Category: Politics

Mr Seid Mubarak, the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Sunyani East Constituency has urged the youth against being manipulated by politicians to perpetrate violence in the December 2024 polls.

The parliamentary candidate said he was dedicated to safeguarding the youth from being used to incite violence before, during, and after the Election 2024.

Mr Mubarak made the statement in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani on peace towards the upcoming general elections.

Touching on his prospects in the elections, Mr Mubarak said he was optimistic about a resounding victory, emphasising his commitment to unite the youth in the constituency to collaborate on strategies for achieving development that had long been elusive in the community.

He said Sunyani was lagging in terms of development, saying, the township had reached a point where it needed modern sporting infrastructure to promote sporting activities effectively.

He highlighted another crucial infrastructure
gap being a modernised market, to help stimulate economic growth and development in the area by creating opportunities for increased economic activities.

He said he would remain loyal to promoting development in the constituency and restore Sunyani’s reputation as the cleanest city in Ghana which could be achievable if he was voted into power.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, a Governance Expert, says traditional authorities must bring to bear their leadership expertise to advance the structures of local governance in the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, he described chiefs as regal ombudsmen and women, who could contribute to the decision-making process towards the development of the various districts.

He said it was imperative for local government authorities to ensure that they involved traditional rulers more in their development planning processes for accelerated growth.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi, for instance, said: ‘When it comes to issues of conflict, traditional leaders often have experience in conflict resolution and mediation, so their presence in the assemblies can help in resolving disputes and promoting harmony within the community’.

‘When we talk about community engagement, chiefs are often respected and influential figures within their communities, so their involvement in the Assemblies can help in engaging the community
and encourage participation in local governance.’

Chiefs could also contribute to the preservation and promotion of traditional knowledge, customs, and practices within the assembly, ensuring that these important aspects of Ghanaian culture were upheld.

‘They can also play a role in identifying and prioritizing local development initiatives, drawing on their knowledge of the community’s needs and aspirations,’ he added.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi underscored the importance of involving traditional authorities in their respective assemblies to help bridge the gap between traditional and modern local governance to guarantee inclusive and culturally sensitive decision-making processes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama has won the African Advancement Award for Exemplary Leadership at the Africa Heritage Awards 2024 held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Organised by the Heritage Times of Nigeria, the African Heritage Awards is a platform that unites influential African innovators, entrepreneurs, and organisations, all of whom are instrumental in propelling the continent towards greatness.

The 2024 ceremony was chaired by former Botswana President Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama and was the second edition of the awards. The first edition took place in Kigali, Rwanda in 2023.

A release copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday quoted former President Mahama as saying: ‘I want to thank the team that supported me tirelessly during my presidency. This award inspires me to strive to be an even better leader.’

‘Thank you to the Heritage Times for this recognition. It will have a pride of place in my Office, when I am re-elected as President.’

‘Thank you all for your continued support. Together, we can achieve
great things for Ghana.’

In a citation accompanying his award, Mr Mahama, leading the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to Ghana’s 2024 elections, was recognised for implementing strategic initiatives and infrastructure projects across various critical sectors to address economic challenges and improve livelihoods.

These include efforts to alleviate power shortages and boost job creation through agricultural expansion.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has refuted claims by the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, that the Minority was responsible for the delay in operationalising the Komenda Sugar Factory in the Central Region.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, and copied to Ghana News Agency in Takoradi.

According to the statement, Mr Oppong-Nkrumah was reported to have blamed the Minority in Parliament for the failure of the government to operationalise the Komenda Sugar Factory.

‘In his attempt to justify his government’s I competences, the Minister claims the Minority’s opposition to certain tax waivers before Parliament is to be blamed for abandoning the Komenda Sugar Factory by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government,’ the statement said.

The statement described the claim as false, saying there was currently no such request for tax waiver before Parliament in respect of the Komenda Sugar Factory.

It said: ‘For the record, the ov
er GHS5.5 billion worth of unconscionable tax waivers to crony businesses of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government currently pending before the Finance Committee of Parliament, do not include any such request as claimed by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.’

The Minority could therefore not be blamed for stalling the Komenda Sugar Factory.

‘On the contrary, such blame must laid squarely at the doorstep of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP administration, which inherited a revamped Komenda Sugar Factory when power was handed over to them in 2017,’ the statement noted.

The statement, said the factory was revamped in 2016 by the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, with a $35 million Indian Export-Import (EXIM) Bank facility, with an additional $24 million equally secured to support sugar cane out-growers to feed the factory

The statement said the factory was expected to create over 7000 jobs and substantially reduce Ghana’s sugar importation.

It said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after a tour of the
facility in 2021, promised the chiefs and people of Komenda that his government was going to open the factory by March 2022.

It said: ‘Following a similar working visit to the factory in 2022, then Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanteng also promised to ensure that the factory becomes operational but that again did not see the light of day.

Source: Ghana News Agency

All nine aspirants seeking to replace the late Dr John Ampontuah Kumah as the next Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu Constituency have been cleared to contest by a vetting committee put together by the New Patrotic Party (NPP).

The committee chaired by the Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, said it would soon come out with guidelines for the primary scheduled for Saturday, April 13 following the successful vetting of the aspirants.

The nine aspirants battling for the single slot are Mr Kwabena Boateng, Dr Evans Duah, Mr Klinsman Karikari Mensah, Ms Helena Mensah, Ms Jacqueline Abena Pokua Amoah-Boaitey, Ms Portia Baffoe Abronye, Mr Kwesi Nyantekyi, Mr Aaron Prince Duah, and Ms Yaa Akyawmaa Aboagye.

Mr Evans Nimako, Director of Elections of the NPP, told the media after the vetting that all the aspirants were cleared to provide ample opportunities for party members interested in the race.

He disclosed that the national executives would meet the candidates on Tuesday.

He implored them to candi
dates to conduct their campaigns devoid of character assassinations and intemperate languages.

Mr Nimako thew more light on steps taken so far towards the primary and said: ‘The Committee has recommended that all of them be allowed to participate in this contest.

‘Also, we’ve taken them through the ballot and so balloting has also been done. We’ve informed them that the national executives of the party will meet them on Tuesday,’ he threw more light

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Agona West branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has inaugurated 13 working campaign committees to help prosecute ‘agenda recapture the Parliamentary seat’ in the upcoming December 7, general elections.

The 13 committees made up a total of 261 members with various professional expertise, would facilitate the efforts of the Parliamentary Candidate (PC) to map effective strategies that will push the party to win both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

It will also help identify various groups and other relevant organisations to create enabling environment for the NDC to mobilise more supporters including floating voters.

Speaking to the media after the inauguration, Mrs Ernestina Ofori Dangbey, PC for Agona West, congratulated the committee members and reminded them of the huge task ahead.

She said it was the greatest honour to be selected to be part of the forthcoming election and expressed optimism that members would live up to expectations to assist the party achieve its objecti
ve.

The PC said the campaign committees will do everything possible for them to win the hearts of the public, especially those in Swedru township, adding that the people were yearning for change of government, but the party must first explain its true message to them.

Mrs Dangbey said as PC, she was ever ready to respond to calls from the committees anytime and charged members to explore essential avenues for the Constituency executives and PC to work as a team to help emerge victorious.

Mr Alex Asiedu Sekormy, Agona West Constituency Chairman of the party expressed joy over the inauguration of campaign committees and was optimistic that members will work assiduously to win the election.

He assured that the constituency executives will give the members maximum cooperation and support to help prosecute its agenda to derive maximum benefits for all supporters of the party.

Source:Ghana News Agency