Politics

The Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei lamented to Parliament on Thursday about how her Commission has had their budget for the conduct of the 2016 election hugely cut down by the Finance Ministry.

Mrs. Osei said she proposed GHC1.2 billion as the actual cost for the conduct of next year’s general elections.

The amount, she noted, was hugely slashed by the Finance Ministry to GHc800 million causing a shortfall of GHc400 million.

Charlotte Osei would be conducting her first general elections as the boss of the EC since taking over from Dr. Afari Gyan.

Much is expected from her and the commission as the country is seen as an island of peace in a region of election-related disputes.

The slash in the budget of the commission, Adom News’ Parliamentary correspondent, said caused the EC to cut the number of polling stations from 30,000 to 29,000.

The former NCCE Boss also complained about the lack of offices for the Commission in the region.

Parliament is however yet to approve the budgetary allocations for the EC.

Source: ghanaweb.com

Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei says the EC would consider the use of lecturers and professors as returning officers in the 2016 general elections.

This has become necessary following some irregularities which occurred in the 2012 elections where some electoral officers appeared to be uninformed about their duties, thereby destroying the beauty of the elections.

Ghana’s West African neighbor, Nigeria adopted the use of professors in the country’s 2015 election held early this year, which has internationally been touted as credible, free and fair.

Former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega this week told Joy FM the use of lecturers and professors as returning officers during elections secured the integrity of the electoral process.

“In the two elections that we conducted in 2011 and 2015 where they [lecturers and Professors] played these roles, not a single person had been accused of any fraudulent activities in the discharge of their responsibilities,” he said.

Addressing Members of Parliament Thursday about preparation towards next year's election, Ghana’s EC Chairman told the House Ghana is likely to follow the way of Nigeria, Joy News Emmanuel Anteh reported.

Mrs. Charlotte Osei said the professors would be deployed to man coalition centres, whilst national service personnel and selected civil servants would be engaged for the polling stations.

But some Members of Parliament especially from the Minority side, Emmanuel said, are skeptical about the use of the national service personnel fearing they might be induced.

Meanwhile, Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Ransford Gyampoh does not seem to be impressed by the idea of resorting to the use of professors.

He is unsure of their availability at the time of the elections, noting that the “professors [would be] busy doing research”.

He urged the Electoral Commission to go beyond professors and lecturers, and rather use persons who are “committed and prepared to do the work”.

Earlier, Mrs. Osei had told Parliament the commission wants the date for presidential and parliamentary elections moved from the December 7 to November 7 to allow for more time between elections and inauguration on 7th January.

She said a Legislative Instrument to give legal backing to the proposal is at an advanced stage.

The EC chairman has also been speaking on concerns over the sanctity of the voters’ register.

Commenting on the proposed date for the election, Dr. Ransford Gyampoh said it is a laudable proposal for electoral reforms.

He believed it will give ample time in handing over power in case of change of government especially when there is a runoff.

 He however believed the proposal is just one of many proposals that ought to be implemented before next year’s elections.

It is his prayers that those ones too are accepted and implemented timeously to cure any suspicion during the elections.

Source: myjoyonline.com

The Accra Regional Police Command Thursday detained two members of the New Patriotic Party over a chaotic incident at the party’s headquarters yesterday.

It may be recalled that party’s private security personnel (Invincible Forces) at the NPP’s Asylum Down headquarters went on rampage on Wednesday, chasing journalists, some party supporters and destroying property.

A detailed document containing evidence was presented to the leadership of the party as police gave them a 24-hour ultimatum to produce the suspects.

Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afia Tenge told Joy News her outfit is determined to get to the bottom of the matter.

“We had the leadership of the NPP being led by John Boado [Acting General Secretary] and they came with the two persons that they identified in the photograph, and as I speak to you they have reported to the police...” she told Joy News’ Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah.

She said investigations have begun into yesterday’s violent incident and suspects would be charged accordingly.

She called on persons with any evidence about what happened on Wednesday to assist the police in their investigations.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as "a very outstanding person, talented, without any doubt".

The Republican has repeatedly praised Mr Putin's macho style and policies towards Syria, on the campaign trail.

The Russian president brushed off concerns about Mr Trump's controversial proposal to ban Muslims from the US.

He said Russia was ready to work with whoever was elected the next president.

"It is not our business to determine his merits, that is up to US voters," Mr Putin told reporters after his annual televised news conference. "But he is the absolute leader in the presidential race."

"He is a very outstanding person, talented, without any doubt." New York billionaire Mr Trump has spoken warmly about Mr Putin's tough approach to foreign policy in the past.

Read more from: http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-35124280

Source: bbc.com

Contrary to claims by some bigwigs of the New Patriotic Party and their assigns that the suspension spree in the biggest opposition party will sanitize the party and prepare it for victory in the 2016 elections, a political science lecturer with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, thinks otherwise.

According to Dr Adu-Gyamfi the spate of suspension in the NPP has further deepened the cracks in the party ahead of next year’s elections, stressing that “I will only agree that the NPP could be winning power next year by some divine intervention, but not on scientific basis as a result of what is happening in the NPP now.”

Commenting on last week’s suspension of NPP’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong, and 2nd vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe, on Kasapa fm, the political science lecturer said it will be total shock to see the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition winning the 2016 elections with the deep seated divisions within the party.

He insisted that building a formidable force that embraces all persons within the elephant family is what will bring the party into shape ahead of the 2016 elections.

The NPP last week suspended Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe indefinitely. The decision was taken after the National Executive Committee of the party met over the Disciplinary Committee’s recommendations regarding the two.

The recommendation by the DC came after some party members filed petitions of misconduct against the two who they claimed contested what was supposed to be the party’s decision regarding the suspension of its national chairman, Paul Awentami Afoko.

While some NPP heavyweights and supposed neutral social commentators like Dr Lloyd Amoah and Dr Amoako Baah have applauded the decision, insisting that it will restore discipline in the party to win the 2016 elections, Dr Adu-Gyamfi disagreed.

According to him the NPP can only make significant gains in the November 2016 elections if it retired the unpopular Asante/Akyem hegemony being played within the party

He fears the ‘Asante/Akyem’ hegemony which traces its route from the past, cannot be the vehicle to bring growth into the party.

Insisting that there will always be confusion lurking in the party unless the party ostracizes Asante/Akyem rivalry in the party, Dr Adu-Gyamfi stated “the Asante/Akyem hegemony is history within the NPP but that cannot thrust up the party.”

In related development, founding member of NPP, Kwame Pianim has charged the leadership of the biggest opposition to halt the suspension of party bigwigs, stressing that party should focus on moving forward towards Election 2016 and by concentrating on forming its campaign team.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on the problems in the party, the celebrated economist said he was a “broken” man and “frustrated over the troubles” in the NPP which according to him, should be prepared to take over the affairs of state since in his view, the ruling NDC was showing it was incapable of solving the problems of the country.

Source: The Al-Hajj

Suspended New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Paul Afoko is in court seeking an injunction on any discussion to remove him from office at Saturday’s extraordinary congress in the Brong Ahafo region.

In an ex-parte application filed at the Human Rights Court against his party, Paul Afoko argues a decision to remove him if taken will cause him irreparable harm.

This because he is already in at the Accra High court to overturn his indefinite suspension handed him last October. He has sued the party and is praying the court to set aside his suspension and also stop Freddie Blay from holding himself as the acting chairman of the party.

This suit filed last November is yet to be determined even as the NPP heads for congress.

Paul Afoko says "that in the event that I am removed from office and I eventually win this case, I cannot be compensated by damages especially when my tenure in office is for a 4-year term".

Hundreds of NPP delegates are set to meet in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region for the party’s crucial extraordinary delegates congress. The NPP will outdoor its campaign team for the 2016 election.

Peter Mac Manu has been chosen to lead the flagbearer Nana Addo’s campaign in the election. Also on the team is MP for Okere and former General Secretary, Dan Botwe.

Former Chief Executive of Data Bank, Ken Ofori Atta will lead the logistics team with support from party stalwart, Boakye Agyarko.

But to Paul Afoko, there is more to the congress than meets the eye.

In his writ, Afoko says the NPP "are preparing feverishly to purportedly remove me from office as the National Chairman by getting all these people invited for this conference to endorse my removal from office during the conference notwithstanding the pendency of this suit"

He, therefore, wants the court to stop any discussion or decisions involving or relating to him.

Paul Afoko has insisted his suspension was without recourse to due process.
Source: myjoyonline.com

A member of the National Council of Elders for the New Patriotic party, Dr Joe Amoako Tuffuor, has said the suspended members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were not beyond expulsion from the party.

Dr Amoako Tuffuor made these claims while responding to Kwame Mpianim who was earlier calling for unity within the party.

Related Stories

Paul Afoko suspended indefinitely

NPP suspends Agyepong, Crabbe indefinitely

Stop suspensions in NPP, form campaign team - Kwame Pianim
Kwame Pianim, speaking to the media on Tuesday, insisted the NPP should move on from all the bad blood and stop the unnecessary bickering.

 Mr Pianim further emphasized the need for the NPP to channel its energy into forming a formidable campaign team to devise strategies to wrestle power from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He feels the problems in the NPP appear to have been compounded by the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Paul Afoko, General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong and Second Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe for misconduct.

But Dr Amoako Tuffuor on Eyewitness News, disagreed with Kwame Pianim’s sentiments.

He pointed out that people should respect the decision of the party’s Disciplinary Commission to suspend some party members for misconduct.

“A party like NPP is guided, is protected, by its constitution and this constitution has structures.All that I’m saying is that people must respect the decisions of the disciplinary committee and the structures that exist within the party and when we do that, what will happen is that we give everybody a fair hearing,” he said.

Dr Amoako Tuffuor, drawing up a hypothetical situation, said ignoring the presence of “a double agent” will be to the detriment of any party.

“Supposing you find somebody as a mercenary and a double agent sitting within your party and then the party’s rules catch up with them and you fell they should all be pardoned and let’s work together you will end up not winning any election because you dot know what their intention is.”

Source: citifmonline.com

A former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu, has been named as campaign manager of the party’s campaign team to spear-head Nana Akufo-Addo’s third time bid to be president of Ghana.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, Dan Botwe who is a former General Secretary has also been added to the campaign team.

This was revealed to Citi News by a Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen on the sidelines of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on Wednesday.

Below is the rest of the members on the campaign team which will be out-doored at the party’s upcoming conference in Sunyani.

Boakye Agyarko

Ken Ofori Atta

Sammy Awuku

Johnn Boadu

And all national executives of the NPP

Source:citifmonline.com

UAE-based Ameri Group LLC, embroiled in a controversial contract arrangement with the Government of Ghana, has refuted claims it engaged in a dubious deal in the provision of power barges for the country to solve the current energy crisis.

VG, a Norwegian Newspaper, published last week there could be a possible inflation of the cost of the Ameri Power plants by more than 200 million dollars.

The tabloid article further claimed Ghana is paying $510 million for ten power turbines when the market value of the turbines is $220 million.

But in a strongly worded statement issued today and signed by His Royal Highness, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirati Company and a member of the ruling family of UAE, the company rejected the report as “false and malicious”.

Threatening to sue the Norwegian newspaper for publishing "falsehood" about its agreement with Ghana, Ameri said claims by the paper that the price of the ten turbines it purchased for Ghana had been inflated were simply calculated to tarnish the company’s image.

"In response to these allegations, Ameri Group has already retained international law firms to review our legal rights and use them against this slanderous act of the newspaper. Based on their legal advice we will reserve all rights to file a defamation case against VG in Norway on the basis of these unfounded false allegations and accusations....

...Moreover, Ameri Group and its subsidiaries, reserve the rights to protect it business through every means available to it including taking any legal action towards anyone who tries to malign its business or its goodwill," he said.

The statement further indicated that the said Umar Farooq Zahoor, who VG claimed in its publication to be wanted for financial crimes in Norway and Switzerland, is not the same Farooq who signed as witness for Ameri when the agreement was sealed. 

"The article in VG shows that allegations against Mr. Farooq were raised in Norway of some fraud which was committed in 2010. This is patently false as, in 2010, Mr. Farooq was residing in Dubai as a legal resident since 2005 and had not been to Norway since. In fact, the person the tabloid interviewed who has accused him has already been convicted of the same fraud by the courts in Norway and is currently in jail. During the tenure of his employment, Mr. Farooq was never wanted or alleged of any crime/fraud in any part of the world," Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum said in the statement.



Read the full statement below


AMERI GROUP LLC REJECTS FALSE AND MALICIOUS CLAIM MADE BY VG OF NORWAY AND REMAINS CONFIDENT IN ITS BUSINESS

Ameri Group LLC duly incorporated under the laws of United Arab Emirates with a registration number 1143904 and also registered with the Chamber of Commerce of Dubai UAE under membership number 240056 with office address in Emgate Building Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai UAE signed a BOOT agreement with the Government of Ghana on February 10th 2015 for a 250 MW fast track power project in Takoradi.

Ameri Group LLC is soley owned by is His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, member of the ruling family of Dubai UAE. Ameri Group LLC develops energy projects on the continent of Africa and elsewhere. Recently, Ameri Group contracted to supply emergency power to the Government of Ghana.

An article published by a tabloid newspaper called VG from Norway, made false and slanderous accusations regarding the emergency power project agreement executed between Ameri Group and the Government of Ghana. Ameri Group stands by it’s agreements with the Government of Ghana and believes that we have assembled a world class team of developers to accomplish the job on time and on budget. Joining us on the project is the Greek EPC Contractor, METKA.

The tabloid article targets Mr. Umar Farooq, only wrongly portraying him as the owner of the company, but also tries to malign his character. Moreover, it states that Mr. Farooq attempted to swindle the Government of Ghana Through this transaction by inflating the price of the contract. A ridiculous claim since the contract was agreed upon by the Ministry of Power and thereafter, ratified by the Ghana Parliament with full pricing transparency.

Another falsehood is that Mr. Farooq, on his own caused the transaction to occur. It is a matter of record that the sole owner of the above mentioned company is His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, member of the ruling family of Dubai UAE.

The VG story also purports that this transaction was done quickly and out of the public view, yet as the record shows the above mentioned agreement was duly signed on 10th of February 2015 between Ameri Group LLC, represented by His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum in his capacity as Chairman and the Minister of Power, the Honorable Dr. Kwabena Donkor for the Government of Ghana. Mr. Farooq simply signed the agreement as a witness.

Tel.: 97143262228, Fax.: 97143262262, Emgate Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE E-mail: contact@amerigroup.ae, www.amerigroup.ae

Mr. Umar Farooq served as CEO of Ameri Group until August 2015, was never a shareholder nor a partner in the company, Mr. Farooq resigned as CEO in order to pursue other bigger business opportunities.

Mr. Ziad Barakat was appointed as CEO of the company and is working in this position to date.

The article in VG shows that allegations against Mr. Farooq were raised in Norway of some fraud which was committed in 2010. This is patently false as, in 2010, Mr. Farooq was residing in Dubai as a legal resident since 2005 and had not been to Norway since. In fact, the person the tabloid interviewed who has accused him has already been convicted of the same fraud by the courts in Norway and is currently in jail. During the tenure of his employment, Mr. Farooq was never wanted or alleged of any crime/fraud in any part of the world.

Moreover, the tabloid alleges that Mr. Umar Farooq, through the above agreement, has managed to siphon off hundreds of millions of dollars by selling the project to the Government of Ghana at a highly inflated price. In fact as the Government of Ghana has already publicly stated: “The Ministry wishes to state that the agreement with AMERI is a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement and not an outright purchase of generating plants” as the article falsely claims. In fact, the Ghana statement goes on to say “The Government of Ghana has not made ANY PAYMENTS to AMERI and will not be making any payments for the cost of the equipment”. Ameri Group has already invested hundreds of millions of dollars as direct foreign investment in Ghana which will be operational before the end of 2015. The Government of Ghana will only pay for the electricity produced and received on the national grid.

In response to these allegations, Ameri Group has already retained international law firms to review our legal rights and use them against this slanderous act of the newspaper. Based on their legal advice we will reserve all rights to file a defamation case against VG in Norway on the basis of these unfounded false allegations and accusations.

The UAE government enjoys a cordial relationship with Ghana and its people, and as evidence to that have invested hundreds of millions of dollars as direct foreign investment in the country. Following the same footsteps, Ameri Group was encouraged to invest in setting up a brand new power plant for the Government of Ghana to overcome the energy crises the country is going through.

This project that we have almost completed will make a difference to the common Ghanaian people, enhancing the life of everyday people who are currently stranded being unable to run their business because of the lack of energy. Having this electric power coming online will also contribute to the economic growth of Ghana and further strengthen the relationship between two countries.

Tel.: 97143262228, Fax.: 97143262262, Emgate Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE E-mail: contact@amerigroup.ae, www.amerigroup.ae

The UAE government hosts a number of conferences specifically to promote the African continent to the rest of the world. There has also an increased traffic between UAE and Ghana in the past few years, which is a clear sign of both countries respecting each other’s nationals. We would never enter into a deal if it was not done with full transparently, honesty to ensure our integrity.

I, as member of the Royal Family of Dubai, will continue to follow my Government’s policies looking into opportunities that would help and support the cause and uplift the lot of the common man by creating job opportunities.

Moreover, Ameri Group and its subsidiaries, reserve the rights to protect it business through every means available to it including taking any legal action towards anyone who tries to malign its business or its goodwill.


Dubai, December 15, 2015.

H. H. Ahmed Bin Dalmook Bin Juma Al Maktoum

Member of the Ruling Family of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Chairman of Ameri Group LLC.

Source: peacefmonline.com

THE BIG IDEA:

— “Like all of you, I’m angry” is how Carly Fiorina began her opening statement. That sentence encapsulates not just last night’s two-hour debate in Las Vegas but also the entire Republican nominating contest thus far. Donald Trump himself was largely a non-factor in the candidates’ fifth and final showdown of 2015, but Trumpism was the dominant, animating force inside the Venetian Theatre.

Reaganesque the rhetoric was not. Trump catapulted to the top of the polls and has stayed there for six months now because he tapped into deep-seated anger and frustration of the conservative base that the country is slipping away from them. Chasing the front-runner’s success, the other leading candidates each tried to varying degrees to show that they get it, that they, too, are mad as hell and want to take the country back. There was little effort to play to the higher angels of the American consciousness. Instead, in the wake of attacks on Paris and San Bernardino, it often felt like the candidates were preying on the electorate’s fear, anxiety and sense of vulnerability.

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— There is near consensus this morning that no one had a breakout performance. “In the end there were no outright winners,” Dan Balz declares in his analysis. “Negative exchanges — in word choice, tone, put-downs and facial expressions — dominated the debate,” the New York Times says in its analysis.

Ted Cruz speaks during an exchange with Marco Rubio, las Ben Carson and Donald Trump look on. (AP Photo/John Locher)

— The dominant storyline coming out of Vegas is Ted Cruz vs. Marco Rubio. That is the lead of every story in every major newspaper after the widely-anticipated and hoped-for Cruz vs. Trump throw-down did not materialize. There’s a lot to like about the Cruz vs. Rubio narrative: Two Cuban Americans, sons of immigrants, first-term senators, elected as tea party darlings, from the Sunbelt, both 44, etc., etc., etc.

— While the overnight coverage is somewhat mixed, it is more likely than not that Rubio will come to be regarded as the loser of the matchup. There are three reasons for this:

1. Immigration was reframed as a national security issue, which means Rubio’s 2013 bill has once again become a serious anchor. The Florida senator deftly avoided answering for conservative apostasy on comprehensive immigration reform during the previous debates. Last night, facing a pile-on, he struggled to defend his position. His argument sounded procedural and Washington-esque. Meanwhile, his opponents smartly – and without being rebutted – linked the Gang of Eight immigration effort with broader concerns about ISIS and terrorists infiltrating the homeland.

“Border security is national security, and you know one of the most troubling aspects of the Rubio-Schumer Gang of Eight bill was that it gave President Obama blanket authority to admit refugees, including Syrian refugees, without mandating any background checks whatsoever,” Cruz said. “Now, we’ve seen what happened in San Bernardino. When you’re letting people in, when the FBI can’t vet them, it puts American citizens at risk.”

Cruz is way better at one-liners than Rubio. When Marco said that Ted’s position was not all that different from his own, Cruz shot back that this was “like suggesting the fireman and the arsonist have the same record, because they were both at the scene of the fire.”

2. Rubio lost some of his outsider cred. He came across like a member in good standing of the Republican establishment.

The Floridian has tried hard to be all things to all people this year. He wants to be the bridge candidate. He’s won over billionaires who vocally support gay marriage at the same time that he aggressively courts an Iowa constituency focused on promoting traditional marriage. He’s tried to poach Jeb Bush donors one day and to make inroads with Trump backers the next.

As a result of this, Rubio has lost his tea party mojo. Though he slayed Charlie Crist in 2010, and has hardly voted for anything besides immigration during his single Senate term, he’s increasingly perceived by voters as part of Washington.

His attacks on Cruz sounded like exactly the sorts of things that a career politician would say. By invoking a Mark Levin column and Saul Alinsky, Cruz basically called Rubio a liar but in ways that will play with the base.

3. Rand Paul being on the main stage wound up working to Cruz’s advantage because he kept Rubio on the defensive. The Kentucky senator, who barely avoided being dropped into the undercard debate, burnished the Texan’s point that the USA Freedom Act was a middle-ground compromise. But he was most useful as a foil to attack Rubio as “the weakest of all the candidates on immigration.”

“If we want to defend the country, we have to defend against who’s coming in, and Marco is — has more of an allegiance to Chuck Schumer and to the liberals than he does to conservative policy,” Paul said.

Source: The Washington Post

Twitter hashtag #ZumaMustFallMarch was trending at number one in South Africa on Wednesday (16 December) as thousands took to the streets to demand that President Jacob Zuma resign from his post. The ANC, Zuma's ruling political party, has come out in defence of the president.

The anti-Zuma protest was led by the Unite Against Corruption group, who also led the #FeesMustFall campaign in October. People in Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg took to the streets, insisting that corruption has worsened in South Africa since Zuma came to power in 2009. The march coincides with the public holiday, Day of Reconciliation, which is to encourage national unity.

President Zuma caused nationwide anger last week when he dismissed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and replaced him with Desmond van Rooyen. The move resulted in an immediate dip of the country's rand currency against the US dollar.

Zuma then dismissed van Rooyen four days later, replacing him with veteran finance minister Pravin Gordhan. However, protesters were not satisfied, insisting that he should have foreseen the consequences.

Johan de Meyer, spokesperson for the Unite Against Corruption Campaign, said: "The issue at heart is that the President has broken his trust with the nation because he didn't put the nation first as he pledged when he became president in the first place."

A survey conducted by Ipsos revealed that Zuma is currently South Africa's least favourite government leader, with less than half of adults in the country believing that he is doing his job very or fairly well.

As people came out to protest, the ANC said that while they supported the people's right to demonstrate, they did not share their views that Zuma should resign. "We are aware of the marches organised for the Day of Reconciliation. They all have rights, they are citizens of this country. We obviously do not support their call at all as the ANC," said Deputy Secretary Jessie Duarte.

Source: yahoo.com

NPP's internal security, Invincible Forces, have chased away supporters of a parliamentary aspirant Nii Noi Nortey who stormed the party headquarters Wednesday afternoon.

The forces wielding machetes went on a rampage and chased away the party supporters as well as journalists who had come to cover the commotion.

The party supporters had come to protest a potential decision by the party to re-run the Klottey Korle NPP primary.

The results of the primary last August which went in favour of Nii Noi had been challenged in court by lawyer Philip Addison who was a defeated candidate in the primary.

Nii Noi obtained 393 votes to floor the two other contestants, Philip Kojo Addo Addison and Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah who garnered 22 and 19 votes respectively.
 

Photo: A victorious Nii Noi in August after the primaries

Mr Addison and Nii Adjei Tawiah had boycotted the process because they wanted the elections to be postponed. Only 440 out of 850 delegates were present at the time of the vote leaving 410 unable to exercise their franchise.

The party had agreed to resolve the issue out of court and is considering a re-run.

But supporters of Nii Noi Nortey who won the primaries stormed the headquarters to pressurize the party against taking the decision. They believe such a decision will go in favour of a sore loser, Philip Addison.

But mayhem broke out as the Invincible Forces descended on the protesting party supporters. A windshield of a stationary car belonging to a private individual was smashed.

Joy News' Afreh Nuamah reports there is heavy police presence following the incident. He pointed out, there are about 10 police vehicles and more than two dozens of heavily armed police officers at the Asylum Down premises of the NPP Headquarters.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Forty-one-year-old Economist Eric Afful of the National Democratic Congress has been elected as the Member of Parliament for the Amenfi West constituency in the Western region.

Afful polled 15,806 provisional votes to retain the seat for the NDC while his main contender Mr. Paul Derkyi, 43, a lawyer representing the opposition New Patriotic Party had 13,079 of valid votes cast in Tuesday’s by election.

The by-election follows the demise of the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr John Gyetuah.

The Amenfi West Constituency is one of the oldest constituencies, since its creation, the constituency after the country returned to constitutional rule in 1992, has always voted for NDC until 2003 when the then NDC member, Mr Kofi Asante resigned as MP.

The by-election led to Agnes Samfo winning the seat for the NPP for the first time. The seat returned to the NDC in the general election in 2004 until the demise of Gyetuah.

Source: starrfmonline.com

An elder of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Mr Kwame Pianim has counseled party members and leadership to throw their weight behind the flagbearer and get the campaign for 2016 ongoing.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Tuesday about the problems in the party, Mr Pianim said he was a “broken” man and “frustrated over the troubles” in the NPP which according to him, should be prepared to take over the affairs of state since in his view, the ruling NDC was showing it was incapable of solving the problems of the country.
He said the time for smoking a peace pipe was now and that would only happen if all sides in the party were able to tell themselves in the face that what we want is a political party and not unnecessary bickering.”

“All the insults in the press, all the press statements, all that should cease. Let’s all get together and work. We have a job to do, we are fighting an election.”

Source: Daily Graphic

The prospect of this apocalyptically frightening headline capturing Ghana’s news media between 2017 and 2020 has now become a distinct possibility.

The indefinite suspensions meted out to three NPP Leaders who were elected by the apex authority of the party, the national delegates conference, has the potential to derail our country’s democratic governance roots,

Ironically, and mercifully, the odds against of this alarming headline becoming manifest have lengthened by the very act of   ‘constructive dismissal’ through legally contentious administrative actions. The party of the rule of law has decided to jettison its core principles in a quest for monolithic orthodoxy of views and absolute intolerance of diversity of opinions freely and fearlessly expressed.

 The end –game was signalled by the words spoken by Nana Akufo-Addo in London recently: which were conveyed by the local media in its intimidating and vicious intent. Rather than distance themselves, mouthpieces of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), gleefully and eagerly jostled for front positions to sound the death knell for any views that were at odds with the current orthodoxy of unquestioned loyalty to the chosen path.

“Ka bi na me nka bi” to wit  “You have you say as long as I can have my own” has been the immovable founding  philosophy of the “Matemeho” political tradition; at least that’s the belief that inspired so may illustrious sons to it. From the founders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), through to the United Party (UP); the Progress Party (PP) and the current New Patriotic Party (NPP), the right to free expression and tolerance of divergent opinions have been the binding chords that held democracy and development together in Oman Ghana.

 In less than one year, Ghana will go to the polls to decide who should be given the mantle to steer the country’s affairs for the four years from 2017, the 60th anniversary of Black Africa’s first Independent country.  Sadly, today, the trailblazer is propping up the rear of advancement and development in Africa, on any measurable scale including open air defecation.  

For every Ghanaian living everywhere, over the age of eighteen, of sound mind and on a bloated register, the question for Decision 2016 should be obvious; “Who can we entrust with the “Ghana Reset” button?, The option, the continuity of John Dramani Mahama and the third time hopeful but as yet untried Nana Akufo-Addo.    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should play important but largely supporting roles in the contest.   

For many of us, the alluring and tantalising prospect of “Development in Freedom” was the catalytic fuel that propelled us to tie our political fortunes to the NPP. We could develop our country y in an environment of free speech, tolerance and respect for each other: all reinforced by an unalloyed commitment to the rule of law.

 After spending all but six and half years of our first 35 years under military dictators and single party rule, “Development in Freedom”, was a very alluring prospect. Incidentally, and especially for those who think the freedoms we enjoy were dropped from the skies, enormous sacrifices were made by many courageous fellow citizens, including Kwabena Agyapong’s father, murdered because he tried to uphold the tenets of our national motto: “Freedom & Justice”

Was it a coincidence or a twist of fate that the NPP chose World Human Rights Day to perpetuate this patently dictatorial act; led by the indefatigable fighter for freedom and human rights, Nana Akufo-Addo?  Has the NPP degenerated into the citadel of intolerance, purveyor of monolithic thinking, adoration of a monarch that brooks ‘no nonsense’ other than the prevailing orthodoxy?

The unfortunate prosecution of the “Either you are with us or we smoke you out s” cleansing of the NPP started almost a decade ago in the fallout from the infamous 17 Presidential candidature race.  Two significant events happened which have shaped the thinking and actions of the NPP for a decade.

Firstly, President  J .A Kuffuor was ‘crowned’ master  stumbling block; for; 1)his justifiable decision to sack ministers who wanted to use their offices as campaign vehicle; and, 2) for his unjustifiable act of openly expressing a preference and patently using his office and muscle to promote his choice.

Secondly, it was at that congress that Paula Afoko was accused of the now apparently indelible sin of attempting to sway delegates. Though the accusation was not proven, it is now obvious that his supposed transgression was never to be favoured with an ultimate unction  

Abraham Osei Aidoo, a very capable and hard working NPP Majority Leader in Parliament was muscled out of the Tema West constituency because he dared to support a different candidacy.  Rather than learn the lessons from the defeat of 2008, the NPP’s internecine warfare intensified; exemplified famously by the hounding of Hon. Opare –Ansah, Deputy Minority leader and other voices not towing the new orthodoxy.

 More recently Hon. Addae- Nimo and fellow ‘upstarts have become the latest casualties of targeted deselected from their Parliament seats for having dared to test the NPP’s avowed commitment to free expression and tolerance of divergent views. The new and intolerant NPP sacrificed Arthur Kennedy’s intent and was quite unmoved by the loss of an incumbent parliamentary seat.

Suspensions have become the latest dastardly and most sinister weapon for cowing views and opinions that do not conform, It started with yours truly for daring to first suggest that it was unwise to go to court on the outcome of the 2012 election; followed by another that having done so, the NPP was not putting its best talents forward.

My purported suspension took hold despite my written objection that the procedure adopted was not in accordance with the NPP’s own rule. A meeting with the Disciplinary Committee to iron out the rules of engagement was stormed by angry mobs, in spite of the presenciue of so called internal security. Both the Committee and I had to e rescued by task forces from the Grater Accra Regional Police.  The palpable failure of the Party hierarchy to condemn the barbaric act was for me reason enough not to bother any more.

Since the catastrophic tactical failure at last year’s Tamale congress allowed Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong to slip into the positions of National Chairman  and General Secretary, the daggers have been out to ‘right the wrong’, and kick out the impurities that have infected the ‘near perfect’ ticket.  The Disciplinary Committee of the NPP has become the dastardly instrument of this unscrupulous terror of rooting out ‘so called fifth columnists’.

Officers elected by the National Delegates Conference, the highest body of the NPP, have been effectively removed from their elected office by a so-called ‘indefinite suspension’ by the Disciplinary Committee.  Elected regional executives who expressed their disagreement with Afoko’s treatment have themselves been suspended indefinitely. Public meetings to express unorthodox but divergent views have been broken up unceremoniously.

The Director of Communications of the NPP has characterised the party’s problem as one of plagued by Indiscipline. True enough, but I would venture to suggest that the more cancerous problem for the NPP is the strangulating Intolerance of diversity and pluralism in the party’s body politic.

I expect that this piece will turn my ‘self-extended’ suspension into an Indefinite Suspension. That is a small price to pay for being able to continue to share my views on the affairs of this nation, which I have done since 1993 and was allowed to do when I was privileged to be a member of the NPP National Executive under the venerable B.J, Da Rocha & Agyenim Boateng as National Chairman and General Secretary respectively.   

For those who think that the path has now been cleared for a triumphant entry into the Flagstaff House in 2007, let me remind you of what happened in 2008. A divided NPP led to a drop of 18 percentage votes in Nana Akufo-Addo’s share of the popular vote in Ashanti region from J.A. Kufuor’s 2004 figure. Similar drops were recorded in other regions and the party lost its majority in parliament too

The result has been a decade of sufferance and hardship for a people for whom J.A Kuffuor bequeathed the salivating legacy of oil riches and imaginative social interventions.  Sadly just when it looked like there was some very welcome relief on the horizon, the indefinite suspensions of Afoko, Agyapong, Crabbe, etc., has almost certainly derailed the imminent resetting of the ‘Ghana Reset’ button.

Nana Akufo -Addo must never confuse the need to smoke out moles from within, with the non-negotiable principle of tolerance of divergent views and free speech in the party of Development in Freedom.   My advice to Nana is simple, if you cannot work with Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong, Crabbe   go back to those who elected them to ask for their dismissal and replacement by those you can work it.  That is my understanding of ‘due process’ and ‘rule of law’

Until and unless then, the foundation of Freedom & Justice cannot be trusted into hands that use sophistry to undermine Democracy in Freedom

source:http://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/2015/december-14th/tarzan-writes-president-akufo-addo-suspended-indefinitely-by-npp-disciplinary-committee.php#sthash.QicVeTPV.dpuf

“We are being told that these people are being suspended so that they can be reinstated after the 2016 elections….after the elections will they become good leaders? What is it about the election that they are not supposed to be there now…?” Kwesi Pratt Jnr quizzes.

The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, was speaking to the issue of the latest suspension of two executives of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

On Thursday, the General Secretary and the Second Vice Chairman of the NPP were suspended indefinitely. (Read more on suspension) These two executives join the embattled National Chairman, Paul Afoko who was also suspended indefinitely a couple of weeks ago.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji programme Saturday, Kwesi Pratt suggested that some kingpins in the NPP had already planned to ‘get rid’ of the three executives who have been suspended.

“…that will lead you into all the secret meeting and secret recording in which long ago Bugri Naabu said that Kwabena Agyepong, Paul Afoko and Sammy Crabbe will not become part of the campaign because they don’t like Akufo Addo and they have been bought by the NDC. It turns out everything on that tape was true and I feel deeply worried about what all of these does to internal democratic practice…what does it say about political tolerance in our country” he wondered.

Source: http://elections.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/201512/263656.php

A Saudi prince has described US businessman Donald Trump, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, as a "disgrace to America".

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on Twitter that Mr Trump should give up his presidential ambitions because he would never win.

It follows Mr Trump's call for Muslims to be barred from entering the US for security reasons.

Mr Trump tweeted back, calling the prince "dopey".

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Who is Prince Alwaleed?

• Born in 1955
• Nephew of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud
• Completed a business degree in California in 1979
• Named world's richest Arab in Forbes' 2015 list
• Worth an estimated $32bn (£20bn)
• Has vowed to donate fortune to charity
• Has stakes in Disney, 21st Century Fox, News Corp, Apple, GM, Twitter, and a string of hotel chains and luxury hotels, including the Plaza in New York and the George V in Paris
• Owner of 95% of Kingdom Holdings, a publicly-traded company on the Saudi stock exchange
• Considered Westernised and progressive on most issues. Champions women's rights - most of his staff are women

"You are a disgrace not only to the GOP [Republican Party] but to all America," Prince Alwaleed tweeted.

"Withdraw from the US presidential race as you will never win."

Mr Trump responded by accusing the prince of wanting to use what he called "daddy's money" to control US politicians.

That would not happen, Mr Trump said, when he got elected.

Mr Trump, the frontrunner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, has been widely criticised for his call for a ban on Muslims entering the US.

On Thursday, Damac Properties - a Dubai firm building a golf complex with Mr Trump - removed his name and image from the property.

His comments came following the California shootings, carried out by two Muslims who the FBI said were radicalised.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35083150

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that the resolve of majority of Ghanaians is to vote out the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, which he described as inept and bankrupt, that has brought untold hardship on the people.

He also charged “united at the grass roots” party members to work assiduously to explain the good alternative policies of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia ticket that would halt “the current rot and excruciating economic difficulties” and put Ghana back on the track of progress.

The MP was speaking during the seventh in the series of open interaction with the constituents in Kumasi as part of his policy to constantly interact with them, brief them about happenings in Parliament and react to their concerns.

He also rendered accounts for the usage of the MPs share of the Common Fund and other revenue and answered questions from the electorate. This was also prior to his intended house-to-house interaction with his constituents.

The major question posed by the people bordered on why the government would decide to demolish over four main markets in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) at the same time, a move that had worsened traffic congestion, disrupted businesses and led to a disorganised metropolis.

Currently, the Kejetia, Atonsu, Asawase and Krofuom markets have been demolished.

The MP mentioned that before leaving office, President J.A. Kufuor made available resources for the construction of the Krofuom Market, but strangely, the Mills-Mahama administration diverted the resources for a different purpose, leading to the situation.

He advised the people who were complaining about the state of Kumasi that they “cannot take President Mahama to court for abandoning projects initiated by the Kufuor administration but what they can do is to come out in their numbers and vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to become President in 2016”.

Addressing the concerns about security at night and lack of water in some areas, Dr Prempeh donated street lights to assembly members for those areas that did not have them streets lights and promised to drill boreholes in some areas.

He said currently, studies were being conducted for the suitability of where to drill the boreholes.

He advised the people to constantly interact with their assembly members and raise some of the issues with them to be presented to the metropolitan assembly that had been resourced to take care of the development needs of the people.

Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghanaians-will-vote-out-NDC-2016-Napo-400193

A leading member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Kobbina Arthur Kennedy has described their flag bearer Nana Akuffo Addo as a failure in dealing with the wrangling and the suspension spree in the party.
According to him, as a leader of party, it is your sole responsibility to ensure that there is seemingly calm in the party but Nana Addo has failed in that regard making him a weak leader.
Speaking to Kasapa news, Dr Arthur Kennedy stated that he will rank Nana Addo an (F) for not showing leadership in uniting the NPP which has been hit with internal bickering over the last year.
Dr Kennedy’s comment comes after the punitive measure meted against the two national executives.
Meanwhile, Dr Arthur Kennedy has said he now has no respect for flagbearer of the party Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
However Dr Arthur Kennedy made it clear that he will appear before the disciplinary committee if they invite him over a petition containing allegations leveled against him by some groups in the party.
He furthered that he will head for court should the party decide to suspend him as it is being rumored.

Story: Pomaa Kyekyeku/Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the opposition New Patriotic Party has upheld a decision by the party's Disciplinary Committee to suspend its General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong and 2nd Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe Joy News has learnt.

Both of them were handed indefinite suspensions. The decision was announced, Thursday, after a marathon meeting held by the NEC members at the party's headquarters in Asylum Down Accra.

The suspensions follow a petition brought forth by some NPP members who accused the General Secretary and the second Vice Chairman of undermining the party’s authority.

The two were accused of publicly rebelling against the party's decision to indefinitely suspend the national chairman, Paul Afoko.

In an interview on October 28, Kwabena Agyepong's spokesperson told Joy News he does not recognise the acting Chairman Freddie Blay. The General Secretary himself repeated same when he was interviewed during the EC forum on the bloated register.

The second vice chairman who was out of the country described the decision as illegal and minced no words in chiding the Freddie Blay led executive which took over from Afoko.

Their utterances are believed to have emboldened the petitioners, Chris Arthur, Former TESCON-KNUST President; Adreba Kwaku Abrefa Damoa, London; Kwabena Afum Dankwa, London; and Kwame Baffoe, NPP Regional Youth Organiser, Brong Ahafo to demand sanctions against the two

They stated in their petition filed November 4, 2015 that;

“Kwabena Agyepong has rubbished, and keeps rubbishing the suspension of Afoko from his chairmanship. This in our view is an act of mischievous contempt for the authority of the Party as a whole, including its elders, its leadership, and its structures.”

Similar petitions were sent to the party's Disciplinary Committee against Crabbe.

When the Disciplinary Committee invited the two men to answer the allegations leveled against them by the petitioners, Agyepong heeded to the call and respectfully submitted himself before the committee and was reported to have apologised for his previous conducts.

Sammy Crabbe however failed to appear before the committee. He challenged the authority of the committee to invite him.

His failure to appear before the committee did not stop the committee from meeting and taking a decision.

The committee recommended that the two be suspended for their misconducts and the NEC has upheld the recommendations, Joy News' Kwakye Afreh Nuamah reported.

According to him, the suspended General Secretary was pleading for mercy.

In reality, signs of Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe's suspension were written on the wall after their key ally on the National Executive Committee, Paul Afoko was suspended indefinitely.

Paul Afoko, Sammy Crabbe and Kwabena Agyepong have acted in concert ever since they were elected into office at the Congress held in Tamale.

Source: http://myjoyonline.com/politics/2015/December-10th/npp-suspends-kwabena-agyepong-crabbe-indefinitely.php