NPP

The eligibility of some 171 voters has been challenged on the electoral roll of the Ho West constituency in the Volta region.

Agents of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the area raised objections to the said names during the just ended nationwide Voters Register Exhibition exercise, on the basis of the persons not being ‘residents’ of the communities in which they registered, as stipulated in the Public Elections Regulation, 2016 (C.I 91).

One, Godwin Adinyirah objected to 72 of the names in Avatime-Gbadzeme, while 58 of them were challenged in Togorme by Moro Bamba, with the rest, being challenged at Tsibu and Kpedze communities.

Starr News has, however, learnt that, efforts by the District Electoral office to verify the residential status of the challenged persons proved futile as none of them appeared before the Review panel, despite posting the challenge notices in their respective electoral areas.

Resort to Court

The EC thus resorted to the law court for an order to delete the names of the challenged persons in Gbadzeme and Togorme.

The magistrate court at Dzolokpuita in the Ho West constituency of the Volta region Monday began hearing of the case, challenging the eligibility of the said voters on the Electoral roll in the area.

During proceedings the Ho West District Electoral Officer, Ms. Regina Tachie told the court that, aside the posting of the challenge notices, further interactions with residents and traditional leaders indicated that, the said persons are unknown in the Gbadzeme and Torgome communities.

She, however, could not readily produce any evidence to that effect, when the court requested for it.

This prompted the court to adjourn proceedings to Friday, August 19, in order for the EC to furnish it with prove of such notices or a sworn affidavit to that effect to enable it adjudicate on the matter.

Again, none of the affected persons turned up, during the hearing of the case in court but rather, top functionaries of the governing National Democratic Congress from the constituency, including the Ho West MP, Emmanuel Bedzrah, Deputy Petroleum minister, Benjamin Dagadu, Former EOCO boss, Mr. Mortey Akpadzi as well as the DCE and constituency executives were present to observe proceedings.

The MP, Emmanuel Bedzrah told Starr News after the hearing that the party was interested in the case because, it borders on the fundamental rights of some of his constituents and added that, he was also in court to observe the procedure used in the application of the CI 91, which they passed in parliament.

Lawyer for the two NPP agents, Emmanuel Ohene is confident his clients followed due process in challenging the eligibility of the 130 voters, who they strongly believe are non-residents of their respective communities.

“The C.I 91 was clear, that before you register as a voter, one need to be a resident or ordinarily resident in an electoral area. But these people after registering cannot be identified in the polling stations they registered. So we are hopeful the right will be done.”


Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5/Lambert Atsivor

The Central regional Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs says President John Dramani Mahama was oblivious of late President John Atta Mills’ deteriorating health leading to the latter’s demise.

According to him, only four people including him knew about late President Mills’ ill health. The cause of the untimely demise of President Mills in 2012 has been a mystery, as Ghanaians crave for answers.

Posters demanding answers regarding the death of the late president emerged in some areas in Cape Coast, the Central regional capital during the NDC campaign launch in that region on Sunday.

The posters were sighted at places such as Pedu junction, Abura, Adisadel, Moree barrier, Aggrey Memorial SHS, Cape Coast-Takoradi highway and around new the Cape Coast stadium, the venue for the campaign launch. It was, however, not clear who were behind the posters.

Reacting to demands of the said posters on Accra-based Neat FM’s ‘Ghana Montie’ show, Mr. Jacobs explained that he together with three others knew the cause of President Mills’ death.

“…Let me confirm this,” he told the show host Akwasi Aboagye “we are just four people who know about Professor Mills sickness. His two siblings [Dr Cadman Atta Mills and Sammy Atta Mills], myself, and his long time bodyguard, Mr. ASP Adadei. Prof. Mills was dear to our hearts; he shared his frustration, sickness and development with us [the four].”

According to him, President Mahama has no knowledge of his boss’ failing health and that “People don’t know about this so they just get up and malign innocent people in this country.”

He asked: “…What at all has President Mahama done? What sin has he committed? Just because God has anointed him to be president?”

He said those demanding answers as to the cause of President Mills’ death “are just hurting the family [Mills family]. The man is dead and gone. Curse will be upon those behind this [he accused the NPP]. Death will run through their camp.”


Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Mohammed Awal

Former Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen is asking Ghanaians, who are desirous of progress and prosperity, to repose their confidence in, and vote for the party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the December 7 election.

According to Mr Kyerematen, the creation of jobs to solve the country’s crippling unemployment crisis will be the number one focus of an Akufo-Addo government from January 2017, assuring that “we, in the NPP, have the formula for job creation.”

The NPP stalwart was addressing residents of Sekondi on Sunday, August 14, 2016, at the campaign launch of the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the Sekondi constituency, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, when he made this known.

Alan Kyerematen noted that in addition to rapid infrastructural development for every part of the country, “Nana Akufo-Addo’s message everywhere he goes is that he is coming to create jobs for all Ghanaians. The creation of jobs is what Ghanaians must look at before voting.”

The “1-District-1-Factory” policy, he stated, will be one of the programmes for the creation of thousands of jobs for the teeming masses of unemployed Ghanaian youth across the country.

“If we have 216 factories in this country, it would mean that some of the items imported from outside of the country will be manufactured right here in Ghana. When we produce these items here, it would mean the appreciation and strengthening of the Ghana cedi. If there’s a factory in every district, why would our young men and women leave their respective homes for non-existent jobs in the city centres?” he asked.

In addition to the ‘1-District-1-Factory’, Alan Kyerematen noted that the creation of an enabling environment for the private sector to flourish will be a priority area for the government of Nana Akufo-Addo.

“With many Ghanaians engaged in their own private businesses, the NPP will make sure that there is availability of capital, at significantly lower lending rates, for the growth of businesses. 90% of jobs currently created in Ghana are through small businesses. The NPP is coming to assist the private sector, so they can create more jobs for the people,” he assured.

Alan Kyerematen further revealed that to complement the ‘1-District-1-Factory’ policy and the strengthening of the private sector, “Nana Akufo-Addo’s government is going to make sure that strategic anchor industries are created to provide more jobs for Ghanaians. These industries will include iron and steel, cement, bauxite and aluminum, petrochemical industry, vehicle assembly and the manufacture of machine parts and equipment.”

He, therefore, noted that “if you are NDC supporter, and after listening to all these interventions, you will make a choice for the future of Ghana, which is voting for Nana Akufo-Addo”, stressing that “if President Mahama and the NDC had any plan for the creation of jobs, they would have rolled it out by now.”

NDC has only one message
After being in office for 8 years, Alan Kyerematen stated that the NDC government of John Mahama, has only one message.

“Their message is that in the last 8 years, they have been able to construct roads, school buildings and hospitals. It is a good thing. But, let me ask you one question. Have you seen any government, in Ghana’s history, which has never constructed roads, schools or hospitals?” Alan asked.

The most important things required of any government, he indicated, are the development of the nation, as well as the improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.

“In spite of the NDC’s singular message of infrastructural development, Ghanaians are saying that their living conditions are worse off. Ghanaians are saying they cannot make ends meet; they cannot afford to live in these hard times. This is, clearly, a sign that the NDC has failed. Ghanaians are saying they want Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP,” Mr. Kyerematan, who is also the NPP Campaign Sector Committee chairperson on Trade and Industry, said.

Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Kojo Addae/Freelancer

The lead counsel for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Godfred Dame, has described attempts by the party’s suspended national chairman, Paul Afoko, to appeal the dismissal of his suit against the party as “worrying”.

An Accra Human Rights Court Monday dismissed Mr. Afoko’s challenge of the legality or otherwise of suspension by the NPP, explaining that he has no case. As a result, Mr. Afoko remains indefinitely suspended.

But, Mr. Afoko in a statement said he has instructed his counsel to study the judgment affirming his sanction, and to appeal “at the appropriate time.”

“It has always been emphasised that this legal battle is not about personalities but about the restoration of our party to its core values of respect for one another’s opinion, the rule of law and the need to remain united in face of all challenges,” added the statement signed by Nana Yaw Osei, spokesperson of Mr. Afoko.

However, speaking on Eyewitness News Monday on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr. Dame said he does not have any qualms whatsoever about Afoko’s quest to appeal the court’s ruling, but it is simply “needless” and petty.

“…This indication by Mr. Afoko is very worrying,” he told the host.

He said in the work of the call for reconciliation, he was surprised that “…Afoko will more or less want to act contrary to the spirit of unity, peace and reconciliation shown by the party by going further up to the appeal system.”

Mr. Dame continued by saying that even though Mr. Afoko has the right to challenge his suspension by the NPP, his actions are nothing but a needless distraction.

He argued that looking at the merit of the suit brought against the NPP by Mr. Afoko, “it is totally frivolous and mischievous.”

“…I have never seen any high profile case in all my practice laden with so much mischief and frivolous as this one,” he said, adding that it was “central and key to the theme of the NDC’s campaign.”

The NPP in a statement lauded the judgement, saying it felt vindicated by the Human Rights court.

“This reaffirms the truism that the NPP is built and governed on the principles of rule of law and equality before the law. No member is above the Constitution of the Party. We are proud of these credentials,” the statement signed by its acting General Secretary, John Boadu, said.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Mohammed Awal

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the government of President Mahama, over the last eight years, has proven itself to be incompetent at finding solutions to the myriad of problems confronting Ghanaians.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, against a backdrop of an economy in tatters, declining growth in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, coupled with the inability of Ghanaian youth to find jobs, rising cost of living, widespread and rampant corruption, and an ailing NHIS, Ghanaians must show President Mahama the exit on December 7.

“President Mahama has no solutions to the problems of our country. He is an impediment to the progress of our nation. We cannot continue to seek the progress of Ghana with him in office… Ghanaians have become too miserable under Mahama. We are on a rich land, and yet we are drenched in hunger, poverty and suffering. This is not right,” he said.

Urging Ghanaians to give him and the NPP the opportunity in this year’s elections, the NPP flagbearer is assuring that “we are coming to change these statistics. We are coming to prudently manage the finances of Ghana to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.”

Nana Akufo-Addo made this known when he addressed thousands of NPP supporters and sympathisers, as well as residents of Sekondi, on Sunday, August 14, at the campaign launch of the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the Sekondi constituency, Andrew Egyapa Mercer.

“We are asking for power from Ghanaians not because we want to lord it over them, or to steal the monies of poor Ghanaians. No! We seek power to enable us to serve the people, and implement policies and programmes that will bring development, progress and prosperity to all Ghanaians,” he said

To this end, the NPP flagbearer reiterated his pledge towards the industrial development of Ghana, when he wins this year’s elections, stating that “this is the next phase of the development of Ghana.”

He noted that an Akufo-Addo government will be coming into office “to help establish industries in this country so as to create jobs for our youth. These industries will also include the establishment of an aluminum industry from our bauxite deposists, an iron and steel industry from our iron ore deposits at Oppon Manso, amongst others.”

Ghana’s railway sector, which once had its hub in the Western Region, he said will be revived and developed to aide in the industrialization programme of the NPP.

“We are going to rehabilitate our railway sector. That is our commitment. For the last 8 years, President Mahama’s government has shown little commitment towards the development of our railways. We are coming to do it,” he said, drawing rousing applause from the thousands gathered.

Nana Akufo-Addo also bemoaned the deplorable living conditions of fisherfolk and residents along the coastal belt of Ghana, stating that “the fishing communities along the coast have been abandoned by the society, though they have a significant contribution to make to the development of Ghana.”

The NPP flagbearer therefore assured that “like the Northern Development Authority, one central feature of the NPP’s 2016 manifesto will be the establishment of a Coastal Development Authority to allow for the rapid development of the constituencies, and the improvement of the living conditions of Ghanaians resident along the coastline.”

Nana Akufo-Addo urged the Ghanaian electorate to have faith in him and the NPP, explaining that “I am not one to make promises I know I cannot keep, all in the name of getting votes. I have too much love and respect for Ghanaians to make promises which I cannot fulfill. I will never do that. Whatever I have said I will do.

“The ‘1-District-1-Factory’ policy, the development of our small scale industries, and the establishment of strategic industries can all be achieved through the prudent management of our resources.”

He indicated that whilst some neighbouring countries have made giant strides in the last 5 years, Ghana, however, within the same time frame, and under the leadership of President Mahama, is going backwards.

“Cote d’Ivoire, five or six years ago was coming out of civil war. The election in 2010 led to 100,000 displaced people, 3,000 people were killed as a result of the election between Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara. In five years, because of good, strong leadership, Cote d’Ivoire is today the number one investment destination in Africa. They are the toast of the continent.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, thus, appealed to the Ghanaian electorate to give him the opportunity “to do for Ghana, what Alassane Ouattara is doing for the Cote d’Ivoire” by voting massively for him and the NPP on December 7.


Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Kojo Addae/Freelancer