Politics

 MANCHESTER, N.H. — As the first primary contests rapidly approach, a rash of bickering has broken out among several Republican presidential candidates, marking the beginning of a new, more serious phase of the race.

With just 60 days until the Iowa caucuses and then the New Hampshire primary, the sparring reflects an urgent push among the second- and third-tier GOP candidates to become the main alternative to resilient front-runner Donald Trump.

From immigration to government surveillance, guns and terrorism, the rivals are increasingly willing to draw distinctions — and call each other by name — as they move to secure the loyalty of early-state voters just starting to pay attention to the race.

The feuding is particularly notable among New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, who have shown signs of strength in recent weeks and are attempting to carve out distinct identities within the party.

Christie, who campaigned here Tuesday, pitches himself as a seasoned executive and former prosecutor with more experience than the two rookie senators. “I’m talking about anybody who doesn’t have the requisite experience to make the tough decisions they need to be president,” he said Tuesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” adding that Rubio, Cruz and others “have no experience in governing.”

Christie’s comments come as Rubio and Cruz are engaged in an increasingly bitter back-and-forth over immigration, surveillance issues and national security — sparring that has become more intense in the wake of last month’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

Rubio (Fla.), positioning himself as one of the most hawkish candidates in the GOP field, has taken aim at Cruz’s support for legislation halting the mass collection of telephone records by the National Security Agency.

“There are Republicans, including Senator Cruz, that have voted to weaken those programs,” Rubio said Monday on Fox News. “That is just part of the record, it is nothing personal.”

Cruz (Tex.) fired back by linking Rubio to the foreign policy of Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and Democratic front-runner. “Senator Rubio emphatically supported Hillary Clinton in toppling [Moammar] Gaddafi in Libya. I think that made no sense,” Cruz said in an interview with Bloomberg Politics, decrying what he called “military adventurism” gone awry.

Christie, who emphasizes his experience as a U.S. attorney after the 9/11 attacks, dove into the Cruz and Rubio dispute by saying that Cruz and Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), another GOP candidate, made the country less safe with their votes to limit the NSA surveillance program.

“I didn’t get briefed in some basement on Capitol Hill,” Christie said. “I understood based on my experience as a U.S. attorney that this is necessary to protect the homeland.”

The change in tone from several candidates underscores the difficulties they have had distinguishing themselves from the pack as Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson have dominated the polls.

“Part of it is the large primary field that has created voter uncertainty in New Hampshire,” said Wayne MacDonald, chairman of Christie’s campaign in the state. “Citizens take their responsibility seriously here. They want to see the candidates, in many cases, or in some cases more than once. So that’s been part of the problem.”

The fight between Cruz and Rubio — both Cuban American freshman senators elected amid tea party waves — has simmered for weeks, boiling over in recent days.

Cruz has accused Rubio of supporting “massive amnesty” as a co-sponsor of an ill-fated bipartisan Senate immigration bill, while Rubio has singled out Cruz’s surveillance vote. Rubio and his backers believe that he can draw a clear distinction with Cruz on national security; a recent ad from a pro-Rubio group said Cruz was weak on security issues — an allegation called “despicable” in a Cruz response ad.

At a campaign rally in Guntersville, Ala., on Tuesday afternoon, where Rubio’s campaign estimated an attendance of more than 750 people, the senator from Florida never mentioned Cruz by name. But Rubio took a veiled shot at him during a lengthy warning about the threat posed by Islamic State terrorists.

“We have to have the ability to know more about them than they ever know about us,” he told the crowd gathered on a rec center basketball court. “And that’s why we have to have strong intelligence programs. It is unacceptable that today, because of disclosures and because of changes to the law, supported sometimes by Republicans themselves, we have lost the ability to find these people before they find us.”

Left largely out of the intraparty fray for now is former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who spends much of his time criticizing Clinton and President Obama rather than his GOP rivals. Campaigning in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, Bush dodged when asked whether Christie’s record on gun rights was sufficiently conservative.

“I think I have probably the best Second Amendment record of any person running,” he said, adding: “I’m going to focus on my record. I believe I’m going to win New Hampshire, to be honest with you. I honestly believe it.”

As for Trump, many of the candidates are dismissing his chances once voting begins. Cruz said this week that he doubts Trump will be the party’s nominee; in a new Bush ad featuring Medal of Honor recipients, one says that “this is no reality show” — a clear jab at Trump’s long career as host of “The Apprentice.”

Throughout much of the campaign, Trump has been the candidate most eager to lob insults at his Republican opponents, usually in biting and personal ways. Tuesday, he made his oft-repeated dig that Bush “doesn’t have energy,” and he questioned the temperament of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, whose campaign and super PAC have directly attacked him.

“This guy Kasich, he’s like a lunatic,” Trump said on SiriusXM. “You watch him on the stage, he can’t debate, he can’t talk.”

For the candidates, responding to Trump rarely pays dividends. When Christie was asked last week about Trump’s widely debunked claim that “thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey were seen celebrating in the streets after 9/11, he replied that he didn’t recall that, but added, “You know, there could be things I forget, too.”

He answered a similar question more forcefully Monday, apparently moving to neutralize Trump and the issue. He told reporters flatly that such mass celebrations “didn’t happen” and that Trump — who had called his initial response “weak” — was trying to intimidate him.

“I was there on 9/11. I wasn’t across the river in New York City. I was there,” Christie said in New Hampshire. “It didn’t happen.”

“The worst part about his claim is that he said he saw it on television,” Christie added. “No one has been able to unearth any video of any such thing happening.”

For his part, Trump noted this week that he has been monitoring the back-and-forth between his rivals closely.

“I’ve been watching this little debate between Rubio and Cruz, and I loved it because I haven’t been so involved,” Trump said on MSNBC. “It’s the one thing I haven’t been involved. Can you believe it?

“And they seem to be attacking themselves very strongly because somebody wants to be standing to challenge me,” he said.

Sullivan reported from Alabama. Jenna Johnson and Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-candidates-sharpen-their-attacks-as-race-enters-a-new-phase/2015/12/01/fa896eb0-985a-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html

Radio and television personality, Kwame Dzokoto has described as “insults”, a remark by Dr Amoako Baah, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology which suggested that he should not go to parliament to joke if he is elected to represent the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency.

Dr Amoako Baah in an interview with Class FM stated that Dzokoto’s popularity made him win the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries and suggested he should not go to the law making house and joke as he is known to be a comedian.

“Some of the winners are just a bit worrying you know…when you have someone like Dzokoto, I mean what did he campaign on, ‘Edziban’ or something? I don’t understand it.”

“It becomes almost like a popularity contest because the candidates don’t actually debate each other for the voters to actually see what they are leaned towards….which is not good, and, so, in the end it becomes a popularity contest and Dzokoto is well-known, Edziban, and I’m sure it has a lot to do with why he won.

“I mean look, once you are a comedian, always a comedian. And you go to Parliament and people will see you from that perspective. You start saying something…important and they start laughing [at you] and it’s not a laughing matter in Parliament.

“I’m not saying ‘Edziban’ will not do well…I want him to educate himself and go and do the work he has submitted himself to do, not to go over there and engage in jokes or something,” Dr Amoako-Baah noted.

But speaking to Happy FM, Kwame Dzokoto who is also a voice over artiste expressed disappointment in the statement. According to him, the comments by the lecturer is an insult to the creative arts industry.

“I’m very disappointed in what the Dr said because he is a scientist and is expected to speak based on a research report. You should speak with a lot of facts. I don’t know if he has heard I joked with my responsibilities… so I was surprised for such comments because he is grown, he is a lecturer and a scientist. His comments shocked me because he portrayed me as someone who doesn’t know his left from right. It is an insult to my personality and profession. Some prominent people should advise him on what to say,”Dzokoto said.

The renowned presenter won with 1,450 votes to beat his contender Thomas Okyere, who managed just 398 votes.

Source: http://elections.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/201512/262551.php

A Ranking Member on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs of Parliament is accusing the Board of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) of causing financial loss to the state in the payment of ex-gratia to four ex-employees of the Corporation.

Joe Osei Owusu avers there was no basis for the over 3 million cedis payment made to the four ex-employees including two former Chief Executives Tsatsu Tsikata and Nana Asafo Agyei.

His damnation of the Board of the GNPC is a new sting in the tale of allegations, confirmations and denials of payments made to former heads of the GNPC.

MP for Adansi Asokwa KT Hammond set the scandal off with an allegation that GNPC had ordered the payment of various sums of monies to Tsatsu Tsikata, Nana Asafo Agyei, Esther Cobbah and Mr Benjamin Dagadu who used to be the Field Evaluation and Development Manager of the Corporation.

According to the Asokwa MP, Tsikata and Asafo Agyei were each paid one million cedis whilst the wife of Tsikata, Esther Cobbah who was then the Public Affairs Manager at GNPC was paid 600,000 cedis.

He described the payment as criminal and illegal and demanded an investigation into the payment.

On Monday, the GNPC issued a statement confirming the Board's decision to make the payment to the four. While it will not disclose the exact amount paid to them, the Board stated the four employees had acquitted themselves well during their period of employment and that it was a "valid obligation" on the part of the Corpration to pay them their ex-gratia.

However, on Tuesday, Esther Cobbah issued a statement saying she was yet to receive any payment from the GNPC.

She claimed she was owed huge sums of monies in entitlements after she was removed rather unceremoniously in 2001 by the then Energy Minister.

She accused KT Hammond of plotting to deny her what is rightfully hers, professing "no weapon fashioned against me by the making of such unjustifiable attacks will prosper."

But it appears she may have to widen her scope of defence against what she described as unjustifiable attacks.

This is because Joe Osei Owusu is wondering how Madam Cobbah of all persons will be making ex-gratia demands on the state and the GNPC.

"In the case of Madam Esther Cobbah we learned that she actually abandoned her post. She was transferred to the Gas Company and never stepped there (GNPC). Is such a person entitled to make any claims?" he questioned.

He said the payment by the Board is not only baseless but he had received information, lawyers of GNPC had written a legal opinion against the payment of the ex-gratia.

He said the Board must be held for causing financial loss to the state for approving payments to the four.
 

Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2015/December-2nd/ex-gratia-payment-gnpc-board-causes-financial-loss-to-state-mp.php

NPP Second Vice-Chairman Sammy Crabbe has rejected an invitation to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee after two party members petitioned for his expulsion from the opposition party.

Sammy Crabbe has questioned the locus of the committee to hear him after he refused to recognise Freddie Blay's appointment as acting National Chairman. The elected chairman had been suspended indefinitely.

NPP members Boye Laryea and Gladys Tsotso Mann-Deddey in their petition say Mr. Crabbe "failed, neglected and abandoned his duties as a member of the party, and has fallen short of the standard required of national officers".

However, according to the former Greater Accra NPP Chairman, the National Council is the only and proper party organ that can hear a complaint against a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

He quoted Article 4(3) (d)

A Member aggrieved by or dissatisfied with the conduct of any member of the Constituency Executive Committee shall file a complaint in writing to the Regional Executive Committee. A complaint against a member of the Regional Executive Committee shall be made to the National Executive Committee and in the case of the National Executive Committee to the National Council.
 

Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2015/December-1st/sammy-crabbe-rejects-npp-disciplinary-cttee-invitation.php

NDC’s Kweku Afrifa Yamoah Ponko has said that – President John Dramani Mahama is working harder to end Ghana’s frustrating power crisis which has left many worried.

Yamoah Ponko who has been nominated by President Mahama for the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Assembly Chief Executive in the Ashanti region after losing the NDC MP primaries has maintained that – the power crisis will be solved soon.

Ghana’s power-crisis is yet to resolve after almost five years – the Mahama-led administration is expecting a Power Barge in the country from Turkey to help curb the unbearable situation.

Speaking on NEAT FM’s morning show 'Ghana Montie', Yamoah Ponko was very optimistic that, President Mahama’s efforts to curb the power crisis will surely win him the presidency in 2016.

“The Power Barge is now in Ghana. This shows how serious the president is. The president's dream is to end 'Dumsor' and he has demonstrated that he is capable of solving that problem,” he said.
 
 
 
Source: http://elections.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/201511/262150.php

One time presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but now estranged for his non-conformist stance on issues affecting the party, Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, believes if he had spoken in favour of "all-die-be-die”-- the removal of Afoko and Agyapong-- the insults of Kufuor and others -- the opening of secret bank accounts and other assaults on our constitution and traditions," no qualms would have been raised over his party membership.

According to him, at the height of his vilification last year, he considered quitting altogether came to the conclusion that the NPP rather needs to be saved from "extremists" so that "it can save Ghana from the NDC".

In the latest of his regular writings titled “The NPP must learn from history” in which he counsels wisdom in the party, Dr Kennedy expressed disappointment in one-time National Chairman of the party, Harona Esseku, who was suspended during his tenure for "adding his name to the charade" of purging the party of anyone not loyal to the Flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo

"He is a better man than the person portrayed by his involvement in this farce," Dr Arthur Kennedy stated.

He wrote; "Over the last year, in the face of the invectives and calumnies heaped upon me for my positions on the NPP and the counsel of well-meaning friends and family, I have thought long and hard about quitting the NPP. And I have prayed. I have concluded that it would be wrong to quit. The NPP needs to be saved from its extremists so that united; it can save Ghana from the NDC. My place, as a Ghanaian patriot and a true member of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition—is in the frontlines of that fight, on the side of principle, commonsense, courtesy, tolerance and the rule of law."
 

Below is his article in full

THE NPP MUST LEARN FROM HISTORY

The NPP appears bent on repeating its unhappy history. In 1979, with victory in plain sight, it divided into the PFP and the UNC and gave away victory to the Nkrumahist PNP, led by Dr. Hilla Limann. As Akenten Appiah-Menka told me, “That division could have been avoided by a more conciliatory tone. Those who stayed in the PFP thought those leaving to form the UNC did not matter and it cost us dearly.”

Currently, with 2016 approaching and another Nkrumahist party on the other side, we seem poised, once again, to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We are on a strange mission, to purge our ranks and demoralize ourselves through suspensions, expulsions and designation of good members as traitors and/or agents of the NDC--- based on dissent. Those who disagree with the flag-bearer are called names and have their loyalty questioned. Former President Kufuor, Kwadwo Mpiani, Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong, Wereko Brobbey, Nyaho Tamakloe and yours truly, to mention only a few have all been targeted.

Personally, in the last couple of weeks, I have been disowned by the NPP-USA, NPP of my home constituency, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and the venerable former National Chairman, Haruna Esseku, who felt compelled, while sticking the knife in me to state that he is, like me, a Fanti! The chances that these denunciations of me are coincidental are just as much as the chances of a Fanti seeing kenkey, pepper and fish on his breakfast plate and thinking the three items got on his plate by chance. For a man who has been pronounced politically dead repeatedly, this pathological obsession with me, while flattering, is puzzling.

My standing in the NPP, to put it humbly, is self-evident.

I was in good standing when we were in opposition before the 2000 election.

I was in good standing while we were in government. Indeed, in 2007, I was vetted and found fit to contest the Presidency of Ghana on the NPP’s ticket. In fact, if the delegates at Legon had picked me number one instead of giving me one vote, I might have gone on to win the 2008 presidential elections and would be preparing to hand over next January.

I have been in good standing since we returned to opposition.

I have known and worked with every one of our Presidential candidates starting with Victor Owusu, as well as every General Secretary beginning with Agyenim Boateng. I have worked with activists ranging from Azorka through the Idris brothers to Alhaji Gibrine.

Throughout all these phases, I have poured my blood, my sweat and my treasure into the NPP.

My money and ideas were welcome whether I was in Accra or Milwaukee or Asebu. My membership card, like all others, has no expiration date. The NPP has never believed that a person’s contribution to party or country should be limited by where he lives. That is why we championed ROPAL.

It is, of course obvious that if I was celebrating “all-die-be-die”-- the removal of Afoko and Agyapong-- the insults of Kufuor and others -- the opening of secret bank accounts and other assaults on our constitution and traditions, no one would be questioning my membership. And that is a shame.

I am disappointed that Mr. Esseku would add his name to this charade. He is a better man than the person portrayed by his involvement in this farce.

Over the last year, in the face of the invectives and calumnies heaped upon me for my positions on the NPP and the counsel of well-meaning friends and family, I have thought long and hard about quitting the NPP. And I have prayed. I have concluded that it would be wrong to quit. The NPP needs to be saved from its extremists so that united; it can save Ghana from the NDC. My place, as a Ghanaian patriot and a true member of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition—is in the frontlines of that fight, on the side of principle, commonsense, courtesy, tolerance and the rule of law.

Respectfully, I urge Mr. Esseku and other elders to return to being true elders and to help unite our party for victory in 2016. They should stop being Nana Addo’s men and be once again, NPP men. Our party, if divided, cannot win.

To my party, I urge that we go into 2016 conscious of the eternal truth that we must attract numbers and votes to win. Let us heed Proverbs 24:6 “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counselors there is safety”. Let us be wise, my fellow elephants, let us be wise.

MAY God bless NPP and Ghana.

Arthur Kobina Kennedy
Irmo, South Carolina
26th November, 2015
 
 
 
Source: http://elections.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/201511/262222.php

The Minister for Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, Madam Hanna Tetteh has asked people who may be lobbying President Mahama to nominate her to be his Running Mate for the 2016 elections to cease their actions.

“I would like to request those persons ostensibly lobbying His Excellency President Mahama to consider me as his running mate to cease doing so at once,” she wrote on a social media platform following a press statement making the rounds on same media platforms calling on the president to elect her his Running Mate.

While asking those behind the press statement to put a stop steer the affairs of the country. This, she said, makes the lobbying going on needless.

“I have great respect for His Excellency the president, and his right to make the choices he considers appropriate for any political office in his administration. I do not wish anyone to attempt to exert any form public pressure on His Excellency on my behalf. I believe His Excellency the Vice President has done his best to give our president the support that he needs, and there is no need for this kind of public lobbying.

The Foreign Minister who is also the MP for Senya Awutu West expressed gratitude to president Mahama for giving him the privilege to serve as Ghana’s Foreign Minister and pledged to do her best in that capacity.

“I appreciate the opportunity his Excellency President Mahama has given me to serve in his Government, it is indeed a privilege and I will continue to do my best in the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs & Regional integration in his Government and in the service of Ghana” The press statement to which the Foreign Minister has reacted to reads (note that it is published unedited);

H.E. John Dramani Mahama

President Of Republic Of Ghana

Flagstaff House

Accra-Ghana

His Excellency

Petition To Choose Hannah Tetteh As Vice Presidential Candidate For One Touch Victory In 2016

We the Concerned Youth For Mahama; A grassroots campaign team for JM in 2016 are calling on President H.E John Dramani Mahama to select Hon. Hannah Tetteh as the Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2016 election.

We believe Hannah Tetteh is the most ideal candidate to win us more votes in 2016 due to the following reasons;

1. Amissah Arthur is hardly been noticed in Ghana and doesn't have enough public appeal as he is not liked by many as compared to Hannah Tetteh.

2. The people of Central Region are so much in love with Hannah Tetteh as she won her parliamentary primaries with overwhelming 97% in her constituency.

3. Hannah Tetteh has proven to have a very fantastic working relationship with President Mahama.

4. We will get a good political capital for selecting a woman as vice president which is something our opponents the NPP have never dreamt of. Hannah Tetteh has a nice public appeal and a very intelligent woman who has performed creditably in her ministerial appointments and helped in the campaign. Let's not forget her efforts towards 2008 & 2012 elections.

It is time to get a woman who will increase our votes in central region and win women activists who are floating voters.

5.His Excellency, if you could remember, one of our own members closely related to your office (Hon.Halidu) spewed vitriols on some section of women in our country. Per our research findings, virtually 60% of women have vowed to register their displeasure at that particular invective by voting against us. To deflate that mess caused, we kindly request of you to deservedly appoint HON. Hannah Tetteh as the vice presidential candidate for the party in the lead up to the 2016 elections.

6. We have gathered some of our brothers from the volta region calling for Speaker Doe Adjaho. We want to state that their tribal politics will not win us any votes. Besides the people of volta region have been awarded by the NDC government than any other region in terms of projects and influential appointments. The central which contributes significantly to NDC votes can only boast of a Vice President. Any attempt by the party to take this seat from the region will be of great harm to the party.

By these we therefore call on you as a listening president to nominate immediately Hon Hannah Tetteh as the VICE Presidential Candidate who our grassroots researches have proved to be a better candidate than Amissah Arthur and Doe Adjaho and your victory in 2016 will be a "cool chop".

Any attempt to maintain Amissah Arthur will compel us and many well-meaning Ghanaians inclusive to withdraw our efforts in the 2016 election.

Thank you.

Signed

Abigail Kwakye-Ewuson
 
 
 
Source:http://elections.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/201511/262222.php