THE National delegates congress of the People’s National Convention (PNC) scheduled for Sunyani on Saturday, February 4, 2012 is under threat.
The leaders of the party in Ashanti, Greater Accra, Upper West ,Western and the Central regions have filed interlocutory injunction restraining the party from holding the congress.
The suit was filed in an Accra High Court by the five regional chairmen, Mr Thomas Akumyong, Ashanti; Mr Iddrisu Nuhu Saed, Upper West Deputy Chairman; Mr Yakubu Tahiru, Western Region; Alhajia Mohammed Abbas, Central Region and Mr Ebenezer Halm-Quartey, Greater Accra.
The defendants are Dr Edward Mahama, Leader of the party; Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Chairman; Mr Bernard Mornah, General Secretary and the Peoples National Convention.
In their affidavit in support of their claim, the plaintiff said the capacity of the three named defendants as executives of the Party was a subject of a suit Number BMISC 141/2012 which was currently pending at the High Court of Accra.
It added that there had not been any national executive meeting of the PNC to deliberate or discuss any issue regarding the said national congress, let alone approve same.
It claimed that the three named defendants were currently acting as the organisers of the impending national delegates’ congress, a role which was reserved for the national executive committee and also the conduct of three defendants amounted to a gross violation of the PNC constitution and a blatant disregard for rule of law and proper democratic practices as enshrined in the 1992 constitution of Ghana.
However, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah had rubbished the claims by the chairmen, and said once a court of competent jurisdiction had cleared the way for the party to hold its congress nothing could stop it or hinder the progress of activities.
Mr Mornah said that the NEC would meet today to discuss other issues prior to the congress but indicated that arrangements had been completed on issues such as security and accreditation for delegates and guests including representatives of political parties and members of the diplomatic corps.
“All is set for an exciting congress that would ussher the PNC into an intense political campaign to win the 2012 elections and bring relief to the ordinary Ghanaian. There is no turning back, nothing can stop us now,” he said.
Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama will set a record as the only person to have contested the flag-bearer position of a party five times.
But Dr Mahama, a gynaecologist in private practice, faces stiff competition from Mr Hassan Ayariga.
Sixteen members of the party are also contesting for seven executive positions in the party.
According to the 40-year-old Mr Ayariga, the PNC needed fresh leadership with the zeal to succeed, particularly on the presidential slot, to halt the free fall of the party’s fortune from 7.8 per cent of votes in 1996 elections to less that one per cent in 2008.
He said not only had Dr Mahama failed in his position as leader of the PNC to put the party on a pedestal to ensure that it won political power to continue with Dr Limann’s unfinished business of making Ghana a better place.
But Dr Mahama insisted that he was not just the best person to lead the PNC but also the one to salvage Ghana from what he called visionless leaders who had failed to tap the rich human and natural resources of the country to provide the basic needs of the people.
According to Mr Mornah, the first part of the congress would be used for party activities, particularly the amendment of the PNC’s constitution, the general secretary’s report, among others, before the Electoral Commission (EC) would take over precedings to organise the election of a flag bearer and national executive members.
Those vying for the position of National Chairman are Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the incumbent National Chairman; Dr Edward Gyader, the Upper West Regional Chairman for 1992, 1996 and 2000; Mr Thomas Akumyoung, the Ashanti Regional Chairman; Dr Somtim Tobiga, a former National Treasurer, and Mr David Nibi.
For the position of First National Chairman, Hajia Hajara Ali will be elected unopposed because she was the only aspirant at the close of nominations.
The sitting General Secretary, Mr Mornah, will be challenged by the Communications Director of the party, Mr Henry Haruna Asante, and the party’s Policy Analyst, Mr Atik Mohammed.
Those seeking the mandate of the congress to be the party’s National Organiser are Abubakar Ebla Kwashie, Mr Omar Ahmed Bekure and Mr Emmanuel Wilson.
Mr David Apasera, the Treasurer, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by Mr Batsa Peter Teye, while Ms Elizabeth Amedekanyu and Janet Nabila are vying for the position of National Women’s Organiser.
Mr Abass Nuhu and Mr Colson Akanbasian will vie for the position of National Youth Organiser.
The party was billed to hold its congress in the latter part of last year but it was rescheduled as a result of a series of legal issues which were contested in courts against the locus of the current leadership to hold themselves as an executive and organise a congress.
However, on January 23, 2012, a major hurdle on its path was cleared when the Accra High Court dismissed a motion for interlocutory injunction seeking an order to restrain the PNC from organising its delegates congress.
According to the court, the applicants failed to provide independent evidence to substantiate allegations of fraud levelled against the defendants.
Friday, February 3, 2012
PPP Receives Interim Certificate
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom's Progressive People's Party (PPP) has become the latest political party in the country.
This follows the receipt of its provisional certificate to organise itself into a fully-fledged political party.
With the interim certificate, the party will be able to organise itself and undertake other activities to meet the requirement of the Political Parties Law before receiving the final certificate as a political party.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at the party’s office after receiving the certificate, the National Secretary of the PPP, Mr Kofi Siaw-Asamoah, said with the provisional certificate, the PPP would be able to continue with its massive membership mobilisation drive.
A copy of the provisional certificate which was shown to this reporter was signed by a Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr Kwadwo Safo-Kantanka.
It reads, “This is to certify that the Electoral Commission has presented the PPP with a provisional certificate of registration as a political party on this day, Thursday, 2nd February, 2012 in partial fulfilment of the Political Parties Act...."
Mr Siaw-Asamoah expressed excitement about the event and said members of the party were gingered to roll up their sleeves and embark on massive membership drive towards realising the vision of winning the 2012 elections as the third force on the Ghanaian political scene.
“We welcome the decision by the Electoral Commission to grant us the provisional certificate despite the difficult processes involved in party registration. We want to congratulate the Electoral Commission on the professionalism with which they have conducted their activities all these years,” he added.
He said as part of the national mobilisation of members, the party would open nominations for parliamentary aspirants from February 6, 2011 to February 29, 2012 .
Aspirants are to pay GHc100 for the nomination fee. Male aspirants above the age of 35 will pay a filing fee of GHc1000, while males below 35 years and females would pay GHc 500.
Mr Siaw-Asamoah asked the party executives in the various regions to ensure that they encourage more females to pick up nominations to attain the party’s 30 per cent quota for women, adding that this should be done possibly through “positive discrimination for women”.
He said the PPP considered the provisional certificate as an opportunity to organise properly and to demonstrate to Ghanaians that it was capable of fighting to move Ghana away from mediocrity, the culture of indiscipline, “the constant failure of leadership, the mismanagement of our natural resources and the gargantuan crimes perpetuated against the state”.
“We are ready to offer progressive and pragmatic leadership that focuses on education, job creation, industrialisation, housing and preventive diseases that will lead Ghana to prosperity in peace,” Mr Siaw-Asamoah added.
This follows the receipt of its provisional certificate to organise itself into a fully-fledged political party.
With the interim certificate, the party will be able to organise itself and undertake other activities to meet the requirement of the Political Parties Law before receiving the final certificate as a political party.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at the party’s office after receiving the certificate, the National Secretary of the PPP, Mr Kofi Siaw-Asamoah, said with the provisional certificate, the PPP would be able to continue with its massive membership mobilisation drive.
A copy of the provisional certificate which was shown to this reporter was signed by a Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr Kwadwo Safo-Kantanka.
It reads, “This is to certify that the Electoral Commission has presented the PPP with a provisional certificate of registration as a political party on this day, Thursday, 2nd February, 2012 in partial fulfilment of the Political Parties Act...."
Mr Siaw-Asamoah expressed excitement about the event and said members of the party were gingered to roll up their sleeves and embark on massive membership drive towards realising the vision of winning the 2012 elections as the third force on the Ghanaian political scene.
“We welcome the decision by the Electoral Commission to grant us the provisional certificate despite the difficult processes involved in party registration. We want to congratulate the Electoral Commission on the professionalism with which they have conducted their activities all these years,” he added.
He said as part of the national mobilisation of members, the party would open nominations for parliamentary aspirants from February 6, 2011 to February 29, 2012 .
Aspirants are to pay GHc100 for the nomination fee. Male aspirants above the age of 35 will pay a filing fee of GHc1000, while males below 35 years and females would pay GHc 500.
Mr Siaw-Asamoah asked the party executives in the various regions to ensure that they encourage more females to pick up nominations to attain the party’s 30 per cent quota for women, adding that this should be done possibly through “positive discrimination for women”.
He said the PPP considered the provisional certificate as an opportunity to organise properly and to demonstrate to Ghanaians that it was capable of fighting to move Ghana away from mediocrity, the culture of indiscipline, “the constant failure of leadership, the mismanagement of our natural resources and the gargantuan crimes perpetuated against the state”.
“We are ready to offer progressive and pragmatic leadership that focuses on education, job creation, industrialisation, housing and preventive diseases that will lead Ghana to prosperity in peace,” Mr Siaw-Asamoah added.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Creation of more district, LI For the House of Feb 7
The Legislative Instrument (LI) for the creation of additional districts and municipalities will be laid before Parliament by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.
The LI, which will mature 21 days after its presentation, will also provide the platform for the Electoral Commission (EC) to create more constituencies in the run-up to the December general election.
Already, President John Evans Atta Mills has signed the Executive Instrument for the creation 42 new districts, which has also been gazetted by the Attorney-General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and Justice had also trashed out all issues with the Parliamentary Select committees on Subsidiary Legislation and Constitution and Local Government with regard to the LI.
He said by the LI, the government was also seeking to amend sections of Act 462, particularly Section (1) 4 (A) to ensure that the act legalised the existing reality created by the previous administration.
He explained that during President Kufuor’s administration, some municipalities were created with the view to accelerating development, even though their creation did not comply with the stipulated requirement that a municipality must be a single compact settlement.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo mentioned that some of the municipalities, such as Nzema East and Ga West, did not conform to the ‘single compact settlement’ requirement but were created to engender accelerated development.
He said the amendment, which would be placed before Parliament under a certificate of emergency, was seeking to take out the single compact settlement requirement to be able to create new municipalities which would also be consistent with existing law.
In a separate interview, the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, said the commission would create new constituencies after the creation of new districts.
That, he said, was because the formula for creating additional constituencies included the number of existing districts, quotations for each region and other variables, adding that “the ideal thing is that the districts are created first before the creation of constituencies”.
On the question of the number of constituencies to be created, Dr Afari-Gyan said, “No one can tell you how many additional constituencies will be created until the districts are created.”
The Supreme Court is expected to give its judgement on February 15, 2012 in a case brought before it by two residents of Nungua, near Accra, that the EC and the Attorney-General should review the 230 constituencies.
They want the EC to alter the constituencies following the publication of the enumeration figures after the 2010 Population Census and in accordance with the egalitarian principle of fair representation embodied in the 1992 Constitution, especially Article 47(3) and (4) of the 1992 Constitution.
The LI, which will mature 21 days after its presentation, will also provide the platform for the Electoral Commission (EC) to create more constituencies in the run-up to the December general election.
Already, President John Evans Atta Mills has signed the Executive Instrument for the creation 42 new districts, which has also been gazetted by the Attorney-General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and Justice had also trashed out all issues with the Parliamentary Select committees on Subsidiary Legislation and Constitution and Local Government with regard to the LI.
He said by the LI, the government was also seeking to amend sections of Act 462, particularly Section (1) 4 (A) to ensure that the act legalised the existing reality created by the previous administration.
He explained that during President Kufuor’s administration, some municipalities were created with the view to accelerating development, even though their creation did not comply with the stipulated requirement that a municipality must be a single compact settlement.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo mentioned that some of the municipalities, such as Nzema East and Ga West, did not conform to the ‘single compact settlement’ requirement but were created to engender accelerated development.
He said the amendment, which would be placed before Parliament under a certificate of emergency, was seeking to take out the single compact settlement requirement to be able to create new municipalities which would also be consistent with existing law.
In a separate interview, the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, said the commission would create new constituencies after the creation of new districts.
That, he said, was because the formula for creating additional constituencies included the number of existing districts, quotations for each region and other variables, adding that “the ideal thing is that the districts are created first before the creation of constituencies”.
On the question of the number of constituencies to be created, Dr Afari-Gyan said, “No one can tell you how many additional constituencies will be created until the districts are created.”
The Supreme Court is expected to give its judgement on February 15, 2012 in a case brought before it by two residents of Nungua, near Accra, that the EC and the Attorney-General should review the 230 constituencies.
They want the EC to alter the constituencies following the publication of the enumeration figures after the 2010 Population Census and in accordance with the egalitarian principle of fair representation embodied in the 1992 Constitution, especially Article 47(3) and (4) of the 1992 Constitution.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
PNC Elect Presidential Candidate And Others Saturday
After several legal tussles and hurdles, the way has now been cleared for the People’s National Convention (PNC) to hold its national delegates congress on Saturday, February 4, 2012. at Sunyani.
1,400 PNC delegates will elect the party’s flag bearer for the 2012 elections at the Sunyani Polytechnic campus, the venue of the congress,.
The position of flag bearer is being contested by the four-time presidential candidate of the party, Dr Edward Nasrigri Mahama, and a 40-year-old businessman, Mr Hassan Ayariga.
The congress will also elect six persons for the positions of National Chairman, National Organiser, General Secretary, Women’s Organiser, National Youth Organiser to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The congress will also discuss and adopt or reject the recommendations of the party’s constitutional review committee that had been reviewing the party’s constitution.
It is expected that the current constitutional arrangement where the presidential candidate remains the leader of the party even during non-election period will be changed.
If the constitution of the party is amended, the National Chairman will be the leader of the party after every presidential election.
Other amendments will include ensuring that the party engages in major political activity through the organisation of polling station elections each year after general election.
The amendment will ensure that the following year after election, constituency executives would be elected after which regional and national executive election will be conducted in subsequent years.
The party was billed to hold its congress in the latter part of last year, but was rescheduled due to series of legal issues which were contested in court against the locus of the current leadership to hold themselves as an executive and to organise congress.
However, on January 23, 2012, a major hurdle on its path was cleared when the Accra High Court dismissed a motion for interlocutory injunction seeking an order to restrain the PNC from organising its delegates congress.
According to the court, the applicants failed to provide independent evidence to substantiate allegations of fraud levelled against the defendants.
Already, the party has concluded the selection of delegates at the constituency and regional levels. that constitute the 1400 delegates for the congress.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, said the National Executive Committee of the party had fixed March 30, 2012 as the final date for all parliamentary primaries.
He said all parliamentary aspirants were to pick up nomination forms at a cost of GH¢200.00 each, payable to the regional party accounts.
All male aspirants are to pay a filing fee of GH¢1, 000 also through the regional party bank accounts while female aspirants are to pay no filing fees.
This is to motivate more women to participate in the crucial arm of the Legislature in the governance of our dear nation.
For the avoidance of doubt, NEC also stressed that the primaries should be conducted along the electoral area executives and that the delegates’ list must be submitted to all aspirants at least two weeks before the primaries he explained.
Mr Mornah said the NEC had also tasked the Regional Executive of the Upper East Region to lead a three-member team to resolve the issues in the Bolgatanga Constituency and report same to the National Office by end of February, 2012.
“NEC expressed profound gratitude to the mass of the party for their continued support for the party and urged them to remain steadfast as the party finalises its preparations for election 2012”, he said.
1,400 PNC delegates will elect the party’s flag bearer for the 2012 elections at the Sunyani Polytechnic campus, the venue of the congress,.
The position of flag bearer is being contested by the four-time presidential candidate of the party, Dr Edward Nasrigri Mahama, and a 40-year-old businessman, Mr Hassan Ayariga.
The congress will also elect six persons for the positions of National Chairman, National Organiser, General Secretary, Women’s Organiser, National Youth Organiser to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The congress will also discuss and adopt or reject the recommendations of the party’s constitutional review committee that had been reviewing the party’s constitution.
It is expected that the current constitutional arrangement where the presidential candidate remains the leader of the party even during non-election period will be changed.
If the constitution of the party is amended, the National Chairman will be the leader of the party after every presidential election.
Other amendments will include ensuring that the party engages in major political activity through the organisation of polling station elections each year after general election.
The amendment will ensure that the following year after election, constituency executives would be elected after which regional and national executive election will be conducted in subsequent years.
The party was billed to hold its congress in the latter part of last year, but was rescheduled due to series of legal issues which were contested in court against the locus of the current leadership to hold themselves as an executive and to organise congress.
However, on January 23, 2012, a major hurdle on its path was cleared when the Accra High Court dismissed a motion for interlocutory injunction seeking an order to restrain the PNC from organising its delegates congress.
According to the court, the applicants failed to provide independent evidence to substantiate allegations of fraud levelled against the defendants.
Already, the party has concluded the selection of delegates at the constituency and regional levels. that constitute the 1400 delegates for the congress.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, said the National Executive Committee of the party had fixed March 30, 2012 as the final date for all parliamentary primaries.
He said all parliamentary aspirants were to pick up nomination forms at a cost of GH¢200.00 each, payable to the regional party accounts.
All male aspirants are to pay a filing fee of GH¢1, 000 also through the regional party bank accounts while female aspirants are to pay no filing fees.
This is to motivate more women to participate in the crucial arm of the Legislature in the governance of our dear nation.
For the avoidance of doubt, NEC also stressed that the primaries should be conducted along the electoral area executives and that the delegates’ list must be submitted to all aspirants at least two weeks before the primaries he explained.
Mr Mornah said the NEC had also tasked the Regional Executive of the Upper East Region to lead a three-member team to resolve the issues in the Bolgatanga Constituency and report same to the National Office by end of February, 2012.
“NEC expressed profound gratitude to the mass of the party for their continued support for the party and urged them to remain steadfast as the party finalises its preparations for election 2012”, he said.
PNC Elect Presidential Candidate And Others Saturday
After several legal tussles and hurdles, the way has now been cleared for the People’s National Convention (PNC) to hold its national delegates congress on Saturday, February 4, 2012. at Sunyani.
1,400 PNC delegates will elect the party’s flag bearer for the 2012 elections at the Sunyani Polytechnic campus, the venue of the congress,.
The position of flag bearer is being contested by the four-time presidential candidate of the party, Dr Edward Nasrigri Mahama, and a 40-year-old businessman, Mr Hassan Ayariga.
The congress will also elect six persons for the positions of National Chairman, National Organiser, General Secretary, Women’s Organiser, National Youth Organiser to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The congress will also discuss and adopt or reject the recommendations of the party’s constitutional review committee that had been reviewing the party’s constitution.
It is expected that the current constitutional arrangement where the presidential candidate remains the leader of the party even during non-election period will be changed.
If the constitution of the party is amended, the National Chairman will be the leader of the party after every presidential election.
Other amendments will include ensuring that the party engages in major political activity through the organisation of polling station elections each year after general election.
The amendment will ensure that the following year after election, constituency executives would be elected after which regional and national executive election will be conducted in subsequent years.
The party was billed to hold its congress in the latter part of last year, but was rescheduled due to series of legal issues which were contested in court against the locus of the current leadership to hold themselves as an executive and to organise congress.
However, on January 23, 2012, a major hurdle on its path was cleared when the Accra High Court dismissed a motion for interlocutory injunction seeking an order to restrain the PNC from organising its delegates congress.
According to the court, the applicants failed to provide independent evidence to substantiate allegations of fraud levelled against the defendants.
Already, the party has concluded the selection of delegates at the constituency and regional levels. that constitute the 1400 delegates for the congress.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, said the National Executive Committee of the party had fixed March 30, 2012 as the final date for all parliamentary primaries.
He said all parliamentary aspirants were to pick up nomination forms at a cost of GH¢200.00 each, payable to the regional party accounts.
All male aspirants are to pay a filing fee of GH¢1, 000 also through the regional party bank accounts while female aspirants are to pay no filing fees.
This is to motivate more women to participate in the crucial arm of the Legislature in the governance of our dear nation.
For the avoidance of doubt, NEC also stressed that the primaries should be conducted along the electoral area executives and that the delegates’ list must be submitted to all aspirants at least two weeks before the primaries he explained.
Mr Mornah said the NEC had also tasked the Regional Executive of the Upper East Region to lead a three-member team to resolve the issues in the Bolgatanga Constituency and report same to the National Office by end of February, 2012.
“NEC expressed profound gratitude to the mass of the party for their continued support for the party and urged them to remain steadfast as the party finalises its preparations for election 2012”, he said.
1,400 PNC delegates will elect the party’s flag bearer for the 2012 elections at the Sunyani Polytechnic campus, the venue of the congress,.
The position of flag bearer is being contested by the four-time presidential candidate of the party, Dr Edward Nasrigri Mahama, and a 40-year-old businessman, Mr Hassan Ayariga.
The congress will also elect six persons for the positions of National Chairman, National Organiser, General Secretary, Women’s Organiser, National Youth Organiser to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The congress will also discuss and adopt or reject the recommendations of the party’s constitutional review committee that had been reviewing the party’s constitution.
It is expected that the current constitutional arrangement where the presidential candidate remains the leader of the party even during non-election period will be changed.
If the constitution of the party is amended, the National Chairman will be the leader of the party after every presidential election.
Other amendments will include ensuring that the party engages in major political activity through the organisation of polling station elections each year after general election.
The amendment will ensure that the following year after election, constituency executives would be elected after which regional and national executive election will be conducted in subsequent years.
The party was billed to hold its congress in the latter part of last year, but was rescheduled due to series of legal issues which were contested in court against the locus of the current leadership to hold themselves as an executive and to organise congress.
However, on January 23, 2012, a major hurdle on its path was cleared when the Accra High Court dismissed a motion for interlocutory injunction seeking an order to restrain the PNC from organising its delegates congress.
According to the court, the applicants failed to provide independent evidence to substantiate allegations of fraud levelled against the defendants.
Already, the party has concluded the selection of delegates at the constituency and regional levels. that constitute the 1400 delegates for the congress.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, said the National Executive Committee of the party had fixed March 30, 2012 as the final date for all parliamentary primaries.
He said all parliamentary aspirants were to pick up nomination forms at a cost of GH¢200.00 each, payable to the regional party accounts.
All male aspirants are to pay a filing fee of GH¢1, 000 also through the regional party bank accounts while female aspirants are to pay no filing fees.
This is to motivate more women to participate in the crucial arm of the Legislature in the governance of our dear nation.
For the avoidance of doubt, NEC also stressed that the primaries should be conducted along the electoral area executives and that the delegates’ list must be submitted to all aspirants at least two weeks before the primaries he explained.
Mr Mornah said the NEC had also tasked the Regional Executive of the Upper East Region to lead a three-member team to resolve the issues in the Bolgatanga Constituency and report same to the National Office by end of February, 2012.
“NEC expressed profound gratitude to the mass of the party for their continued support for the party and urged them to remain steadfast as the party finalises its preparations for election 2012”, he said.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Gt Accra NDC vets aspirants today
THE Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will today begin the vetting of the 71 aspirants vying for the 18 slots to become the party’s aspiring parliamentary candidates.
This affords the party the opportunity to go through the documentations of the applicants and also delve deep into some areas of the lives of the aspirants to ensure that in both areas they satisfy the NDC qualification criteria and the 1992 constitution.
Although the regional vetting forms part of the party’s constitutional demands, it is the national executive that has the final authority to give the green light or disqualify any aspirants.
In the Greater Accra, all the 18 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking the mandate of the party’s delegates to re-represent the NDC during the December 7, 2012 parliamentary elections. However, none of them is going unopposed, with the Adenta MP, Mr Kojo Adu Asare, having as many as six challengers.
The incumbent MP for Odododiodoo, Nii Tackie Kommey, is being challenged by two persons including a Presidential Staffer, Nii Lantey Vanderpuji, at Ablekuma Central. Mr Chaie Tettey Theophilus will battle it out with three other members of the party including Alhaji Alidu Haruna for the Ablekuma Central ticket of the party.
Three other persons are challenging Mr Fritz Baffour who is the MP for Ablekuma South, while at the Korle Klottey, the incumbent MP who is also the Greater Accra Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, is being contested by three others, including Mr Wakefield Ackuaku.
At Ayawaso East, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, the sitting MP who doubles as a Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing will contest the slot with Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim Rasid and Alhaji Gedel M. Ahmed.
One of the longest serving MPs in the Fourth Republic, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, the MP for Ningo Prampram and the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare has only one person challenging him, while at Shai Osudoku, the sitting MP Mr David Tetteh Assumeng has five others to contend with.
At Sege, four persons are challenging the re-election of the incumbent MP, Mr Alfred Wallace G. Abayateye.
The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport and the sitting MP for Ledzokuku, Nii Nortey Duah, has two challengers while another Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Dr Nii Oakley Quaye -Kumah, who is also the MP for Krowor has four other contenders to deal with.
The MP for Dade Kotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, has four challengers including his constiutuency secretary Ms Rita Sowah. Member of Parliament for Obom-Domeabra, Daoud Anum Yemo, faces four other hopefuls.
The MP for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho, after vetting will face three other aspirants at the primaries that will select one of them to represent the party at the constituency. At Ada three other party members will be challenging the re-election of Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo.
At the Trobu/Amasaman, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah has five other contestants to deal with, while at Shai Osudoku, five others will be contesting the sitting MP, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng.
In a related development, Zainabu Issah reports that Mr Gedel, lecturer at the Accra Polytechnic one of the aspirants for Ayawaso East has stated that his vision was to open educational opportunities for the NDC youth activist and beyond in the constituency as well as unite the support base of the party in future elections at the constituency through transparent and accountable leadership.
Mr Gedel who is also the NDC polling station Branch Secretary of Kubatubira branch of the East Ayawaso Constituency said he was proud of making the step to improve upon the conditions of the people in the community.
“I want to be able to set a standard in the community and also provide opportunities for the youth in the community,” he said.
He however called for peace and unity among party members and urged them to vote for the victory of the part in the upcoming elections.
He also appealed to the aspirants to desist from any action that could disturb the peace and unity of the party.
This affords the party the opportunity to go through the documentations of the applicants and also delve deep into some areas of the lives of the aspirants to ensure that in both areas they satisfy the NDC qualification criteria and the 1992 constitution.
Although the regional vetting forms part of the party’s constitutional demands, it is the national executive that has the final authority to give the green light or disqualify any aspirants.
In the Greater Accra, all the 18 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking the mandate of the party’s delegates to re-represent the NDC during the December 7, 2012 parliamentary elections. However, none of them is going unopposed, with the Adenta MP, Mr Kojo Adu Asare, having as many as six challengers.
The incumbent MP for Odododiodoo, Nii Tackie Kommey, is being challenged by two persons including a Presidential Staffer, Nii Lantey Vanderpuji, at Ablekuma Central. Mr Chaie Tettey Theophilus will battle it out with three other members of the party including Alhaji Alidu Haruna for the Ablekuma Central ticket of the party.
Three other persons are challenging Mr Fritz Baffour who is the MP for Ablekuma South, while at the Korle Klottey, the incumbent MP who is also the Greater Accra Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, is being contested by three others, including Mr Wakefield Ackuaku.
At Ayawaso East, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, the sitting MP who doubles as a Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing will contest the slot with Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim Rasid and Alhaji Gedel M. Ahmed.
One of the longest serving MPs in the Fourth Republic, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, the MP for Ningo Prampram and the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare has only one person challenging him, while at Shai Osudoku, the sitting MP Mr David Tetteh Assumeng has five others to contend with.
At Sege, four persons are challenging the re-election of the incumbent MP, Mr Alfred Wallace G. Abayateye.
The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport and the sitting MP for Ledzokuku, Nii Nortey Duah, has two challengers while another Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Dr Nii Oakley Quaye -Kumah, who is also the MP for Krowor has four other contenders to deal with.
The MP for Dade Kotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, has four challengers including his constiutuency secretary Ms Rita Sowah. Member of Parliament for Obom-Domeabra, Daoud Anum Yemo, faces four other hopefuls.
The MP for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho, after vetting will face three other aspirants at the primaries that will select one of them to represent the party at the constituency. At Ada three other party members will be challenging the re-election of Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo.
At the Trobu/Amasaman, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah has five other contestants to deal with, while at Shai Osudoku, five others will be contesting the sitting MP, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng.
In a related development, Zainabu Issah reports that Mr Gedel, lecturer at the Accra Polytechnic one of the aspirants for Ayawaso East has stated that his vision was to open educational opportunities for the NDC youth activist and beyond in the constituency as well as unite the support base of the party in future elections at the constituency through transparent and accountable leadership.
Mr Gedel who is also the NDC polling station Branch Secretary of Kubatubira branch of the East Ayawaso Constituency said he was proud of making the step to improve upon the conditions of the people in the community.
“I want to be able to set a standard in the community and also provide opportunities for the youth in the community,” he said.
He however called for peace and unity among party members and urged them to vote for the victory of the part in the upcoming elections.
He also appealed to the aspirants to desist from any action that could disturb the peace and unity of the party.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Nduom Hints Of Contesting 2012 As Independent Candidate
The 2008 Presidential Candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has dropped a hint of his intention to quit the party and contest the 2012 presidential election on a different platform.
To prepare the grounds for his next move, Dr Nduom has urged men and women who share in his aspirations to help him put together presidential and parliamentary campaign teams, other than the CPP, in the 10 regions and 230 constituencies for the 2012 elections.
Addressing some media houses on Saturday, the head of Dr Nduom's communication team, Mr Richmond Lamptey, said: “Dr Nduom has decided that it is time for collective action to create a new political order that is national in character and one which is different from what exist today.”
As the first sign of breaking his cord from the CPP, some people from the Nduom campaign team were seen, just after the announcement, removing all the CPP flags on the road that leads to Dr Nduom’s Coconut Groove Hotel.
Another point that lends credence to the fact that Dr Nduom is leaving the CPP is part of the statement which reads that: “Secondly, he [Dr Nduom] holds the view that one does not need to have an affiliated seat in parliament to become President.”
“Dr Nduom wants to encourage those who want to go to parliament in 2013 and are prepared to work and make sacrifices to get there to step forward. He also wants those who want to support and campaign for him to become president in 2013 to identify themselves and organise to work,” the statement added.
Mr Lamptey quoted the Youth for Nduom 2012, a youth group that supports Dr Nduom, which stated on December 5, 2011, that “considering the fact that 98 per cent of the electorate had in the past three elections not voted for CPP, it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done outside CPP, while urgent steps are taken to retain those who voted for Dr Nduom in 2008.”
Dr Nduom recently announced his decision to contest for the CPP presidential slot for the second time and came under a barrage of criticism for allegedly whipping up sentiments among some members of the party across the country to call for an early congress, with a threat to organise an National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to take that decision.
This infuriated Chairman of the party, Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, who threatened to expel Dr Nduom from the party if he continued what she described as “Dr Nduom’s “nonsense.” This sparked accusations and counter accusations from leading members of the party.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, also pointed accusing fingers at Dr Nduom as the main cause of the dissonance in the party, and filed a writ at the Accra High Court to declare the intended NEC meeting null and void.
However, before the court could hear the case, the aggrieved members had rescinded their decision because the party had set a date for the presidential primaries.
Reading the press statement, Mr Lamptey said Dr Nduom was expected to announce the vehicle he would use for the 2012 elections before the end of this year.
He explained that what Dr Nduom was calling for must have a different character—less bureaucratic and more field and action oriented–from what had typically been the case in Ghana in the Fourth Republic.
To prepare the grounds for his next move, Dr Nduom has urged men and women who share in his aspirations to help him put together presidential and parliamentary campaign teams, other than the CPP, in the 10 regions and 230 constituencies for the 2012 elections.
Addressing some media houses on Saturday, the head of Dr Nduom's communication team, Mr Richmond Lamptey, said: “Dr Nduom has decided that it is time for collective action to create a new political order that is national in character and one which is different from what exist today.”
As the first sign of breaking his cord from the CPP, some people from the Nduom campaign team were seen, just after the announcement, removing all the CPP flags on the road that leads to Dr Nduom’s Coconut Groove Hotel.
Another point that lends credence to the fact that Dr Nduom is leaving the CPP is part of the statement which reads that: “Secondly, he [Dr Nduom] holds the view that one does not need to have an affiliated seat in parliament to become President.”
“Dr Nduom wants to encourage those who want to go to parliament in 2013 and are prepared to work and make sacrifices to get there to step forward. He also wants those who want to support and campaign for him to become president in 2013 to identify themselves and organise to work,” the statement added.
Mr Lamptey quoted the Youth for Nduom 2012, a youth group that supports Dr Nduom, which stated on December 5, 2011, that “considering the fact that 98 per cent of the electorate had in the past three elections not voted for CPP, it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done outside CPP, while urgent steps are taken to retain those who voted for Dr Nduom in 2008.”
Dr Nduom recently announced his decision to contest for the CPP presidential slot for the second time and came under a barrage of criticism for allegedly whipping up sentiments among some members of the party across the country to call for an early congress, with a threat to organise an National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to take that decision.
This infuriated Chairman of the party, Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, who threatened to expel Dr Nduom from the party if he continued what she described as “Dr Nduom’s “nonsense.” This sparked accusations and counter accusations from leading members of the party.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, also pointed accusing fingers at Dr Nduom as the main cause of the dissonance in the party, and filed a writ at the Accra High Court to declare the intended NEC meeting null and void.
However, before the court could hear the case, the aggrieved members had rescinded their decision because the party had set a date for the presidential primaries.
Reading the press statement, Mr Lamptey said Dr Nduom was expected to announce the vehicle he would use for the 2012 elections before the end of this year.
He explained that what Dr Nduom was calling for must have a different character—less bureaucratic and more field and action oriented–from what had typically been the case in Ghana in the Fourth Republic.
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