Category: Politics

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to outdoor its running mate for the December 7 general elections, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the public in Accra on Wednesday, April 24.

The event would take place at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) at 1600 hours.

A statement signed by the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, and copied to Ghana News Agency in Takoradi, said the event would be graced by the NDC’s Flagbearer for 2024 general elections, Former President John Dramani Mahama.

Others are members of the National Executive Committee and members of the Council of Elders of the party.

Also in attendance would be Members of Parliament and an array of distinguished guests from the Diplomatic corps, the clergy, traditional leaders, women groups, academia, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, labour organisations, and creative arts among others.

The statement said Prof Opoku-Agyemang would address the nation o
n the NDC’s vision for a progressive, inclusive and prosperous Ghana as well as the life-transforming policies of its flagbearer for the December 7, 2024, general elections.

The statement added that her address would be preceded by several activities between 1600 hours and 1655 hours before the official commencement of the main programme of the day at 1700 hours.

The statement asked all media houses who intend to deploy reporters to cover the event to contact the national Communications Bureau of the NDC for the necessary accreditation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will not participate in the upcoming Ejisu Constituency by-election scheduled for April 30, 2024.

According to Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the Party’s General Secretary, the decision was to enable it to channel all its resources towards winning the seat in the national election in December 2024.

Mr Kwetey made the disclosure in an interview with the media, on the sidelines of a news conference, in Accra, on Monday.

The Ejisu Constituency seat became vacant following the demise of the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr John Kumah, on March 7, 2024.

Subsequently, the Electoral Commission set April 30, 2024, for a by-election to find a replacement for the former Deputy Finance Minister.

The New Patriotic Party, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, elected Mr Kwabena Boateng as its candidate for the by-election.

Speaking to the media, on Monday, Mr Kwetey said the Party would not compete in the by-election, explaining that it would focus on winning the seat in the general
election in December.

‘NDC will officially not be taking part in the Ejisu by-election,’ he indicated.

‘We have already set into motion processes leading to December 7, it’s just a few months away. We want to continue those processes and ensure that come December 7, we are prepared to combat in all the constituencies and Ejisu will be one of them.

‘So, for this by-election, NDC will not be part of it. We are very confident about the processes we have in place. We just want to make sure we have the time to implement them fully. And between now and December 7, we will be in the position to make sure we are deploying everything that we have done, so that will be the way we want to go,’ the General Secretary stressed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Richard Kumadoe, a Security Consultant, has asked media houses to mute the voices of politicians whose utterances can disturb the December polls.

He observed that some politicians tended to ‘act irresponsibly’ in the run-up to elections; therefore, media practitioners must identify characters with ‘sharp tongue’ and not allow their platforms to be used to peddle ‘falsehood’.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the 2024 ‘Africa’s Peace, Investment and Tourism Summit’, in Accra, he noted that the cost of insecurity was ‘huge’, therefore, efforts must be made to maintain peace ahead and after the General Election.

‘Elections should not divide us…We know some politicians are crazy when they sit behind the microphones…the media must do well to balance the panel sometimes and mute their voices whether they are on stage or when they come to the studio.

‘We, [media practitioners] must make a decision on what qualifies someone to be on a show…find out what has been their track record…and
that is the only way we can minimise the threat that comes with public speaking [by politicians],’ he stated.

Mr Kumadoe, also the Managing Consultant, RichQuest Consult, was part of panel discussions at the Summit.

He urged all stakeholders to ‘protect the electoral process’ and ensure that electoral outcomes were acceptable to all.

Mr Kumadoe noted that elections had become ‘a security threat’ in Africa; therefore, all hands must be on deck to ensure electoral processes were ‘well-managed’ in Ghana and other parts of the continent.

‘Outcome of elections is very crucial…and we have to put in the resources to ensure that the threats that come with election outcomes are minimised,’ he added.

The Summit, organised by the David Douglas Leadership Forum, brought together business executives, traditional leaders, students, traders, political party representatives and groups from different African countries and the Diaspora.

It, among other things, sought to unite stakeholders to foster peace and explore inve
stment and tourism opportunities on the continent.

Discussions focused on peace and security, investment, funding opportunities and foreign direct investment in Africa, public-private partnership, youth and social enterprise, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, a stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has presented five vehicles to the party’s Parliamentary Candidates in five constituencies in the Western Region.

The constituencies are Mpohor, Ahanta West, Amenfi East, Shama and Kwesimintsim.

The vehicles were meant to aid the Parliamentary Candidates to undertake their campaign activities to help the NDC win the December 7 general elections.

Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony, Mr Quakyi said the vehicles were to facilitate the campaign activities of the respective Candidates working within the confines of the party’s campaign guidelines.

He gave the assurance that he would continue with efforts to extend similar support to other constituencies.

According to him, during the 2020 election, he provided eight vehicles to various constituencies in the region during the 2020 elections, and expressed the hope that the new batch would be maintained properly.

Mr Quakyi called on them to conduct an unrelenting 24-hour door-to-
door campaign to usher in the 24-hour economy under Former President John Dramani Mahama.

He told the gathering that 2024 presented a greater opportunity for the NDC to win power and called for unity among the rank and file of the party to achieve that purpose.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the security protocols within the Electoral Commission (EC) to safeguard vital electoral materials ahead of the 2024 polls.

The Party’s call follows the alleged theft of some critical electoral devices such as Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits and Biometric Voter Devices (BVDs) at the EC.

The Commission, has subsequently, denied those claims, explaining that the missing items were laptops.

Addressing a news conference dubbed the ‘Moment of Truth’ series, in Accra on Monday, Mr Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, called for swift and thorough overhaul of the Commission’s security protocols to curtail future breaches.

He said the missing devices were of great concern to the Party as they had the potential to bring electoral process into disrepute.

Mr Kwetey explained that the BVR kits and BVDs together with the laptops, formed a robust framework designed to protect the electoral process and uphold its credibility
.

As a result, Mr Kwetey said, when such devices were compromised or stolen, it posed a severe threat not only to the elections but the entire democracy of the country.

‘That is why the theft of these kits from under the watchful eyes of the EC’s surveillance cannot be taken lightly and must be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency,’ he stressed.

He also rejected the EC’s explanation that the missing laptops, as standalone devices, could not be used to access critical information from the Commission.

He explained that the missing laptops represented a significant breach in the security protocols of the Commission, which could be exploited during the actual elections.

‘We must ask ourselves, and demand answers from the EC about the potential for these devices to be used in crafting nefarious means to manipulate voter data or to clone voter registration. Is this not a recipe for electoral disaster that could question the very legitimacy of our governance?’

Again, he said, the incidents cast do
ubt over the credibility and trustworthiness of the EC, and questioned the Commission’s decision to withhold such vital information from its stakeholders.

He demanded that the EC explained its inaction, saying ‘the stakes are too high for such negligence.’

The General Secretary called for an immediate independent probe into the missing materials to bring finality to the situation and restore the sanctity and credibility to the country’s electoral process.

The investigation, he said, must be carried out by an independent body, supported by international observers, to ensure neutrality and thoroughness.

‘The outcome must provide a detailed report that not only comprehensively identifies those actually responsible but also outlines significant corrective measures to prevent such beaches in the future,’ he said.

He added that the Party would ‘accept nothing less than a full restoration of total security for all EC logistical equipment for the upcoming elections, a thorough investigation and complete accounta
bility,’ to ensure the free, fair and transparent elections.

Additionally, the General Secretary called for an extensive independent audit of the Commission’s inventory, including all BVR and BVD equipment to ascertain the integrity of these materials and processes.

He warned that failure by the Commission to swiftly and decisively act on the matter could lead to an electoral process fraught with mistrust and questions of legitimacy.

‘The NDC, alongside the citizens of Ghana, will accept nothing less than full transparency, immediate action, and concrete solutions to this egregious breach of electoral security,’ he said.

‘The time for action is now; the future of Ghana’s democracy is in the balance, and we will settle for nothing less than stringent safeguards that ensure every Ghanaian’s vote is counted and protected,’ Mr Kwetey added.

Mr Kwetey expressed the NDC’s commitment to secure the country’s electoral process and safeguard its democracy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sheik Armiyawo Shaibu, a member of the National Peace Council, has urged stakeholders to preach against all forms of violence and hate speech ahead of the December elections.

He said misinformation and hate speech could influence public opinion and election outcomes, therefore, key actors in the electoral process should guard against the phenomenon.

He made the call at the 2024 Africa’s Peace, Investment and Tourism Summit in Accra on Monday.

The conference, organised by the David Douglas Leadership Forum, brought together business executives, traditional leaders, students, traders, political party representatives and groups from different African countries and the diaspora.

It, among other things, sought to unite stakeholders to foster peace and explore investment and tourism opportunities on the continent.

Sheik Shaibu, also the spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, stressed the importance of tolerating divergent views and maintaining social cohesion in the election period and beyond.

Referring to
aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), he urged various agencies to work ‘professionally and efficiently to ensure credible electoral outcomes to deepen the country’s democratic gains”.

He, like other speakers at the Summit, agreed that a peaceful atmosphere was required for Ghana and the African continent to attract the ”right investments” and boost existing economic fortunes.

”…We have a responsibility to create opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to peacefully coexist. Diversity is a valuable virtue which we all need to thrive,” Sheik Shaibu stated.

In his address, Mr David Douglas Tengey, Convener of the Summit, said it was time to find lasting solutions to conflicts and a myriad of challenges affecting the development of the African continent.

He said the Summit was to inspire participants to be ”agents of positive change” across sectors and their communities as peace and development were ”interconnected”.

”The Summit is to place the spotlight on the pivotal role
s of the creative arts in bridging cultural difference and promoting social cohesion…it seeks to strengthen regional unity, collaboration, and knowledge transfer,” Mr Tengey noted.

Ms Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana, said the world had become ”immune to human suffering” however, efforts must be intensified to maintain lasting peace.

She highlighted measures her country was taking to promote tourism and stressed the need to promote intra-Africa tourism.

Discussions at the Summit focused on peace and security, investment, funding opportunities and foreign direct investment in Africa, public-private partnership, youth and social enterprise, among others.

Panellists, taking turns on the various subjects, encouraged citizens to play active roles in maintaining peace and promote national unity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Seid Mubarak, the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Sunyani East Constituency has urged the youth against being manipulated by politicians to perpetrate violence in the December 2024 polls.

The parliamentary candidate said he was dedicated to safeguarding the youth from being used to incite violence before, during, and after the Election 2024.

Mr Mubarak made the statement in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani on peace towards the upcoming general elections.

Touching on his prospects in the elections, Mr Mubarak said he was optimistic about a resounding victory, emphasising his commitment to unite the youth in the constituency to collaborate on strategies for achieving development that had long been elusive in the community.

He said Sunyani was lagging in terms of development, saying, the township had reached a point where it needed modern sporting infrastructure to promote sporting activities effectively.

He highlighted another crucial infrastructure
gap being a modernised market, to help stimulate economic growth and development in the area by creating opportunities for increased economic activities.

He said he would remain loyal to promoting development in the constituency and restore Sunyani’s reputation as the cleanest city in Ghana which could be achievable if he was voted into power.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, a Governance Expert, says traditional authorities must bring to bear their leadership expertise to advance the structures of local governance in the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, he described chiefs as regal ombudsmen and women, who could contribute to the decision-making process towards the development of the various districts.

He said it was imperative for local government authorities to ensure that they involved traditional rulers more in their development planning processes for accelerated growth.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi, for instance, said: ‘When it comes to issues of conflict, traditional leaders often have experience in conflict resolution and mediation, so their presence in the assemblies can help in resolving disputes and promoting harmony within the community’.

‘When we talk about community engagement, chiefs are often respected and influential figures within their communities, so their involvement in the Assemblies can help in engaging the community
and encourage participation in local governance.’

Chiefs could also contribute to the preservation and promotion of traditional knowledge, customs, and practices within the assembly, ensuring that these important aspects of Ghanaian culture were upheld.

‘They can also play a role in identifying and prioritizing local development initiatives, drawing on their knowledge of the community’s needs and aspirations,’ he added.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi underscored the importance of involving traditional authorities in their respective assemblies to help bridge the gap between traditional and modern local governance to guarantee inclusive and culturally sensitive decision-making processes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama has won the African Advancement Award for Exemplary Leadership at the Africa Heritage Awards 2024 held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Organised by the Heritage Times of Nigeria, the African Heritage Awards is a platform that unites influential African innovators, entrepreneurs, and organisations, all of whom are instrumental in propelling the continent towards greatness.

The 2024 ceremony was chaired by former Botswana President Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama and was the second edition of the awards. The first edition took place in Kigali, Rwanda in 2023.

A release copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday quoted former President Mahama as saying: ‘I want to thank the team that supported me tirelessly during my presidency. This award inspires me to strive to be an even better leader.’

‘Thank you to the Heritage Times for this recognition. It will have a pride of place in my Office, when I am re-elected as President.’

‘Thank you all for your continued support. Together, we can achieve
great things for Ghana.’

In a citation accompanying his award, Mr Mahama, leading the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to Ghana’s 2024 elections, was recognised for implementing strategic initiatives and infrastructure projects across various critical sectors to address economic challenges and improve livelihoods.

These include efforts to alleviate power shortages and boost job creation through agricultural expansion.

Source: Ghana News Agency