Day: January 24, 2024

Mr. Adom Appiah, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has admonished delegates of the party not to focus their role in deciding who leads the party at the expense of their core mandate at the polling station.

‘You are a polling station executive first with additional responsibility of electing party leaders,’ Mr. Appiah reminded delegates at the acclamation of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum as unopposed candidate for Bosomtwe Constituency.

The Regional Secretary said the core responsibility of mobilising the support base of the party as polling station executives must not be lost on them because their role remained critical to the party’s quest to retain power.

‘No voting takes place at the national, regional and constituency offices of the party, but rather at the polling station where you are in charge and you must not fail the party,’ he argued.

Becoming delegates, according to him, was because of their election as polling station executives and stressed the need for them to pay more att
ention to their basic functions in the interest of the party.

He said they only represented members of the party at the polling station in the selection of constituency executives as well as parliamentary and Presidential candidates for the party.

They must, therefore, not be fixated on that temporary role while abandoning duties they were elected to perform.

Mr. Appiah reminded the delegates of how the majority in the current parliament had been struggling to do government business due to the hang nature of the House, saying that the process to change the situation began with them.

‘We don’t want a similar situation to repeat in the next parliament and the only way to address it is to work hard to get more of our parliamentary candidates to parliament on December 7,’ the Regional Secretary noted.

He advised them to take steps to address all issues at their polling stations that could affect the electoral fortunes of the party both in the parliamentary and presidential elections.

He called for unity esp
ecially at the grassroots which formed the base of the party, stressing that winning the 2024 general election would depend on a united front.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Bede A. Ziedeng, the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra, has expressed confidence in being re-elected to represent the constituency for a second term during the 2024 general election.

He said his conviction in winning the election stemmed from the work he had done within the past three years, which had helped improve the livelihoods of the people.

‘The NDC delegates chose me to represent the party because of the work I have done,’ he said.

‘I know the people of the Lawra Constituency have also seen what I have done as an MP from 2021 to date and I am confident that they will vote for me again.’

Mr Ziedeng said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Lawra to account to the electorates on his work since he assumed office as the MP.

He is going into the contest with the Lawra Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Jacob Dery, the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate, both of whom would campaign on their interventions for the constituents.

Ho
wever, the MP said considering his interventions, including facilitating the award of contract for the construction of the Lawra-Domwine-Hain Road and improving the electrification of the constituency by securing bulbs for streetlighting so there was ‘no way’ the MCE would win the election.

Other interventions were the securing of over GH?250,000.00 worth of financial assistance to more than 260 tertiary students in the constituency, renovation of health facilities, provision of water and repair of hospital equipment.

The Zambo Nawongyelle Community, Eremon Senior High Technical School, Birifoh Baapare and Lawra Tuori had mechanised boreholes, while Eremon Langdung and Eremon Zingpen got hand-pump boreholes with support from development partners.

Mr Ziedeng said he was still lobbying the Government through the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the construction of the Dikpe Bridge, on which the sod for construction was cut in October 2020.

The MP said he would not renege on his efforts to further alleviat
e the challenges of the people with many interventions in the ‘pipeline’ for the constituency in 2024.

He appealed to the electorate to vote for him alongside the NDC’s presidential candidate to further advance the development of the constituency.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Yves Nii Noye Hanson-Nortey, the one-term incumbent Member of Parliament for Tema Central, is seeking the nod to lead the party in the constituency as its parliamentary candidate for the December 2024 elections.

Mr. Hanson-Nortey will lock horns with a former MP hopeful, Mr. Charles Forson, at the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries on Saturday.

The MP, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, urged delegates of the party to vote for him to ensure his candidature in the general election and subsequently maintain the seat for the party.

He said even though, as an MP, he had contributed to law-making, he had embarked on some projects for the area during his first term and seeks to continue his vision when retained.

He said that in the education sector, he instituted the MP’s educational support fund, through which he paid school fees for primary and university students amounting to over GHs540,000.

He said, he also provided full scholarships for three medical students in the constituency, adding that
to promote the study of information, computing, and technology, he donated a 20-seat computer laboratory for basic schools and a 40-seat computer lab each for the three secondary schools in the area.

According to him, other educational activities included the donation of tables and chairs to selected public schools, the presentation of library books, and an annual financial support of GHS10,000 for the Education Directorate.

Mr. Hanson-Nortey said in health, he annually supported the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate with GHS10,000 towards its administrative works and donated some medical equipment to the directorate.

He indicated that while he paid medical bills for constituents for their surgeries, he was also constructing a permanent shed for the National Health Insurance Scheme, which was yet to be completed.

He added that through his MP’s Fund, he provided small soft loan support to boost economic activities among the people.

Touching on representing the people in parliament, he said he was curre
ntly serving as Vice chairperson of the Environment, Science, and Technology Innovation Committee, adding that he was also a former Vice chairperson of the Youth, Sports, and Religion Committee of parliament.

He added that as MP for the area, he had made some statements on the floor of parliament and debated on diverse issues, noting that he had represented the Parliament of Ghana in many fora abroad and was currently the President of the Ghana-Panama Parliamentary Friendship Committee.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Akuapim South Constituency has nominated, vetted, and approved four candidates to contest the upcoming primaries slated for January 27, 2024, only three will contest.

This follows the last-minute withdrawal of Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah, the sitting Member of Parliament from the race.

It therefore leaves Mr. Eric Yeboah Apeadu; Mr. Eric Samuel Annor-Mensah; and Mr. Kwame Ofori-Gyau in the contest.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Michael Ahwireng, the Akuapim South Constituency NPP Chairperson, said a total of 573 delegates were expected to cast their ballots on Saturday.

He explained that the delegates consisted of 520 polling station executives, 26 electoral area coordinators, 17 constituency executives (one suspended), five council of elders, and five patrons.

According to him, preparations were underway to ensure a peaceful and successful election, which would be held at the Methodist Church premises in Aburi.

‘The election committee,
electoral commission, police commander, and Municipal Chief Executive will meet delegates and candidates to educate them on the protocols to follow on Election Day,’ he said.

Mr. Ahwireng advised candidates and delegates to desist from attacking one another, saying, ‘The opponent is not us but the other political parties.

‘Whether you like it or not, only one person will be elected to lead the party to victory this year.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Elections Director, National Democratic Congress (NDC), has reiterated that the Party does not support the Electoral Commission’s (EC) proposal for this year’s general election date to be changed from December to November.

In a statement with regards to matters concerning the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Dr Omane Boamah said: ‘We (NDC) do not support the November date for elections.

‘Instead of cherry-picking, we (NDC) call for a comprehensive review of the electoral process through inclusive and proper dialogue; we already submitted our proposals to the EC.’

Touching on voting on prayer/worship days, the Director said the NDC was open to discussions.

In the statement, Dr Omane Boamah released statistical figures on details of Election Years, Days, and Voter Turnout since 1992.

He said the 1992 general election was held on Tuesday with a voter turnout of 50.16 per cent, whereas that of 1996 was held on Saturday with an over turnout of 78.20 per cent.

He noted that that
of 2000 was held on Thursday with a voter turnout of 61.74 per cent, while 2004 was held Tuesday with a voter turnout of 85.12.

Dr Omane Boamah said the 2008 general election was held on Sunday witnessing a voter turnout of 71.00 and that the 2012 one was held on Friday with a voter turnout of 79.43 per cent.

He said 2016 one was held on Wednesday with a voter turnout of 69.25 per cent while that of 2020 came off on Monday with a voter turnout of 78.89 per cent.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 elections, has scheduled to connect with artisans in the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency.

His visit is set to take place on Tuesday, January 30th, at Saint Martin’s Parish Hall in Agormanya in the Eastern Region.

It will be a gathering of both the public and party members from Yilo Krobo, Asuogyaman, and other areas, as well as NDC executives at all levels, who will come together to warmly welcome their flagbearer.

Mr. Felix Amanor, the Lower Manya NDC constituency secretary, told the Ghana News Agency that the purpose of the former President’s visit was to engage various artisans, including dressmakers, bead producers, barbers, and drivers.

He said Mr. Mahama would connect with the artisans to gain a firsthand understanding of their challenges and brainstorm towards finding solutions to improve their quality of life.

He emphasised the importance of addressing the challenges artisans fa
ced and developing effective policies to support them if he was re-elected.

Mr. Amanor applauded the former President for choosing to personally engage with the craftsmen and women at the grassroots level to effectively address their concerns.

Mr. Mahama demonstrated a deep dedication to bolstering the local artisan community, according to community members, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the economy.

As he gets ready to visit Lower Manya Krobo, the artisans view this as a valuable chance to express their concerns and find solutions to the obstacles they encountered.

With great anticipation, they eagerly await the arrival of the former President, ready to engage in meaningful dialogue and passionately advocate their rights and needs.

Mr. Jonathan Akwetey, a motorist, said he expected the former president’s speech to focus on the construction of the 11-kilometre Somanya-Kpong.

He said all routes in the Krobo enclave posed a risk to commercial enterprises and public transportation and exp
ressed concern about the amount of money spent on vehicle repairs and how it was impacting their ability to fend for their families.

To support sustainable livelihoods, he advocated reduced fuel, petrol, and electricity prices, as well as other tax reductions.

Ms. Teiko Tetteh, a bead trader, expressed hope that the former president could help raise awareness about African beads in the Western world.

This, she believed, would allow them to appreciate the cultural significance of Kroboland in Ghana and stated that it would also have a positive impact on tourism and attract many tourists, thus contributing to Ghana’s development.

A cement seller, Mr. Joshua Tetteh, prayed the former President would touch on the construction of a cement factory in the Krobo areas to make cement products more affordable to the people.

This, he said, could tackle youth unemployment as a substantial portion of the population was jobless.

He added: ‘It’s a pain to see trucks transporting away the raw materials to produce cemen
t in Takoradi and Tema, while we’ve got large land that can also establish a factory to employ the locals.’

Source: Ghana News Agency