Ghana politics and election news

Anti-corruption crusader, Sydney Casely Hayford has indicated that he will retract and render an unqualified apology for his comments against the Parliament of Ghana.

Health Minister Kweku Agyeman-Manu says the previous NDC administration crippled the health sector with millions of cedis of debt before exiting power.

Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Inusah Fuseini has rendered an unqualified apology to his successors for failing to inform them about an audio-visual spying device he placed at the minister's office during his tenure.

The leadership of the People’s National Convention (PNC) is expected to meet for the consideration of possible sanctions against the flagbearer for taking up an ambassadorial appointment without consulting the party.

Political analyst at the University of Ghana Professor Ransford Gyampo has told off party sympathizers who feel entitled to positions just because they bankrolled, campaigned or rendered other services leading to its coming to power.

Since coming to power in January, the ruling New Patriotic Party has been embroiled in a web of claims of party people jostling for positions, ostensibly because they personally campaigned or financed the party into coming to power. There have been series of protestations by party activists who openly rejected names of some persons appointed into positions of authority as district and municipal chief executives. Especially at Savelugu-Nanton Constituency in the Northern region, scores of angry youth took to the streets burning party billboards and other party items as a way of expressing their anger the decision.

Similar protests took place elsewhere though not as violent as previous ones. Some protests have been made at the top level by some senior party officials who say their contributions have not been rewarded with a ministerial position. The appointment of more than 100 persons nominated as ministers into various portfolios, the largest in the country’s history under the fourth republic by President Akufo-Addo, is believed to have come about as a result of pressure brought on him by persons calling themselves “god-fathers” who often put pressure on the appointing authority to reward them by appointing either them or their relatives or friends.

But speaking on Accra based Asempa Fm, Professor Gyampo said making contribution to the party does not necessarily mean one should be entitled to a position. He said competence should take precedence over this.

“If you funded, campaigned for a  party, it doesn’t  give you the competence and qualification to hold a position in the party,” he said.

He said governance is not child’s play and those angling for positions should examine themselves before always trying to lobby for them.

Tamale Central Member of Parliament who has claimed ownership of the audio-visual spying device found hidden in the office of the Lands and Natural Resource Minister says he will not hesitate to take back the device from the National Security if its offered to him.

The former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini says the tapping device retrieved from the office of the current Minister, John Peter Amewu was placed there on his request.

Former 2008 Campaign Manager of the 2008 campaign elections which got President John Mills elected into office, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, says the party lost the 2016 elections because President John Mahama was fixated on hearing messages about him winning a landslide, when evidence on the ground did not reflect that.

In what analysts say was the biggest electoral defeat suffered by a political party under the fourth republic, the National Democratic Congress was crushed at the polls when its candidate, John Mahama, lost out to the NPP’s Nana Akufo Addo with more than a million vote difference. The party also lost several parliamentary seats and its majority in parliament.

The defeat angered the grassroots base of the party leading to accusations the campaign team diverted thousands of dollars which ought to have gone to the constituencies. Mr. Mahama himself was also accused of surrounding himself with “yes men” who told him things he wanted to hear.  And Mr. Nunoo, who served as a Deputy Minister of Health, said the party lost partly because of the former president was told things he wanted to hear, instead of being told the truth.

“We carried out research, we did a 32,000 household survey across the 10 regions of this country, identifying attitudes, behaviours , perceptions and desires of the people of Ghana,” he said, adding: “We put the report together and either the report( it did find its way to the presidency) Sometimes  people want to hear what they want to hear; if you think you are winning and somebody comes and say, wait a minute, you are losing,(that is hard to swallow)”

He said the comprehensive data was kept away from the presidency by those around him, so the party’s defeat did not come to him as a surprise.

“If you want people who will sing his masters voice you will not be heard. I believe strongly that our message, our research data was not accepted, it did not impact the strategy of the elections and it was a disaster waiting to happen.”

The party has since received a Kwesi Botchwey report detailing reasons why the party was trounced in the elections. One of the reasons cited was the absence of a strong research base good enough to counter the arguments put forward by the now ruling NPP.

The presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention appears to be on a collision course with the leadership of the party following his acceptance of an ambassadorial position by the Nana Akufo-Addo administration.

General Secretary of the PNC ,Atik Muhammed, says the party was not informed about the appointment by flagbearer Dr Edward Mahama or the NPP government prior to the acceptance of the position by Dr Mahama.

The President on Monday swore into office twenty two ambassadors to represent Ghana in various countries of the world. Dr Edward Mahama was appointed ambassador at-large.

Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring countries, a region or sometimes hold a seat in an international organization like the United Nations.

The PNC flagbearer was one of 21 appointees present to swear and sign the oaths of office.

However speaking on Accra based Kasapa Fm, Atiik Muhammed expressed regret that Mr Mahama failed to inform or consult the party on the appointment.

He questioned why the flagbearer would take such an important decision without recourse to the leadership of the party, considering the fact that he [Dr Mahama] in times past referred offers of appointment to the party for consideration.  According to Atik Muhammed former president Kuffuor offered the PNC presidential candidate the opportunity to be his running mate, Dr Mahama in line with the party's interest consulted the leadership, there were deliberations on the issue and a decision not to accept the the offer was arrived at.

The PNC flagbearer on many other occasions referred offers of public office to the party and indeed asked such offers are made through the PNC and not directly to him.

Mr Atik said although the acceptance of the appointment breaches no rules of the party, it brings into question the commitment of Dr Mahama to the future of the PNC, suggesting perhaps it is time  to look beyond the current flagbearer as the party strategizes to make gains in the next elections.

www.primenewsghana.com / GhanaNews

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed 2016 flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, as Ambassador-at-Large.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has reiterated his commitment to stamping out galamsey in the country, if that will cost him a potential re-election.

Government at the beginning of this year publicly announced measures have been put in place to put a complete halt to illegal mining, a practice which has not only destroyed farmlands and impacted the quality of the soil but claimed lives in the process. Though the  exercise received enormous endorsement from a good number of Ghanaians from across the country, those affected, mostly from mining towns, remain opposed to the exercise, insisting it will cost them their livelihoods.

But their concerns have gone unheeded and government has maintained it is determined to see through the exercise even if it will cost them the presidency. Speaking at a special forum with chiefs and queenmothers from areas affected by mining, President Akufo-Addo says he is ready to put his own presidency on the line to flush out the illegal operations if that will cost him another term.

"We all know that we have been in difficult times and times like these there is need to keep body and soul together. Every man has a duty to provide for the family and sometimes use every means possible.”

The president also said the involvement of traditional leaders in the fight is extremely important, and underscored the need for them to back government in this regard.

“We cannot win this fight without the traditional support of chiefs” he said, adding, for any serious project, if you are not involved it doesn’t happen.”

Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul told Accra based JOyFM  a joint military and police squad will soon hit town to ensure those still involve in galamsey are driven away from the sites. He dispelled fears force will be used to drive the people away, though he said the intention is to ensure nothing of that sort happens.

“ The land is what  our forefathers left for us and we should leave for our children and we cannot allow that to continue,” he said. “ We appreciate that the livelihoods of people will be affected, but we are not going out there to drive them people and live them.”

He said an alternative livelihoods support structure will be going round with the team to support those being asked to stop the trade.  Mr. Nitiwul said Ghanaians will be engaged to ensure lands that have been affected are reclaimed and restored back to what they used to be.

Though he declined to mention when the exercise will happen, he was confident the teams setup for it will achieve the needed results.

 

www.primenewghana.com / Ghananews