show good faith and utilise the opportunity by allowing an out of court settlement, adding that “by the grace of God we are preparing to go to congress in November 25, 2011 and the best they can also do is to commit themselves to ensure that the processes leading to the congress were free, fair and transparent.”
He said those who were against the current executive and Dr Mahama have the opportunity to either stand against them or lobby others whom they believe could win national positions.
He said with the deepening rivalry between the NDC and the NPP, the PNC had the best opportunity to present a united front to Ghanaians and win the 2012 elections.
On February 24, 2011, the presiding District Magistrate, Mrs Faustina Mary Addington, after revoking their bail, had further ordered the agents, assigns and workmen of the accused persons to vacate the premises until the final determination of the case.
On March 11, 2011, the Accra Fast Track High Court quashed the decision of the Adjabeng District Magistrate’s Court which had remanded the three executives IMC into police custody.
According to the High Court, it was wrong in law for the district court to revoke a bail it (district court) had earlier granted to the accused persons because it had no jurisdiction to do so.
He has also urged the members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), who are in court, to accept the olive branch and assist in amicably settling what he termed “family matters out of court so that we can spend our meagre energies and resources not litigating in court but reorganising the party to win the 2012 general elections”.
Last Friday, Dr Mahama extended an olive branch to all members of the party who are challenging the eligibility of the current executive in court and also urged those who have been occupying the party’s offices to vacate and “apologise to the law abiding rank and file of the party, because the party believes that the courts are not the place to settle inter party disputes.”
Mr Yakubu was elated that the lock to the party headquarters and the photographs of the leading party members which were the main issue at the court could easily be taken out of court.
That, he said, was because in the full glare of the media and national executive members of the party, all the photographs were found intact at the headquarters and also a police officer witnessed the breaking into and changing of the locks to the headquarters.
He noted that now that the National Executive had entered their offices without let or hindrance, they should pursue peaceful settlement with the IMC and should not let the extension of the olive branch be only a rhetoric, adding that “it also behoves on the members of the IMC to work towards smoking of the peace pipe.”
The three members of the IMC, Dr Sontim Tobiga, Baba G. Seidu and Ahmed Gado, were arrested and charged with unlawfully breaking into the national headquarters and stealing framed photograph of leading members of the party totalling GH¢ 1,700.
Mr Yakubu also pleaded with members of the IMC to show good faith and utilise the opportunity by allowing an out of court settlement, adding that “by the grace of God we are preparing to go to congress in November 25, 2011 and the best they can also do is to commit themselves to ensure that the processes leading to the congress were free, fair and transparent.”
He said those who were against the current executive and Dr Mahama have the opportunity to either stand against them or lobby others whom they believe could win national positions.
He said with the deepening rivalry between the NDC and the NPP, the PNC had the best opportunity to present a united front to Ghanaians and win the 2012 elections.
On February 24, 2011, the presiding District Magistrate, Mrs Faustina Mary Addington, after revoking their bail, had further ordered the agents, assigns and workmen of the accused persons to vacate the premises until the final determination of the case.
On March 11, 2011, the Accra Fast Track High Court quashed the decision of the Adjabeng District Magistrate’s Court which had remanded the three executives IMC into police custody.
According to the High Court, it was wrong in law for the district court to revoke a bail it (district court) had earlier granted to the accused persons because it had no jurisdiction to do so.
Tension brew at CPP Jomoro constituency
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) assistant Secretary for the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Mr Francis Akesseh, has accused the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, of resorting to the divide and rule tactics and other wrong moves that are endangering the party’s only seat.
“What Samia is doing will jeopardise the chances of our only seat. We are, therefore, calling on the national executive to as a matter of urgency conduct investigations into Samia and her group’s activities and instil discipline,” he added.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the Assistant Jomoro Constituency Secretary alleged that since Ms Nkrumah won the seat, she had refused to deal with the entire constituency executive but had resorted to using her favourites to manage the constituency, instead of the elected executive.
He added that this and other issues such as not recognising the position of some constituency executive and refusing to visit parts of the constituency after she had won the elections, culminated in the Chairman of the Constituency, Mr Francis K. Tandoh, to resign his position.
He added that although it was not within the authority of the executive of the constituency to receive and accept the resignation of their chairman, the other executive in Samia’s camp did and wrote to Mr Tandoh.
According to Mr Akesseh, who was accompanied to Accra by Mr Anthony A. Mensah, Bonyere branch executive member of the party, currently the MP had formed a team outside the constituency executive who have been holding meetings and taking decisions for the constituency.
He said another worrying development was that after the chairman had resigned, the regional executive connived with Samia’s group to swear in the second constituency vice chairman as the new chairman while the first vice chairman who was the next in line got sidelined.
However, Ms Nkrumah denied all the allegations and said it had taken a lot of hard work from committed members and supporters to win the only seat for the CPP and that it was working relentlessly to retain the seat and advised that any move to spoil the work done would not be in the interest of the party.
Ms Nkrumah who is contesting the CPP Chairmanship position said it was people who were not comfortable with her declaration to contest for the chairmanship position of the party who have started spreading all these unfounded allegations but added that she would not be deterred in her quest to become the chairperson of CPP.
The Western Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Samuel Gordon Etroo, dismissed the allegations claiming that they were orchestrated by people who were not comfortable about Ms Nkrumah’s ambition to become the chairman of the party.
Mr Etroo alleged that the dirty works was being “orchestrated by some people who have been using the CPP’s name over the years to enrich themselves at the expense of the dwindling fortunes of the CPP, they are afraid that when Samia becomes the chairman of the party, those opportunities would cease, hence the use of all sort of foul means to thwart her move to become the CPP chairman”.
Explaining why the constituency chairman resigned and how he was replaced with the second vice chairman, Mr Etroo said when he received the resignation letter from the constituency to that effect, he called for a meeting with the executive and the chairman, but the chairman refused to attend the meeting.
He alleged during a meeting with the Mr Tandoh, he insisted that because he (Mr Tandoh) had assisted Samia to win the seat, Samia must support him some money as capital to trade with, a situation Mr Etroo said he could not fathom.
Mr Etroo said when his several attempts to persuade Mr Tandoh to rescind his decision had failed he (Mr Etroo) sent the resignation letter to the Central Committee and NEC at the national headquarters which accepted and wrote back to Mr Tandoh.
He said the party decided on the second vice chairman to replace the Mr Tandoh, because the first vice chairman hardly attended any party meetings, had very little time for party activities and that was the reason why the second vice chairman became the obvious choice.
Mr Etroo said he had risked his life travelling to the various constituencies in the region for party activities with his time and resources as well as to Accra for party meetings and therefore he would not sit idle for the party to collapse.
Mr Etroo appealed to the members of the party not to allow themselves to be used by people who were not interested in the growth and prosperity of the party and were bent on breeding disunity among the members of the Jomoro constituency.
The Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr Bejamin Fameyeh corroborated what Mr Etroo had said and added that aside those problems, the real problem even started before Samia won the seat.
He said Mr Tandoh had a language barriers as far as Samia was concerned because he (Mr Tandoh) could not speak English and that anyone he saw talking to Samia was taken as talking ill about him and added that the constituency executives were preparing a press conference to expose all those behind the ill machinations to destroy the hard won reputation of Samia.
“What Samia is doing will jeopardise the chances of our only seat. We are, therefore, calling on the national executive to as a matter of urgency conduct investigations into Samia and her group’s activities and instil discipline,” he added.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the Assistant Jomoro Constituency Secretary alleged that since Ms Nkrumah won the seat, she had refused to deal with the entire constituency executive but had resorted to using her favourites to manage the constituency, instead of the elected executive.
He added that this and other issues such as not recognising the position of some constituency executive and refusing to visit parts of the constituency after she had won the elections, culminated in the Chairman of the Constituency, Mr Francis K. Tandoh, to resign his position.
He added that although it was not within the authority of the executive of the constituency to receive and accept the resignation of their chairman, the other executive in Samia’s camp did and wrote to Mr Tandoh.
According to Mr Akesseh, who was accompanied to Accra by Mr Anthony A. Mensah, Bonyere branch executive member of the party, currently the MP had formed a team outside the constituency executive who have been holding meetings and taking decisions for the constituency.
He said another worrying development was that after the chairman had resigned, the regional executive connived with Samia’s group to swear in the second constituency vice chairman as the new chairman while the first vice chairman who was the next in line got sidelined.
However, Ms Nkrumah denied all the allegations and said it had taken a lot of hard work from committed members and supporters to win the only seat for the CPP and that it was working relentlessly to retain the seat and advised that any move to spoil the work done would not be in the interest of the party.
Ms Nkrumah who is contesting the CPP Chairmanship position said it was people who were not comfortable with her declaration to contest for the chairmanship position of the party who have started spreading all these unfounded allegations but added that she would not be deterred in her quest to become the chairperson of CPP.
The Western Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Samuel Gordon Etroo, dismissed the allegations claiming that they were orchestrated by people who were not comfortable about Ms Nkrumah’s ambition to become the chairman of the party.
Mr Etroo alleged that the dirty works was being “orchestrated by some people who have been using the CPP’s name over the years to enrich themselves at the expense of the dwindling fortunes of the CPP, they are afraid that when Samia becomes the chairman of the party, those opportunities would cease, hence the use of all sort of foul means to thwart her move to become the CPP chairman”.
Explaining why the constituency chairman resigned and how he was replaced with the second vice chairman, Mr Etroo said when he received the resignation letter from the constituency to that effect, he called for a meeting with the executive and the chairman, but the chairman refused to attend the meeting.
He alleged during a meeting with the Mr Tandoh, he insisted that because he (Mr Tandoh) had assisted Samia to win the seat, Samia must support him some money as capital to trade with, a situation Mr Etroo said he could not fathom.
Mr Etroo said when his several attempts to persuade Mr Tandoh to rescind his decision had failed he (Mr Etroo) sent the resignation letter to the Central Committee and NEC at the national headquarters which accepted and wrote back to Mr Tandoh.
He said the party decided on the second vice chairman to replace the Mr Tandoh, because the first vice chairman hardly attended any party meetings, had very little time for party activities and that was the reason why the second vice chairman became the obvious choice.
Mr Etroo said he had risked his life travelling to the various constituencies in the region for party activities with his time and resources as well as to Accra for party meetings and therefore he would not sit idle for the party to collapse.
Mr Etroo appealed to the members of the party not to allow themselves to be used by people who were not interested in the growth and prosperity of the party and were bent on breeding disunity among the members of the Jomoro constituency.
The Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr Bejamin Fameyeh corroborated what Mr Etroo had said and added that aside those problems, the real problem even started before Samia won the seat.
He said Mr Tandoh had a language barriers as far as Samia was concerned because he (Mr Tandoh) could not speak English and that anyone he saw talking to Samia was taken as talking ill about him and added that the constituency executives were preparing a press conference to expose all those behind the ill machinations to destroy the hard won reputation of Samia.
Ensure utterances help NPP to win elections — Aspirant
AN aspiring parliamentary hopeful for the New Abirim constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Osei Frimpong, has urged other aspirants and their supporters to ensure their utterances and deeds were geared towards positioning the party to win the 2012 elections.
He said aspirants and their supporters should not resort to strategies that would divide and weaken the support base of the party, a situation that would affect the party’s aim of winning the 2012 general elections.
Mr Frimpong, who was addressing the media in Accra, noted that since 1992, he had observed that anytime NPP parliamentary aspirants used clean campaign, avoided throwing mud at each other and united after the primaries their chances of wining the elections were always greater.
Four other aspirants, popular actress, Ms Grace Omaboe, affectionately called Maame Dokono, an Engineer, Mr Daniel Kwaku Afriyie are challenging the Member of Parliament, Ms Esther Abena Dapaah in the party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries.
Mr Frimpong expressed optimism about his chances of winning the primary and maintaining the seat for the party and even increase the votes to ensure that the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, win the 2012 elections.
He described himself as a consensus candidate whose deposition would even attract supporters of other party including those in the NDC to vote for the NPP for a landslide victory for the party.
He noted that when he was given the nod as the party’s candidate and ultimately wins the seat, he would operate an open door policy, represent the aspirations of the constituents and assist in making laws that would bring development to the nation.
He said aspirants and their supporters should not resort to strategies that would divide and weaken the support base of the party, a situation that would affect the party’s aim of winning the 2012 general elections.
Mr Frimpong, who was addressing the media in Accra, noted that since 1992, he had observed that anytime NPP parliamentary aspirants used clean campaign, avoided throwing mud at each other and united after the primaries their chances of wining the elections were always greater.
Four other aspirants, popular actress, Ms Grace Omaboe, affectionately called Maame Dokono, an Engineer, Mr Daniel Kwaku Afriyie are challenging the Member of Parliament, Ms Esther Abena Dapaah in the party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries.
Mr Frimpong expressed optimism about his chances of winning the primary and maintaining the seat for the party and even increase the votes to ensure that the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, win the 2012 elections.
He described himself as a consensus candidate whose deposition would even attract supporters of other party including those in the NDC to vote for the NPP for a landslide victory for the party.
He noted that when he was given the nod as the party’s candidate and ultimately wins the seat, he would operate an open door policy, represent the aspirations of the constituents and assist in making laws that would bring development to the nation.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NDC challenges Kufuor about Bui City Project
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has challenged former President JA Kufuor to come out with how his administration intended to build the Bui City which he promised Ghanaians.
According to him, President Kufuor was only building castles in the air when his administration promised Ghanaians that the Bui Hydro Project included a Bui City, which consisted of skyscrapers, a university, among other developments.
The NDC General Secretary was addressing youth organisers from the 10 regions at a conference dubbed ‘2011 Action Year’ in Accra.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah, who is also a board member of the Bui Project, said President Kufuor set a precedent by amending the laws of the country just to become the first President in Ghanaian history to become a board chairman, specifically of the Bui Project.
“There is nothing like Bui City in the Project agreement. And that we will invite former President Kufuor not as a former president, but as a former board chairman of the Bui Project, to tell Ghanaians where the funds for Bui City Project are,” he noted.
He accused the NPP of peddling lies about the project to the extent that, they were claiming that Vice-President John Dramani Mahama had relocated the Bui City Project to the north.
He said apart from the $622 million for the project, there was no funds again for any such project as Bui City.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah stated that no government had survived on vile propaganda and falsehood but unfortunately the NPP believed in such things to the extent that their own members and supporters fell victim to such ugly propaganda.
He said just before the 2008 elections the NPP, in their usual style, succeeded in coming out with opinion polls that sought to put their presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, ahead of then candidate Mills, with a huge percentage difference.
He explained that such falsehood was told consistently to the extent that the NPP supporters and members believed that there was no need to intensify their campaign, because they had already won elections.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the NPP also tagged candidate Mills as “Asomdwehen” in a derogatory manner but when they realised that it had backfired, they started calling him a violent person.
This, he said, went on to the extent that the NPP together with its newspapers and radio stations twisted comments Prof. Mills made about power sharing in Kenya.
He said the NPP propagandist claimed that President Mills was interested in power sharing, and even when he held a press conference to state that the NDC was not interested in power sharing like what was then taking place in Kenya, the NPP claimed Prof. Mills was threatening that what had happened in Kenya would be visited on Ghanaians if he did not win the 2008 elections.
“We in the NDC will not pursue falsehood, and will also not reply lies with untruths. Because truth stands and we will continue to be on the side of truth,” he added.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the NDC party had also declared 2011 as ‘Action year’ and directed all party executives and members at various levels to set in motion processes and procedures in that direction.
He said this year, the NDC would elect parliamentary and presidential candidates and that the members of the party should not waste their resources and time to respond to the vile propaganda of the NPP, which was aimed at ensuring that the NDC deviated from its better Ghana agenda.
Regarding the infamous ‘All die be die’ comments from Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said although such comments showed how violent the NPP and its leadership were and also benefited the NDC, he still believed that the political scene should be decorous.
He attributed the violent and ethnocentric comments from Nana Akufo-Addo to the fact that he had run out of ideas and did not have any alternative policy, programme or strategy for Ghanaians.
According to him, President Kufuor was only building castles in the air when his administration promised Ghanaians that the Bui Hydro Project included a Bui City, which consisted of skyscrapers, a university, among other developments.
The NDC General Secretary was addressing youth organisers from the 10 regions at a conference dubbed ‘2011 Action Year’ in Accra.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah, who is also a board member of the Bui Project, said President Kufuor set a precedent by amending the laws of the country just to become the first President in Ghanaian history to become a board chairman, specifically of the Bui Project.
“There is nothing like Bui City in the Project agreement. And that we will invite former President Kufuor not as a former president, but as a former board chairman of the Bui Project, to tell Ghanaians where the funds for Bui City Project are,” he noted.
He accused the NPP of peddling lies about the project to the extent that, they were claiming that Vice-President John Dramani Mahama had relocated the Bui City Project to the north.
He said apart from the $622 million for the project, there was no funds again for any such project as Bui City.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah stated that no government had survived on vile propaganda and falsehood but unfortunately the NPP believed in such things to the extent that their own members and supporters fell victim to such ugly propaganda.
He said just before the 2008 elections the NPP, in their usual style, succeeded in coming out with opinion polls that sought to put their presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, ahead of then candidate Mills, with a huge percentage difference.
He explained that such falsehood was told consistently to the extent that the NPP supporters and members believed that there was no need to intensify their campaign, because they had already won elections.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the NPP also tagged candidate Mills as “Asomdwehen” in a derogatory manner but when they realised that it had backfired, they started calling him a violent person.
This, he said, went on to the extent that the NPP together with its newspapers and radio stations twisted comments Prof. Mills made about power sharing in Kenya.
He said the NPP propagandist claimed that President Mills was interested in power sharing, and even when he held a press conference to state that the NDC was not interested in power sharing like what was then taking place in Kenya, the NPP claimed Prof. Mills was threatening that what had happened in Kenya would be visited on Ghanaians if he did not win the 2008 elections.
“We in the NDC will not pursue falsehood, and will also not reply lies with untruths. Because truth stands and we will continue to be on the side of truth,” he added.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the NDC party had also declared 2011 as ‘Action year’ and directed all party executives and members at various levels to set in motion processes and procedures in that direction.
He said this year, the NDC would elect parliamentary and presidential candidates and that the members of the party should not waste their resources and time to respond to the vile propaganda of the NPP, which was aimed at ensuring that the NDC deviated from its better Ghana agenda.
Regarding the infamous ‘All die be die’ comments from Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said although such comments showed how violent the NPP and its leadership were and also benefited the NDC, he still believed that the political scene should be decorous.
He attributed the violent and ethnocentric comments from Nana Akufo-Addo to the fact that he had run out of ideas and did not have any alternative policy, programme or strategy for Ghanaians.
Kufuor, Oware to answer Bui charges?
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, has hinted that former President J.A. Kufuor, who was a board Chairman of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), and Mr Fred Oware, the former BPA CEO, will be made to appear before the board to answer some questions about the project.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah who is also a board member of the BPA, explained that the invitation had become necessary because “no board minutes covering the period the BPA operated with former President Kufuor as chairman of the board and Mr Oware as CEO were handed over to the current board”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday the NDC General Secretary noted that one such issue the new board wanted to find out was the rationale behind the acquisition of land to include major settlements like Bamboi, Tasilima and Carpenter which did not fall within the catchment area of the project.
He added that this was against the backdrop that the project did not make provision for compensation for land acquisition. “It must not be lost on us that when lands are compulsorily acquired by the state under Act 125, it is required that immediate and adequate compensation for all lands and properties must be paid to the affected owners”.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah wondered why at the inception of the project the NPP created the impression that it had three components; Bui Hydroelectric, Bui Irrigation and Bui City projects.
However, he noted that the new board had realised that whereas the hydroelectric and irrigation components were covered in the planning and funding arrangements, there was no feasibility studies, no architectural designs and no financial provisions for any preparatory work or implementation of the Bui City Project.
He added that whereas as per the project arrangement the BPA had no say in the mode of acquisition or sourcing of materials for the construction work, the BPA had no obligation to certify that the quality of materials agreed with the specification and standards contained in the project agreement.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said it was a fact that granite aggregate whose quality had not been queried by the Kufuor board had been rejected by the current board because the quality did not meet the project’s specifications.
He produced a document from Coyne Et Bellier, consultants to the projects, to confirm the rejection which states that in part that “The aggregates from the zone of the quarry presently operated cannot, according to the contractor test result be used for structures in Conventional Vibrated concrete as they do not match the specification.”
He explained that when BPA exercised its right to reject sub standard materials, all the related cost was borne by the contractor, and asked what Mr Oware meant when he suggested that the current board insisted on a particular supplier of chippings which was going to increase the project cost by an additional $ 50 million.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that these and other issues were the most important things that should engage the attention of the media and not Mr Oware’s tactics to divert attention from the issues by spewing half truths and lies calculated to tarnish his (Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s) hard won reputation.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah announced that his lawyers were on their way to the high court to file a suit against Mr Oware for libelling him, and unfounded allegations of conflict of interest and insider trading levelled against him.
He explained that on several occasions Mr Oware had engaged in several misrepresentations of issues, one of which was that under schedule number 17 of the contract, he fraudulently sought to misrepresent item 17.06 as Bui City and Irrigation project when in fact the document he presented mentioned irrigation structures with the sum of $ 12 million.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah who is also a board member of the BPA, explained that the invitation had become necessary because “no board minutes covering the period the BPA operated with former President Kufuor as chairman of the board and Mr Oware as CEO were handed over to the current board”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday the NDC General Secretary noted that one such issue the new board wanted to find out was the rationale behind the acquisition of land to include major settlements like Bamboi, Tasilima and Carpenter which did not fall within the catchment area of the project.
He added that this was against the backdrop that the project did not make provision for compensation for land acquisition. “It must not be lost on us that when lands are compulsorily acquired by the state under Act 125, it is required that immediate and adequate compensation for all lands and properties must be paid to the affected owners”.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah wondered why at the inception of the project the NPP created the impression that it had three components; Bui Hydroelectric, Bui Irrigation and Bui City projects.
However, he noted that the new board had realised that whereas the hydroelectric and irrigation components were covered in the planning and funding arrangements, there was no feasibility studies, no architectural designs and no financial provisions for any preparatory work or implementation of the Bui City Project.
He added that whereas as per the project arrangement the BPA had no say in the mode of acquisition or sourcing of materials for the construction work, the BPA had no obligation to certify that the quality of materials agreed with the specification and standards contained in the project agreement.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said it was a fact that granite aggregate whose quality had not been queried by the Kufuor board had been rejected by the current board because the quality did not meet the project’s specifications.
He produced a document from Coyne Et Bellier, consultants to the projects, to confirm the rejection which states that in part that “The aggregates from the zone of the quarry presently operated cannot, according to the contractor test result be used for structures in Conventional Vibrated concrete as they do not match the specification.”
He explained that when BPA exercised its right to reject sub standard materials, all the related cost was borne by the contractor, and asked what Mr Oware meant when he suggested that the current board insisted on a particular supplier of chippings which was going to increase the project cost by an additional $ 50 million.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that these and other issues were the most important things that should engage the attention of the media and not Mr Oware’s tactics to divert attention from the issues by spewing half truths and lies calculated to tarnish his (Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s) hard won reputation.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah announced that his lawyers were on their way to the high court to file a suit against Mr Oware for libelling him, and unfounded allegations of conflict of interest and insider trading levelled against him.
He explained that on several occasions Mr Oware had engaged in several misrepresentations of issues, one of which was that under schedule number 17 of the contract, he fraudulently sought to misrepresent item 17.06 as Bui City and Irrigation project when in fact the document he presented mentioned irrigation structures with the sum of $ 12 million.
World Bank supports Ghana
GHANA has received $88.6 million from the World Bank to generate employment and increase income to the poor.
The credit facility is also to improve social protection spending and increase access to employment and cash revenue for the rural poor during agricultural off-seasons by improving economic and social infrastructure.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, made this known to the Daily Graphic last Friday when he was travelling to India and Ethiopia as the head of a delegation to interact with his counterparts in those countries on how they had achieved success in similar programmes.
The World Bank suggested the trip to India and Ethiopia for the delegation to able to tap the experiences of the two countries in the area of using public works to achieve dramatic results in fighting extreme poverty through effective targeting and payment systems.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo explained that Ghana had, over the years, adopted a national social protection strategy (NSPS) with the aim of protecting the poorest and vulnerable segment of society and that a number of instruments under that strategy had been developed and implemented.
They include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the capitation grant, the school feeding programme, free school uniforms and free maternal care for pregnant women.
However, those programmes, he said, needed to be anchored on a vision that enabled a graduation of the very poor households out of poverty, exploiting synergies among programmes and strengthening their complementarities.
The minister explained that it was for that reason that the government sought for the credit facility from the World Bank, adding that that required that the country graduated the very poor out of their poverty.
He said the new move, which had four components, had the potential of lifting the people out of the safety nets to a level of self-dependency.
While in India and Ethiopia, the delegation will learn about the various social protection instruments being applied on the programmes and how they have been rationalised to achieve synergy and also learn about the payment system being applied on labour intensive public works and the modalities guiding the systems and their effectiveness and efficiency.
The study will also include the strategies being applied by the two countries for cash transfers, as well as to select workforce from cash transfer beneficiaries.
The outcome of the visit will be a clearer understanding of the factors that influenced their policy initiatives and lessons that Ghana could take advantage of.
The credit facility is also to improve social protection spending and increase access to employment and cash revenue for the rural poor during agricultural off-seasons by improving economic and social infrastructure.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, made this known to the Daily Graphic last Friday when he was travelling to India and Ethiopia as the head of a delegation to interact with his counterparts in those countries on how they had achieved success in similar programmes.
The World Bank suggested the trip to India and Ethiopia for the delegation to able to tap the experiences of the two countries in the area of using public works to achieve dramatic results in fighting extreme poverty through effective targeting and payment systems.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo explained that Ghana had, over the years, adopted a national social protection strategy (NSPS) with the aim of protecting the poorest and vulnerable segment of society and that a number of instruments under that strategy had been developed and implemented.
They include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the capitation grant, the school feeding programme, free school uniforms and free maternal care for pregnant women.
However, those programmes, he said, needed to be anchored on a vision that enabled a graduation of the very poor households out of poverty, exploiting synergies among programmes and strengthening their complementarities.
The minister explained that it was for that reason that the government sought for the credit facility from the World Bank, adding that that required that the country graduated the very poor out of their poverty.
He said the new move, which had four components, had the potential of lifting the people out of the safety nets to a level of self-dependency.
While in India and Ethiopia, the delegation will learn about the various social protection instruments being applied on the programmes and how they have been rationalised to achieve synergy and also learn about the payment system being applied on labour intensive public works and the modalities guiding the systems and their effectiveness and efficiency.
The study will also include the strategies being applied by the two countries for cash transfers, as well as to select workforce from cash transfer beneficiaries.
The outcome of the visit will be a clearer understanding of the factors that influenced their policy initiatives and lessons that Ghana could take advantage of.
Give meaning to Prez declaration — Ade Coker
GOVERNMENT appointees, especially ministers of state must work assiduously to give real meaning to the Action Year declared by President JEA Mills, especially in the area of offering employment to the teeming youth, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Mr Ade Coker has said.
He noted that the government had put in place all the elements necessary for the execution of the action year which included STX Housing Deal, Reconstruction of the Railways, construction of both the Eastern and Western corridor roads among others.
Addressing party executive, government appointees and community stakeholders in Nima in Accra at an outreach programme organised by the NDC, he explained that President Mills recognised the need to open avenues for job creation through infrastructural development and that was the reason why his administration had embarked on such ambitious programme.
The NDC team, which met community heads, leaders of the GPRTU, traders association, community based groups, religious leaders and party members, included a Vice Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya; Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpong Katamanso, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo; MP for Ayawaso East, Dr Ahmed Mustapha; Chairman of the Civil Service Council, Dr Alex Dodoo and the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije.
So far the executive had been to 12 out of the 27 constituencies in the region.
Mr Coker said it was up to the government appointees to work hard to implement the second phase of the Better Ghana Agenda which was termed “Action Year’ by using the opportunities created to generate employment and build a stronger economy for the people of Ghana. “The people need jobs and a better economy and it was for these reason that President Mills had used his ingenuity and unparalleled leadership qualities to introduce these unprecedented projects, which also included $13 billion loan facility from China for various projects. This is the surest way we can win the elections.”
He noted that it was the works, especially the projects executed, employment generation and the nature of the economy that the Mills Administration would put before the people of Ghana that would be the testament for the party when it appeared before the people of Ghana to ask for their mandate for the next four years.
He said in all the rounds, the people, especially the party members, made it clear to the party executive and the government officials that they were not interested in hand outs from such officials, but they required dignified jobs which could earn them decent salaries and dignity in life.
Mr Coker announced that very soon, probably in June this year, the regional chapter of the party would embark on primaries to elect parliamentary aspirants for constituencies where the party had no sitting MPs and urged the constituency executive to rise above the compassion and lay a level playing field for qualified party members who would show interest.
Members took turns to ask questions about government policies, parliamentary proceedings and other issues.
He noted that the government had put in place all the elements necessary for the execution of the action year which included STX Housing Deal, Reconstruction of the Railways, construction of both the Eastern and Western corridor roads among others.
Addressing party executive, government appointees and community stakeholders in Nima in Accra at an outreach programme organised by the NDC, he explained that President Mills recognised the need to open avenues for job creation through infrastructural development and that was the reason why his administration had embarked on such ambitious programme.
The NDC team, which met community heads, leaders of the GPRTU, traders association, community based groups, religious leaders and party members, included a Vice Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya; Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpong Katamanso, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo; MP for Ayawaso East, Dr Ahmed Mustapha; Chairman of the Civil Service Council, Dr Alex Dodoo and the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije.
So far the executive had been to 12 out of the 27 constituencies in the region.
Mr Coker said it was up to the government appointees to work hard to implement the second phase of the Better Ghana Agenda which was termed “Action Year’ by using the opportunities created to generate employment and build a stronger economy for the people of Ghana. “The people need jobs and a better economy and it was for these reason that President Mills had used his ingenuity and unparalleled leadership qualities to introduce these unprecedented projects, which also included $13 billion loan facility from China for various projects. This is the surest way we can win the elections.”
He noted that it was the works, especially the projects executed, employment generation and the nature of the economy that the Mills Administration would put before the people of Ghana that would be the testament for the party when it appeared before the people of Ghana to ask for their mandate for the next four years.
He said in all the rounds, the people, especially the party members, made it clear to the party executive and the government officials that they were not interested in hand outs from such officials, but they required dignified jobs which could earn them decent salaries and dignity in life.
Mr Coker announced that very soon, probably in June this year, the regional chapter of the party would embark on primaries to elect parliamentary aspirants for constituencies where the party had no sitting MPs and urged the constituency executive to rise above the compassion and lay a level playing field for qualified party members who would show interest.
Members took turns to ask questions about government policies, parliamentary proceedings and other issues.
CPP redeces filing fees by 50 per cent
In response to calls on the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to reduce its filing fees for national and regional executive positions, the party has responded positively.
At its Central Committee yesterday the party reduced all filing fees by 50 per cent.
Additionally, all women who want to contest for any national or regional executive position would have the filing fees further reduced by 25 per cent.
With the 50 per cent reduction the new fees are as follows, National Chairman, GH¢ 10,000.00; Vice Chair, GH¢ 7,500.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 7,500.00; General Secretary, GH¢ 7,500.00 and Organisers – GH¢ 2,500.00.
For the regional positions the fees are Chairman, GH¢ 500.00; Vice Chairman, GH¢ 400.00; Regional Secretaries, GH¢ 400.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 400.00 and all others GH¢ 250.00.
The Central Committee has also directed the party’s constitutional review committee to ensure that the amended constitution made provision for more women to take up national positions.
It suggested that the amended constitution should include clauses that made it mandatory for the CPP to appoint at least one woman to all appointed deputy positions after general conference.
At its Central Committee yesterday the party reduced all filing fees by 50 per cent.
Additionally, all women who want to contest for any national or regional executive position would have the filing fees further reduced by 25 per cent.
With the 50 per cent reduction the new fees are as follows, National Chairman, GH¢ 10,000.00; Vice Chair, GH¢ 7,500.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 7,500.00; General Secretary, GH¢ 7,500.00 and Organisers – GH¢ 2,500.00.
For the regional positions the fees are Chairman, GH¢ 500.00; Vice Chairman, GH¢ 400.00; Regional Secretaries, GH¢ 400.00; Treasurer, GH¢ 400.00 and all others GH¢ 250.00.
The Central Committee has also directed the party’s constitutional review committee to ensure that the amended constitution made provision for more women to take up national positions.
It suggested that the amended constitution should include clauses that made it mandatory for the CPP to appoint at least one woman to all appointed deputy positions after general conference.
Ursula files nomination
MS Ursula Owusu, a gender advocate and a lawyer has submitted her parliamentary nomination forms to the Ablekuma South Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) amidst funfair.
Supporters, including ‘Ursula Fan Club’ members in their T-shirts from Takoradi and Kumasi and Dansoman as well as some NPP members all seated in dozens of vehicles embarked on a procession for about two and half hours in the constituency.
They danced to brass band music before they joined others who were also dancing to tunes provided by spinners at the constituency office near the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where the aspirant presented her forms to the constituency executive committee, chaired by Mr Henry Addy.
Addressing the supporters and the media, Ms Owusu, who was a Vice President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Int) described the occasion as her official launch of her campaign to regain the seat which was virtually stolen from the NPP.
The other four male aspirants are Messrs Charles Biney, Bright Samuel Osei-Tumi, Ben Brown and Derrick Nkansah.
Ms Owusu noted that the party needed a strong-willed personality who was knowledgeable, vocal and could combine all these virtues with her skills of advocacy to win the seat and also represent the aspirations of the constituents in Parliament.
“My aim is to reclaim the seat. We just don’t want power. We in the NPP are striving to win the 2012 elections to be able to bring relief to the people of Ghana who are going through unbearable hardship due to the bad policies and programmes of the Mills Administration,” she added.
She expressed worry about the increasing rate at which the NDC administration had developed a penchant for rushing to cut sod for construction of projects but failing to complete such projects and cited the Dansoman main road as one of the examples.
She explained that although the sod had been cut close to two years for the construction of the Dansoman main road and other projects in the constituency, because they have failed to continue with the construction, people living close to such projects had to put up with the delay and inhale the dust from the construction sites.
Ms Owusu took a swipe at the NDC government for again paying lip service to their manifesto of offering 40 per cent of appointing positions to women and added that the NPP had shown that it was committed to increasing women participation in active political office, hence, the decision to reduce all filing fees by 50 per cent for women.
She said that the move by the NPP was a clear indication that the party wanted more women in Parliament and urged the delegates to the April 30 primaries to elect women of substance to lead the party to recapture the seat from the NDC.
She urged the delegates not to be influenced by money but vote for a candidate who would be appealing to other electorate in the area for the party to win the seat and also increase the chances of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to win the presidential elections.
She promised to continue with her issue-based campaign and not to attack any of the aspirants and their supporters and urged them to also do same for the unity of the party.
Before unveiling a huge portrait of the aspirant, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the party, described Ms Owusu as the most appropriate candidate for the constituency because she was a hardworking person who had been with the party since 1992 and would not turn her back on the constituents, especially the NPP members when she was given the nod.
He said after the demise of the former MP for the area, Ms Theresa Tagoe, it was incumbent on the delegates to vote for a woman who possessed similar qualities to be able to win the seat and “that is the reason why I am recommending Ursula to you. She has been tried and tested”
He said the party lost the Ablekuma South seat and the presidential seat because the NDC was able to use threats and intimidation and that was the reason why the flag bearer had urged the party members to emulate the examples of their founding fathers by going to the extent of dying to ensure that the will of the people prevailed and democracy became the winner.
Ms Gloria Akufu, a former Minister of Aviation in the Kufuor Administration said the aspirant had been able to develop international connections which put her in a proper position to be able to assist the constituency when she is given the nod.
Supporters, including ‘Ursula Fan Club’ members in their T-shirts from Takoradi and Kumasi and Dansoman as well as some NPP members all seated in dozens of vehicles embarked on a procession for about two and half hours in the constituency.
They danced to brass band music before they joined others who were also dancing to tunes provided by spinners at the constituency office near the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where the aspirant presented her forms to the constituency executive committee, chaired by Mr Henry Addy.
Addressing the supporters and the media, Ms Owusu, who was a Vice President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Int) described the occasion as her official launch of her campaign to regain the seat which was virtually stolen from the NPP.
The other four male aspirants are Messrs Charles Biney, Bright Samuel Osei-Tumi, Ben Brown and Derrick Nkansah.
Ms Owusu noted that the party needed a strong-willed personality who was knowledgeable, vocal and could combine all these virtues with her skills of advocacy to win the seat and also represent the aspirations of the constituents in Parliament.
“My aim is to reclaim the seat. We just don’t want power. We in the NPP are striving to win the 2012 elections to be able to bring relief to the people of Ghana who are going through unbearable hardship due to the bad policies and programmes of the Mills Administration,” she added.
She expressed worry about the increasing rate at which the NDC administration had developed a penchant for rushing to cut sod for construction of projects but failing to complete such projects and cited the Dansoman main road as one of the examples.
She explained that although the sod had been cut close to two years for the construction of the Dansoman main road and other projects in the constituency, because they have failed to continue with the construction, people living close to such projects had to put up with the delay and inhale the dust from the construction sites.
Ms Owusu took a swipe at the NDC government for again paying lip service to their manifesto of offering 40 per cent of appointing positions to women and added that the NPP had shown that it was committed to increasing women participation in active political office, hence, the decision to reduce all filing fees by 50 per cent for women.
She said that the move by the NPP was a clear indication that the party wanted more women in Parliament and urged the delegates to the April 30 primaries to elect women of substance to lead the party to recapture the seat from the NDC.
She urged the delegates not to be influenced by money but vote for a candidate who would be appealing to other electorate in the area for the party to win the seat and also increase the chances of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to win the presidential elections.
She promised to continue with her issue-based campaign and not to attack any of the aspirants and their supporters and urged them to also do same for the unity of the party.
Before unveiling a huge portrait of the aspirant, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the party, described Ms Owusu as the most appropriate candidate for the constituency because she was a hardworking person who had been with the party since 1992 and would not turn her back on the constituents, especially the NPP members when she was given the nod.
He said after the demise of the former MP for the area, Ms Theresa Tagoe, it was incumbent on the delegates to vote for a woman who possessed similar qualities to be able to win the seat and “that is the reason why I am recommending Ursula to you. She has been tried and tested”
He said the party lost the Ablekuma South seat and the presidential seat because the NDC was able to use threats and intimidation and that was the reason why the flag bearer had urged the party members to emulate the examples of their founding fathers by going to the extent of dying to ensure that the will of the people prevailed and democracy became the winner.
Ms Gloria Akufu, a former Minister of Aviation in the Kufuor Administration said the aspirant had been able to develop international connections which put her in a proper position to be able to assist the constituency when she is given the nod.
83 NPP hopefuls to contest in Gt Accra
AT the close of nomination on March 6, 2011, 83 persons hoping to vie as parliamentary aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Greater Accra have picked party parliamentary forms.
This figure covers 25 out of the 27 constituencies in the region. This is because no one picked forms at both Obom Domeabra and Sege constituencies.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Regional Secretary, Mr Adjei Sowah, assured all aspirants and their supporters that the leadership would provide the required level playing field for all the aspirants to ensure that the will of the majority of delegates prevailed.
He said the rules and regulations covering the entire process which was developed by the national executive had been distributed to all the hopefuls and that the constituency executive would comply with them to the letter.
In Ada and Shai Osudoku, Ms Betty Quarshie and Daniel Dugan will be contesting the primaries unopposed . Apart from these constituencies, the remaining ones would be fiercely contested.
At Ningo Prampram, Sylvester Tetteh, Samuel Carboo will be vying for the slot, while at Kpone Katamanso, Solomon Appiah, Pearl Agyeman and Simon Nartey; Ashaiman, E. K. K. Teye, Seji Saji and Thomas Adongo; Tema East, Ashong Narh, Titus Glover, Agyeman Prempeh and Kofi Brako.
Ms Irene Torshie Addo, the incumbent MP for Tema West would be challenged by Dr Elvis Donkor and Adwoa Amoako, while at Krowor the position would be contested by a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ayikoi Otoo and Mr Adjei Boye and DCOP D. Odai.
At Ledzokuku, the hopefuls are Ibrahim Adjei, Stephen Quaye, Obed Mensah and a former MP for the area, Gladys Norley Ashitey.
The break down of the various constituencies include, La Dadekotopon, Ako-Nai, Oscar Glover, Rev. Vincent Odotei; Klotey Korley, Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah, Samuel J. Adjei Tawiah; Odododiodioo, Capt. Victor Okaikoi, Reginald Nii Bi Ayibonte, Sheik Ahmed Tackie; Ablekuma Central, Okulley Nortey, Jonathan Quaye and Ebenezer Nortey.
Others are Ablekuma South, Ursula Owusu, Charles Biney, Bright Samuel Osei-Puni, Ben Brown and Derrick Nkansah; Ablekuma North they are the incumbent MP, Joe Appiah, John Agbotey, Kwadwo Safo Ofori; Okaikoi South, Vickie Bright, Ahmed Arthur; Okaikoi North, Patrick Boamah and Mr Armah, the incumbent MP Elizabeth Sackey, Amos Okine, Ayisi Tettey; Ayawaso East, Alhaji Yusif Ahmed, Issah Ibrahim, Osman Ahmed, Awal Larry.
The list also include; Ayawaso West, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, George Isaac Amoo, Omari Wadie, Afia Akyeampong Appiah; Ayawaso Central, Boateng McLean Joseph, Achibold Cobblah, Henry Quartey, Vida Koranteng; Adenta, Koku Acolatse, Frances Asiam, Mercy Martey, Aja Wentum, Asamoah Buaben; Madina Abokobi, Alhaji Suleiman Mumuni, James Amoah, Francis Tyron; Dome Kwabenya, Mike Oquaye Jnr, Adwoa Sarfo, Robert Osei Bonsu; Weija, the hopefuls are the incumbent MP, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Bosby Quartey Papafio and Stephen Owusu Afriyie, Rosemond Abrah.
The rest are Trobo Amasaman, Edward Adotei Addo, Seth Ankrah, Moses Anim, Robert Botchway.
The closing date for filling of forms is March 18, 2011. Assessment and certification continues from March 12 to 16 for regional executive committees, 21st-24th March for constituency executive committees.
Vetting starts on 26th and ends on the 29th of March, and campaign period ends at 6p.m. 29th of April.
Parliamentary primaries will take place on April 30, 2011.
This figure covers 25 out of the 27 constituencies in the region. This is because no one picked forms at both Obom Domeabra and Sege constituencies.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Regional Secretary, Mr Adjei Sowah, assured all aspirants and their supporters that the leadership would provide the required level playing field for all the aspirants to ensure that the will of the majority of delegates prevailed.
He said the rules and regulations covering the entire process which was developed by the national executive had been distributed to all the hopefuls and that the constituency executive would comply with them to the letter.
In Ada and Shai Osudoku, Ms Betty Quarshie and Daniel Dugan will be contesting the primaries unopposed . Apart from these constituencies, the remaining ones would be fiercely contested.
At Ningo Prampram, Sylvester Tetteh, Samuel Carboo will be vying for the slot, while at Kpone Katamanso, Solomon Appiah, Pearl Agyeman and Simon Nartey; Ashaiman, E. K. K. Teye, Seji Saji and Thomas Adongo; Tema East, Ashong Narh, Titus Glover, Agyeman Prempeh and Kofi Brako.
Ms Irene Torshie Addo, the incumbent MP for Tema West would be challenged by Dr Elvis Donkor and Adwoa Amoako, while at Krowor the position would be contested by a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ayikoi Otoo and Mr Adjei Boye and DCOP D. Odai.
At Ledzokuku, the hopefuls are Ibrahim Adjei, Stephen Quaye, Obed Mensah and a former MP for the area, Gladys Norley Ashitey.
The break down of the various constituencies include, La Dadekotopon, Ako-Nai, Oscar Glover, Rev. Vincent Odotei; Klotey Korley, Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah, Samuel J. Adjei Tawiah; Odododiodioo, Capt. Victor Okaikoi, Reginald Nii Bi Ayibonte, Sheik Ahmed Tackie; Ablekuma Central, Okulley Nortey, Jonathan Quaye and Ebenezer Nortey.
Others are Ablekuma South, Ursula Owusu, Charles Biney, Bright Samuel Osei-Puni, Ben Brown and Derrick Nkansah; Ablekuma North they are the incumbent MP, Joe Appiah, John Agbotey, Kwadwo Safo Ofori; Okaikoi South, Vickie Bright, Ahmed Arthur; Okaikoi North, Patrick Boamah and Mr Armah, the incumbent MP Elizabeth Sackey, Amos Okine, Ayisi Tettey; Ayawaso East, Alhaji Yusif Ahmed, Issah Ibrahim, Osman Ahmed, Awal Larry.
The list also include; Ayawaso West, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, George Isaac Amoo, Omari Wadie, Afia Akyeampong Appiah; Ayawaso Central, Boateng McLean Joseph, Achibold Cobblah, Henry Quartey, Vida Koranteng; Adenta, Koku Acolatse, Frances Asiam, Mercy Martey, Aja Wentum, Asamoah Buaben; Madina Abokobi, Alhaji Suleiman Mumuni, James Amoah, Francis Tyron; Dome Kwabenya, Mike Oquaye Jnr, Adwoa Sarfo, Robert Osei Bonsu; Weija, the hopefuls are the incumbent MP, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Bosby Quartey Papafio and Stephen Owusu Afriyie, Rosemond Abrah.
The rest are Trobo Amasaman, Edward Adotei Addo, Seth Ankrah, Moses Anim, Robert Botchway.
The closing date for filling of forms is March 18, 2011. Assessment and certification continues from March 12 to 16 for regional executive committees, 21st-24th March for constituency executive committees.
Vetting starts on 26th and ends on the 29th of March, and campaign period ends at 6p.m. 29th of April.
Parliamentary primaries will take place on April 30, 2011.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Assemblies to be inaugurated on March 15
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills will inaugurate 169 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies on March 15, 2011.
Out of the 170 district, only the Lower Manya Krobo district will not be inaugurated because of a legal suit pending before the Supreme Court.
Announcing the date for the launching of the newly elected assembly membership,the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the inauguration was expected to put to rest the ongoing discussions about how soon municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies would be inaugurated.
He hinted that measures were in place to amicable and expeditiously deal with the remaining issues.
Apart from the Lower Manya Krobo district, which would be not be inaugurated, other issues being dealt with were 53 electoral areas which did not have their elections conducted.
The minister explained that the 53, which is out of the 6,160 electoral areas, were having problems including unresolved issues such boundary demarcations and non filing of nominations.
According to the minister, to ensure a successful inauguration, he had urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to take appropriate steps to address all petitions and other related matters following the last elections.
He explained that the inauguration would take the form of durbars in all district capitals interlaced with photo exhibition to showcase and highlights the overall prospects and investments opportunities, as well as major achievements of the various municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies.
He disclosed that President Mills had constituted a search party to recommend qualified and suitable persons to replace the 13 district chief executives whose appointments were revoked a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged assembly members to co-operate with one another during the nomination and confirmation of presiding members after the inauguration of assemblies to ensure the smooth operations of the districts.
Regarding the President’s request for the selection of least 40 per cent women as members of the government appointees to the assemblies, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo noted that documentation the ministry had received on the nomination indicated that the various assembles had “religiously adhered to” the directive.
He explained that the President’s demand for 40 per cent appointment for women was based on the belief that the assemblies were the fertile ground for women to prepare adequately to launch into the male-dominated political scene.
Available information on some of the issues that affected the district elections indicated that the people the Tumentu Electoral Area in the Nzema East District prevented EC officials from conducting the elections in protest against the lack of economic development projects in the area.
The Chiefs and people of Lower Manya Krobo did not vote in the elections in protest against the transfer of six electoral areas from their district to Dangme West. A court case on the election dispute involving two polling stations in Nyinahin-Abodowin Electoral Area in the Atwimma Mponua District prevented elections in that area.
In the Volta Region, the chiefs and people of the Biakoye District and some parts of the Adidome District boycotted the elections due to problems with the location of district capital and boundary demarcation respectively, while the people of the Akurugu-Daboo electoral area in the Kassena-Nankana District boycotted the elections because they wanted to retain the old name of Atosale/Azaase.
Out of the 170 district, only the Lower Manya Krobo district will not be inaugurated because of a legal suit pending before the Supreme Court.
Announcing the date for the launching of the newly elected assembly membership,the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the inauguration was expected to put to rest the ongoing discussions about how soon municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies would be inaugurated.
He hinted that measures were in place to amicable and expeditiously deal with the remaining issues.
Apart from the Lower Manya Krobo district, which would be not be inaugurated, other issues being dealt with were 53 electoral areas which did not have their elections conducted.
The minister explained that the 53, which is out of the 6,160 electoral areas, were having problems including unresolved issues such boundary demarcations and non filing of nominations.
According to the minister, to ensure a successful inauguration, he had urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to take appropriate steps to address all petitions and other related matters following the last elections.
He explained that the inauguration would take the form of durbars in all district capitals interlaced with photo exhibition to showcase and highlights the overall prospects and investments opportunities, as well as major achievements of the various municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies.
He disclosed that President Mills had constituted a search party to recommend qualified and suitable persons to replace the 13 district chief executives whose appointments were revoked a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged assembly members to co-operate with one another during the nomination and confirmation of presiding members after the inauguration of assemblies to ensure the smooth operations of the districts.
Regarding the President’s request for the selection of least 40 per cent women as members of the government appointees to the assemblies, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo noted that documentation the ministry had received on the nomination indicated that the various assembles had “religiously adhered to” the directive.
He explained that the President’s demand for 40 per cent appointment for women was based on the belief that the assemblies were the fertile ground for women to prepare adequately to launch into the male-dominated political scene.
Available information on some of the issues that affected the district elections indicated that the people the Tumentu Electoral Area in the Nzema East District prevented EC officials from conducting the elections in protest against the lack of economic development projects in the area.
The Chiefs and people of Lower Manya Krobo did not vote in the elections in protest against the transfer of six electoral areas from their district to Dangme West. A court case on the election dispute involving two polling stations in Nyinahin-Abodowin Electoral Area in the Atwimma Mponua District prevented elections in that area.
In the Volta Region, the chiefs and people of the Biakoye District and some parts of the Adidome District boycotted the elections due to problems with the location of district capital and boundary demarcation respectively, while the people of the Akurugu-Daboo electoral area in the Kassena-Nankana District boycotted the elections because they wanted to retain the old name of Atosale/Azaase.
Assemblies to be inaugurated on March 15
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills will inaugurate 169 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies on March 15, 2011.
Out of the 170 district, only the Lower Manya Krobo district will not be inaugurated because of a legal suit pending before the Supreme Court.
Announcing the date for the launching of the newly elected assembly membership,the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the inauguration was expected to put to rest the ongoing discussions about how soon municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies would be inaugurated.
He hinted that measures were in place to amicable and expeditiously deal with the remaining issues.
Apart from the Lower Manya Krobo district, which would be not be inaugurated, other issues being dealt with were 53 electoral areas which did not have their elections conducted.
The minister explained that the 53, which is out of the 6,160 electoral areas, were having problems including unresolved issues such boundary demarcations and non filing of nominations.
According to the minister, to ensure a successful inauguration, he had urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to take appropriate steps to address all petitions and other related matters following the last elections.
He explained that the inauguration would take the form of durbars in all district capitals interlaced with photo exhibition to showcase and highlights the overall prospects and investments opportunities, as well as major achievements of the various municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies.
He disclosed that President Mills had constituted a search party to recommend qualified and suitable persons to replace the 13 district chief executives whose appointments were revoked a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged assembly members to co-operate with one another during the nomination and confirmation of presiding members after the inauguration of assemblies to ensure the smooth operations of the districts.
Regarding the President’s request for the selection of least 40 per cent women as members of the government appointees to the assemblies, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo noted that documentation the ministry had received on the nomination indicated that the various assembles had “religiously adhered to” the directive.
He explained that the President’s demand for 40 per cent appointment for women was based on the belief that the assemblies were the fertile ground for women to prepare adequately to launch into the male-dominated political scene.
Available information on some of the issues that affected the district elections indicated that the people the Tumentu Electoral Area in the Nzema East District prevented EC officials from conducting the elections in protest against the lack of economic development projects in the area.
The Chiefs and people of Lower Manya Krobo did not vote in the elections in protest against the transfer of six electoral areas from their district to Dangme West. A court case on the election dispute involving two polling stations in Nyinahin-Abodowin Electoral Area in the Atwimma Mponua District prevented elections in that area.
In the Volta Region, the chiefs and people of the Biakoye District and some parts of the Adidome District boycotted the elections due to problems with the location of district capital and boundary demarcation respectively, while the people of the Akurugu-Daboo electoral area in the Kassena-Nankana District boycotted the elections because they wanted to retain the old name of Atosale/Azaase.
Out of the 170 district, only the Lower Manya Krobo district will not be inaugurated because of a legal suit pending before the Supreme Court.
Announcing the date for the launching of the newly elected assembly membership,the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the inauguration was expected to put to rest the ongoing discussions about how soon municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies would be inaugurated.
He hinted that measures were in place to amicable and expeditiously deal with the remaining issues.
Apart from the Lower Manya Krobo district, which would be not be inaugurated, other issues being dealt with were 53 electoral areas which did not have their elections conducted.
The minister explained that the 53, which is out of the 6,160 electoral areas, were having problems including unresolved issues such boundary demarcations and non filing of nominations.
According to the minister, to ensure a successful inauguration, he had urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to take appropriate steps to address all petitions and other related matters following the last elections.
He explained that the inauguration would take the form of durbars in all district capitals interlaced with photo exhibition to showcase and highlights the overall prospects and investments opportunities, as well as major achievements of the various municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies.
He disclosed that President Mills had constituted a search party to recommend qualified and suitable persons to replace the 13 district chief executives whose appointments were revoked a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged assembly members to co-operate with one another during the nomination and confirmation of presiding members after the inauguration of assemblies to ensure the smooth operations of the districts.
Regarding the President’s request for the selection of least 40 per cent women as members of the government appointees to the assemblies, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo noted that documentation the ministry had received on the nomination indicated that the various assembles had “religiously adhered to” the directive.
He explained that the President’s demand for 40 per cent appointment for women was based on the belief that the assemblies were the fertile ground for women to prepare adequately to launch into the male-dominated political scene.
Available information on some of the issues that affected the district elections indicated that the people the Tumentu Electoral Area in the Nzema East District prevented EC officials from conducting the elections in protest against the lack of economic development projects in the area.
The Chiefs and people of Lower Manya Krobo did not vote in the elections in protest against the transfer of six electoral areas from their district to Dangme West. A court case on the election dispute involving two polling stations in Nyinahin-Abodowin Electoral Area in the Atwimma Mponua District prevented elections in that area.
In the Volta Region, the chiefs and people of the Biakoye District and some parts of the Adidome District boycotted the elections due to problems with the location of district capital and boundary demarcation respectively, while the people of the Akurugu-Daboo electoral area in the Kassena-Nankana District boycotted the elections because they wanted to retain the old name of Atosale/Azaase.
Kufuor, Oware to answer Bui charges?
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, has hinted that former President J.A. Kufuor, who was a board Chairman of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), and Mr Fred Oware, the former BPA CEO, will be made to appear before the board to answer some questions about the project.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah who is also a board member of the BPA, explained that the invitation had become necessary because “no board minutes covering the period the BPA operated with former President Kufuor as chairman of the board and Mr Oware as CEO were handed over to the current board”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday the NDC General Secretary noted that one such issue the new board wanted to find out was the rationale behind the acquisition of land to include major settlements like Bamboi, Tasilima and Carpenter which did not fall within the catchment area of the project.
He added that this was against the backdrop that the project did not make provision for compensation for land acquisition. “It must not be lost on us that when lands are compulsorily acquired by the state under Act 125, it is required that immediate and adequate compensation for all lands and properties must be paid to the affected owners”.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah wondered why at the inception of the project the NPP created the impression that it had three components; Bui Hydroelectric, Bui Irrigation and Bui City projects.
However, he noted that the new board had realised that whereas the hydroelectric and irrigation components were covered in the planning and funding arrangements, there was no feasibility studies, no architectural designs and no financial provisions for any preparatory work or implementation of the Bui City Project.
He added that whereas as per the project arrangement the BPA had no say in the mode of acquisition or sourcing of materials for the construction work, the BPA had no obligation to certify that the quality of materials agreed with the specification and standards contained in the project agreement.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said it was a fact that granite aggregate whose quality had not been queried by the Kufuor board had been rejected by the current board because the quality did not meet the project’s specifications.
He produced a document from Coyne Et Bellier, consultants to the projects, to confirm the rejection which states that in part that “The aggregates from the zone of the quarry presently operated cannot, according to the contractor test result be used for structures in Conventional Vibrated concrete as they do not match the specification.”
He explained that when BPA exercised its right to reject sub standard materials, all the related cost was borne by the contractor, and asked what Mr Oware meant when he suggested that the current board insisted on a particular supplier of chippings which was going to increase the project cost by an additional $ 50 million.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that these and other issues were the most important things that should engage the attention of the media and not Mr Oware’s tactics to divert attention from the issues by spewing half truths and lies calculated to tarnish his (Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s) hard won reputation.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah announced that his lawyers were on their way to the high court to file a suit against Mr Oware for libelling him, and unfounded allegations of conflict of interest and insider trading levelled against him.
He explained that on several occasions Mr Oware had engaged in several misrepresentations of issues, one of which was that under schedule number 17 of the contract, he fraudulently sought to misrepresent item 17.06 as Bui City and Irrigation project when in fact the document he presented mentioned irrigation structures with the sum of $ 12 million.
Mr Aseidu Nketiah took a swipe at journalists who attended Mr Oware’s press conference for not raising any question when minutes of a totally different body were distributed to them as evidence of meetings of the Bui board but this reporter during question time made it clear to Mr Asiedu Nketiah that Mr Oware never distributed anything like the board minutes. In fact, Mr Oware told the press that he could not distribute the minutes of the board to the media.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah who is also a board member of the BPA, explained that the invitation had become necessary because “no board minutes covering the period the BPA operated with former President Kufuor as chairman of the board and Mr Oware as CEO were handed over to the current board”.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday the NDC General Secretary noted that one such issue the new board wanted to find out was the rationale behind the acquisition of land to include major settlements like Bamboi, Tasilima and Carpenter which did not fall within the catchment area of the project.
He added that this was against the backdrop that the project did not make provision for compensation for land acquisition. “It must not be lost on us that when lands are compulsorily acquired by the state under Act 125, it is required that immediate and adequate compensation for all lands and properties must be paid to the affected owners”.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah wondered why at the inception of the project the NPP created the impression that it had three components; Bui Hydroelectric, Bui Irrigation and Bui City projects.
However, he noted that the new board had realised that whereas the hydroelectric and irrigation components were covered in the planning and funding arrangements, there was no feasibility studies, no architectural designs and no financial provisions for any preparatory work or implementation of the Bui City Project.
He added that whereas as per the project arrangement the BPA had no say in the mode of acquisition or sourcing of materials for the construction work, the BPA had no obligation to certify that the quality of materials agreed with the specification and standards contained in the project agreement.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said it was a fact that granite aggregate whose quality had not been queried by the Kufuor board had been rejected by the current board because the quality did not meet the project’s specifications.
He produced a document from Coyne Et Bellier, consultants to the projects, to confirm the rejection which states that in part that “The aggregates from the zone of the quarry presently operated cannot, according to the contractor test result be used for structures in Conventional Vibrated concrete as they do not match the specification.”
He explained that when BPA exercised its right to reject sub standard materials, all the related cost was borne by the contractor, and asked what Mr Oware meant when he suggested that the current board insisted on a particular supplier of chippings which was going to increase the project cost by an additional $ 50 million.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that these and other issues were the most important things that should engage the attention of the media and not Mr Oware’s tactics to divert attention from the issues by spewing half truths and lies calculated to tarnish his (Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s) hard won reputation.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah announced that his lawyers were on their way to the high court to file a suit against Mr Oware for libelling him, and unfounded allegations of conflict of interest and insider trading levelled against him.
He explained that on several occasions Mr Oware had engaged in several misrepresentations of issues, one of which was that under schedule number 17 of the contract, he fraudulently sought to misrepresent item 17.06 as Bui City and Irrigation project when in fact the document he presented mentioned irrigation structures with the sum of $ 12 million.
Mr Aseidu Nketiah took a swipe at journalists who attended Mr Oware’s press conference for not raising any question when minutes of a totally different body were distributed to them as evidence of meetings of the Bui board but this reporter during question time made it clear to Mr Asiedu Nketiah that Mr Oware never distributed anything like the board minutes. In fact, Mr Oware told the press that he could not distribute the minutes of the board to the media.
Don’t usurp constitutional responsibilities — Dr Mahama urges politicians
THE 2008 presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has appealed to the media to ensure that politicians do not usurp the media’s constitutional responsibility of setting a development agenda that will propel the nation forward.
He said it was because the media had left that onerous responsibility in the hands of politicians that the entire media landscape was filled with political issues, at the expense of national development issues.
Dr Mahama was addressing participants at an international senior residency programme in governance and political leadership in Accra.
The three-day conference, organised by the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership, was on the theme, “The media in the Fourth Republic: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
Dr Mahama blamed the media for all the problems the National Health Insurance Scheme was encountering because they failed to ask the appropriate questions when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) introduced the scheme.
He was unhappy that although it was the PNC which was the first party to publicly declare that it would provide a national health insurance and school feeding, that was never publicised by any media.
He added that even when leading members of the NPP made mockery of the PNC and doubted the feasibility of implementing those policies but later decided to implement same, the media never bothered to ask the pertinent questions.
Mr Ben Ephson, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Dispatch, said it was the responsibility of the media to let Ghanaians know the character and intentions of people who wanted to lead them.
He said although the media must not publish all the dangerous and divisive statements by those politicians, they had the obligation to let the electorate have the opportunity to view the correct picture of the people seeking to be their leaders.
Mr Ephson, who said he was incarcerated for five months during Rawlings’s unconstitutional regime in the 1980s, defended his argument with some of the stories he wrote about atrocities meted out to some Ghanaians during the Rawlings military regime, which included the roasting of people’s penis and the cutting of their flesh as punishment.
He said although those publications in the foreign media were dangerous and also bordered on patriotism, he was vindicated years later when he had to appear before the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to give testimony in camera.
He expressed worry over the increasing level of unprofessionalism among his colleagues in the inky fraternity, especially radio presenters, some of whom knew next to nothing but presented programmes on almost all technical and most scientific and legal issues.
Mr Ephson was of the view that to address the problem, which included half-educated persons presenting programmes on radio, any punitive measures for such lapses must be meted out to the owners of such radio stations.
“Owners of irresponsible radio stations should be made to bear the brunt of the irresponsibility of their presenters,” he suggested, adding that that would make those owners employ well qualified and meticulous presenters who would abide by the ethics of the profession.
The Founder of Foundation for Future Leaders, a youth empowerment group, Mr Dei Tumi, was unhappy about the apparent neglect by the various political, religious, governance and educational institutions to inculcate in the youth the need to be patriotic.
According to him, the increasing canker of corruption and other forms of attitudes that negatively affect the forward march of the nation could be traced to the fact that the people were not patriotic and also did not understand why they should sacrifice a little for the development of their country.
He said it was because the media had left that onerous responsibility in the hands of politicians that the entire media landscape was filled with political issues, at the expense of national development issues.
Dr Mahama was addressing participants at an international senior residency programme in governance and political leadership in Accra.
The three-day conference, organised by the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership, was on the theme, “The media in the Fourth Republic: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
Dr Mahama blamed the media for all the problems the National Health Insurance Scheme was encountering because they failed to ask the appropriate questions when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) introduced the scheme.
He was unhappy that although it was the PNC which was the first party to publicly declare that it would provide a national health insurance and school feeding, that was never publicised by any media.
He added that even when leading members of the NPP made mockery of the PNC and doubted the feasibility of implementing those policies but later decided to implement same, the media never bothered to ask the pertinent questions.
Mr Ben Ephson, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Dispatch, said it was the responsibility of the media to let Ghanaians know the character and intentions of people who wanted to lead them.
He said although the media must not publish all the dangerous and divisive statements by those politicians, they had the obligation to let the electorate have the opportunity to view the correct picture of the people seeking to be their leaders.
Mr Ephson, who said he was incarcerated for five months during Rawlings’s unconstitutional regime in the 1980s, defended his argument with some of the stories he wrote about atrocities meted out to some Ghanaians during the Rawlings military regime, which included the roasting of people’s penis and the cutting of their flesh as punishment.
He said although those publications in the foreign media were dangerous and also bordered on patriotism, he was vindicated years later when he had to appear before the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to give testimony in camera.
He expressed worry over the increasing level of unprofessionalism among his colleagues in the inky fraternity, especially radio presenters, some of whom knew next to nothing but presented programmes on almost all technical and most scientific and legal issues.
Mr Ephson was of the view that to address the problem, which included half-educated persons presenting programmes on radio, any punitive measures for such lapses must be meted out to the owners of such radio stations.
“Owners of irresponsible radio stations should be made to bear the brunt of the irresponsibility of their presenters,” he suggested, adding that that would make those owners employ well qualified and meticulous presenters who would abide by the ethics of the profession.
The Founder of Foundation for Future Leaders, a youth empowerment group, Mr Dei Tumi, was unhappy about the apparent neglect by the various political, religious, governance and educational institutions to inculcate in the youth the need to be patriotic.
According to him, the increasing canker of corruption and other forms of attitudes that negatively affect the forward march of the nation could be traced to the fact that the people were not patriotic and also did not understand why they should sacrifice a little for the development of their country.
Select marketable, winnable aspirants — Ursula
A LEADING member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ms Ursula Owusu, has urged delegates of the forth coming parliamentary primary in Ablekuma South to select a marketable and winnable aspirant who can take the seat for the party.
She said the constituency needed a loyal, team player, committed and hardworking member who apart from winning the seat for the NPP would adequately represent the voice of the constituency.
Ms Owusu, who is also the Vice President of the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA-Int), was speaking to the Daily Graphic about her intention to contest the primary of the Ablekuma South Constituency of the party.
The NPP opened nomination on February 28 and had fixed April 30, 2011 for the election of aspirants at the various constituencies.
Reports indicate that interested party members have started picking forms at the various constituencies, regional and the national office. The final day for submission of forms is March 18, 2011.
The party had attached to the nomination forms the rules and regulations governing the primaries, fees and steps in the electoral process. There shall be no other considerations beyond these rules and regulations without the express knowledge of the national executive.
Ms Owusu said apart from her passion to represent the voice of the voiceless and the underprivileged among others, one main thing that had motivated her to contest the seat was how the NPP miraculously lost the seat when results at the polling station proved that the NPP won the elections.
Describing Ablekuma South, which consist of Dansoman, Glefe, Chokor among other communities in the constituency as peri-urban and cosmopolitan, she said the constituency required an action-oriented and outspoken representative who would champion the cause of the people.
She said she was at the polling station when the ballots were counted, and it was the NPP that won both parliamentary and presidential, when the results were being collated at the coalition centre it was called for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ms Owusu, who is a legal practitioner and a member of the 2004 National Campaign team, explained that the NDC was able to implement their grand design to rig the election because they used all kinds of unlawful means including physically preventing NPP accredited agents to be at the collation centres and in the process changed the figures to favour the NDC.
She explained that it was for these and other intimidatory postures of the NDC, which had gone on unchecked, that made the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to encourage the party members to defend the ballot to ensure that the will of the people prevailed and not the might of the NDC.
She expressed worry at the apparent neglect of the constituency, especially roads, erratic supply of electricity and water which had brought untold hardship to the people in the constituency.
Ms Owusu added that although the cardinal work of the Member of Parliament (MP) was not primarily to undertake infrastructure projects, however it was the MP’s responsibility to bring pressure to bear, and the use of other connections, including being vocal on the floor of the house to seek for solutions to the problem.
She said there was no reason for the government to cut sod for the re-construction of the main Dansoman road over the last two years, when it was not ready to complete the projects, adding that those concerns demanded that the MP for the area tackled them with all seriousness.
She noted that because the contractor had removed the drains along the roads, anytime it rained, houses get flooded and when the weather was dry, the people were inundated with dust which could cause all sorts of respiratory diseases and wondered why the rush in cutting sod for the construction of the road when they were not ready to carry through with the project.
Ms Owusu promised that as an MP for the area, she would keep in touch with the people she would represent in Parliament, get to know their concerns and ensure that the appropriate authorities addressed their concerns and also seek other external sources to support the development of the area.
Commenting on national issues, Ms Owusu promised to continue her crusade through advocacy and other legitimate means to speak out against human right abuses, especially gender inequalities and also suggest better ways of finding solutions to such age old problem.
She said the constituency needed a loyal, team player, committed and hardworking member who apart from winning the seat for the NPP would adequately represent the voice of the constituency.
Ms Owusu, who is also the Vice President of the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA-Int), was speaking to the Daily Graphic about her intention to contest the primary of the Ablekuma South Constituency of the party.
The NPP opened nomination on February 28 and had fixed April 30, 2011 for the election of aspirants at the various constituencies.
Reports indicate that interested party members have started picking forms at the various constituencies, regional and the national office. The final day for submission of forms is March 18, 2011.
The party had attached to the nomination forms the rules and regulations governing the primaries, fees and steps in the electoral process. There shall be no other considerations beyond these rules and regulations without the express knowledge of the national executive.
Ms Owusu said apart from her passion to represent the voice of the voiceless and the underprivileged among others, one main thing that had motivated her to contest the seat was how the NPP miraculously lost the seat when results at the polling station proved that the NPP won the elections.
Describing Ablekuma South, which consist of Dansoman, Glefe, Chokor among other communities in the constituency as peri-urban and cosmopolitan, she said the constituency required an action-oriented and outspoken representative who would champion the cause of the people.
She said she was at the polling station when the ballots were counted, and it was the NPP that won both parliamentary and presidential, when the results were being collated at the coalition centre it was called for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ms Owusu, who is a legal practitioner and a member of the 2004 National Campaign team, explained that the NDC was able to implement their grand design to rig the election because they used all kinds of unlawful means including physically preventing NPP accredited agents to be at the collation centres and in the process changed the figures to favour the NDC.
She explained that it was for these and other intimidatory postures of the NDC, which had gone on unchecked, that made the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to encourage the party members to defend the ballot to ensure that the will of the people prevailed and not the might of the NDC.
She expressed worry at the apparent neglect of the constituency, especially roads, erratic supply of electricity and water which had brought untold hardship to the people in the constituency.
Ms Owusu added that although the cardinal work of the Member of Parliament (MP) was not primarily to undertake infrastructure projects, however it was the MP’s responsibility to bring pressure to bear, and the use of other connections, including being vocal on the floor of the house to seek for solutions to the problem.
She said there was no reason for the government to cut sod for the re-construction of the main Dansoman road over the last two years, when it was not ready to complete the projects, adding that those concerns demanded that the MP for the area tackled them with all seriousness.
She noted that because the contractor had removed the drains along the roads, anytime it rained, houses get flooded and when the weather was dry, the people were inundated with dust which could cause all sorts of respiratory diseases and wondered why the rush in cutting sod for the construction of the road when they were not ready to carry through with the project.
Ms Owusu promised that as an MP for the area, she would keep in touch with the people she would represent in Parliament, get to know their concerns and ensure that the appropriate authorities addressed their concerns and also seek other external sources to support the development of the area.
Commenting on national issues, Ms Owusu promised to continue her crusade through advocacy and other legitimate means to speak out against human right abuses, especially gender inequalities and also suggest better ways of finding solutions to such age old problem.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Court revokes bail for 3 PNC leaders
THREE Interim Management Committee members of the People's National Convention (PNC) were yesterday remanded in police custody by the Accra District Magistrate Court for failing to adhere to an order of the court.
This court’s decision followed a reversal of their bail bond resulting from their refusal to vacate the PNC's Headquarters at Abavana Junction in Accra as ordered by the court.
The accused persons — Dr Sontim Tobiga, Ahmed Gadu and Baaba Ghana Seidu — will reappear before the court, presided over by Mrs Mary Faustina Addington, on March 3, 2011.
Dr Tobiga was, however, not in court.
The three were arrested in January 2011 following a complaint by the national executive members of the PNC that the three had prevented the national executive from entering the party headquarters.
According to the complainants, the accused persons, with the aid of some thugs, changed the locks on the doors to the party headquarters and prevented the elected officers from operating from their offices.
The police arrested the three from the headquarters and released them on bail after taking their caution statements.
When the case was pending before the court, the IMC members filed a motion at the same District Magistrate Court for the determination of the capacity of four leading members of the party to represent the propriety interest of the party.
They prayed the court to also determine whether Dr Edward Mahama, the 2008 flag bearer of the PNC; Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the National Chairman; Mr Bernard Mornah, the General Secretary, and Attik Mohammed, a policy analyst, had the capacity of the executive of the party to lodge a criminal complaint with the police.
They also urged the court to determine whether an Interim Management Committee existed to administer the affairs of the PNC.
The plaintiffs also wanted the court to decide whether the national delegates conference held in Bolgatanga on December 1, 2007 to elect national officers and the presidential candidate had been in violation of the PNC’s Constitution, the Political Parties Law, Act 572 of 2000 and Chapter 7 of the 1992 Constitution.
They further prayed the court to determine whether in the trial of an alleged criminal offence the court had jurisdiction to issue civil orders, including the order that the police take control and sack members of the IMC from the regional and national headquarters of the PNC, change locks to the building and reinstate Dr Mahama, Alhaji Ramadan and Mr Mornah to the position of leader, chairman and general secretary, respectively, without giving the plaintiffs, the Greater Accra party executives and members of the IMC the opportunity to be heard.
But when the case was called yesterday, their lawyer did not turn up.
This court’s decision followed a reversal of their bail bond resulting from their refusal to vacate the PNC's Headquarters at Abavana Junction in Accra as ordered by the court.
The accused persons — Dr Sontim Tobiga, Ahmed Gadu and Baaba Ghana Seidu — will reappear before the court, presided over by Mrs Mary Faustina Addington, on March 3, 2011.
Dr Tobiga was, however, not in court.
The three were arrested in January 2011 following a complaint by the national executive members of the PNC that the three had prevented the national executive from entering the party headquarters.
According to the complainants, the accused persons, with the aid of some thugs, changed the locks on the doors to the party headquarters and prevented the elected officers from operating from their offices.
The police arrested the three from the headquarters and released them on bail after taking their caution statements.
When the case was pending before the court, the IMC members filed a motion at the same District Magistrate Court for the determination of the capacity of four leading members of the party to represent the propriety interest of the party.
They prayed the court to also determine whether Dr Edward Mahama, the 2008 flag bearer of the PNC; Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the National Chairman; Mr Bernard Mornah, the General Secretary, and Attik Mohammed, a policy analyst, had the capacity of the executive of the party to lodge a criminal complaint with the police.
They also urged the court to determine whether an Interim Management Committee existed to administer the affairs of the PNC.
The plaintiffs also wanted the court to decide whether the national delegates conference held in Bolgatanga on December 1, 2007 to elect national officers and the presidential candidate had been in violation of the PNC’s Constitution, the Political Parties Law, Act 572 of 2000 and Chapter 7 of the 1992 Constitution.
They further prayed the court to determine whether in the trial of an alleged criminal offence the court had jurisdiction to issue civil orders, including the order that the police take control and sack members of the IMC from the regional and national headquarters of the PNC, change locks to the building and reinstate Dr Mahama, Alhaji Ramadan and Mr Mornah to the position of leader, chairman and general secretary, respectively, without giving the plaintiffs, the Greater Accra party executives and members of the IMC the opportunity to be heard.
But when the case was called yesterday, their lawyer did not turn up.
Politicians must honour their campaign promises— Sir Omehia
SIR Celestine Omehia, an aspiring governor of River State of Nigeria has urged African politicians to honour promises they make to the electorate without fail when they are voted to office.
He said it was such sacred contract that influenced the people to vote for them and that failure to implement such promises was tantamount to been lied to, fooling and insulting the integrity of the electorate.
Sir Omehia, who is standing on the ticket of All Progressives Grand Alliance party (APGA), was speaking after he had addressed Nigerians in Ghana, especially those from the River State in Ghana as part of his diasporan campaign to win the River State Governorship in Accra on Saturday.
Sir Omehia added that although Progressives Grand Alliance party was a national party, it had adopted Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as its Presidential candidate.”
According to him, African politicians must perceive their electorate as people without sense, who could be lied to and convinced to cast their vote for them.
“We should know that our people are very intelligent and when they realise that politicians are taking them for a ride, they would pay such politicians back in the hard way. After all, it is their resources that they entrust in hands and they expect us to manage it better for them.”
Sir Omehia, who was the governor of the River State in 2007, noted that although he had a short stay in office, he was able to initiate most of the promises he made to the people, including building the Institute for Strategic Political Studies and flyovers.
He was confident that he would be voted for because the people would consider his past record, especially in the area of poverty alleviation through employment, use of diplomacy to bring calm to the oil drilling communities.
He promised the people of River State living in Ghana, especially students that were under his administration, he would establish a youth affairs think-tank that would provide an avenue for the youth in the state to come out with their own policies and programmes and assist to execute them.
According to Sir Omehia, the move was a two-prong approach to ensure that the youth had the platform to build their capacity as future leaders with practical experience and also be part of the governance process in the state.
He said the youth would also be assisted to undertake research into various fields, whiles those who could not make it in education would be supported to undergo vocational and technical training.
He added that his administration would ensure that it was open to public scrutiny as a way of showing probity, accountability, due process and our unquenchable desire to achieve good governance. “We urge you to join us in strengthening the solid foundation laid by our beloved Leaders in the past and other stakeholders.”
Sir Omehia added that although Progressives Grand Alliance party was a national party, it would not field a presidential candidate because “we believe that your bold support for our great party would translate to massive votes for us and for all APGA candidates in the State and National Assembly elections and finally for our adopted Presidential candidate Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”
He said it was such sacred contract that influenced the people to vote for them and that failure to implement such promises was tantamount to been lied to, fooling and insulting the integrity of the electorate.
Sir Omehia, who is standing on the ticket of All Progressives Grand Alliance party (APGA), was speaking after he had addressed Nigerians in Ghana, especially those from the River State in Ghana as part of his diasporan campaign to win the River State Governorship in Accra on Saturday.
Sir Omehia added that although Progressives Grand Alliance party was a national party, it had adopted Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as its Presidential candidate.”
According to him, African politicians must perceive their electorate as people without sense, who could be lied to and convinced to cast their vote for them.
“We should know that our people are very intelligent and when they realise that politicians are taking them for a ride, they would pay such politicians back in the hard way. After all, it is their resources that they entrust in hands and they expect us to manage it better for them.”
Sir Omehia, who was the governor of the River State in 2007, noted that although he had a short stay in office, he was able to initiate most of the promises he made to the people, including building the Institute for Strategic Political Studies and flyovers.
He was confident that he would be voted for because the people would consider his past record, especially in the area of poverty alleviation through employment, use of diplomacy to bring calm to the oil drilling communities.
He promised the people of River State living in Ghana, especially students that were under his administration, he would establish a youth affairs think-tank that would provide an avenue for the youth in the state to come out with their own policies and programmes and assist to execute them.
According to Sir Omehia, the move was a two-prong approach to ensure that the youth had the platform to build their capacity as future leaders with practical experience and also be part of the governance process in the state.
He said the youth would also be assisted to undertake research into various fields, whiles those who could not make it in education would be supported to undergo vocational and technical training.
He added that his administration would ensure that it was open to public scrutiny as a way of showing probity, accountability, due process and our unquenchable desire to achieve good governance. “We urge you to join us in strengthening the solid foundation laid by our beloved Leaders in the past and other stakeholders.”
Sir Omehia added that although Progressives Grand Alliance party was a national party, it would not field a presidential candidate because “we believe that your bold support for our great party would translate to massive votes for us and for all APGA candidates in the State and National Assembly elections and finally for our adopted Presidential candidate Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”
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