Lesotho Wire

Dr Donald Agumenu, a leadership and governance expert, has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to choose a Running Mate that will reflect the ideals of the Party and help restore hope to the citizenry ahead of the December General Election.

He said the candidate should be able to ‘close the gap, help galvanise critical socio-economic development and restore the hope of our people.’

Dr Agumenu, a former Special Assistant to Late President Jerry John Rawlings, who said this in a news brief, said the country

was at a very critical state and needed leadership that could help Ghanaians to withstand ‘the rough and tough times of today’ and ‘lead the future that begins from today’.

‘Achieving success demands some appreciable degree of transformational and thought leadership to navigate through these complexities,’ he stressed.

‘I am confident the Party will emerge stronger after this decisive moment.

‘But as a matter of strategic consideration, the final choice should serve as a springboard for the ef
fective implementation of unique policies most essentially the 24-hour economy.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sissala West District Assembly in the Upper West Region has confirmed Mr Mahamudu Forkah as the District Chief Executive (DCE) after his second attempt.

During the confirmation process at Gwollo by the Electoral Commission, witnessed by the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the 23 Assembly members voted ‘Yes’ constituting 74.2 per cent of the total votes cast, with eight (25.8 per cent) voting ‘No’.

Mr Forkah, in his initial bid, obtained 18 Yes votes and 13 No votes, which fell short of the two-thirds majority required for confirmation.

He gave the assurance that he was going to work with everyone, ensure even distribution of all resources, unify the people, and maintain the security of the district.

Dr Bin Salih, the Regional Minister, commended the Assembly members for confirming the President’s nominee.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Reverend Dr Stephen Wengam, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, has urged pastors and Christian leaders to preach peace and unity in their sermons as the country prepares for the December 7 elections.

He said such sermons were critical in ensuring a peaceful poll and protecting the country before, during and after the elections.

‘I believe that we (pastors) are in a privileged position, the thousands come to our churches. Let us use our pulpit to preach peace, to preach unity, to preach love, and I believe this election will be one of the very normal, peaceful elections,’ he said.

Rev Wengam gave the charge in an interview with the media on the sidelines of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Sureway Assemblies of God, at Kasoa in the Central Region.

The Sureway Assembly was started in 1999 by two families – the Ebo Acquah and Desmond Asante families.

Currently, the Assembly has about 700 members.

The 25th anniversary was celebrated under the theme ‘O’ Taste and See That the
Lord is Good – Psalm 34:8.’

Rev Wengam said the Church, and Christians in general, had significant roles to play in preserving the country’s democracy.

However, he criticized the current state of Christianity in the country, which he claimed was impeding national progress.

‘Yes, we have the numbers (as Christians) but the numbers are not translating into development, it is not translating in the fight against corruption.

‘The church is the light of the community so, we are challenging ourselves to go out there to preach Christ, live Christ and become positive influences so that we can bring down the level of corruption, so that we can scale up productivity.

‘If all Christians go to work and we all are diligent, this country should be better than it is today,’ he stated.

Rev Wengam commended the Sureway Assemblies for their achievements over the last 25 years, emphasizing that the Church must not rest on its laurels but instead participate in active evangelism to draw more people to Christ.

’25 years is
worth celebrating but the work is not over. There is more to be done, there are more lands to possess,’ he encouraged.

Rev Reginald Yaw Boateng, Senior Pastor, Sureway Assemblies of God, attributed the Church’s growth to God’s faithfulness and abundant blessings over the past 25 years.

He stated that the Church, in collaboration with Compassion International, Ghana, had undertaken various projects, including the Sureway Child Development Centre, to develop children.

Furthermore, the Church had trained 14 experienced gospel ministers and established seven churches and a school, with plans to develop more schools.

‘Our vision for the future is to establish a beacon of hope and redemption, not just as physical structures but as vessels for spreading God’s love and nurturing faith in communities and beyond.

‘To this end, we recognize the need to expand our physical capacity to accommodate the growing number of faithful congregants with an ultra-modern auditorium,’ he said.

Rev Boateng urged political partie
s, especially the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, to put the interest of the nation above all others to ensure peaceful polls come December 7.

‘We are all one, there is no Ghana anywhere so we should stop fighting each other. Yes, we may disagree on some ideological points, but we are all one and so, let’s come together,’ he urged.

Madam Anita Love Obo Amissah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Awutu Senya East, and Madam Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, attended the ceremony.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The New Patriotic Party in the Asuogyaman Constituency has congratulated Mr Pius Enam Hadzide on his selection to the Party’s Manifesto Committee on Youth and Sports for the 2024 general election.

A statement signed and issued by Christian Okomfo Addo, Constituency Secretary, said Mr Hadzide’s appointment demonstrated the flagbearer’s confidence and vindicated the trust and confidence that the party leadership, chiefs, and good people of Asuogyaman had all placed in him.

‘Hadzide’s enviable public record and his demonstrated interest in youth development not only in Asuogyaman but indeed the entire country gives them the assurance that he would contribute positively to the fashioning of a workable and pragmatic framework that would continue to ensure the holistic development of the Youth and Sports sector in Ghana,’ it said.

According to the statement, Mr Hadzide’s extensive experience as Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Deputy Minister for Information, and now Chief Executive Officer of the National
Youth Authority (NYA), coupled with his grass-roots nature, would enable him to identify the challenges confronting Ghana’s youth and make proposals to address them.

It noted that during his tenure at the Ministry and the NYA, he oversaw the development of the National Youth Policy and its implementation plan, played key roles in the formulation of the Legislative Instrument of the NSA Act, and ensured the construction of Youth Resource Centres across the country.

He also initiated the National Youth Volunteer Programme, the Skills Towards Employability and Productivity Step, among others.

‘Locally, Hon. Pius Enam Hadzide is leading the construction of an Astro-turf Park with flood lights and ancillary facilities at Senchi-Ferry, investing heavily in the construction of a Youth Resource Center at Apeguso, the building of schools, community water systems, sheds, places of convenience and many others,’ it added.

The statement Hadzide had made significant investments in the establishment of a Youth Resource
Center in Apeguso, as well as schools, community water systems, sheds, and convenience stores.

It pledged to use all of its resources to ensure the NPP won the Asuogyaman seat.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, has said his campaign and manifesto team are ready to consider proposals from the National Muslim Conference (NMC) into the Party’s 2024 Election Manifesto.

He said his doors were always opened for innovative ideas and suggestions that would ensure inclusive development of the country.

‘We remain committed to the development of our country through policies and structures, and my campaign and manifesto team are ready to consider inputs from the NMC, and other stakeholders for our inclusive development,’ he said on Thursday.

Dr Bawumia wrote this on his facebook page after he had welcomed the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and Members of the National Muslim Conference to his office in Accra.

‘This afternoon, together with the leadership of my campaign and manifesto committees, I welcomed the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and leadership of the

National Muslim Conference (NMC), who presented to m
e, their proposals, for consideration into the NPP’s 2024 Manifesto,’ he said.

‘While reiterating the NPP’s commitment to inclusive development, I presented to the NMC, the massive infrastructure and other development projects our government has undertaken in the Zongos across the country…’

‘These include classroom blocks, ICT libraries, mechanised water system, entrepreneurial training, scholarships and astro turfs, funded through the Zongo Development Fund, which we established in fulfilment of our campaign promise.’

‘We remain committed to the development of our country through policies and structures, and my campaign and manifesto team are ready to consider inputs from the NMC, and other stakeholders, for our inclusive development.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Janet Odei Paintsil, the Agona East District Chief Executive (DCE), has cut the sod for work to begin on the construction of market complex at Agona Kwanyaku to facilitate trade and commerce in the Eastern enclave of the District.

She said it was the hope of President Akufo-Addo Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia led government to provide funds for the construction of new market complex for the residents of Kwanyaku and its adjoining communities.

Addressing the chiefs and people at a ceremony, Mrs Paintsil said the government wanted the market to be revived for their economic benefits to ensure quality living standards for the people.

The project, a World Bank Development Project, is being financed by District Development Fund (DDF) and it would be completed in the next seven months.

”We are highly determined to bring back the vibrant market which had been curtailed for over three decades at Agona Kwanyaku to resuscitate economic activities to improve the lives of the people,” DCE noted.

Mrs Paintsil sai
d the first phase of the construction works had begun and expressed the hope that the contractor would meet the deadline.

The DCE called on the people of Kwanyaku to cooperate and assist the contractor to ensure speedy completion of the first phase.

Mrs Paintsil reiterated calls on the residents of the town to rally support for the government to continue pursuing aggressive policies and programmes to enhance their wellbeing.

Nana Kweku Asabiri II, Adontenhene of Agona Kwanyaku, urged the people of the town to eschew utterances which would delay the project.

The Adontenhene cautioned that the chiefs and people would not tolerate the abandonment of the market project as happened three years ago and stressed that they expected it to be completed and handed over.

Nana Asabiri said that the chiefs and people were not ready to witness again a situation that occurred in 2020 where similar sod cutting was performed but project was abandoned to the detriment of the people.

The Adontenhen called for equitable dis
tribution and allocation of market stores to every deserving woman devoid of political colours to ensure peace and harmony.

Source: Ghana News Agency