Day: June 26, 2024

Mr Peter Mac Manu, a former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for a regulation to place a time limit on political campaigns in the country.

He said that would enable elected governments ample time to implement their policies and programmes for national development.

It would also reduce the financial burden imposed on political parties and would-be candidates by long-term campaigns.

The former Chairman of the NPP gave the suggestion at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences’ annual public forum on the theme: ‘National Elections in Ghana: Issues and Prospects’.

Mr Manu, who was speaking on the topic: ‘Regulating Campaign Financing for National Elections: A Comparative Perspective’, said the current campaign period in the country was too long, giving elected governments no respite to effectively implement their policies.

‘I think in this country we use to say that the next elections begin after the end of the last election. How can you campaign for four years?

Mr Manu, therefor
e, proposed that campaigns should only begin when the Electoral Commission (EC) had received and okayed an aspirant’s candidature, making them eligible to contest the elections.

‘I mean, we live in this country where we have seen some candidates present their nominations to the EC and they are rejected and the matter will end up in the courts, either the Supreme Court will come in or the High Court will come in even if they have won the elections as it happened in the Assin North Constituency recently.

‘So, if the EC has not approved your candidature, you may win your party’s parliamentary or presidential primaries, but you are not a candidate,’ he said.

Participants at the annual public forum organised by GAAS

He opined that: ‘So, for me, the day that the EC will approve your nomination, in the current circumstances, that is September 19, that’s when you become a candidate, that’s when you can call your campaign. But that is not the case and I think this is an area we have to look at because we can’t spe
nd four years in campaigning.

‘And I’m happy that a group like the Ghana Bar Association has made this call and our campaign periods are too long and we have to shorten it. In fact, in Nigeria, it’s six months, in Kenya, it’s six months, but in Ghana, if I may say, it’s four years.’

Mr Manu, who was also the NPP Campaign Manager for the 2016 and 2020 elections, called for a complete reform of the country’s Political Parties Act 2000, (Act 574), to check campaign donations and expenditure going forward.

Expenditure limits, he said, should apply to both political parties and their parliamentary and presidential candidates, adding that the reform should clearly identify what constituted an election expenditure and what did not, to control incessant spending.

‘This unlimited amount of money that people can donate or political parties can expend is not the right way to go,’ he indicated.

On monetisation of politics in the country, Mr Manu noted that the cost of politics had increased astronomically, over the
years, in both internal and general elections.

The situation, he said, was denying some competent citizens, including the youth, women and persons with disabilities from putting themselves up for political positions.

Going forward, Mr Manu called for bold steps to be taken to end the canker and curb the potential of handing over power to the highest bidder in future.

Mr William Nyarko, Executive Director, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability

Mr William Nyarko, Executive Director, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability, speaking at the same event, also bemoaned the absence of campaign financing regulations in the country, adding that immediate steps be taken to develop one.

He said regulation on campaign financing would enable the citizens to hold individuals and political parties accountable.

‘The current framework states how political parties are funded but not candidates of the parties,’ he noted.

Mr Nyarko described the existing legal and regulatory framework on fin
ancing of political parties as ‘not fit for purpose’, and called for amendment of the acts, including the Political Parties Act, to meet the need of the time.

He also proposed State funding of political parties as a way of holding the parties accountable

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Running Mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will on Wednesday embark on a day’s visit to the Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region.

A statement issued by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, the Spokesman of the NDC Running Mate, copied to the Ghana News Agency said she would visit a palm oil processing factory which was ravaged by fire recently to encourage the women who work at the place and offer them support on behalf of Mr John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the NDC.

It noted that Prof Opoku-Agyemang would also pay courtesy calls to the Tafohene and the chief of Kukurantumi respectively and return to Accra the same day.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 elections, will hold a media encounter on Sunday, July 7.

Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Spokesperson of the NDC flagbearer, in a statement, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the major engagement with journalists was the first in a series of similar encounters that Mr Mahama would have with the media before the December elections.

It said it was an opportunity for him to share his vision for Ghana’s future and address important national interest issues.

The statement said the forthcoming media encounter, a testament to Mahama’s unwavering commitment to transparency and dialogue with the people of Ghana, recognizes the crucial role of the media.

It noted that former President Mahama firmly believes that an open and interactive conversation with the media was vital in equipping the Ghanaian people with the information needed to make informed decisions.

The statement urged media houses interested in a
ttending to cover the encounter to send details of the reporter and video operator, where applicable, to

Source: Ghana News Agency

Major General Matthew Essien, the Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), has paid a courtesy call on Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, at his Office in Parliament House in Accra.

A statement issued by the Media Relations Department of Parliament, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the purpose of the visit was to officially extend an invitation to the Speaker, the Leadership of the House, as well as Members of Parliament (MPs) to participate in the upcoming GAFCSC Public Lecture, which is scheduled to take place on 1st July.

It said the lecture would focus on National Security and Defence issues and also serve as a forum to discuss issues pertaining to security at large.

The public lecture is on the theme: ‘A Reflection of the Democratic Control over the Military, the Way Forward for Sustainability.’

Mr Asiamah commended Major General Essien and his colleagues for the initiative and the visit to the Legislative House to formally invite t
hem for the public lecture; saying ‘This is the centre of democracy.’

Mr James Agalga, the Ranking Member on Defence and Interior Committee, in his remarks, said he would personally take up the responsibility to attend the public lecture; adding that ‘This is an exercise that requires the fullest participation of the House.’

In attendance at the meeting were Madam Jane Frimpong, Senior Principal Assistant Clerk in charge of Leadership, Speakership and Membership Services; Mr Anthony Agyekum, Director of Speaker Secretariat, Mr Sebastian David Damoah, Director of Media Relations; and Superintendent Effia Tenge (Rtd), Director of Public Engagement.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, has inspected the progress of work on the Obuasi Urban Park as part of his two-day working visit to the Ashanti Region.

The 800-1000 capacity recreational centre located near the Len Clay Stadium comes with mini conference rooms, auditorium, washrooms, playground and other facilities.

Executed by Jaborah Construction Limited, the GHC 13 million project is being financed from the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP).

The Minister expressed satisfaction about the progress of work and charged both the contractors and the Municipal Assembly to speed up work to ensure the project was completed within the six-month period.

He said the government was committed to enhancing infrastructure and improving living conditions in the 35 beneficiary cities under the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme across the country.

Before inspecting the project site, the Minister met Municipal Assembly staff, dur
ing which he encouraged them to maintain quality service delivery to improve the people’s lives.

They should work towards successful completion of projects under the GSCSP, highlighting the significant impact the projects would have on communities.

Mr. Elijah Adansi- Bonah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), assured residents that the project would be completed within time, emphasising the difficulties the Assembly faced in relocating the artisans who used to occupy the project site.

‘We had a torrid time relocating the artisans from the project site to their new place at Biakoyeden.

This is the reason for the delay of the project, but we are working hard to meet the deadline,’ he noted.

He said the recreational centre had been on the books of the Assembly for a long time and was finally seeing the light of day.

Source: Ghana News Agency