FOUR leading members of the People’s National Convention (PNC) have petitioned the Council of Elders of the party to investigate allegations ofabuse of power and corruption leveled against three national executive members of the party by Mr David Apasara, the National Treasurer of the PNC.
The group also threatened to go to court if these three persons, Dr Edward Mahama, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan and Mr Bernard Mornah, the Leader, the National Chairman and the General Secretary respectively who were mentioned were not asked to step aside and investigated.
They argued that the perpetuation of these unfortunate acts by the leadership of the party would affect its chances of attracting votes and also meet the requirements of Sections 14 and 17 of the Political Parties law, Act 574.
This was contained in a petition jointly signed by Messers, Bernard Bamaame, Michael Anafo, Abubakar S. Wiyor, Haruna Abbas and Ibrahim Karim to the council of elders and copied to the Dr Mahama, Alhaji Ramadan , Mr Mornah as well as all regional chairmen of the party.
It said apart from the claims of embezzlement leveled against the leadership, the group was also afraid that the development in the party would affect the PNC’s ability to meet the Political Parties Law and in effect be barred from putting up a Presidential candidate for the 2012 elections as threatened by the Electoral Commission (EC).
In the September 28, 20.. edition of the Daily Graphic, Mr Apasara, PNC National Treasurer accused the three leading members of the party for fraud and embezzlement and spending the resources of the party without recourse to the laid-down procedures.
He explained that since he (Mr Apasara) assumed the constitutionally designated position of national treasurer in 2007, he had been sidelined in every aspect of the financial matters of the party and that all written and verbal complaints to the national executive and elders of the party had fallen on deaf ears .He added that although the law court was the last resort to seek justice, he had not been able to do so because he did not have the resources and time, hence his decision to go public about the issue.
The petition said “as members of the party we know that the PNC has received large sums of money from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), dues from party members and other donations made to the party through visits made outside the country by Dr Mahama, Alhaji Ramadan and Mr Mornah, but could not be accounted for as per the Political Parties Law” adding that all because the National Treasurer had been sidelined in the undertaking of his constitutionally mandated duty as the treasurer of the party.
The group also described a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party that was held on September 7, 2011 as unconstitutional, null and void under Article 43 of the PNC constitution because the Standing Committee and its subcommittees that should be established to undertake decisions for the party did not exist.
“This letter is a follow up to our petition dated September 9, 2011 to the elders of the party, complaining that the holding of constituency, regional and national congresses, including the budget for these congresses must be presented and discussed by the Standing Committee as required by Article 46 and 47 of the party’s constitution before being referred to NEC”, it said.
It should be appropriated that the powers and functions granted to the standing committee in the constitution was by congress and not the NEC, hence the NEC cannot usurp the powers granted to the standing Committee unless congress does decide to modify or revoke the powers granted to the Standing Committee by amending or repealing the relevant provisions of the constitution”.
According to the petition, “meeting that was held on September 7, 20.. turned out not to be a meeting of the NEC, because the people who attended and contributed at the meeting were largely not NEC members as required under Article 43 of the party’s constitution as amended. This type of arbitrary and capricious conduct violates Article 55 (5) of the national constitution.
“Therefore all the decisions, resolutions including the setting up of the purported committees are null and void and without any legal effect”.
It demanded the council of elders to make the appropriate announcements to nullify the dates for the opening of nominations to the national executive positions of the party, the holding of elections for constituency, regional and national congresses.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Biometric budget to go up as a result of ...
THE legal tussle involving the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Intelligent Card Productions Systems (ICPS) over the contract for the biometric voter register will increase the cost of the exercise by an additional GH¢20 million.
Additionally, the verification of the biometric registration, which was not part of the original project but is being demanded by some political parties, will cost the country another $20 million.
Explaining why the verification would cost that much, an official of the EC said the commission would need a gadget that would be able to store the bio data of each voter, which could be verifiable at each polling station, implying that the EC must secure at least 22,000 of those gadgets for the 22,000 polling stations nation-wide.
Initially, the EC had divided the country into five zones for the biometric exercise, but because of the legal battle which had affected the timetable of the EC, it has now decided to zone the country into four areas and increase the registration centres by an additional 1,300.
The increase in the number of centres will enable the EC to complete the registration in time and make up for the delay resulting from the court action.
On the verification, the source said the EC would have to subject the verification of the biometric voter registration to wider public discussions and if it was able to reach consensus, then it would be implemented.
In July this year, the government released GH¢50 million out of the initial budget of GH¢80 million for the biometric voter registration intended to be used for next year’s elections.
The legal tussle was started by ICPS, one of the companies that submitted proposals for the contract but was not shortlisted because, according to EC sources, the company did not have a certificate of incorporation.
Initially, ICPS went to court but reversed its decision and complained to the Public Procurement Authority. However, on September 27, this year, a second application filed by the ICPS for an interim injunction against the EC was thrown out of court.
The court, presided over by Mrs Justice Barbara Ackah-Ayensu, also awarded GH¢5,000 costs against counsel for the complainant, Mr E.D.K. Letsa, for abusing the court process.
The ICPS, in its application, had prayed the court to restrain the EC from awarding the contract on the biometric registration pending an appeal at the Appeal Court.
Additionally, the verification of the biometric registration, which was not part of the original project but is being demanded by some political parties, will cost the country another $20 million.
Explaining why the verification would cost that much, an official of the EC said the commission would need a gadget that would be able to store the bio data of each voter, which could be verifiable at each polling station, implying that the EC must secure at least 22,000 of those gadgets for the 22,000 polling stations nation-wide.
Initially, the EC had divided the country into five zones for the biometric exercise, but because of the legal battle which had affected the timetable of the EC, it has now decided to zone the country into four areas and increase the registration centres by an additional 1,300.
The increase in the number of centres will enable the EC to complete the registration in time and make up for the delay resulting from the court action.
On the verification, the source said the EC would have to subject the verification of the biometric voter registration to wider public discussions and if it was able to reach consensus, then it would be implemented.
In July this year, the government released GH¢50 million out of the initial budget of GH¢80 million for the biometric voter registration intended to be used for next year’s elections.
The legal tussle was started by ICPS, one of the companies that submitted proposals for the contract but was not shortlisted because, according to EC sources, the company did not have a certificate of incorporation.
Initially, ICPS went to court but reversed its decision and complained to the Public Procurement Authority. However, on September 27, this year, a second application filed by the ICPS for an interim injunction against the EC was thrown out of court.
The court, presided over by Mrs Justice Barbara Ackah-Ayensu, also awarded GH¢5,000 costs against counsel for the complainant, Mr E.D.K. Letsa, for abusing the court process.
The ICPS, in its application, had prayed the court to restrain the EC from awarding the contract on the biometric registration pending an appeal at the Appeal Court.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
EC Awards contract for biometric regsitration
STL/HSB/Genkey company Limited, an information technology firm, has been awarded the contract for the procurement of the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) system for the 2012 general election..
It was selected by the Electoral Commission (EC) from a list of 47 companies that responded to the proposals for the expression of interest advertised in the media. Seven out of the 47 were initially shortlisted.
A document titled “Chronology of Biometric Voter Registration Procurement Process”, which contains the road map for the procurement of the BVR, prepared by the EC and distributed to political parties, stated the contract was awarded on October 4, 2011.
It said on May 23, 2011, the EC’s procurement department invited pre-qualified vendors to bid for the contract.
On July 11, 2011 six qualified vendors submitted their bids and three weeks later, on August 2, 2011, the EC undertook a technical evaluation of the tender documents of two vendors shortlisted for field tests.
According to the document, the EC invited stakeholders, including political parties to observe field and lab tests and a month afterwards the EC’s procurement team visited the local offices of the two shortlisted firms.
Intelligent Card Productions Systems (ICPS), which was one of the companies that submitted proposals/tenders for the contract was not shortlisted because according to EC sources, it did not have a certificate of incorporation.
Initially, ICPS went to court but reversed its decision and complained to the Public Procurement Authority.
However, on September 27, this year, an application for an interim injunction filed against the EC was thrown out of court. It was filed by ICPS and sought to prevent the EC from allowing other companies to engage in the biometric registration of voters (BVR) for the 2012 elections.
That was the second time ICPS had filed such a writ against the EC, after the first one had been dismissed by the Accra Fast Track Court (Commercial Division) earlier last month.
It was selected by the Electoral Commission (EC) from a list of 47 companies that responded to the proposals for the expression of interest advertised in the media. Seven out of the 47 were initially shortlisted.
A document titled “Chronology of Biometric Voter Registration Procurement Process”, which contains the road map for the procurement of the BVR, prepared by the EC and distributed to political parties, stated the contract was awarded on October 4, 2011.
It said on May 23, 2011, the EC’s procurement department invited pre-qualified vendors to bid for the contract.
On July 11, 2011 six qualified vendors submitted their bids and three weeks later, on August 2, 2011, the EC undertook a technical evaluation of the tender documents of two vendors shortlisted for field tests.
According to the document, the EC invited stakeholders, including political parties to observe field and lab tests and a month afterwards the EC’s procurement team visited the local offices of the two shortlisted firms.
Intelligent Card Productions Systems (ICPS), which was one of the companies that submitted proposals/tenders for the contract was not shortlisted because according to EC sources, it did not have a certificate of incorporation.
Initially, ICPS went to court but reversed its decision and complained to the Public Procurement Authority.
However, on September 27, this year, an application for an interim injunction filed against the EC was thrown out of court. It was filed by ICPS and sought to prevent the EC from allowing other companies to engage in the biometric registration of voters (BVR) for the 2012 elections.
That was the second time ICPS had filed such a writ against the EC, after the first one had been dismissed by the Accra Fast Track Court (Commercial Division) earlier last month.
Monday, October 10, 2011
DFP goes back to NDC
It is sealed and official.The Obed Asamoah led-Democratic Freedom Party(DFP) which was formed out of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) about five years ago has gone back to its roots, the NDC.
The merger was as a result of unity talks initiated by President JEA Mills with Dr Obed Asamoah, which was concluded with an elaborate extra ordinary and expanded national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the Art Centre in Accra on Saturday, the very venue which was used to officially outdoor the DFP in October 28, 2006. The talks was mediated by Rev Dan Markin, an Advisor to President Mills, who was also around to put the final nail to the coffin that was used to bury the DFP.
It all started with an invitation to lunch extended by President Mills to Dr Asamoah during the final funeral rites of the late Northern Regional Chairman of the NDC. This was followed up with a meeting at the Castle, Osu between the President and Dr Asamoah.
After evoking the party’s Article 49 which mandated the NEC to undertake activities including merging with other political parties, the General Secretary of the DFP, lowered the DFP flag to symbolise its demise, while his NDC counterpart, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia, hoisted the NDC flag.
Just after these symbolic gestures, all the DFP party members, especially the leading members who were wearing DFP T-shirts and other paraphernalia changed into NDC T-shirts and paraphernalia.
Ealier, the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the DFP, Barimah Yaw Osafo Kantanka had moved the motion for the adoption of the President Mills as the candidate for the 2012 elections. Another leading member of the party also moved the motion for the adoption for the merger of the DFP with the NDC which was seconded and supported by the entire NEC of the DFP.
Addresing the NEC, Dr Asamoah said those who question "our right to initiate a merger of the DFP with the NDC, I will like to remind them that the formation of the DFP was done in the first place by few promoters. If they trusted our wisdom then they can trust our decision now".
He reminded other members who wanted to remain with the decision to support the 2008 NPP presidential candidate that the decision was taken under the same constitutional arrangement, Article 49 of the DFP constituton but added that it was only to support the NPP in 2008 and did not imply a marriage.
"It is true that the presidential candidate of the NPP for 2012 elections is the same person now as in 2008, but significantly, however, the raison d'etre of our departure [violence] from the NDC has evaporated. While it is evident that the NDC is still undergoing growing pains of the democratization process we must conceded that considerable progress has been made as to justify a change of attitude," he said.
According to Dr Asamoah, their departure from the NDC was more because of brutilisation some of them suffered at the NDC Congress at Koforidua than anything else, "In fact the congress had nothing to do with the election of a presidential candidate at all".
In an emotional charged acceptance speech, Mr Aseidu Nketia recounted how the NDC had suffered, particularly by losing very hardworking founding members due to lack of internal democracy but thanked God that through very painful process the party had become internally democratic which was attracting all those who departed.
"I am filled with emotions, I have always believed that change is a must", he said and added that it was not the most intelligent or the strongest animal that survived but those that were able to adopt to changes, in reference to the fact that the NDC had become stronger and resisted all the turbulent times because it was able to adopt to changes.
Mr Aseidu Nketia who confirmed that he was the one who masterminded the "smuggling" of Dr Asamoah from the infamous Koforidua congress whose aftermath brought about the formation of the DFP explained that stated that the NDC was formed with "heavy input from Dr Asamoah".
"I was behind Obed's evacuation to safety at the Koforidua congress because of my abhorrence to violence. I have no apologies for moving him to safety.", he added.
He called Dr Asamoah and his followers as principled people, who left the NDC because of their hatred for violence and said they were the best judges, because they had come back to the NDC because the reasons they left no longer exited in the party.
He narrated how the NDC leadership used to hand picked parliamentary candidates who were endorsed at congresses and even when the people were demanding internal countability and democracy the party leadership failed to realise the need for these democratic ingredients which culminated in the party losing the 2000 general elections.
He said it was unfortunate that those who at any point in time of the party's history called for internal democracy in the NDC never had the opportunity to implement them but rather "suffer martyrdom".
Mr Aseidu Nketia also paid glowing tribute to Dr Obed Asamoah, who challenged the status quo by contesting for the NDC flag bearer position adding that "the NDC cannot go back to the days when its leadership was not elected. The Internal Democracy of the NDC has come to stay".
The merger was as a result of unity talks initiated by President JEA Mills with Dr Obed Asamoah, which was concluded with an elaborate extra ordinary and expanded national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the Art Centre in Accra on Saturday, the very venue which was used to officially outdoor the DFP in October 28, 2006. The talks was mediated by Rev Dan Markin, an Advisor to President Mills, who was also around to put the final nail to the coffin that was used to bury the DFP.
It all started with an invitation to lunch extended by President Mills to Dr Asamoah during the final funeral rites of the late Northern Regional Chairman of the NDC. This was followed up with a meeting at the Castle, Osu between the President and Dr Asamoah.
After evoking the party’s Article 49 which mandated the NEC to undertake activities including merging with other political parties, the General Secretary of the DFP, lowered the DFP flag to symbolise its demise, while his NDC counterpart, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia, hoisted the NDC flag.
Just after these symbolic gestures, all the DFP party members, especially the leading members who were wearing DFP T-shirts and other paraphernalia changed into NDC T-shirts and paraphernalia.
Ealier, the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the DFP, Barimah Yaw Osafo Kantanka had moved the motion for the adoption of the President Mills as the candidate for the 2012 elections. Another leading member of the party also moved the motion for the adoption for the merger of the DFP with the NDC which was seconded and supported by the entire NEC of the DFP.
Addresing the NEC, Dr Asamoah said those who question "our right to initiate a merger of the DFP with the NDC, I will like to remind them that the formation of the DFP was done in the first place by few promoters. If they trusted our wisdom then they can trust our decision now".
He reminded other members who wanted to remain with the decision to support the 2008 NPP presidential candidate that the decision was taken under the same constitutional arrangement, Article 49 of the DFP constituton but added that it was only to support the NPP in 2008 and did not imply a marriage.
"It is true that the presidential candidate of the NPP for 2012 elections is the same person now as in 2008, but significantly, however, the raison d'etre of our departure [violence] from the NDC has evaporated. While it is evident that the NDC is still undergoing growing pains of the democratization process we must conceded that considerable progress has been made as to justify a change of attitude," he said.
According to Dr Asamoah, their departure from the NDC was more because of brutilisation some of them suffered at the NDC Congress at Koforidua than anything else, "In fact the congress had nothing to do with the election of a presidential candidate at all".
In an emotional charged acceptance speech, Mr Aseidu Nketia recounted how the NDC had suffered, particularly by losing very hardworking founding members due to lack of internal democracy but thanked God that through very painful process the party had become internally democratic which was attracting all those who departed.
"I am filled with emotions, I have always believed that change is a must", he said and added that it was not the most intelligent or the strongest animal that survived but those that were able to adopt to changes, in reference to the fact that the NDC had become stronger and resisted all the turbulent times because it was able to adopt to changes.
Mr Aseidu Nketia who confirmed that he was the one who masterminded the "smuggling" of Dr Asamoah from the infamous Koforidua congress whose aftermath brought about the formation of the DFP explained that stated that the NDC was formed with "heavy input from Dr Asamoah".
"I was behind Obed's evacuation to safety at the Koforidua congress because of my abhorrence to violence. I have no apologies for moving him to safety.", he added.
He called Dr Asamoah and his followers as principled people, who left the NDC because of their hatred for violence and said they were the best judges, because they had come back to the NDC because the reasons they left no longer exited in the party.
He narrated how the NDC leadership used to hand picked parliamentary candidates who were endorsed at congresses and even when the people were demanding internal countability and democracy the party leadership failed to realise the need for these democratic ingredients which culminated in the party losing the 2000 general elections.
He said it was unfortunate that those who at any point in time of the party's history called for internal democracy in the NDC never had the opportunity to implement them but rather "suffer martyrdom".
Mr Aseidu Nketia also paid glowing tribute to Dr Obed Asamoah, who challenged the status quo by contesting for the NDC flag bearer position adding that "the NDC cannot go back to the days when its leadership was not elected. The Internal Democracy of the NDC has come to stay".
NDC vetting in Accra going well - Ade Coker
THE Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has started vetting 37 aspirants to determine their eligibility and qualification as parliamentary candidates.
The panel, which is chaired by the Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Kobina Ade Coker, will ensure that the aspirants qualify by the 1992 constitutional requirements for Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as the party’s constitution.
For the first day, the panel dealt with aspirants from Ayawaso Central and Okaikoi South.
Currently, out of the 27 parliamentary seats in the Greater Accra Region, the NDC has 18 and the NPP has nine.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, Mr Ade Coker noted that “the first day of vetting went well and was very successful” and added that the aspirants gave a very good account of themselves.”
Asked what challenges the panel or the aspirants faced, he replied that there were no challenges but added that “I will not want to preempt the work of the committee because at the end of the process, we will have to present our report to the national executive.”
He said the regional panel was satisfied with the performance of most of the aspirants who came prepared, performed well, sounded capable and were credible materials who would be able to snatch the seats from the NPP and increase the NDC’s standing in parliament, adding that “most of them fit into the region’s strategy of increasing the seats by at least five and increasing the presidential votes as well.”
Mr Ade Coker expressed confidence that the region would be able to increase the seats because the NDC government, led by President J.E.A. Mills, had done marvelously well, especially with the execution of unprecedented development projects within the first two and half years, the stabilisation of the cedi against major foreign currencies and the sustenance of peace and stability in the country.
He also indicated that the party had instituted a committee to thoroughly investigate the disturbances in Ashaiman involving some members of the party who were putting up unruly behaviour.
He said the outcome of the investigation would enable the party to put a lasting endto such disturbances.
The panel, which is chaired by the Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Kobina Ade Coker, will ensure that the aspirants qualify by the 1992 constitutional requirements for Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as the party’s constitution.
For the first day, the panel dealt with aspirants from Ayawaso Central and Okaikoi South.
Currently, out of the 27 parliamentary seats in the Greater Accra Region, the NDC has 18 and the NPP has nine.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, Mr Ade Coker noted that “the first day of vetting went well and was very successful” and added that the aspirants gave a very good account of themselves.”
Asked what challenges the panel or the aspirants faced, he replied that there were no challenges but added that “I will not want to preempt the work of the committee because at the end of the process, we will have to present our report to the national executive.”
He said the regional panel was satisfied with the performance of most of the aspirants who came prepared, performed well, sounded capable and were credible materials who would be able to snatch the seats from the NPP and increase the NDC’s standing in parliament, adding that “most of them fit into the region’s strategy of increasing the seats by at least five and increasing the presidential votes as well.”
Mr Ade Coker expressed confidence that the region would be able to increase the seats because the NDC government, led by President J.E.A. Mills, had done marvelously well, especially with the execution of unprecedented development projects within the first two and half years, the stabilisation of the cedi against major foreign currencies and the sustenance of peace and stability in the country.
He also indicated that the party had instituted a committee to thoroughly investigate the disturbances in Ashaiman involving some members of the party who were putting up unruly behaviour.
He said the outcome of the investigation would enable the party to put a lasting endto such disturbances.
CPP plots strategies for next four years
CPP Meeting Read by E. agyeI
CPP strategises
for next four years
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem
IN its bid to promote harmony among all its past and present executive, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has held a meeting for both old and new executive members to chart the way forward for the party in the next four years.
The meeting, which was part of the transitional process, was also to plot strategic moves to embark on the launch of a sustainable membership drive that would propel the CPP as the party of choice for the electorate.
It was attended by almost all the current executive and a former Vice-Chairperson, Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchil; a former Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, and a former Youth Organiser, Kwabena Bomfeh.
Public perception about the CPP is that it has always had a divided front. This is born out of the fact that prior to every congress, some leading members of the party with interest in both the chairmanship and the flagbearership select persons for various positions on their slate. Unfortunately, if those members on such slates are unable to make it in the elections, they tend to sit on the fence or stridently criticise the elected group.
This has affected the fortunes of the party during elections.
It was to cure this canker that the meeting was held at the party’s headquarters in Accra. It also afforded the members the opportunity to share experiences on the past performance of party organisation.
A leading member of the party, Mr Michael Nunoo, also made a presentation on an organisational Blueprint he had prepared for the party in 2007, after which there were suggestions for modification from the participants.
The meeting also considered suggestions for efficient revenue generation.
Soft Tribe, a computer software company, also made a presentation on how the party could, through the use of information technology, embark on a membership drive and resource mobilisation.
The CPP’s Election 2008 running mate, Dr Abu Sakara, chaired the section of the meeting that collated suggestions on the formulation of strategic initiatives for the launch of a membership drive and the achievement of party goals.
In a chat with the media half-way through the meeting, the Chairperson of the CPP, Ms Samia Nkrumah, said the meeting was part of a carefully thought-out transition process to ensure that no single member was left out from the work ahead.
She said the party was exploring all legitimate and possible ways, particularly through the use of technology, for its mass membership drive.
She added that it would also create a conducive atmosphere that would awaken the hardworking spirit in every single member to lend his or her support, as well as put his or her shoulders to the wheel.
Ms Nkrumah said the party was also putting measures in place to ensure that it came out with credible and marketable aspirants who would be able to secure parliamentary seats for it, adding that while doing that, the CPP would not diminish its search for a presidential candidate.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, said the party was being guided by the 2008 membership drive that was able to generate over 500,000 card-bearing members but which did not reflect in the elections.
He said the party later found out that most of the people decided to vote for either the NPP or the NDC because they felt the CPP was not strong enough to make any impact and that a vote for the CPP would be a waste.
He noted, however, that most of those people had regretted voting for the NDC, two years into its administration, and were in a rush to rejoin the CPP.
He said it was incumbent on the current executive to provide such members and other Ghanaians who had goodwill towards the CPP with the necessary avenue to be part of the party and help build a stronger machinery that would make a strong showing in the 2012 elections.
CPP strategises
for next four years
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem
IN its bid to promote harmony among all its past and present executive, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has held a meeting for both old and new executive members to chart the way forward for the party in the next four years.
The meeting, which was part of the transitional process, was also to plot strategic moves to embark on the launch of a sustainable membership drive that would propel the CPP as the party of choice for the electorate.
It was attended by almost all the current executive and a former Vice-Chairperson, Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchil; a former Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, and a former Youth Organiser, Kwabena Bomfeh.
Public perception about the CPP is that it has always had a divided front. This is born out of the fact that prior to every congress, some leading members of the party with interest in both the chairmanship and the flagbearership select persons for various positions on their slate. Unfortunately, if those members on such slates are unable to make it in the elections, they tend to sit on the fence or stridently criticise the elected group.
This has affected the fortunes of the party during elections.
It was to cure this canker that the meeting was held at the party’s headquarters in Accra. It also afforded the members the opportunity to share experiences on the past performance of party organisation.
A leading member of the party, Mr Michael Nunoo, also made a presentation on an organisational Blueprint he had prepared for the party in 2007, after which there were suggestions for modification from the participants.
The meeting also considered suggestions for efficient revenue generation.
Soft Tribe, a computer software company, also made a presentation on how the party could, through the use of information technology, embark on a membership drive and resource mobilisation.
The CPP’s Election 2008 running mate, Dr Abu Sakara, chaired the section of the meeting that collated suggestions on the formulation of strategic initiatives for the launch of a membership drive and the achievement of party goals.
In a chat with the media half-way through the meeting, the Chairperson of the CPP, Ms Samia Nkrumah, said the meeting was part of a carefully thought-out transition process to ensure that no single member was left out from the work ahead.
She said the party was exploring all legitimate and possible ways, particularly through the use of technology, for its mass membership drive.
She added that it would also create a conducive atmosphere that would awaken the hardworking spirit in every single member to lend his or her support, as well as put his or her shoulders to the wheel.
Ms Nkrumah said the party was also putting measures in place to ensure that it came out with credible and marketable aspirants who would be able to secure parliamentary seats for it, adding that while doing that, the CPP would not diminish its search for a presidential candidate.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, said the party was being guided by the 2008 membership drive that was able to generate over 500,000 card-bearing members but which did not reflect in the elections.
He said the party later found out that most of the people decided to vote for either the NPP or the NDC because they felt the CPP was not strong enough to make any impact and that a vote for the CPP would be a waste.
He noted, however, that most of those people had regretted voting for the NDC, two years into its administration, and were in a rush to rejoin the CPP.
He said it was incumbent on the current executive to provide such members and other Ghanaians who had goodwill towards the CPP with the necessary avenue to be part of the party and help build a stronger machinery that would make a strong showing in the 2012 elections.
EC, parties reach consensus
THE major political parties in the country have arrived at a consensus on the way forward for the processes leading to the use of a biometric register for the 2012 elections.
Consequently, they have agreed to constitute two committees made up of members of the political parties with representation in Parliament to work in collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC) to iron out other technical and legal challenges of the biometric system.
The Technical Committee will work on outstanding issues relating to the biometric system, particularly the verification of the process, data, software, among other things, while the Legal Committee will collaborate with the EC in drafting a new Constitutional Instrument (CI) to replace the current one, CI12, which is the Public Elections (Regulations of Voters Registration 1995).
These were arrived at during an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting convened by the EC in Accra yesterday.
On the issue of the creation of new constituencies, the EC informed the forum, which the Daily Graphic learnt had been conducted in a cordial atmosphere, that it had hit a snag because, first, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) had not produced the details of the 2010 Population Census which would form the basis for the demarcation of the constituencies.
Second, the government had also not made its intentions clear on creating additional districts, it noted, pointing out that the EC could not create any new constituency while new districts had not been created.
The EC also noted that it had been hauled before the court of law regarding the creation of new constituencies.
The only dissenting voice was that of the General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah, who walked out of the forum, indicating that from the explanation given by the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the EC had already taken the decision to create 20 constituencies without waiting for the GSS to release the needed figures.
“The EC has already made up its mind to create 20 new constituencies without the census figures from the GSS and also without the blessing of Parliament,” he told the media after walking out.
The IPAC forum was attended by representatives of political parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the PNC, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
The General Secretaries of the NDC, the NPP and the CPP, Messrs Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie and Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, respectively, told the Daily Graphic that they were satisfied with developments so far but noted that if the EC had organised the forum earlier, as had been requested by almost all the political parties, the tension and misunderstanding would not have arisen.
The three parties also made it clear that they did not have any intention of interfering with the EC’s procurement process, nor were they interested in who was selected to supply the equipment for the biometric system.
They, however, said as major stakeholders, theirs was to ensure that their concerns were addressed for the country to have a register that had credibility and integrity and would be able to prevent double registration.
Reacting to the EC’s hesitation in creating new constituencies, Mr Asiedu-Nketiah gave the assurance that the NDC would impress upon the government to expedite action on its decision to create new districts to pave the way for the EC to create new constituencies.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie noted that the NPP had earlier raised concerns over the biometric process because it wanted to ensure that in the final analysis the people of Ghana would have a credible register that would assist in ensuring that every eligible voter’s ballot would be counted and that those who wanted to either vote more than once or impersonate would not have a field day.
Consequently, they have agreed to constitute two committees made up of members of the political parties with representation in Parliament to work in collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC) to iron out other technical and legal challenges of the biometric system.
The Technical Committee will work on outstanding issues relating to the biometric system, particularly the verification of the process, data, software, among other things, while the Legal Committee will collaborate with the EC in drafting a new Constitutional Instrument (CI) to replace the current one, CI12, which is the Public Elections (Regulations of Voters Registration 1995).
These were arrived at during an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting convened by the EC in Accra yesterday.
On the issue of the creation of new constituencies, the EC informed the forum, which the Daily Graphic learnt had been conducted in a cordial atmosphere, that it had hit a snag because, first, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) had not produced the details of the 2010 Population Census which would form the basis for the demarcation of the constituencies.
Second, the government had also not made its intentions clear on creating additional districts, it noted, pointing out that the EC could not create any new constituency while new districts had not been created.
The EC also noted that it had been hauled before the court of law regarding the creation of new constituencies.
The only dissenting voice was that of the General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah, who walked out of the forum, indicating that from the explanation given by the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the EC had already taken the decision to create 20 constituencies without waiting for the GSS to release the needed figures.
“The EC has already made up its mind to create 20 new constituencies without the census figures from the GSS and also without the blessing of Parliament,” he told the media after walking out.
The IPAC forum was attended by representatives of political parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the PNC, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
The General Secretaries of the NDC, the NPP and the CPP, Messrs Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie and Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, respectively, told the Daily Graphic that they were satisfied with developments so far but noted that if the EC had organised the forum earlier, as had been requested by almost all the political parties, the tension and misunderstanding would not have arisen.
The three parties also made it clear that they did not have any intention of interfering with the EC’s procurement process, nor were they interested in who was selected to supply the equipment for the biometric system.
They, however, said as major stakeholders, theirs was to ensure that their concerns were addressed for the country to have a register that had credibility and integrity and would be able to prevent double registration.
Reacting to the EC’s hesitation in creating new constituencies, Mr Asiedu-Nketiah gave the assurance that the NDC would impress upon the government to expedite action on its decision to create new districts to pave the way for the EC to create new constituencies.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie noted that the NPP had earlier raised concerns over the biometric process because it wanted to ensure that in the final analysis the people of Ghana would have a credible register that would assist in ensuring that every eligible voter’s ballot would be counted and that those who wanted to either vote more than once or impersonate would not have a field day.
Ayariga picks forms, to contest PNC flag bearership
A 40-year old businessman, Mr Hassan Ayariga today picked his nomination forms to contest the flag bearership position of the People's National Convention (PNC) for the 2012 general election with a promise to make the party the best choice for the Ghanaian voter.
He stated that he would not only pick the forms and win the flagbearer ship only to go and sleep but would campaign vigirously in every nook cranny of the country to ensure that the party wins the 2012 elections.
Mr Ayariga, who together with some of his supporters wearing T shirts bearing his picture, walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to the party's national headquarters at the Abavana Junction in Accra before submitting his forms. He occasionally stood on his Hammer vehicle to respond to cheers from passengers and others.
Briefing the media just after picking the forms, he indicated jsut as the world over political parties were selecting young and enterprising persons who have led their political parties and won elections the PNC would do same at its congress by selecting him as the presidentials candidate.
He gave the example of President Barrack Obama of the USA, Prime Minister David Cameron of UK and the Russian Pime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of Russia as some of the young people who have changed the cause of history as young leaders.
Mr Ayariga who holds a BSc degree in Business Administration from the Atlantic University, Hawaii in the USA promised to inject dynamism, massive membership drive and the introduction of a programme of action that would propel the party to win the 2012 elections as welll as possess majority seats in Parliament.
He paid glowing tribute to other young persons like the party's General Secretary, Mr Bernard Mornah who had performed extraordinarily well as compared with other older persons in other parties
Mr Ayariga who served as the party's Chairman in Germany for six years said under his leadership as the flag bearer and leader of the party, the youth in the country would be inspired and informed about why they should support the PNC.
Mr Ayariga expressed worry at the hardship most Ghanaians were going through which he attributed to the inability of the current and successive governments to roll out effective policies and programmes that would ameliorate the problems and assured that with a PNC government, both and human resources would be judiciously used for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Earlier, Mr Mornah briefed the press about the guidelines developed by the party for the Sunyani congress which included the fact that all aspiring candidates to any position must meet the requisite qualification of the 1992 constitution.
"No candidate or his or her followers will, acting in the name of the candidate obstruct, disrupt or in any way whatsoever, interfere with a meeting or any campaign activity of another candidate. All candidates must at all times cooperate fully with the congress and vetting committees of the party," he said.
He also urged all candidates to caution their followers not to remove or destroy or disfigure the posters and other campaign material of other candidates and also no branch, regional and constituency officers would declare open support for any aspirant.
He added that although campaign teamns were encouraged to be set for the purorses of executing campaigns prior to the delegates congress, candidates and their supporters should desist from forming factional groups.
He stated that he would not only pick the forms and win the flagbearer ship only to go and sleep but would campaign vigirously in every nook cranny of the country to ensure that the party wins the 2012 elections.
Mr Ayariga, who together with some of his supporters wearing T shirts bearing his picture, walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to the party's national headquarters at the Abavana Junction in Accra before submitting his forms. He occasionally stood on his Hammer vehicle to respond to cheers from passengers and others.
Briefing the media just after picking the forms, he indicated jsut as the world over political parties were selecting young and enterprising persons who have led their political parties and won elections the PNC would do same at its congress by selecting him as the presidentials candidate.
He gave the example of President Barrack Obama of the USA, Prime Minister David Cameron of UK and the Russian Pime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of Russia as some of the young people who have changed the cause of history as young leaders.
Mr Ayariga who holds a BSc degree in Business Administration from the Atlantic University, Hawaii in the USA promised to inject dynamism, massive membership drive and the introduction of a programme of action that would propel the party to win the 2012 elections as welll as possess majority seats in Parliament.
He paid glowing tribute to other young persons like the party's General Secretary, Mr Bernard Mornah who had performed extraordinarily well as compared with other older persons in other parties
Mr Ayariga who served as the party's Chairman in Germany for six years said under his leadership as the flag bearer and leader of the party, the youth in the country would be inspired and informed about why they should support the PNC.
Mr Ayariga expressed worry at the hardship most Ghanaians were going through which he attributed to the inability of the current and successive governments to roll out effective policies and programmes that would ameliorate the problems and assured that with a PNC government, both and human resources would be judiciously used for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Earlier, Mr Mornah briefed the press about the guidelines developed by the party for the Sunyani congress which included the fact that all aspiring candidates to any position must meet the requisite qualification of the 1992 constitution.
"No candidate or his or her followers will, acting in the name of the candidate obstruct, disrupt or in any way whatsoever, interfere with a meeting or any campaign activity of another candidate. All candidates must at all times cooperate fully with the congress and vetting committees of the party," he said.
He also urged all candidates to caution their followers not to remove or destroy or disfigure the posters and other campaign material of other candidates and also no branch, regional and constituency officers would declare open support for any aspirant.
He added that although campaign teamns were encouraged to be set for the purorses of executing campaigns prior to the delegates congress, candidates and their supporters should desist from forming factional groups.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
HelpAge complains about delay in release of LEAP funds
HELP Age Ghana, an organisation that seeks the welfare and interest of the aged in the country, says it is concerned with the non-payment of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) for the last 10 months.
It noted that this was causing great pain and suffering to its members, most of whom have sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.
The Vice President of the association, Mr Edward Amaeyibor, told the Daily Graphic in Accra on Friday after a seminar on the “Plight of Older Persons and Political Party Manifesto for 2012 Election,” that the absence of the LEAP was having serious repercussions on the already sick and poor members.
The seminar was organised as part of the United Nations Day for Older Persons which falls on every October 1.
HelpAge Ghana is a non-governmental, non-religious and non-profit making organisation, established in 1988 to promote the prospects of older persons in the Ghanaian society. It is a full member of HelpAge International (HAI) which is based in London, UK, and is a global network of age care organisations.
Mr Amaeyibor also expressed concern about the refusal of the four main political parties to attend the programme, which was intended to offer the parties the opportunity to listen to the concerns of the old people and incoporate them in their manifestos for the 2012 general elections.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DPP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the United Renaissance Party (URP) attended the seminar they although according to Helpage. The other parties did not attend, were given letters and this was followed with telephone calls to some of their leaders.
Mr Amaeyibor said their refusal to attend was indicative of how they looked down on the aged, and reminded those political parties that they should bear in mind that old people form at least seven per cent of the total population and also serve as leaders of their various families an as such they could have a great deal of influence over the people they head.
He said the political parties must not lose sight of the fact that their leaders, President Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party respectively, were by all standards old people because they were above 60 years.
The DPP was represented by its leader, Mr T. N. Ward-Brew, GCPP by its General Secretary, Rev Harry Mettle, and URP by its Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Mr Francis Sowah.
It noted that this was causing great pain and suffering to its members, most of whom have sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.
The Vice President of the association, Mr Edward Amaeyibor, told the Daily Graphic in Accra on Friday after a seminar on the “Plight of Older Persons and Political Party Manifesto for 2012 Election,” that the absence of the LEAP was having serious repercussions on the already sick and poor members.
The seminar was organised as part of the United Nations Day for Older Persons which falls on every October 1.
HelpAge Ghana is a non-governmental, non-religious and non-profit making organisation, established in 1988 to promote the prospects of older persons in the Ghanaian society. It is a full member of HelpAge International (HAI) which is based in London, UK, and is a global network of age care organisations.
Mr Amaeyibor also expressed concern about the refusal of the four main political parties to attend the programme, which was intended to offer the parties the opportunity to listen to the concerns of the old people and incoporate them in their manifestos for the 2012 general elections.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DPP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the United Renaissance Party (URP) attended the seminar they although according to Helpage. The other parties did not attend, were given letters and this was followed with telephone calls to some of their leaders.
Mr Amaeyibor said their refusal to attend was indicative of how they looked down on the aged, and reminded those political parties that they should bear in mind that old people form at least seven per cent of the total population and also serve as leaders of their various families an as such they could have a great deal of influence over the people they head.
He said the political parties must not lose sight of the fact that their leaders, President Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party respectively, were by all standards old people because they were above 60 years.
The DPP was represented by its leader, Mr T. N. Ward-Brew, GCPP by its General Secretary, Rev Harry Mettle, and URP by its Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Mr Francis Sowah.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Biometric register for 2012. It's coming on--EC
THE Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has stated that the commission is vigorously going on with its processes of ensuring that it secures a biometric registration system for the 2012 general election.
According to him, with the court clearance for the commission to undertake its legitimate business, there was no let or hindrance on its part and that it was “continuing with the processes”.
However, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the People”s National Convention (PNC) have raised red flags cautioning the EC that the path it was taking would compound the existing problems of double registration and voting and that as major stakeholders they believed the commission must tread cautiously and heed the caution.
The two parties argued that although it was not their intention to interfere with the EC’s procurement process, they were duty bound to ensure that the cameras, scanners and the process to be used met standards that would not jeopardise the electoral process after the huge investment had been made in it.
But the Technical Advisor on Biometric Registration for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Ahmed Gedel, is of the view that “to a large extent the EC is on the right path in obtaining an accurate, reliable and authentic biometric registration”.
He also urged the EC to sit with the political parties to agree on issues regarding standards and the nature of achieving a reliable, authentic and accurate register and explained that the verification of the process that others were calling for was another level that had never been used by any African country.
He added, however, that if Ghana could afford it, it would be welcome news.
Dr Afari-Gyan stated the EC’s position when he spoke to the Daily Graphic on recent developments, especially an injunction against the EC which was thrown out by the High Court.
On September 27, this year, an application for an interim injunction filed against the EC was thrown out of court. It was filed by Intelligent Card Productions Systems (ICPS) and sought to prevent the EC from allowing other companies to engage in the biometric registration of voters (BVR) for the 2012 elections.
That was the second time ICPS had filed such a writ against the EC, after the first one had been dismissed by the Accra Fast Track Court (Commercial Division) earlier last month. The EC was dragged to court by ICPS because the latter had been disqualified from a list of companies that bid for the contract to produce the cards as part of the processes of the BVR.
Explaining his party’s position further to the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, noted that although the NPP was not interested in the company which would finally be selected to undertake the process, it was incumbent on the party, as a responsible political entity, to ensure that, for instance, the mega pixels of the cameras and the capacities of the scanners were high enough to achieve better quality.
He said when these had been properly secured, coupled with other internationally accepted benchmarks such as the capability to verify registration and block double registration, the EC would be on the path of securing a system that would be better than the current system.
The NPP General Secretary noted that Ghana must be guided by the painful experiences of countries that had used half-baked biometric registration, such as Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Congo, and avoid the process that would dent the country’s enviable democratic record.
For his part, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, noted that his party was totally committed to the use of biometric registration but was against the selection of a vendor that would produce a registration system that would compound the problems inherent in the photo register.
He added that all that the PNC, which was a major stakeholder in the use of the biometric register, was seeking was to have a forum with the EC to be able to offer suggestions that would help enrich the system and avoid the situation where the very canker of double registration and voting which the new system was seeking to eliminate would be maintained.
Since the EC started the process of procuring a vendor through the tender process for the biometric registration, it had been rocked with allegations of lack of transparency, procuring a system without verification, refusal to involve the political parties through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) forum, among others.
According to him, with the court clearance for the commission to undertake its legitimate business, there was no let or hindrance on its part and that it was “continuing with the processes”.
However, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the People”s National Convention (PNC) have raised red flags cautioning the EC that the path it was taking would compound the existing problems of double registration and voting and that as major stakeholders they believed the commission must tread cautiously and heed the caution.
The two parties argued that although it was not their intention to interfere with the EC’s procurement process, they were duty bound to ensure that the cameras, scanners and the process to be used met standards that would not jeopardise the electoral process after the huge investment had been made in it.
But the Technical Advisor on Biometric Registration for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Ahmed Gedel, is of the view that “to a large extent the EC is on the right path in obtaining an accurate, reliable and authentic biometric registration”.
He also urged the EC to sit with the political parties to agree on issues regarding standards and the nature of achieving a reliable, authentic and accurate register and explained that the verification of the process that others were calling for was another level that had never been used by any African country.
He added, however, that if Ghana could afford it, it would be welcome news.
Dr Afari-Gyan stated the EC’s position when he spoke to the Daily Graphic on recent developments, especially an injunction against the EC which was thrown out by the High Court.
On September 27, this year, an application for an interim injunction filed against the EC was thrown out of court. It was filed by Intelligent Card Productions Systems (ICPS) and sought to prevent the EC from allowing other companies to engage in the biometric registration of voters (BVR) for the 2012 elections.
That was the second time ICPS had filed such a writ against the EC, after the first one had been dismissed by the Accra Fast Track Court (Commercial Division) earlier last month. The EC was dragged to court by ICPS because the latter had been disqualified from a list of companies that bid for the contract to produce the cards as part of the processes of the BVR.
Explaining his party’s position further to the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, noted that although the NPP was not interested in the company which would finally be selected to undertake the process, it was incumbent on the party, as a responsible political entity, to ensure that, for instance, the mega pixels of the cameras and the capacities of the scanners were high enough to achieve better quality.
He said when these had been properly secured, coupled with other internationally accepted benchmarks such as the capability to verify registration and block double registration, the EC would be on the path of securing a system that would be better than the current system.
The NPP General Secretary noted that Ghana must be guided by the painful experiences of countries that had used half-baked biometric registration, such as Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Congo, and avoid the process that would dent the country’s enviable democratic record.
For his part, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, noted that his party was totally committed to the use of biometric registration but was against the selection of a vendor that would produce a registration system that would compound the problems inherent in the photo register.
He added that all that the PNC, which was a major stakeholder in the use of the biometric register, was seeking was to have a forum with the EC to be able to offer suggestions that would help enrich the system and avoid the situation where the very canker of double registration and voting which the new system was seeking to eliminate would be maintained.
Since the EC started the process of procuring a vendor through the tender process for the biometric registration, it had been rocked with allegations of lack of transparency, procuring a system without verification, refusal to involve the political parties through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) forum, among others.
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