Politics

An Accra Fast Track High Court has dismissed a case against NDC parliamentary candidate in the Korle Klottey constituency, Zanetor Rawlings.
The court said the NDC members, Reverend Michael Kwabena Nii Adjei Sowah, Joseph Narku Botchway, Jacob Amin were not convincing in their claim that their rights had been violated or will be violated if she represents the ruling party.

They had gone to court to remove the daughter of former President arguing she was not a registered voter and therefore cannot be voted for. They also sued her, the NDC and the Electoral Commission on 13 December 2015 for looking on while she emerged winner of the parliamentary primaries.

In the opinion of the petitioners, Dr Zanetor Rawlings is not a registered voter because her name is neither in the national biometric register compiled in 2012, nor is her name in the biometric register of the governing National Democratic Congress.

The judge Patience Mills Tetteh said the suit was an 'afterthought" because the disgruntled NDC members had all the opportunity to challenge her candidature before the elections. She also described the suit a "waste of resources" because the party has internal mechanisms to address grievances. An option which the court believes was not maximised. The latest ruling clears the hurdle for a parliamentary contest in November with main rivals the NPP candidate, Nii Noi Nortey whose candidature is also being internally challenged.

"It would have been a travesty of justice" if the plaintifs had had their way in court, a jubilant NDC candidate told the media. Zanetor announced her second victory on facebook, saying 'nothing can stop forward march'.

Source: myjoyonline.com

The NPP must stop disturbing the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson and go back to work, a Political Scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Samuel Adu Gyamfi has advised.

According to him, it is totally unnecessary for the party to persist in attacking the integrity of the EC and its Boss, but must rather focus its attention and energies at improving its electoral fortunes as the NPP is likely to win this year’s elections, however without a Parliamentary majority.

The largest opposition Party has in the past several months led the campaign for a new voters register after it claimed that the party’s investigations had established over 76,000 Togolese registered on the electoral roll making it not credible.

Their persistent calls and claims led to the Electoral Commission establishing a panel of eminent persons to assess the NPP’s assertions.

But the five-member panel set up by the EC to assess the demand for new voters’ register said the NPP’s evidence was not reliable data. The EC in conclusion said the NPP’s claims were unconvincing hence it cannot proceed to create a new register, but would rather ensure an audit to present a credible electoral roll for the polls.

However the NPP at a news conference on Thursday to respond to the EC’s position defended the evidence it [provided to the EC, and said the EC’s response was rather unfortunate.

The Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition accused the EC of bowing to the propaganda of the NDC government.

But speaking to Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Si Me So on Kasapa FM, Dr Samuel Adu Gyamfi urged the NPP to desist from its seeming calculated attempt to paint the EC black in the eyes of Ghanaians.

“You cannot tarnish the image of the EC and its Boss and make it look as if the Commission is in bed with the government and further suggest that majority of Ghanaians want the voters register changed. The NPP is not the majority of Ghana and neither are the rest of the political parties. It is all Ghanaians that form the majority of the voice in Ghana. So if the NPP makes a proposition to the EC, it knows the Commission has the competence and legal right to assess the proposal and make pronouncement on it. If it looks into the matter and the party disagrees with the verdict it is well and good that the outcome is respected, and even if we beg to differ it is essential that we don’t make comments like the EC is in bed with the government, because that is dangerous for our democracy.”

He added: When you denigrate the EC, and you eventually win the election it will amount to the same thing. Because what you are saying is that you used a bloated register to win the elections.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has served notice to the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, cautioning it to immediately halt all the processes involved in the internal cleaning of the voters’ register until approval is sought from all the political parties to do so.

According to the elephant family, it is completely dissatisfied with the response of the electoral body to its request for a new voters’ register for the conduct the November 7 Presidential and Parliamentary polls and subsequent elections in the country.

In August, 2015, the NPP led by Dr. Bawumia, described the country’s electoral roll as terminally faulty and which cannot be relied on for the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He revealed that the NPP had identified 76,286 persons with the same data in both Ghana and Togo’s voters’, a figure he said represents 10% of the work in progress.

Some other African nationals from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, according to Dr. Bawumia, were also on the country’s electoral register.

Worried about the flawed document, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the NPP then called for a new register ahead of the November 7, 2016 polls.

But the Electoral Commission under the tutelage of its Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, on the eve of the New Year, shot down the call for a new voters’ register.

It said the argument for the call for the new voters’ roll was not convincing and therefore, does not recommend the replacement of the current register.

Instead, the Commission said it “will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that a clean and credible voters’ register is in place for the 2016 general elections through an inclusive and collaborative audit process.”

In a recent interview on Accra-based Joy FM, Madam Charlotte Osei, disclosed that the EC was currently undertaking a cleaning of the Register.

She told listeners that the EC has so far identified in Ashanti Region, 200,000 names in the current register that are on the Multiple Registration list which they were going to clear.

However, at a press conference to react to the response of the EC, Campaign Manager of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu, told journalists that the claims by the EC of identifying 200,000 names in the Ashanti Region was contrary to the 150,000 names it mentioned as those identified nationwide.

He said it would therefore, be suicidal for the EC to go ahead with its plans towards cleaning the alleged bloated voters’ register if it does seek clearance from the political parties.

“This disclosure is very strange. The EC in its response to the NPP claimed in page 23 that 150,000 names had been identified as multiples nationwide. How is it possible therefore for the EC to identify as much as 200,000 names in the Ashanti Region alone?”

“The NPP is by this response calling for an immediate stop to all processes involved in the so-called internal cleaning of the Register until all parties can satisfy themselves of the modalities and means by which this so called internal cleaning is being done”, he said.

Source: kasapafmonline.com

Forget the fanfare, forget the ritual and forget the policy announcements, because let's face it - this was not an eat-all-you-can legislative meal.

How could it be?

The president has less than a year to go, so a protein-rich legislative programme would be a waste of time because there aren't the hours and there aren't the votes.

Instead this occasion was about symbols and messages. Variously attributed to Walter Benjamin, George Orwell and Winston Churchill it is said that "history is written by the victors". And like all good politicians Barack Obama in his final State of the Union address was trying to give his narrative on his term of office.

Without the verbal dexterity or phrase-making elan that have been his oratorical hallmark - I could sum it up crudely as: "It was a pile of steaming ordure when I got here, but it's really pretty good now."

And so the tone was optimistic: "The future we want - opportunity and security for our families; a rising standard of living and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids - all that is within our reach."

But that message also served another political purpose. With the election coming up in November the none too subtle sub-text of that is: All this is within your reach providing you don't change course. In other words, don't embrace a Republican candidate.

"Democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens," Mr Obama said

And of what he found when he got to the White House, he spoke of the American spirit to innovate and discover.

"It's that spirit that made the progress of these past seven years possible. It's how we reformed our health care system, and reinvented our energy sector; how we delivered more care for our troops and veterans and how we secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love."

I told you he would do it more eloquently.

But if part of his legacy depends on seeing a Democrat returned to the White House, there was one Republican the president didn't want to see embraced.

That was the billionaire businessman Donald Trump. Although he did not mention Mr Trump by name it was clear who his target was.

"When politicians insult Muslims ... that doesn't make us safer. That's not telling it like it is. It's just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. And it betrays who we are as a country."

Indeed calling for a different kind of political dialogue was one of the central themes of this speech.

One of the great frustrations of his presidency has been the toxic relations between Capitol Hill and the White House.

And so he called for a more tolerant, open and respectful political discourse.

"Our Founders distributed power between states and branches of government, and expected us to argue, just as they did, over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of liberty and imperatives of security.

But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens."

That goal will probably have to be filed in the "mission not accomplished" intray. But he said he would keep on trying.

On policy there is a determination to get to mission accomplished on a whole pile of things from reform of the criminal justice system to prescription drug abuse; from getting more students to write computer code to concluding the normalisation of relations with Cuba; from the Pacific trade deal to immigration reform.

First Lady Michelle Obama sits next to empty seat set aside for victims of gun violence

And of course, closest to his heart - making progress on tackling the scourge of gun violence. One seat in the First Lady's box was symbolically kept empty to remember those who've been killed and whose voice is no longer heard.

But this was not a State of the Union that will be remembered for the shopping list.

This is about a vision for America for the next four or five years, when President Obama will be long gone and pruning the roses and digging up the weeds in his back yard (why do I struggle with that as a credible image?). It was optimistic, upbeat, hopeful.

Winning everyone in Congress with this address was never going to be possible.

No the target is the American people. As he enters the final lap of his presidency latest polls suggest that around two thirds of the American people think America is going in the wrong direction; only 27% think the country is doing well.

Switch those numbers around and the Obama legacy is secure; if those numbers don't budge then history might not be written by the president, but by the verdict of "we the people".

Source: bbc.com

President Barack Obama is set to strike an optimistic and hopeful tone in his final State of the Union address.

The president will focus on cementing his legacy rather than unveiling new policies, officials have said.

Mr Obama is expected to frame some of the key issues in a way that fellow Democrats can embrace during campaigning for the upcoming election.

However, recent polls suggest that seven in 10 people in the US do not share their leader's optimism.

A response by the Republican party will be delivered by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

In excepts from the speech released in advance, Mr Obama urges Americans to make world changes work for them and overcome fears.

He will say the future the US wants is only possible if the country "fixes its politics" and works together.

"A better politics doesn't mean we have to agree on everything... But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens," the speech reads.

Hours before the event, 10 US sailors were held by Iran after their boat had mechanical issues and sailed into Iranian waters. They are expected to be released on Wednesday.

Mr Obama's aides have avoided characterising the speech as a victory lap, but say it will highlight his accomplishments over the past seven years.

They say that it will present an optimistic alternative to the dire narratives put forward by Republican presidential candidates.

Mr Obama, seen on TV in Cuba announcing the restoration of diplomatic ties, is expected to cheer the rapprochement

Among the events and developments that he will tout as successes are:

• nuclear deal with Iran
• rapprochement with Cuba
• Paris climate change pact
• recent budget deal with Republicans
• recent gun control reforms
• positive economic indicators, including low unemployment and rising interest rates

He will also continue his public messaging campaign aimed at improving the image of his strategy against the so-called Islamic State.

Keeping with tradition, the president will speak about what he would like to see Congress work on and his vision for the US beyond his last year in office.

While he is not expected to offer a large list of policy proposals, he could urge action on a number of items he feels have been left undone or could be accomplished with bipartisan support during his remaining year in office.

Among the items that could be on his to-do list:

• closing Guantanamo Bay prison camp
• criminal justice reform
• approving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal

Also keeping with tradition, First Lady Michelle Obama will host several gueststhat reflect the president's vision for US society.

This year, an empty chair will be featured in remembrance of gun violence victims.

Among the many guests:

• Syrian refugee Refaai Hamo
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella
• first female US Army Ranger Lisa Jaster
• Supreme Court plaintiff Jim Obergefell
• Muslim US Army Veteran Naveed Shah
• Mexican immigrant and science proponent Oscar Vazquez

The speech is expected to begin around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT), and has - in the past - had a duration of about an hour.

Mr Obama's remarks mark the fulfilment of a constitutional mandate that requires the president to "from time to time give the Congress information on the State of the Union".

Historically, the update has usually been given annually, in January, as a speech to a joint session of Congress.

Source: bbc.com

Ghana's president has strongly defended the government's decision to allow two Yemenis freed from Guantanamo Bay to live in the West African state.

Opposition and church groups had condemned the decision, saying the men were a security threat.

However, Mr Mahama said a Ghanaian was more likely to die in a road accident than at the hands of the Yemenis.

The men said they looked forward to living in Ghana, and had followed the national football team in prison.

Khalid al-Dhuby and Mahmoud Omar Bin Atef were held at the US prison in Cuba for more than a decade without being charged.

They are the first Guantanamo detainees that Ghana has accepted, at the request of the US.

• Africa Live: BBC news updates

The jail was set up following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US to detain what Washington called "enemy combatants".

US President Barack Obama has said he wants to close the jail down before he leaves office in 2017.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Accra, Mr Mahama said that Guantanamo Bay was a "blot on the human rights record of the world".

The ex-detainees say they were happy when Ghana beat the US in the 2010 football World Cup

"They [the men] just want to pick up the pieces of their lives and live normally. We don't have anything to fear," Mr Mahama said, adding that Mr al-Dhuby and Mr Atef were living in a security compound.

He dismissed as "absolutely untrue" allegations that Ghana had received money from the US to take the detainees.

Earlier, the influential Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference called the Yemenis "time bombs" who should be "sent back to wherever they came from".

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) said that official US documents showed the men had "violent and dangerous profiles".

"Why is government straining to paint a picture of the two detainees as harmless, misunderstood and wrongly detained persons?" it asked.

'Celebrating the Black Stars'

The two men were captured in Afghanistan, following the US-led invasion to overthrow the Taleban government in 2011.

Mr al-Dhuby and Mr Atef have denied belonging to militant groups.

"We have been wrongly arrested for 14 years without any charge against us," Mr Atef told Ghana's public radio station Uniiq FM.

"We have suffered but we are not looking for revenge," he said.

Mr Atef said they were huge fans of Ghana footballer Asamoah Gyan, and many of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay supported the Black Stars at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"When Ghana beat America, we were very happy. We made some celebrations. We also told the guards that we've won," Mr Atef said.

Ghana beat the US 2-1, with Gyan scoring the winning goal in extra-time, which sent the Black Stars through to the quarter-finals.

Dozens of countries have received former Guantanamo Bay detainees, including other African states such as Uganda and Cape Verde.

A total of 780 men have been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2002, the vast majority without charge or criminal trial.

The US navy base now has 105 detainees, nearly 50 of whom have been cleared for release.

Source: bbc.com

The chairperson of the electoral commission Charlotte Osei has revealed that the EC is considering a proposal of assistance that has been extended to it by the association of chartered accountants in the country.

According to her, the EC will need the expertise of the accountants at the collation centers.

The move forms part of the EC's attempt at getting recognizable professional institutions to help in the management of the November polls.

Already, the Ghana Bar Association has offered to play a role in protecting the credibility of the polls.

Speaking to Samson Lardy Anyenini on Newsfile on Joy FM Saturday, Mrs Osei said the commission is willing to engage the services of all relevant professionals to ensure a credible polls.

“The Chartered accountants have written to us and they are willing to do voluntary work...and we think that we will need them at the collation centers”.

She added that about 275 professional will be needed to help with the polls in the various constituencies.

Source: StarrFMonline.com

The Electoral Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensure a credible, transparent and peaceful election in November.

Ghanaians go to the polls on November 7 to elect a new President and Members of Parliament.

The credibility of the EC to hold a credible election has been questioned by the opposition New Patriotic Party after its calls for a new voters’ register were rejected.

But speaking on Morning Starr Monday, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei called on all stakeholders in this year’s election to play an active role to ensure that the polls are successful.

“I am totally certain that we are going to have elections that are peaceful, that are transparent, inclusive and credible but we need the support and the active involvement of all Ghanaians.

“Elections belong to the people and not just the political parties, we need everyone to work with us to ensure that we deliver a credible elections,” Mrs. Osei told host Nii Arday Clegg.

Source: Starrfmonline.com

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is accusing government of breaching the ant-terrorism act of Ghana in accepting the two ex-Guantanamo bay prisoners in the country.

“Why has Government chosen to ignore the relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (Act762) which clearly frowns on the admission of suspected terrorists into Ghana? Section 35(1) of Act 762 states as follows:

"The director of immigration or an officer authorised by the director shall not grant an endorsement or authority to permit a person to enter this country if there is reasonable ground to suspect that the person IS, WILL OR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMISSION OF A TERRORIST ACT!" the party noted in a statement.

The party is also demanding government to make a full disclosure of the terms and considerations involved in the deal.




Below are details of the statement


The New Patriotic Party (NPP) shares the deep anxiety and fears of the Ghanaian people over the resettlement of the two former Guantanamo terrorist detainees - Mahmud Umar Muhammed Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammed Salih Al-Dhuby-in Ghana. We are concerned that the decision was made without any consultation whatsoever with Parliament, political parties and other stakeholders.

The conduct of the Government raises a number of important questions and we join the Ghanaian people in demanding answers to the following pertinent questions in the spirit of full disclosure.

1. What foreign policy considerations went into the decision to resettle the detainees?

2. Why was the agreement to resettle the detainees in Ghana shrouded in secrecy?

3. Why was Parliament not informed, especially since the issue touches on and concerns terrorism and national security?
4. Why has Government chosen to ignore the relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (Act 762) which clearly frowns on the admission of suspected terrorists into Ghana? Section 35(1) of Act 762 states as follows:

"The director of immigration or an officer authorised by the director shall not grant an endorsement or authority to permit a person to enter this country if there is reasonable ground to suspect that the person IS, WILL OR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMISSION OF A
TERRORIST ACT!"

5. Why has the Government not disclosed the terms of agreement, nature and full extent of the consideration received in exchange for resettling the detainees?

6. Why is the Government hiding the true violent and dangerous profiles of the two detainees, as disclosed in official US Government information portals, from the Ghanaian people?

7. Why is Government straining to paint a picture of the two detainees as harmless misunderstood and wrongly detained persons?


8. Why did Government smuggle the detainees into Ghana only to give the impression that they were yet to arrive?

It cannot be in the interest of good governance that such critical matters should be agreed to by Government on the blind side of the people in whose midst these former terrorist detainees are supposed to live. The proverbial Ghanaian hospitality should not be put at such risk.
 

Source: StarrFMonline.com

President John Mahama has assured that the power crisis that has afflicted the country for the past three years will soon be over.

According to him, his government is closer to providing a permanent solution to the crisis that has seen the power minister resign his post.

Power minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor relinquished his office on January 1, this year, after failing to fix the crisis as promised upon his assumption of office.

Addressing the media at the Flagstaff House Tuesday, Mr. Mahama who fell short of giving timelines said the end to the power rationing is very close.

“...We need to forecast our demand and plan generation to be in tune with our growth...one of the major sectors that take my time and attention is the power sector... we have made a great effort and as close as we are at solving dumsor, we still have a gab.

“...In a short while, we will be able to overcome dumsor, ..I have learnt to leave (timelines) to the technical people to talk about ...but we now, as a result of the work that we did, have sufficient generation; the problem now is the fuel... we are fortifying the power sector to make it more robust and lasting,” he stated.

Source: StarrFMonline.com

President John Mahama has said the opposition New Patriotic Party’s promise to restore allowances of teacher trainees if they win the 2016 election is mere propaganda.

According to him, the upgrade of teacher training institutions to tertiary institutions made it difficult for them to continue enjoying the benefit of allowances.

“...We raised them to tertiary institution and brought them to the same level as the University of Education, Winneba, and the University of Cape Coast is also training teachers”

“So If these ones (tertiary institutions) we don’t pay teacher trainee allowances; we say go for student loans, but then if these ones that are also are tertiary institution and degree awarding, we say we will pay you teacher training allowances, then there is no sense of equity,” Mr. Mahama told the media at the flagstaff House Tuesday .

The 2016 running mate of the main opposition NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo have promised to restore the allowance should they win the November polls.

In the view of Dr. Bawumia, the basis for the suspension of the allowance by the NDC government is untenable.

But the President believes such utterances are unhealthy for policy development in the country.

“It is not necessary for us to inject politics into policy making...We must allow policy to work so they can be reliable and predictable”.

Source: StarrFMonline.com

President John Mahama has urged Ghanaians to be compassionate towards the ex-inmates of the Guantanamo prison who have been transferred to Ghana by the United States of America.

The two, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby who arrived in Ghana last week after 14 years at the hardcore prison in a radio interview said they are thirsty for peace and want to live a normal life in Ghana.

Ghanaians have generally called for their relocation. The Christian Council of Ghana and the opposition New Patriotic Party have also kicked against their presence in the country, saying they pose a major security threat to the oil-producing nation.

Speaking to Journalists Tuesday, President Mahama said the inmates pose no threat to the country since they would be strictly monitored.

“They were put in the lowest risk in Guantanamo…they were never tried, they were never charged and they were never convicted.

“As Commander-in-Chief of this country I will not take any decision that would jeopardize the safety of any Ghanaian...we must look at the side of compassion, I am a Christian and the Bible teaches us to be compassionate to prisoners and these people were not even convicted and so where is our Christian compassion for people,” President Mahama added.

President Mahama added Ghana decided to accept the inmates of Guantanamo after extensive security checks by national security operatives.

No Monetary considerations

The President also strongly dismissed widespread claims that his government received money in exchange for the transfer of the ex-inmates of Guantanamo.

“There is no monetary considerations…so what they are saying on social media that I collected 300 million is absolutely untrue.”

According to him, the decision to accept them was purely based on the relationship between Ghana and the United States.

Source: Starrfmonline.com

President John Dramani Mahama opened up to the Ghanaian media on Tuesday and spoke on a wide range of issues from the ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees staying in Ghana to the economy.

Listen to the full question and answer session below:

Source: starrfmonline.com

President John Mahama has said he was not elected to take “popular decisions” that would make Ghanaians happy.

According to him, he was elected to take tough decisions that would benefit majority of Ghanaians in the long term.

Responding to questions on the recent hikes in Petroleum products by the media at the Flagstaff House Tuesday, President Mahama said “it is not every decision that would be popular, but what was I elected for... If I took popular decisions to make you happy with me this country would be in the ground.

“They are tough decisions... I don’t take pleasure in imposing taxes on people... I don’t, but the alternative is worse so I must take decisions that are in the national interest... that benefit might not be seen immediately but in future people would see what benefits we have accrued”.

January 1, 2016, began with increases in prices of petroleum products by one of its biggest margins in recent times.

The increase became necessary because of the recent Energy Sector Levy put on most of the products.

If government had not introduced the recent levy fuel would have rather gone down by 10 percent due to the continuous fall of crude oil on the world market.

But President Mahama has asked Ghanaians to bear with him, saying the measures he is putting in place would eventually benefit the nation.

Source: starrfmonline.com

Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Tetteh, has said Ghanaians must not panic about the relocation of two Guantanamo Bay ex-convicts to Ghana, since, according to her, they posed no threat to the security of the country.

Speaking on Accra-based Radio XYZ Monday, January 11, 2016, Ms. Tetteh said: “We indicated to them that we will be ready to take two. These are the ones that are known and can be managed. There is no need to panic.”

“Our security forces and agencies are capable of handling it. These people are not going to be a threat to the people of Ghana.

“They asked us for assistance. This assistance is not beyond our capacity to give. It is not putting Ghanaians at risk.

“It is not going to create a situation where we are attracting hordes of terrorists that these people don’t even know into the country.

“Throughout the period they are here, they are going to be continuously under surveillance.

“They know that they being able to leave after two years is dependent on their good behaviour.

“They were not compelled to come to Ghana. They understand the terms of their arrest. We understand our responsibility. We have the capacity to manage,” Ms. Tetteh added.

There has been public outcry about the government of Ghana’s decision to accommodate the two terror suspects who have ties to terrorist groups Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

The National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has said government’s decision to accept the suspected terrorists is a continuation of the injustice the United States of America is perpetrating across the world.

International relations expert Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso has also said it could open up the country to security threats.

Also, a former presidential advisor in the Kufuor administration, Vicky Bright, has said Ghana, by accepting the detainees, was importing trouble to its shores.

Former Deputy Minister for the Interior, K.T. Hammond has said the two should be sent back to Guantanamo Bay.

The Minority in Parliament has also raised concerns about the failure of the presidency to consult the House on the matter.

The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has also expressed similar concerns. The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has also kicked against the move.

Source: ghanaweb.com

Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central in the Western region is offering to accommodate the two former Guantanamo Bay detainees as refugees in his constituency.

According to George Kofi Arthur, there is nothing wrong with government’s decision to accept the Yemeni nationals in Ghana.

Ghana is expected to provide shelter for the two Yemini terror suspects Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby.

The two have been in detention for 14 years after being picked up in Afghanistan and suspected to have been linked to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda.

Government's decision to accommodate the former Guantanamo Bay detainees has generated a lot of public uproar with political parties and the Christian Council of Ghana demanding the two suspects be sent out of the country.

But the Amenfi Central MP on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem says that the noise being made is much ado about nothing.

In his view, the security agencies have done due diligence thus the two terror suspects don’t pose any threat to Ghana.

“We don’t have to make a lot of noise about these people. If Ghana was not to be a peaceful country, America would not have brought their people here,” he said.

Kofi Arthur could not fathom why people were making a lot of noise about the issue when in fact most Chinese nationals in Ghana are ex-convicts.

He blamed the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for creating fear and panic on the issue just for cheap political points.

“The NPP is making a mountain out of a molehill because they have nothing to say. I’m willing to accept them at my house in my constituency and we will live peacefully” he stressed.

Kofi Arthur urged Ghanaians to ignore the ugly noises by the NPP and trust the government.

Source: myjoyonline.com

The President of Togo’s opposition political party, Alliance Nationale pour le Changement (ANC), Mr Jean-Pierre Fabre has denied making any statements about a refusal by the Togolese Electoral Commission to provide its counterpart in Ghana with a copy of its voters register.

Last week Mr Masseme Esse, claiming to be an Advisor to Mr Fabre granted an interview to some Ghanaian radio stations and purporting to be speaking for the leader of the largest opposition political party in Togo, he said the ANC was “bemused” by reports that the Togolese Electoral Commission declined to provide its counterpart in Ghana with a copy of its register for verification of the soft copy of the register used by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its analysis to back calls for a new voters register.

In a communique signed by Jean-Pierre Fabre and issued in Lome on January 7, 2016, the ANC said Mr Masseme’s presentation in the Ghanaian media as an Advisor and speaking in their leader’s name was false.

Rather, the party said it was aware Mr Masseme lives and works in Germany and even though he was a supporter of the party, he was not an Advisor and does not occupy any position or place in the ANC.

It said Mr Masseme, therefore, does not have any right to speak on behalf of the ANC, as a party, let alone in the name of the President on any subject whatsoever.

It said whatever he has said was therefore only his personal opinion.

Below is a copy of  the statement from the ANC

source: ghanaweb.com

Egypt's parliament has opened for the first time in more than three years, packed with supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The previous Islamist-dominated legislature was dissolved by a court ruling in 2012.

The following year, the then General Sisi ousted President Mohammed Morsi following massive protests against him and his Muslim Brotherhood party.

Egypt's new parliament has just 15 days to ratify over 300 new laws issued.

Newly elected MPs were sworn in on the first day. They were then due to elect a speaker and two deputies.

Parliament comprises 568 elected members and is dominated by an alliance loyal to President Sisi.

Sunday's session was supposed to be mostly procedural but it was disrupted by one outspoken member.

Murtada Mansour, a President Sisi supporter, at first refused to read the official text of the MPs' oath, before relenting and "hurriedly and casually" reciting it, the Associated Press reported.

Mr Mansour was angry at parts of the text endorsing the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, which some pro-government figures now see as a mistake, according to the agency.

Source: bbc.com