Category: National

By Eratus Ndueh

The fever ahead of the 2025 presidential elections is already around the corner. Opposition parties are reportedly facing difficulties in freely mobilizing their comrades due to strict administrative interference. The mobilization to create coalitions against the ruling CPDM is already promising to be a tight attempt for the powerless Cameroonian opposition blocs.

Cameroon is yet to learn from the political matureness of other African countries like Senegal. The country’s constitutional council showed independence by reversing a presidential decision to hang onto power until December. The election on Sunday, March 24, 2024, of Faye, an opposition figure, far from being a frontline, is an indication that when the people decide, the institutions allow such decisions to cross the political lines.

The situation in Cameroon is different, President Paul Biya has been in power for more than four decades, and is not showing signs of leaving the precious piston even at 91. Recently, Territorial and
Administrative Minister, Paul Atanga Nji, described the political Alliance for Change (APC), led by Jean-Michel Nintcheu, and the Political Alliance for Transition (APT), led by Olivier Bile, as ‘illegal’, calling them ‘clandestine movements.’

The Minister also mentioned that a recent meeting held in a prison in Yaoundé between Jean-Michel Nintcheu and Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, a leader of the English-speaking separatist group Interim Government of Ambazonia, accounted for the decision to ban the coalition.

These threats against the opposition political parties have caused international bodies like the NGO Human Rights Watch to accuse the Cameroonian government of attempting to muzzle the opposition before the legislative, municipal, and presidential elections of 2025.

‘The action taken by the government against these coalitions shows how Cameroonian authorities are acting to close space for opposition and public debate in the run-up to the 2025 presidential elections,’ stated Carine Kaneza Nantulya, Deputy
Director of the Africa division at Human Rights Watch.

Highlighting the importance of allowing opposition parties to operate freely in a country that promotes democracy like Cameroon, the Deputy Director of the HRW called on the Cameroonian authority ‘to immediately lift the ban and allow opposition parties to continue working without harassment.’

On September 22, 2020, Cameroonian security forces reportedly fired tear gas used water cannons, and arrested more than 550 people, mainly members and supporters of opposition parties, to disperse peaceful protests across the country. Many peaceful protesters were beaten and maltreated during their arrest and detention.

President Paul Biya has been in power since 1982 and was recently re-elected in 2018 after a disputed vote-counting process. Maurice Kamto questioned the official results and declared himself the winner of the election.

The election of Paul Biya in 2018 however, triggered a wave of political suppression. After the 2018 vote, opposition-led protes
ts took place across the country, and the government responded with harsh repression and the use of excessive force by the police, army, and gendarmerie.

At the launch of the Political Alliance for Change in December 2023, Maurice Kamto indicated that the opposition should rally behind a single candidate for the next presidential elections, scheduled for 2025. Paul Biya has not announced whether he will run for another term but his militants are still soliciting him for his ability and mastery of the country’s affairs to lead them for another 7-year mandate.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Dr Patrick Ekye Kwesie, a Convention People’s Party (CPP) Parliamentary Aspirant for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, has resigned from the party to throw his support behind Madam Samia Yaba Nkrumah, an independent Parliamentary Candidate.

Confirming the matter to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, in Takoradi, he said his decision to withdraw from the CPP parliamentary contest and subsequent resignation was hinged on his belief that Jomoro needed Madam Nkrumah to prosper.

According to him, as the descendants of the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, it was important that the Nzema people consciously voted for his daughter as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro to help protect and preserve the memory of the first President of Ghana.

‘This will enable Samia to leverage Kwame Nkrumah’s influence around the world to drive investments to Jomoro, leading to rapid development and sustainable economic opportunities that promote entrepreneurship and support local businesses to grow,’ he said.

Dr
Kwesie said he believes that Madam Nkrumah had the vision and commitment to improve upon access to quality education and skills training programmes to help enhance the living standards of the Jomoro people.

He noted that: ‘The Samia agenda, anchored on her father’s ideas, also seeks to put priority on developing infrastructure and amenities such as roads, water supply, and electricity, which will improve the quality of life for all residents.’

He said the independent Parliamentary Candidate would strive towards better access to healthcare services and social support programmes for the constituents, while implementing policies that would protect the natural resources through sustainable environmental practices.

Dr Kwesie added that Madam Nkrumah had clear plans to leverage the tourism potential of Jomoro to ensure growth and prosperity for the people.

‘I think with all these and many other plans she has, I have no doubt in her ability to bring in the much-needed development we the people of Jomoro have lon
g desired,’ he indicated.

He, therefore, called on the people of Jomoro to support Madam Nkrumah to snatch the seat from the National Democratic Congress in the impending December 7 general elections.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called for well-structured political parties to help strengthen the foundation of Ghana’s democracy.

The NCCE Director said weak political parties posed a threat to the country’s democratic system as they were responsible for electing leaders to govern and needed to establish strong structures to uphold Ghana’s democracy.

She made the call during a courtesy visit to the Bono regional executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Sunyani.

Ms Boadu observed that political parties played a critical role in the democratic process because they had a responsibility to ensure the development and progress of the country.

She advised political parties to engage in fair and ethical practices in their pursuit of power, saying because politics was ultimately about numbers, losing members in the quest for power could have detrimental effects on both the party and the country’s democracy.

It was esse
ntial for political parties to prioritise the integrity of their processes to maintain a strong and sustainable democratic system, she added.

Mr Ali Ibrahim Adjei, the Bono Region Vice-Chairman of the NDC, assured the NCCE Director of the party’s commitment for peaceful power since it believed in upholding peace before, during and after the elections to safeguard the country’s long-standing democracy.

He said the NDC would reject any form of violence that could jeopardise the lives of Ghanaians in the pursuit of political power and would be dedicated to promoting a culture of peace among their supporters.

Mr Adjei said the party would educate its followers on the importance of peaceful engagement in political activities with a goal to secure victory in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections without resorting to violence.

Mr Dennis Yeboah Twumasi, the Bono Regional Secretary of the NDC, urged the NCCE to collaborate with the security agencies to effectively manage tensions during elections.

So
urce: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revoked the appointment of Mr Daniel Noble Awume, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

The President subsequently nominated Mr Francis Fiakpui to take over from Mr Awume.

A statement signed by Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, said the decision was in accordance with Article 243 (3) (b) of the Constitution and Section 20 (3) (b) of the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936).

The statement directed Mr Awume to handover his duties to Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, who would exercise oversight responsibility of the Assembly until the confirmation of the new MCE by the Hohoe Municipal Assembly.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s flag-bearer is not under any pressure to announce his running mate.

Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, Chairman of the 2024 National Campaign Committee of the NPP, who stated this, said the flag-bearer, who is also the sitting Vice President of Ghana, would announce his preferred candidate for the running mate position at the right time.

Speaking to journalists in Kumasi after inaugurating the Ashanti Regional campaign team, Mr Botwe said no candidate had been mentioned yet.

‘We have not mentioned a particular candidate, and no such discussion had come up but finding a running mate had never been our problem.

‘It has never been contentious issue for us,’ he stated.

A section of the Ghanaian public has expressed worry over the continued delay by Dr Bawumia in announcing his running mate for the 2024 general elections.

However, Mr Botwe pointed out that the flag-bearer would announce the candidate when it was time to do so.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ringway Gospel Centre, Assemblies of God, has marked this year’s Palm Sunday celebration with street evangelism in Accra.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Rev. Benjamin Tettey, Head pastor for the Ringway Gospel Centre, Assemblies of God, said evangelism was part of Assemblies of God’s mission.

He said it was the core mandate of Christians to win more souls and lead others to Christ.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Send the Light’ which was also the theme for the year of the local church, Rev. Tettey indicated that Christ died for mankind to be saved, hence the need for Christians to emulate the love Christ showed them.

Source: Ghana News Agency