Day: June 25, 2024

A total of 10,891 voters (about the seating capacity of Cameron basketball stadium at Duke University) transferred their votes within the Nine constituencies in the Western North Region during the recent votes transfer exercise.

According to Mr Godwin Tawiah Okley, the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, they comprise of 5,787 males and 5,104 females.

He also disclosed to the Ghana News Agency in an interview that 880 persons transferred their votes in the Aowin constituency and 987 transferred their votes in the Suaman constituency.

He said the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai and Wiawso recorded 1,044 and 1,687 vote transfers, respectively.

The Akontombra constituency recorded 1,879 vote transfers, Juaboso 2,314 while 514 transferred their votes in the Bodi constituency, with Bia West recording 585, while 1,001 transferred their votes in the Bia East constituency.

The Regional Director described the exercise as successful and was optimistic that the compilation of the special voting list would also b
e successful.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Monday issued a stern warning against vigilantism ahead of the 2024 general elections, stating that the government is committed to upholding the law.

He stated that the government would make sure the elections were credible, fair, transparent, and free and that anyone or group who tried to undermine the process would face legal repercussions.

‘Ghana has long been a beacon of democracy on the African continent, and it is our collective duty to safeguard this reputation…Anyone who seeks to subvert the free will of the people will be dealt with under the law.

‘Any individual or group found culpable and falling foul of the law will be made to face its full rigours. Vigilantism has no place in our democratic space, and we must all work together to ensure a peaceful and orderly election period,’ he said during a ceremony to present credentials to nine newly appointed envoys at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The envoys included three High Commissioners, five Ambassadors, and an
Ambassador-at-Large.

They were Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, High Commissioner to Nigeria; Mrs. Francisca Ashietey-Oduntun, High Commissioner to South Africa; Mr. Ernest Yaw Amporful, High Commissioner to Rwanda; Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh, Ambassador to Trkiye; and Mr. Henry Tachie-Menson, Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.

The others were Mrs Charity Gbedawo, Ambassador to Morocco; Ms Abigail Naa Adzoko Kwashi, Ambassador to Norway; Dr Robert Afriyie, Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union; and Nana Bediatuo Asante, Ambassador-at-Large.

The President noted that several instances of violence and intimidation connected to political activities had made the issue of vigilantism in Ghanaian politics a recurring challenge.

He stressed the need to maintain peace and order during the election period to ensure that the polls are conducted in a way that reflects the people’s true will.

President Akufo-Addo urged all political parties and candidates to respect the democratic process and the w
ill of the Ghanaian people.

He asked them to refrain from actions that would compromise the integrity of the elections and to run their campaigns peacefully.

‘No candidate or political party is superior to the will of the Ghanaian people.

‘Government is determined to enforce strictly the law on vigilantism. Any individual or group found culpable and falling foul of the law will be made to face its full rigours,’ he warned.

The President emphasized that Ghana’s continuing democratic growth depends on the government’s efforts to secure peaceful elections.

He said the government had put measures in place to guarantee a peaceful election period and the prompt resolution of any acts of violence or intimidation.

Ghana’s ability to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections will not only strengthen its democratic institutions but also enhance its international standing as a model of democracy in Africa.

‘As we look ahead to the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in December this year, I want
to reiterate my unwavering determination to ensure that these elections are conducted in a manner that is free, fair, transparent, and credible,’ he said.

President Akufo-Addo tasked the new envoys to promote Ghana’s image as a stable and democratic country.

He urged them to uphold the values of democracy and to engage with their host nations in fostering strong bilateral relationships that support Ghana’s democratic aspirations.

‘Your primary responsibility is to promote the image of Ghana as a stable, peaceful, and forward-looking country.

‘This entails engaging with your host nations to foster strong bilateral relationships, attract investments, and advocate for the interests of Ghana,’ he told them

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Mustapha Ussif, the Minister of Youth and Sports says Ghana successfully organised the 13th African Games, Accra 2023.

He told Parliament, in Accra, that the 13th African Games, Accra 2023, was successful, despite a few challenges.

Some of the challenges were the fear and anxiety that surrounded the possibility of meeting deadlines on the provisions of facilities and infrastructure as well as the acquisition of relevant equipment and logistics for the games.

He said the timely intervention of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ensured the resolution of all the challenges and made the organisation of the games possible as scheduled.

Mr Ussif said with the organization of the 13th African Games, Ghana could now boast of world-class sporting facilities, ready to host both local and international competitions.

On challenges, Mr Ussif said, circumstances beyond government control affected the smooth construction of facilities for the games.

Two external global crises contributed significantly to affec
ting our preparations and dates for the Games, just as they did to many international sporting calendars, between 2020 and 2023.

Regarding publicity, the Minister said the low publicity of the Games affected attendance in the first week of the competitions if was evident in the spectator turnout during the Opening Ceremony as compared to the attendance at the Closing Ceremony; stating that however, with a concerted effort and an increase in publicity drive, this challenge was put under control and the Games generated excitement.

On negative publicity, he said some people, including some high-ranking members of society, who should have known better, deliberately set out to derail the Games by engaging in negative publicities against the Games and that some resorted to baseless allegations and lies, just to pitch the Ghanaian public against the Games, with the ultimate intention of derailing the success of the Games; saying ‘But the Ghanaian public saw through the mischief and did not fall for this mischief.

H
e said in the end the majority of the Ghanaian public saw the Games as a national project and beautifully embraced it.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Minority urged the Minister to present to the House the financial report on the organization of the Accra 2023 Games.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Richmond Koffie Hatto, the newly elected Presiding Member for Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region has promised to champion matters relating to agriculture, road networks, education, and others.

He said they remained the key major areas that the Municipality was lacking that needed to be given attention to.

Mr Hatto, who was recently elected by members of the Ketu South Assembly, gave the assurance on Monday, June 24 during an engagement with the Ghana News Agency.

‘As a house, we will work with the Agriculture Department to make good use of the government’s ‘Planting for Food and Job (PFJ)’ policy to make sure our farmers receive the necessary support to expand their yields and how to resolve post-harvest losses.’

Mr Hatto, also a professional teacher, highlighted that good road networks, and issues regarding quality education, health, and others within the Municipality must be brought to bear.

‘Agbozume market, Aflao market, Denu, and other satellite markets are major revenue sources so we sh
all work on how to make them vibrant to increase the revenue generation for the Municipality.’

The Ketu South Municipal Assembly is located on the South-Eastern side of the Volta Region, sharing the border with the Republic of Togo on the East, and Keta, and Ketu North on the West and North parts respectively.

The area has a population of about 219,618 people with major towns such as Aflao, Denu, Tokor, Agbozume, Nogokpo, Adina, Blekusu, Xedranawo, Atiwuta, Klikor, and others.

They engage in vegetable, maize, and cassava cultivation as their major farming activities and animal husbandry.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Alex Kaakyire Frempong, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, says proposals for the abolishment of the Council of State are useful but should be done in accordance with the Constitution.

He said the establishment of the Council of State under Chapter 9 of the 1992 Constitution was an entrenched provision and thus may require a referendum to amend.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Frempong, who is also the Executive Director of the Elections Research and Resource Centre, backed calls for the establishment of a second chamber of Parliament to replace the Council of State.

He, however, acknowledged that the abolishment of the Council of State ‘will not be a simple matter’.

The Political Scientist was responding to a proposal by Mr Alan Kyerematen, the Founder and Leader of the Movement for Change, to abolish the Council of State if elected president.

At the launch of the Movement’s manifesto christened ‘The Great Transformational Plan’ on Monday, June
24, 2024, Mr Kyerematen said he would replace the Council of State with a new Second Chamber of Parliament with representation from key stakeholder groups like the labour unions

In recent times, the relevance of the Council of State has been questioned with some political commentators, academia and civil society organisations suggesting that the body had outlived its usefulness and should be abolished.

Mr Frempong said the Council of State had over the years proven not to live up to expectation, adding that the current composition of the Council was problematic.

‘The mode of appointment of the Council of State where the majority of them are nominees of the President and those who are supposed to give it a regional balance that is also fought along party lines. Invariably they become the errand boys and girls of the President.

‘If we could change it and have a second chamber that is differently composed from the first one, I think it will be good and it will moderate some of the too-partisan situation in t
he lower House,’ he said.

Mr Frempong said the proposed Second Chamber should not be on partisan lines and should offer opportunities to professional groups, traditional leaders, and distinguished personalities to participate in the governance process.

‘The composition should be different from a mere second chamber which is also contested along party lines,’ he said.

‘The composition should include people from different associations, chiefs and people who have distinguished themselves in other areas and want to contribute to the politics of the country but not on partisan lines,’ he stressed.

Source: Ghana News Agency