November elections will be safe – IGP

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, has reiterated his assurance that the security of the country will remain intact before, during, and after the November 2016 poll.

He said the police had put in place measures to secure the elections and campaign activities.

The IGP made the promise at the Ghana Police Service Annual Get-together, more commonly known as “Wassa”, held in Accra on Friday February 26, 2016. Mr Kudalor said the police had rolled out preparations for the elections, which include the formation of an election task force.

“A National Election Team has been inaugurated far ahead of time to ensure a very exhaustive and encompassing preparation for the elections to forestall any unforeseen circumstances and eventualities at the polls,” Mr Kudalor told the audience at the event, which was graced by President John Mahama.

He warned persons bent on inciting violence during the polls to have a rethink, saying that the police would be on hand to crush their ill motives.

Further, he urged Ghanaians to be at ease and banish the fear that the elections would lead to tensions and generate violence as the police have the situation under control.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3fm

Man detained for alleged plot to kill president ahead of elections

The Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) is holding one Mr Kwame Gyebi, a resident of Dzorwulu in Accra, on grounds of a planned assassination plot on President John Mahama.

Details of the case are sketchy but BNI officials say they are investigating.

However, security sources say the 33-year-old man was overheard saying the President will fall when delivering his Independence Day speech on March 6, insisting he knew exactly how that will happen.

BNI officials have confirmed Mr Gyebi was initially arrested by the Ghana Police on February 25, 2016 and handed over to them for further investigations.

They say investigations are ongoing to ascertain the motives behind Mr Gyebi’s pronouncement and whether he is acting alone or with others.

Source: myjoyonline.com/Ghana

NPP clears five for Abuakwa North primaries

The New Patriotic Party has cleared five Parliamentary aspirants to contest in the Abuakwa North primaries set for Tuesday, March 1.

The party vetted six persons but only five will be contesting.

The Abuakwa North seat became vacant after an 18-year-old boy attacked and murdered the incumbent MP JB Danquah-Adu in his bedroom earlier this month.

The five are Kyei Brobbey former Headmaster of Ofori Panin Secondary school in the Eastern region, Gifty Twum-Ampofo a Tutor, Akosombo International School, Isaac Ampadu a Businessman, Osei Twum Ampofo a former Headmaster, Nkawkaw Secondary school and Professor Emeritus Samuel Amoako a University Professor in USA and a former MP for the area.

David Prah, the Eastern regional director of communications for the NPP said whoever wins the primaries will be supported to win the bye-elections.

In all 375 members of the NPP from 64 polling stations are expected to select a candidate for the by-elections on March 29.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM

Klottey Korle contest: Addison’s victory a relief for Zanetor – Ephson

Pollster Ben Ephson has predicted that the National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary candidate for the Klottey Korle constituency Dr. Zanetor Rawlings will have a smooth sail to parliament following the election of Philip Addison as the main opposition’s candidate for the area.

Addison polled 396 votes as against his only contender Nii Noi Nortey who came close with 367 votes out of the total valid votes of 763.

The rejected ballots were two.

Addison, who defended the party's flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo during the 2012 election petition hearing, has now fought back to lead the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition in the parliamentary race in the constituency come the 2016 elections.

He polled a meagre 22 votes in the first poll held August last year as against Nii Noi's 393.

Speaking to Starr News’ Tawakalitu Braimah on the outcome of the polls, Ephson said the NPP will suffer voter apathy in the constituency as result of how events have pan out over the months.

“Trust me this victory will make it easier for Zanetor to win and go to parliament come 2017 without any difficulties; provided the NDC are also able to solve their differences.

“The situation is such that if the NPP is not careful many of their supporters in the constituency will not come out and vote and it will affect Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 election,” he said.

Source:Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM

Tema Central CPP gets new constituency office

The Tema Central Branch of the Convention People's Party (CPP) will officially open its Constituency Office on March 7, 2016.

The ceremony will be graced by the Chairman and Leader of the Party, Dr. Edmund Delle and the 2016 Flag Bearer of the Party, Mr Ivor Greenstreet, as well as other leading members; Nii Armah Akomfrah - Genera Secretary of the party, Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, Dr. Abu Sakara Foster, Bright Akwetey ESQ, Joseph Agyapong, Comrade Boadu - Regional Chairman et al...

The opening of the office is coming at a time that the Party is making efforts to increase its presence and visibility in the constituency, ahead of the November 2016 general elections.

It would be recalled that last year, the CPP in Tema Central embarked on several neighborhood-to-neighborhood and community-to-community outreach activities across the length and breadth of the constituency. These activities aided the CPP in Tema Central to properly announce itself and reach out to both old and new members.

Activities like the inter-community cards competition, drop your kids fiesta, Christmas kids party and others gave the constituency a bright look. The party with the aide of its dynamic chairman & leader in Tema Central was able to reach out to more than 2,500 persons within the constituency.

Earlier this year, the Tema Central branch also embarked on a massive visibility campaign. Almost all streets within the constituency have been adorned with some sort of visible CPP-paraphernalia. These visibility materials range from Large, Medium and Small Billboards to Sign Posts, Attention Placards, Flags etc.

From the foregoing, there is no iota of doubt that the constituency is girding its loins to, once again, contest this year's general elections in a spectacular fashion. The media and the general public are, therefore, cordially invited to witness the opening of the new Constituency Office. The biggest side attraction would be a "Free-Car-Wash" for all guests who come with their vehicles.

Source: www.viasat1.com.gh

EC sued over Abuakwa North by-election

Former National Youth Organizer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan, has filed yet another suit against the Electoral Commission, this time praying the Supreme Court to stop it from organizing the March 29 bye election in the Abuakwa North constituency.

He argues that it will be “contemptuous” for the Electoral Commission to conduct the by-election in Abuakwa using the current voters’ register.

The Abuakwa North seat became vacant following the gruesome killing of the Member of Parliament for the area, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu.

Abu Ramadan is also asking the Supreme Court to stop the EC from opening the register for new registration, which is scheduled for next month until the court makes a decision.

Reliefs
Abu Ramadan is seeking the following reliefs:

Given the pendency of the substantive suit and the unresolved issues motivating same, it would be improper and pre judicial for first respondent to conduct the announced limited registration exercise or indeed any registration exercise and if not restrained, the problems attending to the current voters’ register would be compounded at additional cost to the republic and its citizens.

Again it will be prejudicial and contemptuous for first respondent to conduct any public election including the Abuakwa North constituency by election using the current voters register and thereby allowing unqualified persons to participate in determining this country’s future.

With respect, the intended limited voters registration exercise and by elections would interfere with the administration of justice and undermine the judicial process in view of the pendency of this suit.

NPP man’s suit
A few days ago, the Brong Ahafo Regional Youth Organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, also filed a suit at the Supreme Court, challenging the eligibility of some names on the voters’ register, to be used for the 2016 general elections this November.

Per the suit, the EC and the Attorney General are expected to file a statement of defense within 14 days.

Kwame Baffoe is seeking ten reliefs, which  included an order compelling the defendants to compile a new and credible national voters’ register for use in this year’s general election.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Star-Ghana shortlists applicants for Elections 2016 project

Star Ghana has shortlisted 68 out of 221 institutions, which successfully submitted proposals aimed at helping to achieve an inclusive, issues-based, peaceful and credible General Election in November.

Information available to the Ghana News Agency information indicates that the shortlisted institutions include15 media institutions; 46 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for the Open Components; and seven other CSOs for the Strategic components.

The overall indicative budgets for the three calls are: Media Component – US$600,000.00; Open Component – US$1.5m; and Strategic Component – US$500,000.

A source at Star Ghana explained that all the shortlisted applicants had gone through due diligence exercises, as part of the application process, to ensure that the applicants were in a position to deliver on their projects.

The due diligence exercise was to validate information provided by the applicants; assess the organisation’s capacity (Human and Technical Resources); review the project budget, the organisation’s internal governance, financial, monitoring and evaluation systems.

The shortlisted applications, together with findings from the Due Diligence Consultant, would be presented to the Steering Committee for vetting, final approval or otherwise by February 26.

This would be followed by a grants signing ceremony to officially announce the successful applicants; and the signing off contracts to begin the project implementation process by March 10, 2016.

The source said 38 media institutions were able to submit proposals by the January 17 deadline; whilst 171 CSOs submitted proposals for the Open Component and additional 12 institutions submitted for the Strategic Component.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko, the Programme Director/Team Leader of STAR-Ghana, expressed the organisation’s appreciation to all bodies, which submitted applications for the 2016 Election Call.

“We acknowledge, with regret, that not as much time as we would have wished was afforded applicants to submit their proposals,” he said.

“This was because, in our judgment, any implementation process that commenced after the end of the second week in March 2016, would have been seriously pressed for time within which to carry out the programme objectives before November 7, 2016, when elections are planned to take place.

“We wish to assure those organisations that did not make it this time round that there will be other calls in the future. They should not be discouraged by the results of this call from submitting applications in respect of future calls.”

He explained that STAR-Ghana had a vision to see an active and engaged civil society capable of articulating citizens’ demands and an effective State, which was responsive and accountable to its citizens.

He said STAR-Ghana’s goal was to develop a vibrant, well-informed and assertive civil society, able to contribute to transformational national development and inclusive access to high quality, accountable public services for all Ghanaian citizens.

In December, 2015, STAR-Ghana announced its first call for proposals to support initiatives towards the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

It was opened to all registered Ghanaian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Media Houses/Organisations.

Mr Ibrahim-Tanko explained that the second phase of STAR-Ghana’s programme, was a five-year programme being funded by UK Aid, DANIDA and the EU with a total budget of £22million.

It is being managed by a consortium led by Christian Aid, with Mango, Social Development Direct, Overseas Development Institute, Nkum Associates and On Our Radar as partners.

The consortium brings together a range and depth of expertise combined with a  shared vision  to establish STAR-Ghana as a Ghanaian-owned and led entity mobilising active citizens and civil society around accountability.

The current phase of STAR-Ghana builds on previous programmes including the first phase of the STAR-Ghana programme (2010-2015); the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (G-rap) (2005-2011); KASA (2008-2010); the Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI) (2004-2010); and the Civil Society Governance Fund (CSGF) (2004-2010).

Mr Ibrahim Tanko said the key shift from its predecessor programme was the new strategic focus on facilitating and supporting processes and interventions, which aimed at systemic changes in socio-economic and political institutions/structures in Ghana.

STAR-Ghana would, therefore, act as the Convener, Catalyst and Coordinator of civil society action towards systemic and transformational change.

Source: GNA

1st Monday of Nov. likely Election Day

The Electoral Commission (EC) has begun processes aimed at shifting Ghana’s election date from December 7 to the first Monday in November of every election year.

The EC on Wednesday February 24 met the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee on the matter for legal backing to the recommendation, which was made by the Constitutional Review Commission to the effect that elections be held between October and November or on a date not less than 60 days before the swearing in of a new administration.

Speaking to Class News’ parliamentary correspondent, Ekow Annan, after the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Committee, George Loh said he was optimistic the new date would help the smooth transition of power.

“The idea is that we are moving from December 7 as a date to the first Monday in November. … When you are doing your elections on Monday, it gives the Electoral Commission itself a lot of time to prepare. Between Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they can get ballot boxes across the length and breadth of this country…it enables people to also travel over the weekend to go to their hometowns to vote and come back,” he said.

Mr Loh noted that a lot of thinking went into choosing the first Monday of November as a date for elections, adding: “It is convenient for everybody”.

He also said they were trying to follow international best practice.

“One of the best democracies is the USA democracy and even they have their elections on the second Tuesday in November, so, basically we are just trying to restructure to ensure that we have enough time to do all the things that we should do,” he stressed.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3fm

Rawlings urges transparent 2016 elections

Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has in a meeting with the new American Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Porter Jackson, called on all stakeholders in the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections to ensure the highest levels of transparency to guarantee a peaceful process.

It appears people have reached a saturation point, nevertheless what is important is for all stakeholders to ensure the highest level of vigilance is maintained to guarantee peaceful elections, the former President said.

Flt Lt Rawlings also called for the United States¹ support in ensuring an impartial and credible electoral process during the courtesy call by Ambassador Porter Jackson last Wednesday.

TUAREG ISSUE
On Africa, former President Rawlings asked the United States and other nations to help check the spread of extremist tendencies. He intimated that there was the need to do justice to the Tuareg people in Mali, stating that, it is imperative and important that the rights of the Tuaregs are also recognized if we want to contain throat-slitting extremist groups from gravitating towards our sub-region.

On the unstable situation in Libya, he said the people should be allowed to elect their leaders through a democratic process without due influence or imposition of puppet regimes by the West.

Flt. Lt. Rawlings, who is a former African Union High Representative for Somalia, also called on the United States to help avert famine in Somalia as millions of men, women and children are at risk of starvation due to drought.

At the global level, he welcomed the United States¹ renewed relationships with Cuba and Iran and commended the Obama administration for staying the course in spite of strong opposition to the thawing of relations with Tehran.

Men and women of conscience will be gratified about the new relationship between the United States and Cuba and most especially that it is happening in the lifetime of Fidel Castro.

US-IRAN RELATIONS
He added that: Men and women of conscience will also be gratified about the new relationship between the US and Iran and I am glad the US has stayed the course in spite of the opposition that she was encountering.

After all Iran is the country that suffered the loss of over 200 men, women and children who were blown out of the sky in international airspace; it is also Iran whose citizens and soldiers were killed by chemical weapons attacks.

Flt Lt Rawlings also called on the United States to bring its influence to bear on the Yemeni issue because the media was not giving much attention to the plight of the starving and thirsty victims of the war. He called on the United States to use its influence to address the humanitarian situation to allow medical supplies, water and food to the deprived.

People are being starved of food, medical aid and water, yet we don¹t hear reports of war crimes allegations made against those responsible. And yet we are hollering and ranting and raving about the same issues in Syria, the former President said.

President Rawlings and Ambassador Porter Jackson also discussed the transfer of two Guantanamo Bay detainees to Ghana and the political situation in Nigeria.

Ambassador Porter Jackson said he was happy to be in Ghana and cited Trade, Health, Education, Peace, building strong institutions and good governance as his priority areas.

Present at the meeting were Fred Odisho of the American Embassy, Nana Fredua Agyeman Manu an Entrepreneur and Investment Banker, Dr. Anthony Dzegede, Agricultural Engineer and NDC Parliamentary candidate for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

Source: peacefmonline

Charlotte Osei is not in firm control of her job – Former EC boss

[By Stephen Odoi Larbi] A former Chief Director of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Kwame Damoah Agyemang, says the actions and inactions of the Chairperson of the electoral body, Charlotte Osei, clearly demonstrates that she is not in firm control of her job.

Mr. Agyemang who has had 30 years experience with the EC believes that some hidden hands somewhere are manipulating the former National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).


“From the look of things, I don’t think she (Charlotte Osei) is in firm control. Look at the recent public forum she set up which was chaired by Justice Crabbe to solicit for the views of people as far as the call for a new voters’ register was concerned”.

“Why is it that when the Committee was meeting the stakeholders, you the same Chairperson has to go there and state your case? You have already stated your position so what happens to the solicited views when they are presented to you? It clearly shows that her neutrality is missing”, he noted.

Mr. Agyemang made this observation in an interaction with Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.FM, Monday.

Commenting further, he said the best the EC Chairperson could have done was to stay from the Committee.

According to him, all indications point to the fact that Madam Osei wants to replicate what she did at the Justice Crabbe Committee to that of the National Election Steering Committee she has set up.

By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana

Lawyer sues EC over ‘bloated’ voters’ register

A legal practitioner, Kwame Boafo, has filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging the eligibility of some names on the voters’ register to be used for the 2016 general elections this November.

Per the suit the EC and the Attorney General are expected to file a statement of defense within 14 days.

Kwame Boafo, a member of the NPP, is seeking ten reliefs from the defendants which also include an order compelling the defendants to compile a new and credible national voters’ register for use in this year’s general election.

Below is the reliefs sought by Kwame Boafo:

a. A declaration that the current national voters’ register compiled by the defendant and intended to be used for the 2016 general elections in Ghana is bloated and hence unfit for use in the 2016 general elections.

b. A declaration that the current national voters’ register compiled by the defendants and intended to be used for the 2016 general elections in Ghana contains names of foreigners, minors, deceased persons andother persons who are constitutionally ineligible to vote in the 2016 general elections.

c. A declaration that the current national voters’ register compiled by the defendant and intended to be used for the 2016 general elections in Ghana contains names of persons who used National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Cards to register and hence the current voters’ register is not credible or fit to be used for the 2016 generals elections.

d. A declaraion that the findings by the five-member committee chaired by VCRAC Crabbe and constituted or formed by the defendant are true reflection of the weaknessess/laws inherent in the current national voters’ register compiled by the defendant and intended to be used forthe 2016 general elections in Ghana.

e. A declaration that a revision by the defendant of the national voters’ register to get rid of the names of foreigners, minors, deceased persons and other persons who are ineligible to voe does not constitute an arbitrary and discriminatory application of the electoral laws of Ghana.

f. An order of interim injunction restraining the Election Committee recently inaugurated by the defendant from playing any role whatsoever in relation to the impending national elections until the final determination of this suit.

g. An order of interim injunction restraining the defendant, her assigns, agent, privies, officials or any other person(s) or bodies acting through the defendant from registering voters or conducting the proposed limited registration of voters slated for 18/03/2016 until the final determination of this suit.

h. A declaration that, the current national voters’ register compiled by the defendant and intended to be used for the 2016 general elections in Ghana is not credible and hence null and void.

i. An order compelling the defendant to compile a new and credible national voters’ register for use in the 2016 general elections in Ghana.

j. Further order or orders as this Honourable Supreme Court may deem fit to make.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Political parties express shock at EC’s U-turn on steering C’ttee

Some political parties say they are surprised at the Electoral Commission’s (EC) U-turn on the controversial Elections Steering Committee for the November polls.

The EC on Saturday issued a statement announcing that the 18-member Steering Committee had not been suspended despite reports on Friday that the work of the committee had been suspended following an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting that took place over the matter.

After the IPAC meeting with the EC on Friday, the reps of the various political parties who spoke to the media, gave the impression that the commission had suspended the committee over allegations of bias and had promised to look into the issues raised.

At the meeting, the parties also questioned the importance of the committee, adding that the EC failed to provide satisfactory answers about why it insisted on setting up the steering committee.

Speaking to Citi News on the latest development, the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahene, said some of the EC staff have clearly outlived their usefulness.

“As the Electoral Commission of Ghana, if you consider the utterances and comments of some of the members, you will know that they have outlived their usefulness.”

A frustrated Boahene said the Commission can decide to handover its entire mandate to the steering committee.

“They can decide to, as it were, hand over all functions of the EC as spelt out in the constitution to the Steering Committee. Who cares?”

He said inasmuch as the NPP had issues with the former EC boss, Dr. Afari Gyan, it is so clear that he performed much better in that capacity than the current EC Chair, Charlotte Osei.

“As for the present EC boss, she is a pale shadow of Dr. Afari Gyan; comparatively, Dr Afari Gyan was better.”

The General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed, in commenting on the EC’s U-turn said the Commission is needlessly complicating the issues at stake.

“Having conceded that they’ve erred, it will be difficult for the Commission to say the committee should continue with its work whilst. I would like to understand what they [EC] meant by saying return to the drawing board.”
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

EC postpones limited registration to April 28

The Electoral Commission says it will open the voters register for limited registration from April 28 to May 8, 2016.

This is to enable new voters who have attained age 18 and those who qualify but were unable to register the last time the register was opened, to do so.

The commission initially planned to do the registration in March 2016 but since the Constitutional Instrument (CI), which is to regulate the registration and has been laid in Parliament, was yet to mature, it has decided to postpone it to April.

This was made known at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held in Accra on Friday.

The EC would need to embark on public education on the limited registration and this can only be started after the CI has been passed.

Therefore, at the IPAC meeting, the commission explained that the registration will not come off immediately after the CI matures.

Again the EC said it has only 3500 registration kits and would want to merge some Electoral areas so as to be able to deploy more kits to areas where there are more people.

There are 6156 Electoral Areas in the country. The modalities on how to deploy the registration kits are still being considered.

Source: Graphic Online

EC suspends Election Steering C’ttee after protests

The Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended the 18-member Election Steering Committee it inaugurated few days ago.

This follows massive protest against some members of the committee by pro-opposition pressure groups.

The EC announced the decision after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held today [Friday].

Three persons on the committee have been accused by pro-opposition group Let My Vote Account (LMVC), Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and Mustapha Hamid, spokesperson of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of being members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

They are Joseph Whittal, Deputy Commissioner at CHRAJ, Dr.Karl Max Aarhin, a Deputy Director of International Affairs of the NDC and Francis Azumah of the National Peace Council.

Meanwhile, the EC according to the political parties, has agreed to look into the concerns raised and address them appropriately.

Protest against NDC members on committee
February 8, 2016: The Electoral Commission inaugurated an election steering committee ahead of this year’s election scheduled for November.

February 17, 2016: Pro-opposition pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance raised red flag against some mebers of the committee saying the composition is politically biased.

They accused the EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, of deliberately picking National Democratic Congress affiliates from relevant institutions to man the steering committee.

February 17, 2016: A Deputy General Secretary of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, said the party cannot be blamed for the inclusion of its Deputy Director of International Relations, Dr. Karl Marx Arhin, on the Elections Steering Committee.

By: Godwin A. Allotey & Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Prominent Lawyers say EC Steering Committee has no legal basis

The controversial Steering Committee set up by the Electoral Commission (EC) to assist it to organise this year's general election continues to receive public backlash.

The EC without proper consulta­tion set up the committee, and its membership was later found to be mainly card-bearing members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC); and that has once again raised questions about the EC's neutrality ahead of the crucial elections in November.

Legal Basis
Two prominent United States-based law professors - Stephen Kwaku Asare and Henry Kwasi Prempeh - have waded into the heat­ed debate and questioned the legal basis for the setting up of the Steering Committee by the EC to manage the November general elections.

Prof. Asare said it would even be premature to discuss the membership of the committee if the EC was unable to explain the role it is sup­posed to play.

He posted on Facebook yesterday, "The problem with the EC’s Steering Committee is that nobody knows what it is supposed to do; nobody knows how its membership was chosen and how the members are paid, fired, replaced or even how long they are to serve; nobody knows how it is to operate and whether it can bind the EC.

"We are told and asked to accept that the 18-person committee is to help ensure the smooth running of the November 7 general election. The constitutional responsibility of the 7-person EC is to ensure the smooth running of elections. Is the committee supplanting the Commission? Can the EC even appoint such a Steering Committee, given that the EC is exer­cising delegated power?"

Supplanting EC
Prof Asare queried, "Assuming the committee is not supplanting the Commission, an obvious question is exactly how is the Committee going to do whatever it is supposed to do? Where is the regulation that describes the committee's responsibility?"

He said for instance that "Depending on what the committee is tasked to do, it might be more helpful to allow the political parties and other groups, rather than the EC, to nominate its members. "Alterna­tively, a different mode of appoint­ment may be better if the committee is to play a security, fundraising, legal, education, etc. function"

Committee's Mandate
Prof Prempeh of Seton Hall Uni­versity School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, said the problem created by the EC "goes beyond the individual membership or composition of this so-called election 'Steering Commit­tee.'

"There’s a more fundamental question of mandate: What is this 18- member body going to do exactly? Who created it? The EC chair, or by a resolution of the multi-member EC taken at a regular or special meeting of the Commission?" he also posted on Facebook yesterday.

He asked, "What is the relation­ship of this committee to the Com­mission as a collective body? Since we have never had or needed such a 'steering committee' in any of our past elections, why now? Who deter­mined the composition and member­ship and by what criteria or process were the members selected?"

Interagency Coordination
Prof Prempeh said multiple state actors "are inevitably involved in the smooth and peaceful conduct of an election," adding, "so some inter­agency coordination is necessary."

He added, "The question is what form such interagency coordination must take in order to ensure that the partisan detachment and independ­ence of the EC as a constitutional body are not undermined or compro­mised or that the EC chair docs not use some outside committee to side­step the constitutionally-empowered Commission’s mandate."

Source: Daily Guide

Elections 2016: Labour Unrest May Cost Mahama

While acknowledging the good works of the Mahama government in all facets of national life so far, the respected ace journalist who does not want to be named said “the number of people working in the public sector is quite huge, so if you’re a government and you’re not in their good books, you’ll be in trouble on the day of voting.”

President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama
Speaking to The aL-hAJJin an exclusive interviewon strict condition of anonymity, the influential journalist said a lot of the labor issues that rocked the Mahama government since its inception on January 7, 2013, have still not been properly resolved.

“There is no doubt that the present government has performed. If that was the sole criterion for determining who wins the presidential election on November 7, I can confidently say that John will win, but unfortunately other factors also determine who wins election and one of them is the one I have just told you. Despite the introduction of single spine pay policy which has enhanced workers salary, most employees in the public sector are currently not happy with this government,” he stated.

Singling out the recurring standoffs between health workers, teachers and government, the first-rate media practitioner averred “I’m personally not happy with the way government is handling the teachers, doctors and health workers in general …election is just nine months away and if things continue like this, it will cost John the elections.

Government of Ghana has over 700,000 workers on its pay roll with about 400,000 of them in the teaching and health sectors.

The country’s public sector has for some time now been hard hit by labor unrest, as more workers in the health and education sectors have in one way or the other either laid down their tools or threatened to strike over wages, allowances and/or conditions of service.

This came to a head last year as Medical doctors working in the country’s public sector quit their consulting rooms indefinitely for several weeks, and threatened to resign en mass if government failed to heed to their cry, but that was averted following the intervention of the Labor minister.

Days into the doctors’ strike, pharmacists and psychiatric nurses also abandoned their tools demanding better working conditions and unpaid allowances and salaries. But the psychiatric nurses rescinded their decision after reaching a deal with the Labor and Employment Ministry.

In what became known as the strike-trail, teachers in public universities also declared indefinite strike to press home demand for payment of their book and research allowances.

While government was struggling to deal with demands of the university teachers, auxiliary workers group, teachers and education workers union (TEWU), also warned it might also join the strike-trail if their concerns were not addressed.

To compound the government’s plight, about 3,000 mid-wives and nurses in the country at the same time had also threatened to occupy the Finance and Health Ministries over issues of postings, payment of allowances and outstanding salaries.

In all these cases, while government has effectively settled some of the labor issues, some, particularly the teachers, health workers among others, have not been properly resolved.

This, the senior journalist noted “is unhealthy for a government that has performed creditably and is seeking a second term in office. If care is not taken, these unresolved labor issues will obliterate all the gains that government has labored to achieved.”

Source: The alHajj

Mahama petitioned to remove EC boss

Pressure group Progressive Nationalist Forum has petitioned President John Mahama to remove Electoral Commission Chair Charlotte Osei from Office.

The group’s leader, Richard Nyamah, filed the petition at the Presidency on Thursday February 18, 2016.

Mr Nyamah argued that Mrs Osei flouted the constitution by continuing to serve as a member of the board of Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited even after she was appointed as EC chair.

Ghana’s laws bar public officers in the stratum of the EC Chair position, which is on the same level as that of a High Court judge, from serving on any other organisation.

The Head of Corporate Affairs of Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited, Mrs Jessica Allotey, said on Thursday January 7, 2016 that Mrs Osei ceased being a board member in December 2015.

Mrs Allotey, who is also the secretary to the board explained in an interview on Asempa FM that: “I can confirm to you that as of January 7, that is today’s date, she is no longer a member of the Ghana Reinsurance board... as of the end of December 2015, I can tell you that as of the end of December she was not a director of Ghana Reinsurance.”

Mrs Allotey stated that the only reason Mrs Osei’s particulars were still published on the official website of the firm, at the time Mr Nyamah raised the issue, was because the IT officials of the company had just resumed from the Christmas break and were yet to update the site to reflect the changes.

“I’m sorry about that, and you know, we have just returned from the holidays. The IT manager is currently working on it. They are updating the website. Some of these things are not easily corrected.”

Responding to questions on why Mrs Osei was added to the list of board members in the company’s diaries for 2016, she said the diaries were procured in the early part of 2015 and nothing could have been done to reverse that decision after her appointment as EC chair.

“With the diaries, these things you need to do them way ahead of time, so, there was nothing we could do about it. That is why her name is still there,” she explained.

Before petitioning the President for Mrs Osei’s removal, the PNF and Mr Nyamah demanded that she resign for the alleged infraction.

Mr Richard Nyamah insisted in an interview at the time that Mrs Osei was still a board member of Ghana Re, which, he said, contravened Article 44 clause 4 of the 1992 constitution which demanded that “if she is the chairman of the EC, she is not supposed to hold any other public office”.

In an interview with Joy FM’s Francis Abban on Thursday January 7, 2016, Mr Nyamah said: “I have a copy of the 2016 diary of the Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited and she is stated as a member of the board. I also have impeccable information that after her swearing in as EC chair of the Republic of Ghana, she travelled to Kenya on an educational conference in 2015, so, she is still an active member.”

In the heat of the controversy, Mrs Osei herself dared Mr Nyamah and the PNF to carry out their threat of petitioning the president for her removal.

The President would have to refer the petition to the Chief Justice who will determine if there is a prima facie case against Mrs Osei, which will necessitate further investigation into the alleged infraction.

A similar petition by the same group last year led to the removal of Ms Lauretta Lamptey from office as Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) last year.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3fm

EC will not scrap Steering Committee over bias allegations

The Electoral Commission (EC) has rubbished calls by major political parties and election observers to dissolve its 18-member Steering Committee.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP), People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) are demanding the immediate dissolution of the committee set up by the EC to help steer the conduct of the November 7 polls.

Pro-NPP Pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance Tuesday issued a statement saying the EC's Steering Committee was tainted because some members of the committee were known members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The group cited the Deputy Director of International Relations of the NDC, Dr. Karl Mark Arhin who was a member of the Committee to back its claims.

Wednesday, a Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, George Lawson confirmed Dr. Arhin was a member of the NDC but insisted the governing party had no hand his being appointed to the Steering Committee of the EC.

He revealed that the man had been withdrawn by the National Service Scheme (NSS), which nominated him as its representative on the committee.

Since this revelation, other parties have joined the fray and demanded the dissolution of the committee since it could not be trusted to be an impartial body.

But the EC says the calls have no basis.
“The Commission has no knowledge of any member being a member of a political party. The EC wrote to the institutions to give us one person to represent them on the Committee”, said Public Affairs Director of the EC, Christian Owusu-Parry.

He said the selection was purely based on the choice of the institution thus the EC has no reason to doubt the integrity or know the political leanings of the selected persons.

Speaking to Joy FM’s Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah, Owusu-Parry said the concerns are without merit.
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is the latest to back calls for the committee to be disbanded.

Kwabena Abrampah Mensah, a member of CODEO says the EC constituting another committee apart from the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) will only create more controversy.

Owusu-Parry says although the Commission will consult the parties on all “key issues”, the EC will not go to political parties for approval on all decisions.

“A lot of things are done administratively. These are administrative decisions the Commission is empowered by the Constitution to take,” he added.

A member of the governing NDC, Dr. Karl Arhin, stepped aside from a Steering Committee yesterday, but Parry say EC doesn’t have any official communication to the effect.

www.myjoyonline.com

Peace Council was not consulted on Azumah's appointment to EC committee - Prof Asante

[By: Enoch Darfah Frimpong] The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Kwaku Asante has explained that Mr Francis Azumah was appointed to the 18-member Elections Steering Committee in his personal capacity and not as a representative from the council.

Mr Azumah, who is the Executive Secretary of the Peace Council has been described as a member of National Democratic Congress (NDC) who has contested Parliamentary elections in the party in Builsa North and therefore cannot serve on the EC's committee because of his partisan stance.

According to Prof Asante, the Peace Council was not officially asked to nominate a representative and that there has not been any official communication to that effect.

This is contrary to information by the EC that it wrote to various organisations for them to nominate representatives.

Speaking on Accra based Neat FM on Thursday morning, Prof Asante said members of the council heard about the appointment of Mr Azumah in the media and congratulated him but as far as they were concerned, the appointment was in his personal capacity.

"The last time the board met, there was no letter before us from the Electoral Commission asking us to nominate someone... As far as I am concerned as chairman, there is no such letter," Prof Asante said.

"Francis is somebody who does his work. As far as I am concerned I have no reason to believe that Francis is partisan in the way he does his work."

Prof Asante said he may not know Mr Azumah's partisan stance because at the council they don't ask about people's partisan position but concentrate on peace work.

Rather, he said Mr Azumah would have to respond to those allegations personally.

Using himself as an example, Prof Asante when he was appointed to serve on the 5-member committee that looked into the agitations for a new voters register, it was done in his personal capacity and not an official invitation to the council to nominate someone.

-Source: www.graphic.com.gh

APC not appendage of any party — Ayariga

[Abdul Aziz] The All People’s Congress (APC) is not an appendage of any political party and it will stand on its own feet to win political power in the forthcoming general election, declares Dr Hassan Ayariga.

Dr Ayariga, the leader and founder of the APC, made the declaration at a press conference in Accra Tuesday when he unveiled the provisional certificate that the Electoral Commission had granted to the party.

Responding to a question on the party’s sponsors, he said a “team of selfless and committed men and women in APC will not have one foot in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and another foot in the New Patriotic Party (NPP)”.

No merger

He explained that the party “will be on its own feet and go to the election to win power or share power but would never merge with any political power”.

He added that the APC was formed to create a platform for the silent majority of Ghanaians who did not want to be part of the duo politics of NDC and NPP.

He said it was for the youth to rise up and stop the bluff of NDC and NPP and added, “it is time for the youth who are undecided and disillusioned to take their destiny into their own hands”.

Self-confidence
According to him, the APC will help the youth move the country forward and make them self-confident; adopt the can-do attitude and attain self-actualisation.

He said he could not realise such a dream in “the old wine skins, hence my decision to form this new political party,” and that he could see the dawn of a new day on the political landscape of the country.

Three months
Dr Ayariga said the APC believed in the inclusive governance concept, irrespective of members’ present political standing, religious beliefs and social status.

He also said there was going to be a shake-up in the Ghanaian political space this time around so the disillusioned youth were being called upon to be part of the historical move.

Dr Ayariga used the occasion to show the party’s provisional certificate to the press and the general public.

Source: graphic.com.gh

EC drops Mark Arhin from election steering committee after claims of bias

Following claims that Dr Karl Mark Arhin is a National Democratic Congress (NDC) sympathiser, the Electoral Commission (EC) has decided to drop him from the November election steering committee it set up recently, Graphic Online understands.

Dr Arhin was appointed to the committee as a representative of the National Service Scheme (NSS) as part of the EC's plan to use National Service personnel as Election Officers.


Pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) had on Tuesday called on the EC to dissolve the steering committee, which it said was NDC-biased.

"The EC has every right to set up a new committee to help deliver credible and peaceful elections. But, it defeats any well-meaning purpose when the composition is itself manifestly biased and the deliberation towards its composition and functions left out key stakeholders such as political parties and civil society groups.

"We, therefore, wish to urge the Commission to reverse the inauguration of the Steering Committee, go back to the drawing table with all key stakeholders and find consensus to, if need be, move this concept forward but in the right direction with the right people," LMVCA said in a statement.

By: Graphic.com.gh

Protect MPs to prevent ‘costly’ by-elections – MP

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has admonished government to take urgent steps in provide maximum security for MPs.

This, he said is because the cost of replacing an MP is higher than the cost of replacing a Cabinet Minister.

“The cost of replacing an MP is probably 10 times more than the cost of replacing a cabinet Minister because you have to go and do a by-election and ask all governments the cost of doing a by-election. Yes, we need general security…but the security of the MPs must be discussed for the general good of Ghanaians.”

Speaking on Joy FM’s News File, the Manhyia MP stated that “in my short while in Parliament, not less than seven MPs have been attacked in the bosom of their bedrooms which easily could have ended up in murder.”

He said: “A female MP was attacked by five armed robbers in her bedroom; Gifty Klenam; Benita Owusu Bio was sleeping on the bed when armed robbers entered his bedroom, Asiamah has been robbed two times, Sorogo has been robbed, Bia West MP has been robbed, even Bediameh was shot at so for how long will we give this excuse that we hear that we need general security.”

He questioned by the executive and judiciary have adequate security except the legislature saying, “all arms of government, why do you neglect one?”

Dr. Opoku Prempeh explained that the only reason why MPs don’t have security is that “in our constitutional dispensation, the youngest of all the children are Parliamentarians. Military rule or not, the executive arm of government has continued and they have controlled all the state resources and security.”

“The Judiciary has continued even in the coup era…so MPs are relatively very young and so our have not been factored into the state calculation.”

Source: pulse.com.gh

Mahama assures of peaceful elections in November

President John Mahama has assured Ghanaians living abroad of his commitment to ensure a peaceful election in November.

He describes as normal, some disturbing political developments ahead of the elections, but adds that his government is committed to ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election.

President Mahama, was addressing the Ghanaian community in the Iranian capital Tehran, to round up his three day state visit to that country.

“We are in an election year and of course there is a lot of political rhetoric and you should know that it’s normal. In election year, a lot of the political argumentation and debates heightens a bit but I can assure you that we will have a peaceful and successful elections and Ghana will continue to be the beacon of democracy in Africa.”

He told the Ghanaian community in Tehran that the Electoral Commission is getting ready for the season and have subsequently released the calendar for the election.

“…they’ve released the calendar and the unique thing about the election is that it’s been pulled forward to one month so instead of the first week of December, it will rather be in the first week of November.”

In another development, President Mahama said government will embark on a vigorous programme to diversify the economy starting with the oil and gas sector.

According to him, after 58 years, the country should have moved away from just exporting raw materials to creating value.
–
By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

NPP will win 54%-60% votes in 2016 elections - Blay

Acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has predicted the party will win between 54% to 60% votes in 2016 elections.

The Chairman says “the outrageous borrowing and spending of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is clear for Ghanaians to vote the NDC out of office come November 2016.”

Mr. Blay was speaking on Onua 95.1FM’s afternoon programme, Ghana Dadwene Friday.

He explained that “NPP brought Ghana out of a very low income nation to middle income level but the NDC is now taken the country back to where it was.”

Mr. Blay told the host that “the eight years of NPP ensure transparency in all the contracts that were awarded only for the NDC to come and award contracts on sole-sourcing which is breeding corruption in the system”.

Source: Tv3network.com

TEMA Election Security Task force inaugurated

An election security task force has been set up in the Tema region to see to the smooth and peaceful conduct of the November general election.

The task force, which draws its membership from the security agencies and other institutions,  are made up of persons from the military, police, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Fire and Immigration services- the Electoral Commission National Commission, for Civic Education, and Information Services, Department. It is to coordinate all security activities related to the election.

This is to ensure that the prevailing peace and security of the region is maintained before, during and beyond the general election.

The Tema region covers six political assemblies, namely Tema Metropolis, Ashaiman Municipality, Kpone-Katamanso, Shai-Osudoku, Ada East and Ada West District Assemblies.

Election security planning

Already, the Police Administration in Tema has carried out a thorough assessment of the threats associated with the electioneering and based on this has formulated a draft operations manual to guide its operations.

Aside from the Regional Election Security Task Force, a number of structures have been put in place to facilitate an incident-free election.

These structures include the establishment of a Regional Election Desk which will monitor all election-related issues in the region, analyse same and document them to inform decision making and police operations and the creation of a Joint Operations Centre.

The operations centre will provide the platform for coordinating all election-related police operations.

Deployment

To ensure effective policing during the polls, the police administration in the region has formulated a three-tier deployment strategy.

The first tier deployment will involve front line personnel deployed to the various polling stations and collation centres.

The second level is the patrol and monitoring teams to provide prompt reinforcement to the first-tier deployment when the need arises while the third level will see stand-by teams tasked to provide support in the event the situation overwhelms the first two levels of deployment.

Capacity building

Already, the Tema Regional Police Command is building the capacity of its personnel in public order management and crowd control ahead of the 2016 general election.

The first batch of 200 personnel has already benefited from the programme while additional personnel from the police service and other security agencies are scheduled to have their capacity built.

Inauguration

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP), Mr Paul N. M. Awini, said similar task forces would be formed at the district levels with similar mandates to ensure that the election was free and fair.

Source: www.graphic.com.gh/

Upper West EC boss wants election-related crimes prosecuted

The Upper West Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Serebuor Quaicoe, has called for the prosecution of election-related crimes to sanitise Ghana’s elections.

He has, consequently, appealed to the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to arrest and help prosecute persons who violate the electoral system to guarantee free and fair electoral processes.

Mr Quaicoe said this in Wa when the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwasi Mensah Duku, inaugurated and activated the Upper West Regional Security Task Force for the 2016 general election.

The task force – chaired by the Regional Police Commander – comprises the Regional EC Director, the Regional Security Coordinator, the Regional Police Crime Officer and the regional heads of the military, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

Mr Quaicoe said the failure to prosecute persons involved in various forms of election-related crimes had sent wrong signals over the years.

“It appears that in Ghana when it comes to elections, people can commit all kinds of crime and still go unpunished,” he said.

Prosecuting offenders

Over the years, only isolated cases of election-related crimes have been successfully prosecuted, with the large majority highlighted by the media always drowned in the aftermath of the elections.

“We should try as much as possible to prosecute offenders of our electoral process to inject confidence in the population with regard to attaining an electoral system free from intimidation, fraud and other electoral crimes,” he said.

Security duty

DCOP Mensah Duku said as security men, it was their duty to provide adequate security before, during and after the elections and urged members to draw on past experiences in order to contribute to free, fair and peaceful elections.

The task force will be replicated at the district level, while seven subcommittees will be established to support the effort.

Source: www.graphic.com.gh

CPP Chair vows to uproot ‘evil spirits’ in party

National chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Prof Edmund Delle, has warned detractors within the Nkrumahist party they will soon be flushed out.

Addressing party supporters in Northern Region capital Tamale over the weekend, Prof Delle stated that the CPP will not condone internal saboteurs who are bent on destroying the success of the party.

“The problems of the CPP come from within not without. We must brace ourselves together and don’t let any traitor come and destroy that unity that we are trying to build,” he urged party supporters.

He admonished them to rally support behind the flagbearer, Ivor Greenstreet, for victory on November 7.

“All evil spirits shall be buried at Tamale here,” he stressed.

The party has meanwhile announced its campaign theme for the November 7 general elections as, “Go Green, Ghana”.

Communications Director of the party, Kadri Abdul Rauf, says the theme reflects the party’s resolve to include the marginalised in governance if it comes to power.

Source: www.myjoyonline.com/

Onsy withdraws suit, wishes CPP well

Dr Onsy Nathan Kwame Nkrumah, an unsuccessful presidential aspirant of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has withdrawn a suit he filed at the Human Rights Court against the party.

He filed the suit for what he said he believed were acts of inti
midation and unfair treatment meted out to him by certain individuals and groups in the party.

He said those acts denied him the opportunity to contest and become the flag bearer of the CPP for the 2016 general election.

Hindsight reflection

“My decision to withdraw the suit is born out of appeals and advice by many well-meaning people, especially the Council of Elders of our party, and my own hindsight reflection that although the action is right in protecting my fundamental human right, it could bring the party down,” he told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

At this point, Dr Onsy Nkrumah re-affirmed his commitment to what he described as “the patriotic agenda of my father, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, of political and economic freedom for Ghana and Africa, and its refinement in line with contemporary Ghanaian and global politics.”

Numerous supporters

He congratulated Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet on his election as the flag bearer of the CPP,  although he  said he trusted that the verdict would have been different if he had taken part in the race.

Without prejudice, he wished Mr Greenstreet well, and expressed the hope that he would unite the party for the task ahead.

Furthermore, he also thanked his numerous supporters at home and abroad for their words of encouragement and support and pledged to listen to their advice on his political direction for 2016 and beyond.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Increasing violence not linked to Nov. polls – Security Analyst

A Security Analyst, Dr. Kwesi Aning, says the increasing cases of violence reported across the country cannot be directly linked to the general elections scheduled for November this year.
Dr. Aning however warned there could be more of such chaotic incidents this year.

The Security Analyst stated the number of conflicts being recorded across the country “will get much worst but would be unrelated to the elections probably towards the middle of this year.”

He lamented that though there would  be a surge in violence, leaders of the country will still have “a rather naive perception that we are a good people, we are religious and therefore we will always move to the brink and pull back.”

Ghana has within the past few months recorded a number of violent related cases in the country.
They include the standoff between Fulani herdsmen and indigenes of Agogo in the Ashanti Region, the conflict in Bunkpurugu and the most recent one being the fight between Muslim youth in Tafo and the traditional authorities in the area.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dr. Aning said the expected escalation can be explained by failure to understand the transforming nature of peace and security in the country due to what he calls an erroneous belief that Ghanaians are laid back or peaceful.

Although he said the violence are unrelated to the upcoming general elections, he said the state should be concerned about the unhealthy developments.

“…They are unconnected to the election and that should be the extent to which we should necessarily be over burdened by what is happening. We’ve got to be concerned about the levels of armed violence that we are seeing, the levels of murders that we are seeing and societal tensions and the need to use the conflict resolution framework that we have in this country.”

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Nana Konadu ready to contest 2016 presidential elections

Former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings has announced she will contest this year’s election as flagbearer of the National Democratic Party.

Nana Konadu who broke away from the National Democratic Congress in 2012 to form NDP, confirmed her readiness to compete in November 7 general elections.”

She was however disqualified by the Electoral Commission from contesting the 2012 elections. She failed to properly fill out her nomination forms and could not submit the forms before the deadline.
Speaking to supporters in Accra, the out-spoken leader announced she will contest the NDP’s presidential primaries.

“There are a number of people who have shown interest. If the interest is still there, I’ll be one of the competitors…if the interest is not there I’ll still compete", she indicated.

She encouraged Ghanaians to be bold speak about the current economic challenges and the poor state in which the country is being managed by the governing National Democratic Congress.

“There are things that we should all be talking about which as Ghanaians we’ve kept quiet…and you ask yourself, why are we quiet? Do we want an explosion on our hands before we talk?

“Our great grandfathers and mothers did not keep quiet that is why we have independence. They fought for something. Let us all be strong enough and fight for something. Positive fighting, positive work will elevate the country and whatever community we live in,” she said.

In a related development, a group calling itself Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (FONKAR) has resurfaced with a new campaign slogan ‘Operation Vote Mahama Out’.

The group intends to embark on a vigorous campaign to ensure that President Mahama and his governing National Democratic Congress party are voted out of power during the November 7 polls.
National Coordinator of the group, Joseph Bediako assured that he and his colleagues will do whatever it takes for Ghanaians to vote against Mahama.

He added that they will march the Mahama-led administration and its agents boot for boot.

Source: www.myjoyonline.com/

Give us electricity or no campaigning – Buru-Kazigo residents angry ahead of elections

Opinion leaders and members of a community in the Upper East Region, say they will not entertain any political party seeking to campaign in their community to solicit for votes ahead of they polls in November util the community has  been connected to electricity.
To make the pronouncement known to the political parties, a sign board has been mounted on the road side leading to the community with the inscription “No Electricity No Campaign. No Electricity No Votes. Stop Deceiving the People with the Nation’s Resources. Away with Your Lies. This is not 2012 Elections”.

Addressing a press conference organised by the community, the Divisional Chief of Buru-Kazigo community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, Kazigo Pe Parekuri Thomas Aluah, said the people had been deceived for far too long in terms of development, particularly electricity.

According to the Chief, his community which has a population of 1,156 people, needs about fifteen electricity poles to connect them to the nearby community known as Navio which has electricity.
“What is even more painful is that the school pupils of the Buru-Kazigo Basic School cannot be taught the ICT subject and yet they have to write the BECE with their colleagues. This is unfair and unjust and defeats the government’s policy for all Junior High students to write ICT subject during the BECE Examination.”

“We have made several appeals to the appropriate authorities without any positive results. This time around we have leant our lessons and will not allow any politician to step foot here to campaign for votes until the problem is fixed,” the Kazigo Pe warned.

The Chief also warned all his people in the community that he would not tolerate any of them violating his warning and allowing any politician to campaign in the area.


The Chief who enumerated a number of projects the community had achieved under his leadership, including the establishment of the basic school and the construction of a dam, said what was needed most in the community was electricity to help augment the economic activities of the people.

“Through the formation of my NGO, Dezendani Integrated Development Organization(DIDO) I have empowered the community to initiate a Climate Change Project and also formed the Village Loans and Saving Scheme with support from other development partners which has helped the community members to stop degrading the environment to ensuring food security,” he said.

The Chief commended UNICEF, the Catholic Relief Service and the Catholic Church for supporting the school with water and toilet facilities and appealed to other partners to do same.

The Head teacher of the Kasigu Junior High School, Aloah Adua Muniru, stated that one of the major challenges facing the Junior High school, which has a population of 132, was the inability of the teachers to teach the students ICT as a result of lack of electricity.

He said that the problem was affecting the performance of the students at the BECE level and also indicated that another challenge facing the school was lack of furniture.

The Head teacher of the Primary School, Awuvire stated that the Primary school, which a population of 328, has no classroom infrastructure for the Kindergarten section compelling the children to occupy an old dilapidated structure built by the community years back.
–
Source: GNA

SC adjourns case on appointment of EC Chair, judges to March 2

The Supreme Court has adjourned to March 2 2016, the petition brought before it by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) challenging the appointment of two judges to the nation’s apex court, and two others, also challenging the appointment of a chair for the Electoral Commission.

The case has been adjourned to allow  all the parties to file a joint memorandum for the court to make a determination on the cases.
Related Stories

A Ghanaian citizen, Richard Dela Sky, has also filed a writ at the Supreme Court asking the court to interpret provisions of the 1992 Constitution on the appointment of an Electoral Commission chair.

Mr. Sky is hopeful that a positive outcome of the case will define a clear path that President John Mahama, and all future Presidents, must navigate in making appointments to the Electoral Commission.
Mr. Danso Acheampong,  has also filed a suit seeking interpretation on some appointments to the EC.
–
By: Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com/Ghana

EC gives Ayariga’s APC party provisional certificate

The Electoral Commission has presented provisional certificate of registration to the All People’s Congress(APC), the new party founded by the 2012 presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention’s (PNC), Hassan Ayariga.

Dr. Ayariga broke away from the PNC after he lost the party’s flagbearership contest to Dr. Edward Mahama.

According to him, he was unfairly treated during the congress, although he provide no concrete proof to back his claims.

Speaking to the media shortly after receiving his provisional certificate, Hassan Ayariga called on Ghanaian youth who have become disillusioned with the traditional parties to turn to the APC.
He said the APC is a political party opened to all sorts of people, especially those “who are tired of voting.”

“It is not that Ghana has failed because some bad people are leading us. Ghana has failed because the good ones are quiet and that is why we are suffering. And this time around, we are telling the good ones, wherever you are, come on board. If you are tired of voting, come on board, lets change the wind of change. Lets make sure everybody gets a platform and the opportunity to serve mother Ghana,” he said.

“When people begin to believe that there is no more hope, they are losing confidence in the system, then we need a change. And this is what we need in this country.”
The APC has thirty working days to be issued with a final certificate to be able to operate as a fully fledged political party.

Ayariga assured the APC will work within the time-frame to receive the final certificate.
A Deputy Commissioner of the EC, Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo, who presented the provisional certificate to Dr. Ayariga called on the APC to strictly abide by the laws of the political party’s act.
–
By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Britain to support November general elections

The British High Commission in Ghana is ready to offer logistics and local support towards the conduct of the November general election.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, disclosed this in Ho when he paid a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, in her office as part of a day’s visit to the region.

He had earlier met with the Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, head of the Ghana Police Service and leaders of political parties in the region.

Mr Benjamin said the British government was interested in the delivery of a peaceful and credible election and that it was on the agenda of all diplomatic missions in the country to ensure that the election was free and fair.

He said the British had a historic involvement in the affairs of Ghana and, therefore, had voted 100 million pounds annually to support various sectors in addition to interventions such as the ENGINE project under which assistance is extended to start-up companies in the agricultural and services sectors.

In her response,  Ms Ntoso acknowledged the visit and said the youth were interested in agriculture and aquaculture and so she would present proposals to the high commission in due course for consideration.

www.graphic.com.gh

Minister of Finance assures of no overspending for elections

Finance Minister Seth Terkper has guaranteed his commitment to ensure that government’s expenditure does not exceed budget limits this election year.

According to him, even though some of the measures adopted are tough, the prospects for the country’s future are bright.

Mr Terkper was speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday 9 February, 2016, at the Ministry of Finance, as he indicated that government had instituted measures to stabilise the economy.

He said there were labour agitations and pressure to start projects during election years but entreated Ghanaians to be realistic with their demands, as government works to stay within its budget.

“Ghana is known every election year, particularly on account of strikes, on account of pressures and others, for us to give in and then award wage increases beyond what the budget can support, which leads to higher deficits.

"Similarly, we have pressures on expenditure in starting new projects, subsidies and the rest. This has become a risk, not just for investors, but development partners and the rest. We have to find a way to deal with this, and despite being an election year, we have to go through tough measures because the money is just not coming in, and, therefore, you would have heard the president say that we will not overpromise. So, we will tighten and what we are going to do, at least, is to stabilise across the election year,” he stated.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3fm

18-member committee inaugurated for Nov. elections

The Electoral Commission has inaugurated an 18-member steering committee to oversee and ensure the smooth conduct of the general elections on November 7.

The committee which would be chaired by the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Charlotte Osei includes acting boss of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Joseph Whittal and COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno the Director-General of Police Operations.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony Mrs. Osei said she was confident that the committee will support the prosecution of credible polls this year.

Ghana goes into an election later this year which promises to be keenly contested by the two major political parties, ruling NDC and the largest opposition NPP.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM

Ghana: EC officials and election 2016 what is ahead?

[By Mike Oquaye] Against the backdrop of a spate of strikes throughout the nation (the only language that the NDC government appears to understand), the Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission (EC) have given notice of a nation-wide strike to back their demand for a higher salaries and better conditions of work. In the words of the leadership of the workers, "all salary negotiations undertaken with the relevant institutions and authorities since 2015 have yielded no resolution".

Notably, the workers have drawn up a comprehensive strike programme as follows:

i. On 8th of February, 2016, the entire staff of the Electoral Commission will raise red flags in all the Commission's establishments and vehicles as a sign of dissatisfaction and aversion to the state of affairs

ii. On 15th February, 2016, the entire staff will embark on a sit-down strike, and

iii. On 22th February, 2016, a full-blown strike will be embarked upon by the entire staff.

It is important that the attention of government should be drawn to this grave development. This country must have a well-mapped out electoral programme, which should be implemented to its logical conclusion and with the active participation of all stakeholders.

The Limited Registration of Voters Programme is about to start, for example. Any delay in that direction can have a domino effect on the entire process. The entire election chain should be kept flowing smoothly as every aspect of the process affect the other.

In the final analysis, the national electoral roll and allied data/material should be available for the political parties in ample time. This is one way to ensure that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done. Secondly, if the present state of affairs is allowed to linger on, stampede and mistrust may ensue. This could mar the entire electoral process.

Third, the EC officials should not be subject to such shabby treatment which may render them susceptible to undue influence. Bad salary is no justification for being corrupt. Nevertheless, in Africa, some politicians are known to employ the manipulative practice of impoverishing the people.

Then when election time is up, using state resources accumulated through corrupt practices and monies squeezed from the people, to "bribe" election officers and the masses to vote for them. This is one reason why a word of caution must be echoed before it is too late.

The work of the EC is crucial. They have the duty to superintend over elections with uttermost fairness and impartiality. An underlying principle of the 1992 Constitution is that the Constitution equates EC workers and allied officials with judicial officers.

This should be applied to the letter to give the EC workers as a whole the self-respect, independence and self-esteem requisite for the performance of their onerous duties. It is very notable that Mr. Kofi Arhin a former director of elections at the EC has called for immediate redress of the complaints of the EC officials. He recounted with pain that on his retirement his pension was 480 Ghana Cedis.

The experienced ex-official of the EC bemoaned thus: "Of course, if somebody who is going to conduct the elections is hungry, it means they are susceptible". (Interview with Afreh Nuamah of Joy News). Government is hereby advised not to apply its usual fire-fighting approach to this vital issue nor seek to take advantage of these innocent workers and exploit their economic misery for political gain.

The pangs of poverty are being felt all over the nation resulting from the twin evil incompetence and corruption. The aftermath should not be allowed to engulf the nerve centre of the nation's political survival - the Electoral Commission.

Source: http://thechronicle.com.gh/

EC says they are ready for November polls

The Electoral Commission has debunked assertions that it is not ready for the upcoming polls in November, 2016.

The Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA, Jean Mensah had recently indicated that Ghana is not ready for the elections.

She said even though the EC has put out its timetable for the election, it has not yet rolled out programmes on public education to sensitise voters on what to expect at the polls.

But, in an interview with Pulse.com.gh, the acting Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Christian Owusu Parry said IEA should exercise some restraint, as the EC is already embarking on a few internal programmes the public might not be aware of.

"We have already set in motion some of the activities. And for now, all that we are doing is internal. We are going according to the programme. And I know the IEA is aware of the programme we are following," he said.

"We have started procuring the items that we will need for registration of voters, and that is the major activity we are going to have this year. We have also started the process of recruiting officials that we will use. And we have demarcation issues to address, and so we are looking at them. And these processes happen internally, and that is why the public may not be hearing about us," he explained.
Mr. Parry added that the EC will start educating the public by the close of February, "because we are going to have some changes in the laws governing elections in this country."

"In CI.72, due to the supreme ruling on the issue of NHIA cards, we are amending the provisions to reflect that. And then we are looking at how we can ensure that people who come to the registration centre are actually qualified to go through the process," he said.

Responding to claims that there might be some financial constraints and other challenges that are hampering the commission’s work, Mr. Parry said "As for financial issues, yes of course we didn't get all the budget that we submitted for the 2016 elections but that is no reason why we will not engage with the public."

On the issue of the voters' register, Mr. Parry said the Commission will continue to engage with the political parties "to have a more suitable way of cleaning and auditing the register."
"And these engagements will take place during IPAC meetings", he added.

Source: www.pulse.com.gh