Day: January 28, 2024

The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the defeated parliamentary aspirants to consider the supreme interest of the NPP and work closely with the elected candidates to secure victory on December 7.

‘To those who lost out, I, together with the rank and file of the Party, need your support and contributions to ensure that we win majority seats and the presidency in the December 2024 elections.

‘With unity of purpose, we will win in December 2024,’ Dr Bawumia said in a statement on Saturday night.

On Saturday, January 27, 2024, the NPP held elections in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament (MP) to elect parliamentary candidates to contest the ticket of the party in the December parliamentary polls.

However, the outcome of the polls was shocking and interesting, with more than 20 incumbent MPs losing their seats.

‘I urge the unsuccessful aspirants to leave the election behind, consider the supreme interest of the party, and work closely with the elected parlia
mentary candidates to secure success for the NPP,’ Vice President Bawumia said.

He, thus, congratulated all those who were elected to contest on the ticket of the Party, the NPP Election Committee, the Electoral Commission, the security services, and the media for their immense contributions towards ensuring a peaceful and successful outcome.

Some of the incumbent MPs who lost their seats during Saturday’s primaries included Joseph Cudjoe, MP for Effia, Ama Pomaa Boateng, MP for Juaben, Sheila Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North, Moses Anim, MP for Trobu and Freda Prempeh, MP for Tano North.

The rest were John Benam Jabaale, MP for Zabzugu, Tina Naa Ayeeley Mensah, MP for Weija Gbawe, Dr Adomako Kissi, MP for Anyaa Sowutuom, and Eugene Boakye Antwi, MP for Subin.

Mr Yves Hanson Nortey, MP for Tema Central, Bright Wireko Brobbey; MP for Twifo Hemang lower Denkyira, Akwasi Afrifa Mensah, MP for Amasaman, Elvis Donkor, MP for Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Lawyer Erickson Abekah, MP for Shama, Akwasi Darko Boateng, MP f
or Bosome Freho and Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome Kwabenya.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John-Peter Amewu, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate of Hohoe and Railway Development Minister, has reiterated his commitment to developing the Hohoe Constituency.

He said although not all areas in the area had seen major developmental projects yet, it did not mean they had been neglected and assured all constituents to be patient.

‘Be with me, my brothers and sisters. Not all will see development at a go. Some will see it in the morning, others in the afternoon and some in the evening,’ he said during his acclamation as the parliamentary candidate.

Mr Amewu said the success of his political journey was a result of his 20-year plan that he had nurtured and commended all who believed in him.

He urged the electorates to vote massively for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in this year’s election adding that he (Peter Amewu) was already in Parliament for a second term.

Mr Makafui Woanya, the Volta Regional Chairman of the Party, said the economy was progressing gradually and assured that everything
would be in the favour of the NPP.

He said the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy had produced tremendous results and must be commended while referencing the Hohoe Sports Stadium as a good AstroTurf sports facility.

Mr Anthony Kondobrey, the Hohoe Constituency Chairman of the NPP, said the work of an MP required an experienced personality and not someone who was coming to experiment.

He asked the electorate to vote for Mr Amewu for a second term tenure.

Mr Daniel Noble Awume, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the development of the Constituency was enough evidence to the electorate to avoid mistakes that would regress it.

He said as the MCE, he had commissioned more than 15 projects last year while preparing for more in 2024.

Mr Enoch Danso Agyekum, the Hohoe Municipal Electoral Officer, performed the acclamation and the Volta Regional Chairman led Mr Amewu to take the oath of office.

The event drew traditional rulers, national and regional executives and stalwarts of the Party, elector
ates and party sympathisers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Isaac Kwamina Afful, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lower Pra Rural Bank, has been elected as the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Shama Constituency.

Mr Afful, who contested the seat for the first time, polled 363 out of the 636 valid votes cast, to beat the Incumbent Member of Parliament Mr Ericson Abakah, and the former Shama District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Amoah.

The Shama District Electoral Officer, Madam Rose Appea Nyamaah, who declared Mr Afful winner after a successful primary at Inchaban in the Western Region, told reporters that 657 delegates were expected to cast their ballots.

The incumbent MP for Shama, Mr Abakah, lost his seat to Mr Afful with 248 votes of the valid votes cast.

Mr Joseph Amoah obtained 21 votes, while four of the ballot papers were rejected.

The election, conducted under heavy police presence, was peaceful and orderly.

In a victory message, Mr Afful expressed profound gratitude to the Shama NPP Constituency delegates for reposing confidence
in him to represent them in Parliament.

He stressed the need for unity to move the developmental agenda of the area to a higher pedestal.

Mr Afful said he would continue to pursue his developmental initiatives to better the lot of the people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Two of the nine Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Western Region have lost their bids to return to Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr Joseph Cudjoe, MP for Effia and Minister for Public Enterprises, and Mr Samuel Erickson Abakah, the MP for Shama, lost in their respective constituencies in the just-ended Parliamentary primary of the Party.

Mr Cudjoe, a three-term MP, polled 164 to lose to Mr Isaac Boamah Nyarko, who garnered 321 votes.

Mr Abakah, a one-term MP, polled 248 votes as against Mr Isaac Kwamina Afful, who had 363 with Mr Joseph Amoah, the other contender, polling 21 votes.

All the other incumbent MPs in the region won their bids with the exception of Essikado-Ketan and Ahanta West constituencies, whose sitting MPs did not seek re-election.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Yves Nii Noi Hansen-Nortey, the Member of Parliament for Tema Central, has promised to support the newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate after losing in the primary.

Mr Hansen-Nortey had 288 of the 708 valid votes, trailing behind his contender, Mr Charles Forson, who won by 420 votes.?

The incumbent MP, realising he had lost, quietly moved from the counting area to congratulate the winner even before the other ballots were counted and a formal declaration made.?

He said to ensure that the party maintained its seat in the December general election, he would support the elected candidate to win with a bigger margin than the 31,000 difference he won with in Election 2020.?

He commended the party members for giving him the opportunity to serve them in Parliament for a term.

Mr Forson, on his part, commended all party executives and delegates for the confidence reposed in him and promised to retain the seat, which had remained a stronghold of the NPP since its creation 12 years
ago.?

He called on all to join in the campaign for the December 7 polls, saying: ‘Let’s break the eight together.’

Mr Charles Boateng, the NPP Tema Central Constituency Chairman, described Mr Forson’s win as ‘a sweet victory’.

He explained that a similar thing happened three years ago when Mr Hansen-Nortey toppled the then-incumbent MP, Mr Kofi Brako.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kwaku Agyenim Boateng, the Member of Parliament for Berekum West, has reassured his constituents of his resolve to persist in delivering positive results and rectifying any errors towards victory in Elections 2024.

He emphasised his commitment to working diligently to ensure quality service to the constituents.

Mr Boateng, interacting with the media?after his re-election as the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary Candidate in the primary, held at Jinijini in the Bono Region, promised to promote a united front with the other contenders for a vigorous campaign towards victory in Election 2024.

In the election conducted and supervised by the district office of the Electoral Commission, he secured 246 votes while his two competitors, Messrs Kwaku Ohene Djan and Isaac Osei had 59 and 30 votes, respectively.

Mr Boateng had been in Parliament for four terms and his re-election marks the fifth attempt to be voted back into Parliament.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP)?for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mr George Mireku Duker, has retained his seat with 1,187 votes, representing 96 per cent in the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary primary held on Saturday.?

The MP, also the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, earlier?predicted winning the primary by 95 per cent because he had worked hard over the years.?

That notwithstanding, his two contenders, Mr Francis Arisi Eliason, a retired United Kingdom military officer, and?Mr Gordon Opoku Boateng, the Headmaster of Asankragwa Senior High School, were convinced they would snatch the seat from him, but that never was.?

Mr Eliason polled 46 votes as against 22 for Opoku Boateng.

The total valid votes cast was 1,255, with one rejected ballot, making 1,256.

In all 1,310 delegates were expected to participate in the exercise.?

Mr Ekow Essien, the Municipal Electoral Officer, who supervised the exercise, declared Mr Duker as the 2024 Parliamentary candidate for the constituency.?

Addressing
delegates after the election, he expressed gratitude to the constituency and polling station executives, the Municipal Chief Executive, and the residents of Tarkwa Nsuaem for giving him the opportunity to serve them for a third term.?

‘l am so humbled with the votes l had. I don’t think any aspirant had this huge percentage, which is the first of its kind in this country. This tells you the love my people have for me,’ he said.

Mr Duker appealed to all sympathisers of the NPP to help build a formidable, attractive and solid party on the foundation of togetherness, peace and love.?

He stressed the need to intensify the door-to-door campaign to win more votes and retain the party in power to continue its good works.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Burkina Faso, The Republic of Mali and The Republic of Niger have left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

All three countries, being led by militaries, said after 49 years of existence, ‘the valiant people of Burkina, Mali and Niger’ had noted with great regret, bitterness and great disappointment that the Organization had moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism.

A joint statement signed by the three Heads of States, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Colonel Assimi Goïta and Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger respectively, said: ‘ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure.’

It said: ‘The Organisation did not provide assistance to our States in the framework of our existential fight against terrorism and worse insecurity when our States decided to take their destiny into their own hands…’

I
nstead, ECOWAS, imposed ‘illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions in violation of its own texts.’

The Statement said: ‘Faced with this continuing situation…Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Colonel Assimi Goïta and Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, …taking all their responsibilities in the face of history and responding to the expectations, concerns and aspirations of their populations, decide in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States.’

The three countries were suspended from ECOWAS following the coups, and relations between them and the regional bloc have deteriorated for months.

‘The Organisation notably failed to assist these States in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,’ Abdramane added.

Last year, they withdrew from an international force known as the G5 that was set up to fight Islamists in the Sahel region, forming their own so-called Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Sou
rce: Ghana News Agency