Day: June 20, 2024

Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI-Africa, has raised concerns over what he perceives as attempts to excuse the silence of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) regarding the allegation of coercion of a witness by leader of the Bar and Attorney-General, Godfred Dame. The accusation was levelled by the third accused in the ongoing trial of Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson; businessman Richard Jakpa.

Describing the silence of the GBA as discomforting, Franklin Cudjoe, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, said the allegation, corroborated by a leaked audio recording of a phone conversation between Dame and Jakpa, amounts to treachery.

“I have seen some comments under my post about the Ghana Bar Association’s eerily discomforting silence over the AG’s conduct in the ambulance case. Essentially, they say that it is difficult for the GBA to reprimand or even advise one of its own members, a senior one like the AG-of course, alluding to the scenario of NAGRAT’s inability to disown or repriman
d a delinquent school headmaster-never mind if he had raped or pillaged funds.

“What some of these commentators forget is that the GBA is a civil society organization made up of civilized members who can tell right from grave wrong-in this instance, a very treacherous, invasive, maniacally, and Machiavellian way of extracting evidence and using the same for the sole purpose of denying the liberty of an individual by its lead advocate and minister of justice, apparently,” he wrote.

He questioned the possibility of how often such acts have been deployed by the state in securing judgments, likening the defense of the AG’s action to that of defending priests who sodomize young boys.

“God knows how many such prosecutions have benefitted from such brain and hand-twisting. Sorry guys, making an excuse for the GBA is like saying, ‘I am a Catholic, so I will defend Catholic priests who sodomize young boys!’ Really? I am Catholic,” he stated.

About the allegations against Godfred Dame

The opposition National Democ
ratic Congress (NDC), true to its promise, provided evidence of the supposed misdeeds of Dame, in the ongoing trial of the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Jakpa.

The NDC accused Godfred Dame of unethical and unprofessional conduct when the third accused person in the ambulance purchase trial, businessman Richard Jakpa, alleged in court that the AG had meetings with him on how to implicate the first accused, Ato Forson.

The third accused claimed that the Attorney General wanted his cooperation to jail Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson-a claim Dame flatly denied.

At a press conference in Accra, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the NDC played a 16-minute audio recording of a phone call conversation between Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa, on the day the third accused was supposed to testify in court.

The said audio is currently the subject matter of cross examination. The state will continue quizzing Jakpa over the tape and other related matters today.

Source: Ghana Web

Concerns are growing among Ghanaians and party faithfuls regarding the difficulties faced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer in selecting a running mate.

Sceptics have also raised questions about the role and interest of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), a state institution that has surveyed party executives nationwide to determine the acceptable candidates to partner with the flagbearer.

The survey, which uses a small and arguably unrepresentative sample, aims to gauge support of five shortlisted candidates based on their perceived party backing.

However, critics have called this approach unusual, inefficient, and indecisive.

Critics argue that this approach lacks robustness and may not yield true representative outcomes, as party membership alone cannot guarantee the party’s victory. It is noteworthy that a candidate who enjoys popularity within the party but lacks acceptance among floating voters and non-members cannot be the ideal choice.

Indeed, this process appears unconventional and
counterproductive, as it reflects indecisiveness and superficial efforts rather than substantive strategy. Despite challenges such as voter apathy and dissatisfaction, party loyalists are likely to support the flagbearer regardless of their running mate.

Therefore, the flagbearer must choose a running mate who can attract political support beyond the NPP’s traditional base, thereby enhancing the party’s prospects in the general election.

An ideal running mate should appeal to both the party’s loyal and undecided voters, as well as those outside the party. Party members may perceive a candidate as well-liked, but they may not accept him or her among floating voters and non-members, making him or her an ideal choice.

The flagbearer’s ability to secure victory hinges on identifying crucial constituencies. These areas can significantly impact electoral outcomes.

Considering the Chief of Staff as a potential running mate could enhance the chances of a resounding victory since she represents and belongs to mult
iple constituencies.

The selection team should endeavour to rely on thorough academic research and unbiased analysis to provide him with credible, objective insights, rather than opinions driven by self-interest.

Such a strategy will better serve the party’s goal of securing a broad base of support.

Source: Ghana Web

The role of women in politics and governance as a whole has been the subject of years and years of activism and advocacy, a case in point is the current push to get the Affirmative Action Bill given priority in the current session of the 8th Parliament.

As Ghana continues the push to get a female Vice President, the highest political office a woman would hold as the push to see a female president continues, women continue to play frontline roles in major political parties.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in February released its national campaign team which had notable women playing different roles.

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) also released its 19-member national campaign team along with a 14-member steering committee.

Out of the 33 members, GhanaWeb has picked out the eight women listed and the roles they are expected to play.

Find the list below:

1. Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei- National Women’s Organizer will play a key role in the frontline campaign coordination wing.

2. Jo
yce Bawa Mogtari- Spokesperson, Flagbearer’s campaign, she is already an aide to the flagbearer.

3. Beatrice Annan- Deputy Spokesperson, Flagbearer’s campaign. She is currently a member of the Communications Team of the NDC.

4. Obuobia Darko-Opoku – Along with Dr. Awusi and three others, they are expected to be assigned special duties by the national campaign

5. Dr. Mary Awusi

“The National Campaign Team shall work under the guidance of a Campaign Steering Committee that comprises,” portions of the press release that announced the list read.

Three women made it into the 14-member steering committee. They are listed below:

1. Betty Mould Iddrisu, a former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

2. Marrietta Brew – a former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

3. Dr. Valerie Sawyer – a former Chief of Staff and senior confidant to the flagbearer.

Read the full statement by the party announcing the team below:

PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release

19th June, 2024

NDC APPOINTS NATIONAL CAMPA
IGN TEAM FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTIONS

After extensive consultations and deliberations, the Functional Executive Committee of the NDC, at its meeting held on Tuesday, 18th June 2024, constituted the National Campaign Team that will prosecute the party’s 2024 presidential and parliamentary campaigns.

The National Campaign Team comprises:

1. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey (General Secretary)- Campaign Coordinator

2. Dr. Joseph Yammin (National Organizer)- Deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of regional campaigns

3. Richard Quashigah- Deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of parliamentary campaigns

4. Chief Hamilton Nixon Biney- Deputy Campaign Coordinator in charge of Special Operations

5. Sammy Gyamfi- National Communications Officer

6. George Opare Addo- National Youth Organizer

7. Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei- National Women’s Organizer

8. Alhaji Cole Younger- National Zongo Caucus Coordinator

9. Prof. Joshua Alabi- Head of Flagbearer’s campaign

10. Joyce Bawa Mogtari- Spokesperson, Flagbearer’s campaign

11. Beatrice Annan- Deputy Spokesperson, Flagbearer’s campaign

12. Alex Segbefia- Head of Running Mate’s Campaign

13. James Agyenim Boateng- Spokesperson, Running Mate’s Campaign

14. Eric Adjei- Deputy Spokesperson, Running Mate’s Campaign

Other members of the National Campaign Team are:

1. Richard Anamoo- Representative of the NDC’s Professionals Forum.

2. Shine Gaveh- Representative of the Cadres Front

3. Dr. Nashiru Issahaku

4. Obuobia Darko-Opoku

5. Dr. Mary Awusi

The National Campaign Team shall work under the guidance of a Campaign Steering Committee that comprises:

1. Johnson Asiedu Nketia- Chairman

2. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey

3. Dr. Ato Forson

4. Rt. Hon. Doe Adjaho

5. Alhaji Hudu Yahaya

6. Kofi Totobi Quakyi

7. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo

8. Dr. Kwabena Duffour

9. Betty Mould Iddrisu

10. Julius Debrah

11. Marrietta Brew

12. Dr. Valerie Sawyer

13. Sam Pee Yalley

14. Alhaji Alhassan Ligbi

The National Campaign Team and Steering Committee shall all work under the leadership of the flag-bearer
of the party, H.E. John Dramani Mahama and report to the Functional and National Executive Committees of the party in the discharge of their duties.

Source: Ghana Web

The year 1979 was a landmark period in Ghana’s political history where the country experienced extraordinary political upheavals, characterized by multiple Heads of State, coup attempts, executions of top military leaders, and the eventual transition to civilian rule.

It was also the year that the name Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings – who will go on to give Ghana its current republic; the most stable, become a household name.

Here’s a detailed account of the significant events that unfolded during this tumultuous year:

General Fred Akuffo

At the beginning of 1979, Ghana was under the military rule of General Fred Akuffo, who had come to power in a palace coup in July 1978, ousting General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.

Akuffo’s regime faced widespread dissatisfaction due to economic decline and corruption.

He was Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces from 1976 to 1978, and Chairman of the ruling Supreme Military Council in Ghana from 1978 to 1979.

He became leader of the government in a palace
coup against General Kutu Acheampong, but was overthrown and executed in another military coup less than a year later.

Fred Akuffo was born at Akropong in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

He completed his secondary education in 1955 at the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School at Odumase Krobo.

He then enlisted in the Ghana Army in 1957 and trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK, among others, receiving his commission in 1960.

He was married to Emily Akuffo. He also attended the National Defence College in India in 1973.

He was executed along with other senior military officers on June 26, 1979, at the Teshie Military Range.

Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings

On June 4, 1979, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings led a successful coup that overthrew General Akuffo’s regime.

Rawlings came to power in Ghana as a Flight Lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979.

Prior to that, he led an unsuccessful coup attempt against the ruling military government on Tuesday, May 15
, 1979, just five weeks before scheduled democratic elections were due to take place.

After handing power over to a civilian government, he overthrew the democratically elected government through a military coup on Thursday, December 31, 1981, as the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the military, founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and became the first president of the Fourth Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 for four more years.

After two terms in office, the limit according to the Ghanaian constitution, Jerry John Rawlings endorsed his vice-president John Atta Mills as a presidential candidate in 2000.

Dr Hilla Limann

Following the coup and a brief period of military rule under Rawlings and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Ghana transitioned to civilian rule.

Dr Hilla Limann was elected president in the general elections held later that year and was inaugurated on September 24, 1979.

He stood for the elections fol
lowing the disqualification of Alhaji Imoru Egala by the then-ruling Supreme Military Council and won 62% of the popular vote in the second round of voting.

Dr. Limann assumed office as president on September 24, 1979. He was an economist and supported democratic values and Pan-Africanism.

He was, however, deposed in another coup by JJ Rawlings on December 31, 1981.

He, thus, was the only president of the third republic of Ghana.

In 1992, at the end of the PNDC military rule that overthrew him, Dr. Limann once again found himself involved in politics and stood as the candidate of the People’s National Convention, a new party he founded, in the presidential election that year.

He received 6.7% of the popular vote in the elections, coming third. He remained active among the Nkrumahist political movement in Ghana until his death.

Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that p
arliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.

Source: Ghana Web

Nana Akomea has criticized the protesters of the “Hands Off Our Hotels” demonstration, which occurred in Accra on Tuesday, June 18.

Hundreds of Ghanaians, consisting of organized labor and leading members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), took to the streets to protest against the sale of four hotels to Rock City Hotel, a company owned by Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Agriculture.

The demonstration turned confrontational when the demonstrators attempted to march into the Jubilee House but were stopped by the police.

The protesters reportedly threw stones at the police, who, in return, released tear gas and pepper spray to disperse them.

However, Nana Akomea deemed this demonstration unnecessary.

The STC Chief Executive Officer, addressing the issue during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show, questioned the relevance of the protest, emphasizing that the organizers have already petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the SSNIT hotel sale. Therefore, he expects them to allow the
Commission to do its job.

“I don’t see the importance of the demonstration because you, the demonstrators, have already petitioned CHRAJ over the issue,” he stated.

Source: Ghana Web

The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged stakeholders in the country, including the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure that the December 7th, 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.

Delivering a public lecture at Christian Service University in Kumasi as part of the university’s 50th anniversary on the theme ‘Sustainability of Democracy in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience,’ the former President said, ‘Disputed elections, as witnessed in other African countries, have triggered civil unrest resulting in loss of human lives. So, elections have the potential to disrupt peace, which is why we emphasize that elections must be transparent, free, and fair.’

The former President further explained that if elections can be free and fair, there is a need to have a fair arbitrator who is not a partisan referee and who will be fair, transparent, and neutral between the political parties.

He said, ‘Dr. Afari Gyan was the elec
toral commissioner with several deputies, and he conducted several elections. Up till today, Dr. Afari Gyan is respected as one of the best electoral commissioners in the whole of Africa. Charlotte Osei was appointed by me as the electoral commissioner, yet the elections that she supervised, I lost. This points to the need for fairness and non-partisanship. Up till today, the NPP describes the election as the best and fairest election that has ever been held.’

The NDC flag bearer explained that they are not accusing the Electoral Commission for nothing, stressing that in the 2020 elections, a lot of things went wrong on the part of the Electoral Commission, which must be avoided in the upcoming elections.

‘There were several issues raised and reiterated about the Electoral Commission not being as neutral as expected. Indeed, it must be true that this government concocted reasons to remove three electoral commissioners and replaced them with people of their choice who are known for their NPP credentials,’ he
said.

He added that even though the President has the right to appoint, the President must ensure that the people he appoints are not openly known to be affiliated with any political party, which this President did not care about.

‘People who were patrons of TESCON are today sitting as electoral commissioners. If you go to the Bono region and ask about one of the deputy commissioners, Appiagyei, he was their elections director, IT director, and a communication member. Who do you expect such a person to be neutral in his work?’ he asked.

Speaking on the day-to-day running of the Electoral Commission and national election activities, Mr. Mahama accused the Electoral Commission of demonstrating total bias against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

‘This Electoral Commission has demonstrated that the commissioner cannot be neutral in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. A commissioner said the NDC is the most serious existential threat to Ghana’s democracy, and he is still a
commissioner. How do you expect somebody like that to conduct a free and fair election? So, despite the adversity, the Electoral Commission will do its best to prove me wrong in this election.’

After justifying his claims, the former President said the NDC is not asking the Electoral Commission to rig the elections for them.

‘We are just asking them to conduct a free and fair election for the country and let the will of Ghanaians prevail. That’s all we are looking for. But as Azumah Nelson said, this time we are going into the elections with our own referee. We will knock down the NPP to the level that the Electoral Commission can never overturn the results for the NPP,’ Mahama assured.

Source: Ghana Web

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged stakeholders in the country, including the Electoral Commission, to ensure that the December 7th, 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections are conducted freely and fairly.

Delivering a public lecture at Christian Service University in Kumasi as part of the university’s 50th anniversary on the theme ‘Sustainability of Democracy in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience,’ the former President said, ‘Disputed elections, as witnessed in other African countries, have triggered civil unrest resulting in loss of human lives. So, elections have the potential to disrupt peace, which is why we emphasize that elections must be transparent, free, and fair.’

The former President further explained that if elections can be free and fair, there is a need for a fair arbitrator who is not a partisan referee and will be fair, transparent, and neutral between the political parties.

He said, ‘Dr. Afari Gyan was the electoral commissioner with se
veral deputies, and he conducted several elections. Up till today, Dr. Afari Gyan is respected as one of the best electoral commissioners in the whole of Africa. Charlotte Osei was appointed by me as the electoral commissioner, yet the elections that she supervised, I lost. This points to the need for fairness and non-partisanship. Up till today, the NPP describes the election as the best and fairest election that has ever been held.’

The NDC flagbearer explained that they are not accusing the Electoral Commission for nothing, stressing that in the 2020 elections, many things went wrong on the part of the Electoral Commission, which must be avoided in the upcoming elections.

‘There were several issues raised and reiterated about the Electoral Commission not being as neutral as expected. Indeed, it must be true that this government concocted reasons to remove three electoral commissioners and replaced them with people of their choice who are known for their NPP credentials,’ he said.

He added that even thou
gh the President has the right to appoint, the President must ensure that the people he appoints are not openly known to be affiliated with any political party, which this President did not care about.

‘People who were patrons of TESCON are today sitting as electoral commissioners. If you go to the Bono region and ask about one of the deputy commissioners, Appiagyei, he was their elections director, IT director, and a communication member. Who do you expect such a person to be neutral in his work?’ he asked.

Speaking on the day-to-day running of the Electoral Commission and national election activities, Mahama accused the Electoral Commission of demonstrating total bias against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

‘This Electoral Commission has demonstrated that the commissioner cannot be neutral in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. A commissioner said the NDC is the most serious existential threat to Ghana’s democracy, and he is still a commissioner. How do you expect so
mebody like that to conduct a free and fair election? So, despite the adversity, the Electoral Commission will do its best to prove me wrong in this election.’

After justifying his claims, the former President said the NDC is not asking the Electoral Commission to rig the elections for them.

‘We are just asking them to conduct a free and fair election for the country and let the will of Ghanaians prevail. That’s all we are looking for. But as Azumah Nelson said, this time we are going into the elections with our own referee. We will knock down the NPP to the level that the Electoral Commission can never overturn the results for the NPP,’ Mahama assured.

Source: Ghana Web

Renowned private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has expressed concern about the increasing number of corruption scandals under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.

He made these remarks during a demonstration in Accra on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

Kpebu criticized the government’s handling of corruption and stated that many Ghanaians, including himself, had hoped that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would address the issue.

However, corruption has become a daily occurrence under his administration.

He pointed out that Ghanaians had voted out former President John Dramani Mahama due to corruption concerns, only to replace him with someone who has been involved in numerous scandals.

“People are extremely angry, very dissatisfied with the bad governance, with the corruption-ridden Akufo-Addo governance. Because you see, and the reason people are very angry is that we thought JM (Mahama) wasn’t good enough; that’s why in 2016, we voted out JM, thinking that Nana Akufo-Addo is a better person.

Kpe
bu highlighted the stagnant corruption perception index under Akufo-Addo’s administration and criticized the government’s inability to improve its anti-corruption efforts.

He emphasized the frustration among Ghanaians due to the continuous stream of scandals emerging from the government.

“But the records show that JM is actually better. You see, the corruption perception index. We’ve been at 43 for four years – four consecutive years. Now, 43 was the lowest mark that the JM administration got. So, for four years, Nana Akufo-Addo’s best fight against corruption is at 43. He’s plateaued. He can’t get better.

He added, “And it’s likely this year, 2024, it is going to be worse. Because you see, this year, it’s now everyday new scandal – ‘one day, one scandal’, ‘one day, one scandal’, ‘one day, one scandal’. So that is why we are very angry. Because we thought that he was our last hope, our junior Jesus, that Akufo-Addo would live above corruption, not knowing that he’s really the epitome of corruption.”

The ‘
Hands Off Our Hotels Demonstration’ organized by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa aimed to protest the sale of 60% shares in four hotels owned by SSNIT to a company owned by Minister Bryan Acheampong.

The hotels involved in the sale include Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, and Busua Beach Resort.

Source: Ghana Web