Ghana politics and election news

Policy think-tank IMANI Ghana has warned against attempts by former Energy Deputy Minister and MP for Adansi-Asokwa, KT Hammonds, to introduce a motion in parliament that seeks to reverse the controversial Ameri Power Plant deal.

Minister for Parliamentary affairs and Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has withdrawn the controversial Special Prosecutor Bill from Parliament.

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission(EC) Charlotte Osei has explained that the 2016 election was not the first time the media had been asked to pay for accreditation.

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has left Accra for Tamale to visit victims of the torrential downpour that flooded large areas of the Tamale metropolis.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo has forwarded the petition by some staff of the Electoral Commission demanding the impeachment of Chairperson Charlotte Osei, to the Chief Justice.

A release from the Communications Directorate of the Presidency said,

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017, referred a petition purporting to invoke Article 146(3) of the Constitution, in respect of the office of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, to the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo.

Whilst the President was out of the country, the office of the President received a petition, initially undated and unsigned, against the Chairperson of the EC. Subsequently, counsel, Maxwell Opoku Agyemang, Esq., by letter dated 20th July, 2017, wrote to the office of the President setting out the names of the petitioners and the date of the petition.

Pursuant to the terms of Article 146(3), President Akufo-Addo has, thus, referred the petition to the Chief Justice for resolution, in accordance with the provisions of Article 146(3). 

 

 

 

Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says his decision to side with the embattled chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, has nothing to do with their family ties, but “information” available to him.

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei is expected to appear before parliament today Wednesday, 26 July to answer questions relating to the 2016 general elections.

Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) a Non-Governmental Organisation has called on the government to institute forensic investigations into issues emanating from the electoral commission, even before the President considers the petition against the EC Chairperson.

STRANEK is also urging President Akufo Addo to forward the petition to the Chief Justice as required by law.

Some unnamed employees of the Electoral Commission (EC) have petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to dismiss Charlotte Osei on grounds of misconduct and corruption.

They want her impeached for among others, bringing the “Commission’s name into disrepute by single highhandedly petitioning EOCO on an alleged misappropriation of staff endowment fund for malicious reasons.”

A statement from STRANEK signed by its Executive Director Nii Tettey Tetteh said, “Having read the 27 allegations made against the EC Chair and her response in a 28 point rebuttal, Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) is alarmed by the indications of wanton abuse of taxpayer funds under the management of the Electoral Commission.

"From the Chairperson’s response, we see a rather bleak picture of a commission fraught with endemic corruption of which she is trying to cure.”

The statement continued that in order to preserve and protect the independence of the Electoral Commission and the sanctity of Ghana's democracy, the executive or legislature must step in as a matter of national security to redeem the sunken image of the election organizing body.

 

primenewsghana.com/Ghana News

An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Norvisi Aryine on Tuesday ordered the Daily Post Newspaper to pay the board Chairman of COCOBOD GH₵800,000 in damages in a defamation suit he brought against the newspaper.

Former Attorney General and anti-graft campaigner, Martin Amidu, says the president’s fight against corruption is likely to be undermined by the form and structure the bill on the Special Prosecutor has been presented to parliament.

National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention Bernard Monarh says the party’s 2016 flagbearer Dr. Edward Mahama is gradually becoming a god in the party, and that should not be allowed to happen.

Dr. Mahama has come under criticisms from senior members of the party for accepting an ambassadorial position from the government without informing the party hierarchy. A hurriedly organized national executive meeting to resolve the impasse in the party was inconclusive. There are reports of heated verbal exchanges and throwing of some punches between factions for and against the stance of the flagbearer. with allegations of verbal exchanges between factions getting to the throw of punches.

General Secretary Atik Mohammed was subsequently suspended for openly criticizing the decision by the party’s flagbearer to accept the position. But Mr. Monarh said the decision was wrong and illegal.

Speaking on Asempa Fm’s “Ekosii Sen” political program, Mr. Monarh said Dr. Mahama accused Mr. Mohammed of being behind the reasons why the party lost the elections.

“ Atik was very angry and he got up to express his views,” the party chairman said.

Mr. Monarh said he warned against any decision to suspend any executive member for openly expressing dissent at his appointment.  

 

The NDC Minority in Parliament say they will resist any attempts by government to intimidate its members under the pretext of investigating corrupt deals under their regime.