EC gazettes 2008 election results

The results of the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections have been gazetted and published as required by law

For the presidential elections, it was only the declaration of the winner by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) that was gazette with the authority of a constitutional Instrument (C.I) 58.

"In the exercise of powers conferred on the Electoral Commission under article 63(9) of the constitution, this instrument is hereby made, "the gazette declaration published by the Ghana Publishing Corporation Limited (GPCL)stated. it added that" Prof John Evans Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, having, in the presidential election held on the 28^th day of December, 2008, pursuant to Article 63(3) of the Constitution, obtained more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner of the elections".

The declaration was signed under the hand and seal of the Chairman of the EC,Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, and dated January 3, 2009

Article 63(9) of the Constitution states that."An instrument which –(a) is executed under the hand of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and under the seal of the commission ; and (b) states that the person named in the instrument was declared elected as the president of Ghana at the election of president, shall be prima facie evidence that the person named was so elected."

According to Mr.B.N.T. Ashong-Katai the Production Manager of the GPCL, unlike the parliamentary results whereby the entire details of the results were gazetted and published, with the presidential it was only a declaration by the EC Chairman, with the consent of the Attorney-General, that was gazetted

Meanwhile, the parliamentary results relating to the Akwatia and Asutifi South Constituencies are not included in the published results because they are currently subject of electoral disputes.

 Daily Graphic

 

 

 

 

West African network to harmonize election standards

A regional network of electoral commissions has been established in the West African sub-region to harmonize election standards among ECOWAS countries.

Known as ECOWAS network of Electoral Commissions, it is made up of heads of institutions responsible for managing elections in ECOWAS member states.

A director at the African Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. William A Awinador-Kanyirige, who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the body would ensure the promotion of transparent and credible elections in the region and help entrench the culture of democracy.

He said the establishment of the network, which was agreed at the end of a two-day meeting of the heads of the electoral management bodies in the region, would also contribute to the emergence of independent and impartial electoral management bodies in members states.

He explained that the proposal for the creation of the network emanated from a join workshop held in September 2005 by ECOWAS and the Pan African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG).

Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige said the body was mandated to promote public confidence in the electoral process through transparent and credible electoral procedures, as well as the employment of electoral officials with integrity, probity and a strong sense of public service.

He said according to its eight-page statute, the network would also serve as a platform for co-operation in improving electoral laws and practices, the exchange of experiences and best practices, as well as pooling and sharing of electoral resources to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Mr. Awinador-Kanyirigie said the operations of the network, which had three organs, including a General Assembly and a Coordinating Committee, would be coordinated from a Secretariat located at the ECOWAS Electoral Unit.

He said the meeting endorsed tow documents, one of which was the 34-page ECOWAS handbook on election observation that would serve as a guide for the proper assessment of genuine democratic elections in member states.

He said the first section of the handbook placed electoral observation within the mandate of ECOWAS, while the other sections comprised practical guidelines for observation missions and sampled observation forms.

Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige said about 60 participants, including academics, electoral experts and civil society representatives, attended the meeting which was organized in collaboration with the Europe Union and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)

Court adjourns NPP candidate’s petition on December 7 result

An Accra Fast Track Court on Friday adjourned to February 10, the hearing of an election petition brought before it by Mr Francis Kojo Smith, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South, in the December 7 election.
     Mr Smith, who is also an Accra legal practitioner, is challenging the result in the constituency which declared Mr Fritz Baffour, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, the winner.
     In his petition filed on his behalf by Mr James Hughes, the defeated NPP candidate is praying the court to declare the electoral results by the Electoral Commission (EC) null and void.
     Mr Smith is further praying the court to place a perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Baffour from holding himself as the elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ablekuma South.
     Furthermore, Mr Smith is asking the court to order a recount of the ballot because, in his view, the election was plagued by a series of irregularities and malpractices which tilted the results to the advantage of Mr Baffour.
     In a supporting affidavit to his motion paper, Mr Smith claims that out of a total of 140 polling stations in the constituency, he won maximum votes in over 72 polling stations, which, in his view, had higher voter turn-out than those he lost.
     According to Mr Smith, the returning officer declared a total of 50,879 votes for him, while that of Mr Baffour stood at 56,152 votes.
     Mr Smith alleged that these figures were based on wrong and fraudulent computations, because the certified figures by the EC were not the true reflection of those collated by his polling agents.
     When the case came up for hearing on Friday, Mr James Quarshie-Idun, counsel for the EC, informed the court that the Commission had been served with a copy of the suit filed by Mr Smith.
     The case was first fixed for hearing on January 16, but on that day, the court learnt that the EC had not been served.
     Consequently, Mr Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta, the presiding judge, ordered counsel for Mr Smith, to ensure that the Commission was served, and consequently adjourned the matter to Friday.
     Mr Samuel Cudjoe, counsel for Mr Baffour, was in court with a counter motion to strike out the substantive one filed by Mr Hughes on behalf of Mr Smith.
     Therefore, on February 10, the court will determine the merits or otherwise of Mr Cudjoe's counter motion, before considering whether to look into the substantive matter.
GNA

NPP proposes internal electoral reforms

The defeated New Patriotic Party is intent on reviewing the Electoral College system of electing party executives and presidential candidates.

The system was criticised by some leading members of the party during last year's parliamentary primaries which were dogged with violence at some constituencies.

They argued the system prevented most of the stakeholders from taking part in the election of presidential and parliamentary candidates.

With the National Delegates Conference scheduled for May, 2009, the electoral reforms seem high on the agenda.

The General Secretary of the party Nana Ohene Ntow told Joy News on Friday the party is expecting proposals from the general public for consideration during the party's Delegates Conference.

He conceded the current electoral system of the party is liable undue exploitation and hoped a reform would limit the use of money to influence voters.

He said the proposed reforms were supposed to have been tabled for consideration in 2003 but were shelved.

Nana Ntow also dismissed allegations that the party had failed to clear victory cloths and drinks from the ports, ostensibly to celebrate the party's victory.

He told Joy News' Matilda Asante, the party's campaign committee has not imported any cloths or drinks, but conceded individuals may have, as part of their own private merchandise.

JFM

Vetting to begin on Feb. 6

The public vetting of President John Mills' Ministerial Nominees by the Appointments Committee of Parliament will begin on February 6 2009.

The vetting session will continue through the 7^th of February 2009 and will be postponed till February 9 2009.

In all, 35 nominees have been programmed to take turns to answer questions from Members of the Committee about themselves and the various sectors they have been asked by the President to manage.

The decision to begin public scrutiny of the nominees on February 6 this year was taken at a meeting of Members of the Appointments Committee this afternoon.

Speaking to Citi News soon after the meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Hon Edward Doe Adzaho, disclosed that moves are underway to engage the services of the various state investigative agencies to help dig into the backgrounds of the various nominees.

Outlining the order the nominees were to appear on the first day of vetting, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee noted that Hon. Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Minister designate for the Ministry of Education will be the first followed by Mr. Cletus Avoka, Minister designate to the Ministry of Interior then Hon. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister designate for the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development.

Ms. Akua Dansua, Minister designate for the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs will then follow and then Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister designate for the Ministry of Tourism.

The remainder of the nominees will follow according to a laid down criteria set by the Appointments Committee which is subject to change to adapt to developing circumstances.  

He said the Committee will try as much as it can to be transparent and thorough throughout the vetting period.

He noted a response from the public with respect to objections concerning the nominations had yet to be filed.

Meanwhile the Ranking Member on the Committee, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, says he expects detailed work to be done into the backgrounds of the nominees to ensure the right quality of human resources are approved to run the various Ministries.

He said the Committee's guide book will be the 1992 Constitution. 

 

President John Evans Atta Mills nominated a number of persons for Parliament to vet for appointment as Ministers of State. They include Ministry of Information, Mrs Zita Okai Kwei; Minister at the Presidency, Mrs Halutie Dubie Alhassan; Ministry of Finance, Dr Kwabena Dufuor; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni; Ministry of Defence, Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith (Rtd); Ministry of The Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka; Ministry of Health, Dr George Yankey; and Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor.

The others are: Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Moses Asaga; Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Bubarak; Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah; Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh; Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi; Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu; and Minister at the Presidency, Mr Azong Alhassan.

The President has also made the following nominations for the consideration of Parliament for appointment as Regional Ministers: Volta Region, Mr Joseph Amenowode; Western Region, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo; Northern Region, Mr S.S. Nanyina; and Upper East Region, Mark Woyongo. The statement said the list of Deputy Ministers would be released when Ministers of State have been vetted and confirmed and after due consultation with the Ministers as required by the Constitution.

By: citifmonline.com

President advised to consider competent people for positions

Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth in Ashanti have appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to endeavour to consider youthful, competent, approachable, humble and hardworking people for positions.
 They insisted that under no circumstances should the President allow himself to be persuaded or pressurized to choose people, who were not qualified for positions and that those nominated should first and foremost be true party members, who were in good standing and also of substance.
 A statement signed by Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, Spokesperson for the NDC youth activists in the Ashanti Region, and issued in Kumasi, expressed the hope that the President would use his discretion in choosing nominees for key positions.
 In a related development, Mr Joseph Salifu Boarle, a Leading Member of the NDC in the Asawase Constituency, has criticised the struggle among some supporters for the position of the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE).
 He warned that the Party had its own criteria in considering people for the position and said it behooved the Ashanti Regional Steering Committee of the Party to use laid down procedures in short-listing people for nomination for the position.
 "The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) seat is a crucial one and that there is the need to be circumspect in choosing the right man for the position."
 This, he said, would help the Party to achieve its objective of delivering on its campaign promises.
GNA

More persons vying to contest seats on the Council of State

   – Nine persons, on Tuesday filled nomination forms of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Sunyani, to contest elections to represent the Brong Ahafo Region on the Council of State.
     They were, Mr. John Henry Owusu-Acheampong, 68, veteran politician, who holds a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics, Mr. Kwabena Kyere, a retired educationist, Mr.Kwaku Dartey, 46, teacher, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management Studies.
     Others were Mr. Usman Fakih Suallah, 27, also a teacher with Diploma in Basic Education and Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II, 60, Nana Kwadwo Sito, 53, Paramount chiefs of Seikwa and Banda Traditional Areas respectively in the Tain District and Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V, Paramount chief of Yeji Traditional Area.

In Sekondi,Eight individuals, who collected forms to contest and represent the Western Region as Member of the Council of State, have submitted their forms as at the close of work on January 27 2008.
       He said the eight, made up of six men and two women aged between 57 years and 80 years included retired educationists, lecturers and administrators.
       Mr Opoku-Mensah however said their names would not be disclosed but their educational backgrounds ranged between Advanced Level Certificate holders to Doctorate Degree holders.
       He said two representatives from each of the 17 Districts in the Region, would converge at the EC Regional Office in Sekondi on February 10 2009 to elect a representative for the Region.
       Three people including a woman, collected forms on January 21 2009 the day nominations opened.
       Mr Opoku-Mensah, who was speaking to GNA in an interview, said the Council of State was a constitutional body that advised the President and the members must be intelligent, patriotic and hard working.
       He said the membership of the Council was a representative from each of the 10 Regions; a Former Inspector General of Police; Former Chief Justice; Former Chief of Defence Staff and 11 others appointed by the President.
GNA

Strive to fulfill fuel price cut campaign promise

A top clergyman of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Most Reverend Dr Godfred Zomelo has called on President John Evans Atta Mills to strive to fulfill his fuel price cut promise he gave to the nation during his first 100 days of his administration.
     He said the reduction of the fuel price would not only serve as an answer to the promise, but would go along way to put more money into the pockets of workers.
     Most Rev Dr Zomelo was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Winneba on Wednesday.
     He explained that from all indications, there is no way the just-inaugurated National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration could come out with any meaningful salary structure for the workers as early as expected by workers.
     The clergyman said therefore there was the need to give a more serious thought to the fuel price reduction so that it could force the price of commodities down a bit and also meet travelling and transport expenditure of workers in the cities and urban towns who are facing economic problems.
     The move would also help cut the huge freight charges which transport operators inflict on traders who cart staple foodstuffs from the hinterland to the urban towns and the big cities, he added.
     Most Rev. Dr. Zomelo praised President Atta Mills for giving due considerations to the appointment of women to ministerial and other key positions and expressed the hope that, the move would inspire the appointees to give of their best to supplement the efforts of the government at improving the lot of the people.
     He advised all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious affiliation to forget the past and come together to forge ahead the developmental issues confronting the nation.
     Most Rev Dr Zomelo said the destiny of the nation needed collective spirit and zeal to reshape the socio-economic structures of previous governments for the benefit of the present and future generations.
GNA

Nkrumah’s 100th birth date celebrations launched

– Kwame Nkrumah Foundation (KNF), an organization dedicated to the memory and championing of beliefs and ideology of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana on Wednesday launched centenary celebration
in memory of his birth.
     The year-long celebration will see a re-enactment of the declaration
of the independence day of Ghana, public lectures among others to whip up Nkrumaism enthusiasm among the peoples of the land.
     Launching the celebration in Accra, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa,
President of the KNF said Nkrumaism was still relevant so long as poverty
and deprivation continued to afflict Ghanaians.
     Professor Akosa who is also a Pathologist and Lecturer at the University
of Ghana Medical School said the KNF would work under the code name; "Save
Ghana now" to ensure that the poverty gap was bridged in fulfillment of the dreams of the first President of the republic.
     He mentioned some factories and developmental interventions of Dr Nkrumah which he said were left to lie fallow contributing to the low level of the country's development.
     He defended the legacy and regime of the late President saying he was not an autocratic leader as being portrayed by some members of the society.
     "We of the KNF pledge that we shall work tirelessly to redeem the image
of our selfless leader Osagyefo"
     He said in view of Nkrumah's passion for education, the KNF would create
an ideas bank where writings shall be invited from the public and the most creative submissions awarded with prizes.
     He said the overthrow of Nkrumah was a dark day in Ghanaian politics and also the beginning of the developmental woes of Ghana.
     He called on the President John Atta Mills to initiate the process of making September 21, the birth-date of Nkrumah as a national holiday and pay
him his well-earned tribute.
     As part of the activities for the celebration, the KNF hoped to create
a library on the premises of Kwame Nkrumah Mauseleum where speeches, documentaries and his writings would be assessed.
GNA

President asked to be firm in taking decisions

Alhaji Alhassan Oppong, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Nkoranza, has urged President Evans Atta Mills to remain firm in taking decisions that would promote national development.
     At a special prayer session, organised for President Mills at Kranka in Nkoranza North District, Alhaji Oppong advised the President not to be worried about criticisms, especially from the opposition.
     He said "Since uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, you should expect all sorts of comments from the people, more especially from the opposition".
     Alhaji Oppong urged President Mills and the NDC leadership to promote grass roots participatory democracy by listening to the views and opinions of ordinary citizens.
     The NDC member called on all Members of Parliament, irrespective of the parties they represented to work as a team towards national development.
     He advised NDC youth to avoid practices that could drag the name of the party into disrepute.
     Alhaji Oppong commended members of the party for voting massively for party in the last elections.
     Chief Imam Mohammed Abdurahaman advised the youth to be law-abiding, respect authority and eschew social vices.
GNA   

Why Waste Time Thanking God?

Why Waste Time Thanking God?
A GNA News Feature by Boakye-Dankwa Boadi
 
   The decision of President John Evans Atta Mills to consult with the Leadership of the Ghanaian religious organisations to observe Sunday February 1 2009 as national day of prayer and thanksgiving struck a harmonious note in some ears while others rather heard a dissonance.
     The GNA reported: "President John Evans Atta Mills in consultation with the Leadership of the Ghanaian Clergy has declared Sunday February 1 as a national day of prayer and thanksgiving for the recent peaceful and successful elections.
   "In view of this there would be special Muslim prayers under the auspices of the National Chief Imam, Sheik Nuhu Sharebutu on Friday January 30 at the Abbossey Okai Mosque in Accra at 1200 hours, a statement from the Presidency said on Tuesday.
    "The service is on the theme: "Uniting Ghana Through Christ."
    "The interdenominational service would take place on Sunday February 1 at the Independence square at 1400 hours.
    "The statement reminded the general public that political party colours would not be allowed at the event."
    The handling of religious and moral matters becomes very tricky when dealing with a large number of people and in this instance the about 22 million Ghanaians, who profess all kinds of faiths.
     There are the witches' and wizards' conclaves that would see the observation of the prayer and thanksgiving day as an attempt to assail their fortresses just as the man possessed by demons shouted at Jesus Christ and demanded to know whether he had come to destroy them ahead of time.
     These witches and wizards must have started preparations either to counteract or reduce the effect the day of prayer and thanksgiving would have on them and by extension on the whole populace.
     It, therefore, behooves all men of God to precede the day with fasting, because the battle is not against flesh and blood but against powers; principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places, as the Scripture teaches.
     The next group of people that would have to be taken care of are the free thinkers. This group do not believe anything beyond what the five senses can perceive. To them man's destiny is in his own hands. He determines his own fate and there is no God anywhere, who directs the affairs of men. Indeed some claim that it was men that created God and not the other way round. They posit that men in their inability to understand the mechanisms at play in their environment, found a way out of their bewilderment by attributing everything they did not understand to a superior being.
     Some of these free thinkers go to the extent of propounding that "if indeed there was a God somewhere, he or she would be too busy attending to more pressing things in the universe rather than waste his or her time on men, who are mere dust and products of a small planet in a small solar system compared to others elsewhere."
    The tirade or harangue of this group should be countered with cogent argument to the effect that any serious God would be interested in everything that belonged to him or her since it is the little things that aggregate to become big. The saying "little drops of water make the mighty ocean" is germane here.
    The next group is made up of those, who have belief in one kind of superior being or the other. This group are allies and what need to be done is to get them to join the gospel train. They should be invited to get on board.
     A story is told of an Editor who told his colleagues long before Election 2008 that he had edited a story in his dream in early September 2008 in which Prof Mills was referred to as the "President-Elect" and, therefore, posited that since his dreams normally came to pass, Prof. Mills was going to be the next President of Ghana.
     Indeed, many men and women of God granted interviews to journalists and were positively sure that Prof. Mills was going to be the next President.
     Some went to the extent to predict that Election 2008 would be a long-drawn contest but at the end Prof Mills was going to emerge victorious.
     All this should tell all men something - that there is someone, somewhere in the universe, who is very much interested in the affairs of men on a planet called Earth. He or She reveals things to men and women long before they happen.
     Thus President Mills' call for the observation of a day of prayer and thanksgiving is in the right direction and all Ghanaians should embrace it and participate fully.
     Indeed the time to be used to thank God would be time profitably applied. Ghana our Motherland, would reap the benefits in the not too distant future.  
GNA

Workshop suggests Presidential Estates Unit

Participants at a workshop to refine portions of the Transition Bill on Wednesday stressed the need for the establishment of a Presidential Estates Unit to be in-charge of keeping inventory of government assets and properties.
     This, they argued, would end accusations that state property and assets had been stolen by previous governments as had characterized transitions.
     To be headed by an Administrator-General, the Estates Unit would ensure that the assets and properties of the government were maintained in good condition at all times.
     The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) drew up the Presidential Transition Bill aimed at smoothening the country's transition process from one government to the other.
     It is envisaged that the Bill would become a framework that would spell out which political and public office holders lose their jobs on the assumption of office of a new president, guidelines for the treatment of appointees of the former government and end of service benefits, among others.
     This, it is hoped, would end polarisation and acrimony that had become the bane of previous transitions.
     Apart from 2001 in which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government constitutionally transferred power to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and this year when the NPP handed over to the NDC, all other transitions since independence were through coups d'etat.
     Nana Ato Dadzie, a private legal practitioner, said an office in-charge of procuring, securing and keeping inventory of assets would save any incoming government the hassle of finding out from the previous administration the status of government assets.
     He said since the Unit would be in-charge of the assets it would be easy for them to furnish new governments with records of assets and properties.
     Nana Dadzie said it was important that the guidelines were passed by Parliament to be a blue print for any future transition.
     Mr Laary Bimi, Chairperson of the National Commission on Civic Education, said the election period must be looked at to allow enough time for the transition.
     He said there was also need to put into law the benefits to be enjoyed by ex-presidents to ensure uniformity and a clear list of officers that must go when the president left office.
     Mr Bimi said a more harmonious transfer of power from one administration to another in a manner that did not introduce needless strain between the winner and the loser would help forge national reconciliation, lowering of political tension and promotion of inter-party cooperation.
     Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, a lecturer at GIMPA, said a look must also be taken at the vacuum created in the administration of the country when a new government assumed office since Ministers would then not have been in position.
     Other issues that engaged the attention of participants were election of Speaker, the time of swearing in of President-Elect, handing over notes and transitional positions.
GNA

Actions of NDC Transition Team come under fire

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament on Wednesday said some actions of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) transition team amounted to "utter and contemptuous disregard of the law, intimidation and violation of independent constitutional bodies."
     The Minority at a press conference in Parliament led by its Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the Auditor-General was unceremoniously summoned on Monday and made to submit a draft audit report on the Ghana@50 celebrations.
     He said the action was clearly illegal, as by law the Auditor-General may only submit reports, interim or final, to Parliament.
      "The whole event smacks of an inquisition and a return of the notorious and infamous citizens vetting committee of the '80s.  At one point the Auditor-General had to exclaim '…you can't teach me how to do my job!'"
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said: "The Auditor-General is a creature of the Constitution and his office is established under article 187 of the Constitution.  As provided in article 187(2) and 187(5) the Auditor-General prepares reports on the public account of Ghana which he submits to Parliament."
     The Minority Leader said the Transition Team was a body unknown to the constitutional dispensation and did not have the power to summon the Auditor-General.
     He said the President had powers to request the Auditor-General to do some auditing and that power is only exercised on the "advice of the Council of State which is at the moment non-existent.".
     "Even then, it is our contention that the destination of the report so ordered by the President under article 187(8) of the Constitution is Parliament and nowhere else and certainly not the corridors of the NDC Transition Team."
    He said the actions of the Transition Team were a blatant attempt to undermine the independence of a constitutional body, adding that; "this smacks of a creeping dictatorship and puts our young democracy at risk."
     "We call on the good people of this country to stand up against and reject this creeping dictatorship, arrogance and actions of impunity.  We call on all independent institutions of State to stand firm."
     He assured Ghanaians that they would remain firm and resolute in their determination decapitate the resurging culture of impunity in the bid to protect and defend the constitution of the land by all legal means.
GNA

Parliament to set up Committee to look into security concerns

Parliament is to set up a committee to look into some security concerns raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) including the use of the powers of the occult and sorcery to harm members.
     The safety of MPs came up for discussions when Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, in a statement on the floor of the House, said his seat had been tampered with and a toxic and injurious substance, lead, had been planted into the system.
     He had earlier, on January 7, this year openly complained on the floor about his seat.
     "It was most uncomfortable and attempted to throw me about anytime I needed to adjust myself. Thursday, January 15, 2009, when the Estate Department called for its replacement, it came to be noticed that the seat I had been sitting on in the Chamber all this while had been tampered with. The holding system had been removed and had been replaced with some rather crude lead fabrication."
     The Minority Leader said it was discovered that out of the 230 seats it was only his that had been tampered with.
     "Madam, Speaker, I believe in God and not the occult or the so called powers of mysterious forces of darkness."
     He said incidentally, his office seat had also been tampered with and questioned who was behind this, the intention and how the person gained access to the Chamber and his seat.
     He called for investigation and said the security of members, the Speaker and staff of Parliament was at stake.
     Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader, said he had also almost fallen on the same seat previously as Minority Leader just before the December 7, elections.
     I can't believe in the use of the occult. It will not happen. We need to investigate. Leadership will meet and remedy this wrong," he said.
     Ms Cecilia Dapaah, NPP Member for Bamtama, asked for prayers, saying people have sat on certain seats and had become paralyzed or died in the process.
     "We need prayers for ourselves and leaders so that witchcraft and occultism will be done away with," she added.
      Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker, said only yesterday, Tuesday, his attention was drawn by an NDC MP who had suffered from a similar incident when he soiled his clothes through oil smeared on his seat.
     Mrs Agnes Bamford-Addo, Speaker, called on the leadership to meet over these matters and set up a committee to investigate and report back.
     Earlier, she informed the House of a communication from President John Evans Atta Mills on the release of a second list of ministerial nominees and referred it to the Appointments Committee.
    Below is the list: 
1. Ministry of Information  - Mrs. Zita Okai Kwei
2. Ministry at the Presidency - Mrs. Halutie Dubie Alhassan
3. Ministry of Finance  - Dr. Kwabena Dufuor
4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
and Regional Integration - Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni

 

5. Ministry of Defence  - Lt.Gen. J.H. Smith (Rtd)
6. Ministry of Interior  - Cletus Avoka
7. Ministry of Health  - Dr. George Yankey

 

8. Ministry of Employment and
      Social Welfare   - Stephen Kwao Amoanor

 

9. Ministry of Water Resources,
      Works and Housing  - Moses Asaga

 

10. Ministry of Youth and Sports  - Alhaji Muntaka
        Mohammed Bubarak

 

11. Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture - Alexander Asum-Ahensah
12. Ministry of local Government and
      Rural Development   - Joseph Yieleh Chireh
     
13. Ministry of Food and Agriculture - Kwesi Ahwoi
14. Ministry of Roads and Highways - Joe Gidisu
15. Minister at the Presidency  - Azong Alhassan

 

       The statement said the President has also nominated for the consideration of Parliament for appointment as Regional Ministers.

 

(i)  Volta Region   - Joseph Amenowode
(ii)  Western Region   - Paul Evans Aidoo
(iii) Northern Region   - S.S. Nanyina
(iv) Upper East Region  - Mark Woyongo

 

     The statement said the list of Deputy Ministers will be released when Ministers of State have been vetted and confirmed after due consultation with the Ministers as required by the Constitution.
GNA

Eight people to contest Council of State membership in Eastern Region

Eight people had filed to contest for membership on the Council of State in the Eastern Region at the close of nominations on Wednesday.
     They included Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu, Chief of Akyem-Anyinase, Nana Kodua Kesse, Adontenhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Dr Adolph Appiah, a Medical Practitioner and Reverend (Mrs) Paullina Yeboah, a Minister of the Gospel.
     The rest were Mr Jerry Ntow Siaw and Mr Ampofo Duodu both teachers,  Mr Fred Ohene Kena, an Engineer and a former Minister of State and Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, a Pharmacist.
     Mr Eric Mensah-Bonsu, Deputy Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), told GNA in Koforidua that each of the 21 districts in the Region were to submit two representatives to form the Electoral College to elect a representative for the Region.
     He said only eight districts had submitted names of their representatives to the EC.
     Mr Mensah-Bonsu said they were expected to submit the names by February 2 for the election on Tuesday, February 10.
GNA

Ghanaians asked to unite in the interest of national development

The Venerable Samuel Arhin, Priest in charge of the Winneba Anglican Church, has expressed worry about the division in the nation along political lines and has advised Ghanaians to reconcile and forge ahead in unity.
     According to him, "building a sustainable democratic environment, requires the effort of all Ghanaians, irrespective of political affiliations".
     Venerable Arhin was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Winneba at the weekend.
     He reminded Ghanaians that every individual has a right to join and support any political party in the country, and this must not create enmity among them.
     The Anglican Priest advised married couples who were divorcing on political grounds to re-consider their decision, so that their children would not suffer and become burdens to society.
     Venerable Arhin asked men of God to unite their congregation through their preaching, and advised Pastors who openly declare their political affiliations to stop the practice because it could divide the church.
     "The competitive nature of the 2008 general elections has created enmity in society and even in the church," he said.
     The Anglican Priest appealed to the clergy to help unite the people of Ghana to accelerate the pace of national development.
GNA

Bishop Lodonu expresses concern about marginalisation of Volta Region

Most Reverend Francis Anani Lodonu, Catholic Bishop of Ho on Tuesday observed that Volta Region risked being marginalised for its political posture.
     He said while the entire country was basking in the honour and joy of peaceful Election 2008 and transition, the Region had been cited and bashed for alleged election related violence and intimidation with threats of legal action.
     "It is time citizens from the Region come to terms with the reality that members of the same family could belong to different political parties and hold divergent political views without being enemies," he said.

 

     Bishop Lodonu made the observation at a dinner he hosted for Heads of Departments and other dignitaries at his "Assisi Kope" residence at Deme near Ho.
     It was under the theme, "Come let us express our special gratitude in sharing fellowship together".
     Bishop Lodonu expressed appreciation to individuals and institutions that assisted the Church to undertake its programmes in the Region and called for greater teamwork in future.
     He urged Ghanaians to be grateful to God for taking them through very frightening moments during Election 2008 and still peace prevailed in the country.
     Bishop Lodonu however, noted that Election 2008 denied Ghanaians the opportunity to celebrate the joy of Christmas and New Year saying everything was being done to ensure that such moments were not lost to the country in future.
     "Politics should not disturb our peace moments," he said.
     Bishop Lodonu appealed to the Government to persuade the Zimbabwean Government especially President Robert Mugabe "our in-law" to tow the path of political tolerance and compromise to end the hardships facing Zimbabweans.
GNA

United Cadres Front endorses Mr Opoku Manu as Ashanti Regional Minister

The United Cadres Front (UCF) of the Ashanti Region has expressed concern about some views and comments being made by a section of the public that they were not in favour of President Evans Atta Mills's nomination of Mr Opoku Manu as  the Ashanti Regional Minister.
     The group described Mr Manu as a silent warrior who contributed immensely to the victory of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.
     A statement signed and issued by Mr Mohammed Boachie Agyeman, Chairman of the group on Tuesday in Kumasi, noted that Mr Opoku Manu was once a Regional Coordinating Director of Ashanti Region.
     Members of UCF are strong NDC activists who always advocated for the welfare and progress of the NDC in the Region.
     The statement indicated that Mr Opoku Manu has been in the party since 2000 and sacrificed his position as Chief Director of Ministry of Finance to contest the Asante Akim-North seat in the 1996 general elections.
     It described him as competent, committed and qualified to hold the position of a Regional Minister.
     The statement therefore urged the public to respect the choice of the President.
GNA

February 1 declared national thanksgiving day- Post Ghana Elections

President John Evans Atta Mills in consultation with the leadership of the Ghanaian clergy has declared Sunday February 1 as a national day of prayer and thanksgiving for the recent peaceful and successful elections.

In view of this, there would be special Moslem prayers under the auspices of the national Chief Imam Nuhu Sharebutu on Friday January 30 at the Abossey Okai Mosque at 12 noon, a statement signed from the Presidency said on Tuesday.

The interdenominational service would take place on Sunday February 1 at the Independence square at 1400 hours.

The service is on the theme: "Uniting Ghana through Christ."

The statement reminded the general public that political party colours would not be allowed at the event.


Source: GNA

NDC's Sillas Mensah: Auditor General is incompetent and unprofessional

The former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament has accused the Auditor General Edward Duah Agyemang of "incompetence and unprofessional conduct." according to Joy Online.

According to Sillas Mensah, who was also NDC MP for Lower West Akim, the Auditor General did a shoddy job in auditing what has become the controversial Ghana@50 account.

He argued the Auditor General had no right to prepare accounts of Ghana @ 50 and proceed to audit the same account.

He told Citi News on Tuesday, Mr. Agyemang should not have succumbed to pressure by the transition team to provide the report when the accounts were not ready.

"The Auditor General's Department is an independent body, and Mr. Agyemang should not have allowed himself to be pressured," he said.

Edward Duah Agyemang on the request of Transition Team hurriedly prepared and presented an interim audit report on Ghana at 50 which revealed GH $60 million expenditure, in excess of GH $ 40 million.

Parliament had approved GH$ 20 million for the celebrations.

Mr. Mensah insisted the Auditor General "just wants to be a good boy" to be given favours by the new administration.

He alleged the AG wants a contract extension from the NDC; something he maintained will not be possible.

He chided Ex-President Kufuor for not dispensing with his services, claiming the AG is not "qualified for the job," and "nobody could reappoint him into office."

Ghana Elections 08 Transition final days : Full list of Ministers out

The President John Evans Atta Mills has released his final 19 Ministerial nominees for vetting and approval by Parliament,  in accordance with Article 78 clauses 1 and 2 of the 1992 constitution. This list brings the total list of Ministers appointed by the Mills' Government to 35.

A statement signed by Secretary to the President Mr. Bebaako Mensah named appointees a

A statement signed by Secretary to the President Mr. Bebaako Mensah named appointees as

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance,
Mrs Zita Okaikwei, Minster of Information,
Lt Gen.Rtd. J.H Smith Minister of Defence,
Mr. Moses Asaga, Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing,
Mr. Joe Gidisu Minister of Roads and Highways,
Alhaji Muntakar Mubarrak Muhammed, Minister of Youth and Sports,
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
Dr. George Yankey, Minister of Health,
Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture,
Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare,
Mr. Alexander Asuom Ahinsa, Minister of Chiftaincy and Culture,
Cletus Avoka, Minister of Interior, Joseph Yela Kyere,
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
Mrs Huliti Alhassan Ministers at the Presidency
Azong Alhassan- Minister at Ministry at the Presidency
Regional Ministers:
Joseph Amenowode,Volta Region,
Mark Wayongo, Upper East,
S.S Nanyina Northern Region,
Paul Evans Aidoo,Western Region.
According to the statement, the President Mills hopes to nominate deputy Ministers  when the full list of ministerial nominees have been approved by Parliament.   This list  adds to 16 names already submitted to the Appointment Committee of Parliament for approval.

Governing Boards of Government, Organizations and Parastatals dissolved

President John Evans Atta Mills has decided to reconstitute the membership of all Governing Boards of Government Organizations and Parastatals.
Accordingly, all such Boards are dissolved with immediate effect.A statement signed by Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson on Tuesday further directed that all appointments, promotions, re-designations, transfers, and re-assignments recently made by such Boards will not take effect until the new Boards are in place and have reviewed them.
It said the Government nominees on the Boards of Directors of Companies in which Government has shares have also been withdrawn. Their replacements will be made in due course.
The statement said it is a matter of concern to President that some Boards Directors, in the last few weeks have been rushing through certain critical decisions in anticipation of their dissolution.
It explained that some of these decisions have even involved awarding to themselves bonuses and other monetary payments above reasonable levels.
The statement said the President decided that the implementation of all such decisions are to be suspended and will be-reviewed by the new Boards as soon as they are constituted.
"It is expected that all concerned shall ensure strict compliance. Chief Directors of the sectors are to monitor and report on compliance with the above directives," the statement added.
GNA

Kojo Smith challenges Ablekuma results.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma-South constituency in the 2008 general elections, Francis Kojo Sackey Smith has filed a motion for an interim injunction to restrain Fritz Baffuor from holding himself as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area till the determination of the suit.

The case which was called at an Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Ofori-Atta was adjourned to January 30, 2009 for Mr. Smith to serve the Electoral Commission (EC), the Returning Officer and all respondents a hearing notice.

This was because the court noted that it was only the third respondent, Mr. Baffour, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, who had officially been served, leaving the other respondents.

Mr. Smith in his petition is seeking among other reliefs, a recount of the ballot, a declaration of the result null and void, a perpetual injunction against Mr. Baffuor from being sworn in as the MP for Ablekuma South, a declaration that the petitioner is the true winner, general damages and cost.

The reliefs are on grounds that the Returning Officer without due regard to the law prevented him from being present at the recounting of the ballots and this enabled the officer to falsify the record to reflect different sets of figures at the polling stations depriving him of his hard fought victory.

Mr. Smith in his statement of claim stated that on December 7, 2008 the EC organized as required by law the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in 140 polling stations in the Ablekuma-South constituency. The polling stations results according to him showed that he had obtained more than 56,000 votes while his opponent obtained 50,000 votes, however mr. Bffuor was declared the winner with 56,152 votes while he had 50,879 votes by the EC.

The petitioner contended that Mr. Baffuor never obtained the said figure and that the certified and published results were wrong and fraudulent.

According to him, a document obtained unofficially from the EC showed divergent figures which gave a catalogue of irregularities and therefore has given him the grounds to challenge the certified results.

Statement of poll and declaration of results sheets he said clearly showed that despite the fraudulent practices and irregularities in the election, he obtained more votes than Mr. Baffuor.

The applicant revealing how these conflicting results occurred stated that late in the night of December 7, 2008 after the counting of Gbegbe Polling Station votes, he and his agents went to the collation centre at Mamprobi but the Returning Officer instructed the security agents to refuse them entry into the collation centre.

Mr. Smith said he was locked out until 5:15 a.m on December 8, 2008 and so he went to report the conduct of the officer to the Dansoman Police but when he returned to the centre at 7:45 the officer told him that he had completed the collation and was not in the position to do a fresh collation in his presence.

He said despite several protests, the EC representative were conspicuously prevented from being present at the counting and some of the result slips were snatched from them by Mr. Baffuor's supporters who heckled his (Mr. Smith's) supporters.

Mr. Smith said he immediately protested and requested for a recount but it was declined amidst commotion and threat from his opponent's supporters.

This he said made him to lodge a formal complaint at the District Office of the EC.

Mr. Baffour in his affidavit in opposition stated that he has already been sworn in as the MP for the constituency and that if the application which is already late is granted would cause serious hardship to him and the whole constituency because there would be no representative in parliament pending the hearing of the matter.

 

Source: Daily Guide.

Ghana@50 in GH¢18m arrears; already spent $60 million

The Ghana@50 Secretariat charged to organize Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebrations two years ago is in arrears of more than GH¢18 million to contractors.
    The Secretariat has reportedly already spent US$60 million and with the arrears, the expenditure so far incurred stands at US$78 million against the US$20 million which Parliament approved for the celebration in 2007.
     Government auditing officials on Monday told the sub-Transition Team on Executive Assets sitting in Accra that only one out of 25 toilets for which an amount of GH¢19 million was allocated had so far been provided.
     Auditor General, Mr Edward Dua Agyemang responding to questions from the Committee said the audit report prepared by the Auditor General on the activities was in response to a request by Ghana@50 Project.
     He suggested to the Committee to invite the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Secretariat, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby to answer the quiz on the expenditure of the Secretariat.
     Mr Dua Agyemang told the Committee of an apparent low level of skills of the Accounting Staff of the Secretariat, most of whom, he said, were on contract or worked on part-time basis, which made it difficult to get information for the auditing process.
     Also, at the time of the auditing the CEO, whom the staff were expecting to give information for the auditing, he had left for London for three months.
     He said neither staff nor records to assist in the auditing were available, and the Auditor General's Department had to put receipts and payments together to determine whether there was value for money.
     "We just had to put things together to be able to form our opinion. There wasn't any account over the $60 million account," Mr Agyemang said.
      Mr Patrick Nomo, head of the Internal Audit Agency, said the Ghana@50 Secretariat did not have internal audit coverage, explaining that the Secretariat was a project under the Office of the President.
      He, however, said with hindsight there should have been an internal audit, but that should not prevent management from taking money without prior approval.
GNA

Minority calls on Executive to operate within the law

The Minority in Parliament on Monday said since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government assumed power, many people have "emerged clothed in all manner of descriptions and designations and are purporting to speak for or act on behalf of the President, Prof John Atta Mills."
    Addressing a press conference at Parliament House, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, Minority Chief Whip, questioned the capacity of Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, currently the President's representative at the Ministry of the Interior, in signing a press release on January 12, 2009 for the renewal of curfew in the Bawku Municipality and the Gushiegu area.
     "This action of Hon. Mumuni amounts to a flagrant breach of the constitution," he said, adding that the imposition of a curfew required an Executive Instrument, which could only be authenticated by a Minister.
     "Hon. Mumuni is not a Minister so what was and is his locus at the Ministry of the Interior?" he asked.
     He held that Alhaji Mumuni signed the release on his own behalf and not on behalf of the President.
     "The same Hon. Mumuni has written to cause the retirement of the National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization. Hon. Mumuni who describes himself as the President's representative, responsible for the Ministry of the Interior has written to remove the Acting Executive Secretary of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority."
     "Clearly, this nation must sit up to prevent the creeping back of the culture of impunity. Several orders have come from people purporting to represent the President only for the Presidency to deny some of the orders that such persons have issued," Mr Opare-Ansah said.
     He also mentioned reported unauthorised seizing of vehicles from private individuals under the assumption that they were state properties and cited the Managing Director of Barclays Bank and some former Ministers and Members of Parliament as "victims".
     "Things must be done right and as prescribed by law and it is our candid belief that President Mills is capable of lifting his administration above such obvious breaches. These are early days yet and we believe the President must be given the latitude to settle down. Nevertheless, right is right and wrong is wrong."
     Mr Opare-Ansah said the New Patriotic Party, being the largest opposition Party, had enormous responsibility to constantly monitor the actions and activities of the ruling Party.
GNA

Transition team to receive Auditor’s report

Government's transition team will by close of today receive all reports from some government agencies, prominent among them being from the Auditor-General's department on government's spending on the Ghana at fifty celebrations.

Last Friday's edition of the Daily Graphic reported that it has now been established that the country spent 60 million US Dollars in celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007.

In addition, it says the nation still owes huge sums of money to Fairlop Company, the motor firm which imported luxury vehicles for use during the celebration.

Sources within the government's transition team disclosed that five accounts, four at Prudential Bank and one at the Bank of Ghana, were operated by the authorities in the name of the project.

They said in view of the debt, the motor company had demanded that a certain number of cars should be returned to it to cover the amount owed by the state.

They added that when the Auditor-General appeared before the committee, he denied knowledge of the estimates on the project, since his outfit did not have a report on them.

He, therefore, pleaded with the members to appear before them again today, by which time he would have collected bits and pieces on the matter to prepare an interim report.

It is this report together with others that heads of institutions like the Auditor General's department would be presenting to the transition team on Monday January 26.

Hannah Tetteh, spokesperson of Government's Transition team confirmed to Citi News that a host of reports would indeed be placed on the team's table today.

She noted however that in order to prevent the various sub-committees presenting their reports in bits and pieces, consultations will be made to present the reports as a whole.

She added that since all the reports of the sub-committees cannot be published in their entirety, highlights will be made available instead.

Ms. Hannah Tetteh pointed out that the press conference to declare the state of the nation's economy was postponed because the Transition Team was of the opinion that the inauguration ceremony of President Obama will enjoy more air time than their press conference.  

 

By: citifmonline.com

Effutu MP appeals for peace

Mr. Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport designate and Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu Constituency, has appealed to the people to bury their differences and cooperate with him for the rapid development of the area.
      The MP made the call when he led the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Executives to thank some chiefs in the constituency for contribution towards peaceful elections last December.
    They visited Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, in Winneba, the Muslim chief, and the chiefs of Effutu Osubonpanye, Ateitu, Wallababa, Gengenadzie, Atekyedo, Sankro and Essuekyir.           
    He said his doors were opened for concrete suggestions and criticisms for development of the area.
    Mr Hammah called on the chiefs and people to unite towards the progress of the area instead of wasting their energy on non-profitable ventures.
     He said the NDC Government would ensure the continuation of viable development projects initiated by the previous administration.
     Neeyi Ghartey urged Mr Hammah to ensure the execution of the landing site and the Central Government Hospital which the previous government cut sod for commencement in the region.
      Neenyi Kojo Tetteh III Odikro of Sankro advised the Mr Hammah not meddle in chieftaincy matters instead he should work towards peace and development of the constituency.
     Mr. Kojo Asmah Bondzie, Effutu constituency chairman of the party, was among the executives.
GNA

Majority of ministers from parliament will disturb Atta Mills - CDD

he Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed worry that the constitutional provision that required that majority of ministers are chosen from Parliament could create problems for the new administration.
     Considering the representation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament, the absence of even a few of their members could split Parliament and this could affect the government's legislative agenda, Mr. Victor Brobbey, Research Associate of CDD-Ghana, told GNA in Accra.
     He said although the Constitution required that majority of ministers should be selected from Parliament, government must seriously consider its effects in subsequent appointments.
     Mr. Brobbey also pointed out that the decision by President John Evans Atta Mills to merge the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General contravened his manifesto.
     He said President Atta Mills in his campaign promised to split the two portfolios and therefore asked why he had maintained what the previous administration did.
     Article 88 (i) and (ii) of the 1992 Constitution state that "There shall be an Attorney-General of Ghana who shall be a Minister of State and the principal legal adviser to the Government.
    "The Attorney-General shall discharge such other duties of a legal nature as may be referred or assigned to him by the President, or imposed on him by this Constitution or any other law."
     The Research Associate lauded President Mills for fulfilling his pledge to include more women in his government, saying; "The country has many educated and capable women who can handle the task".
     President Atta Mills' first list of ministerial nominees released on Thursday listed 10 names, half of whom were women. One of the five nominees for regional ministers is also a woman.
     Mr Brobbey expressed confidence in the nominees, but said it was too early to make any predictions on how the new administration would perform under them.
     He also asked President Mills to take time in making his appointments, but warned that too much time could lead to constitutional issues. 
     The nominees are Mr. Mike Hammah, Ministry of Transport, Mr. Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Ministry of Education, Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dr. Oteng Adjei, Ministry of Energy and Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu,Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General.
    The others are Ms. Akua Dansua Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, Mrs. Juliana Azumah Mensah, Ministry of Tourism,Mr. Collins Dauda, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Communications and Ms. Shirley Ayitey, Ministry of Environment,Science and Technology.
     The nominated Regional Ministers  are Mr Mahmood Khalid         Upper West,Mr Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo, Nii Armah Ashitey,Greater Accra Region, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern region and Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe for  the Central Region.
GNA

Prez Mills won't use 3 vehicles in convoy: Castle sources

Sources close to President Mills have described as ridiculous reports that the convoy of the President will be made up of three vehicles.

Pro-government newspaper Democrat on Thursday that the President had asked that his convoy be made up three cars and two dispatch riders.

But the sources at the Castle said the demand of each journey would determine the number of vehicles in the President's convoy.

President Mills kept a shorter convoy when he was vice president to former President Jerry Rawlings.

Police Supt. Frank Coffie who used to be part of the President Mills' security detail said a lot of factors went into determining the size of the president's convoy.

While other sources say the consideration for a shorter convoy is in line with the President's campaign promise to keep a shorter convoy to save the tax payer's money.

It is not clear how many vehicles will constitute Prof Mills' team but Ghanaians look on for a fulfillment of the President's campaign promise.

There was raging debate over the size of the convoy of former President Kufuor which critics said caused a lot of discomfort to other road users and a drain on the pocket of the Ghanaian tax payer.
The former President commuted between his Airport residence and the Osu Castle for work.

Security analysts however explain that the long fleet of vehicles that accompanied the former President when he was in office was an important security measure.

With President Mills opting to live at the Castle, at least in the mean time, it is expected that his internal travels will be minimal.

JFM

Kufuor suffers cut in ex-gratia

Parliament will be slashing the ex-gratia package recommended by the controversial Chinery Hesse Committee report according to Joy online.

The leadership of the House has agreed to meet on the 27 of January, when the Parliament resumes sitting, to start the process of reviewing the package which has attracted widespread public condemnation.

Ghanaians have criticised plans to give former President John Agyekum Kufuor a massive retirement package, including six chauffeur-driven cars and two houses.

Majority Leader Alban Bagbin told Joy FM on Thursday, he has been conferring with some members of the house including Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu to take a second look at the package for the former President.

"Parliament should find a way of having a second look at the issue, the principles and the quantum involved and definitely review it to take into consideration many of the concerns that have been expressed by the general public," Mr Bagbin said.

Although former President Kufuor has refused to issue a formal statement on the raging debate, sources close to the Mr Kufuor have said he would rather opt for three vehicles instead of the six that was proposed by the Chinery Hesse Committee report.

The sources however indicated that the former President would justify the proposed GH¢460,000 as money not for his personal use but to help humanity.

Mr Bagbin also criticised the poor job Parliament did in scrutinizing the Chinery Hesse report stressing that steps must be taken to ensure that Parliament is truly independent of the Executive.

There has however been no mention of a review of the package for other former government functionaries including members of parliament (MPs).

While the Speaker of the House takes home a lump sum of over GH¢100,000, including a duty-post vehicle and free medical care upon retirement from the job, former MPs will be entitled to GH¢56,000 including the privilege to purchase a duty-post vehicle.

The issue has sent most of the MPs who have spoken to the media running for cover with excuses that they were not present during the approval of the report.

Former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani has also been served with his piece of the blame.

He has however vehemently rejected the criticisms.

AUCC lauds media on coverage of Elections 2008 but…

 Mr. Kojo Yankah, President of the Governing Council of African University College of Communications (AUCC), on Thursday lauded the role of the Ghanaian media in the 2008 general elections.
      He, however, condemned certain acts of non-professionalism by a section of the media, especially some radio stations, which nearly derailed the peaceful atmosphere in the country and created disturbances in certain parts.
      Mr. Yankah, who was addressing a press briefing on issues of election coverage in Africa, particularly in Ghana and Kenya, said Africa had come a long way in terms of accepting democratic change of governments through the ballot box and the media, being a partner in the entire process of the change, must not allow a few bad nuts to derail the entire process.
     He said the AUCC, in collaboration with the International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism dubbed; PenPlusBytes, monitored the elections and thought that the media did fairly well initially, in terms of equal and balance coverage of political parties, electoral education on the voting process as well as in the promotion of peace.
     Mr Yankah said it was important that journalists played their role as professionals and not allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians who sometimes pursued unclear agenda, using the media as their vehicle.
     He called for professionalism on the part of both journalists and their publishers, less partisanship and ethnicity, more Pan-Africanism and high moral standards to move journalism in the country to another level.
     Mr Yankah said some nations which had suffered civil strife and wars went through those ordeals as a result of certain careless actions and pronouncements by some people which fuelled tensions and sparked the wars.
     He added that in Ghana it took the expert intervention of certain personalities including the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan to calm the waters after the first round on December seven.
      He called for a review of the teaching contents of journalism in the various institutions, using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a modern wheel to promote speed, accuracy, objectivity and fairness among others in ensuring quality journalistic standards.
      Mr Eric Osiakwan, a representative from ICTs PenPlusBytes, reiterated the need for comprehensive training of all who control media contents, saying the quality outcome of a newspaper publication did not only depend on reporters alone, but also the editorial board and therefore professionalism was key in making fair judgments.
      He said his organization would continue to collaborate with the AUCC to provide ICT and other services to equip students with current technological skills to promote quality standards of journalism.
      Ms. Alison Bethel, a Knight International Journalism Fellow, United States of America, stressed the need for Ghanaian journalists to be cautious of the kind of pictures they painted through their reportage, as these negative publications were often exaggerated and distorted to portray a gloomy picture.
     She said during the December general election, media publications were picked and presented negatively by the foreign media, presenting Ghana as in a state of confusion and very close to war.    
     Ms Bethel appealed to the media to adhere to their code of ethics and be reminded of the fact that any negative action on the part of any individual organization could endanger the entire nation, adding that the need to be circumspect in the presentation of delicate issues such as ethnicity, conflicts and disasters was important.
     Mr Absalom Mutere, Acting Dean of Journalism, AUCC, comparing the Ghana elections to that of Kenya, said the election coverage in both countries was similar except that the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation was accused of being biased in favour of the ruling government.
     He called for the review of the inverted pyramid structure of news reporting to a more robust form of news presentation, which would not only attract audience, but also make journalism an interesting venture.
GNA

AUCC lauds media on coverage of Elections 2008 but…

 – Mr. Kojo Yankah, President of the Governing Council of African University College of Communications (AUCC), on Thursday lauded the role of the Ghanaian media in the 2008 general elections.
      He, however, condemned certain acts of non-professionalism by a section of the media, especially some radio stations, which nearly derailed the peaceful atmosphere in the country and created disturbances in certain parts.
      Mr. Yankah, who was addressing a press briefing on issues of election coverage in Africa, particularly in Ghana and Kenya, said Africa had come a long way in terms of accepting democratic change of governments through the ballot box and the media, being a partner in the entire process of the change, must not allow a few bad nuts to derail the entire process.
     He said the AUCC, in collaboration with the International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism dubbed; PenPlusBytes, monitored the elections and thought that the media did fairly well initially, in terms of equal and balance coverage of political parties, electoral education on the voting process as well as in the promotion of peace.
     Mr Yankah said it was important that journalists played their role as professionals and not allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians who sometimes pursued unclear agenda, using the media as their vehicle.
     He called for professionalism on the part of both journalists and their publishers, less partisanship and ethnicity, more Pan-Africanism and high moral standards to move journalism in the country to another level.
     Mr Yankah said some nations which had suffered civil strife and wars went through those ordeals as a result of certain careless actions and pronouncements by some people which fuelled tensions and sparked the wars.
     He added that in Ghana it took the expert intervention of certain personalities including the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan to calm the waters after the first round on December seven.
      He called for a review of the teaching contents of journalism in the various institutions, using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a modern wheel to promote speed, accuracy, objectivity and fairness among others in ensuring quality journalistic standards.
      Mr Eric Osiakwan, a representative from ICTs PenPlusBytes, reiterated the need for comprehensive training of all who control media contents, saying the quality outcome of a newspaper publication did not only depend on reporters alone, but also the editorial board and therefore professionalism was key in making fair judgments.
      He said his organization would continue to collaborate with the AUCC to provide ICT and other services to equip students with current technological skills to promote quality standards of journalism.
      Ms. Alison Bethel, a Knight International Journalism Fellow, United States of America, stressed the need for Ghanaian journalists to be cautious of the kind of pictures they painted through their reportage, as these negative publications were often exaggerated and distorted to portray a gloomy picture.
     She said during the December general election, media publications were picked and presented negatively by the foreign media, presenting Ghana as in a state of confusion and very close to war.    
     Ms Bethel appealed to the media to adhere to their code of ethics and be reminded of the fact that any negative action on the part of any individual organization could endanger the entire nation, adding that the need to be circumspect in the presentation of delicate issues such as ethnicity, conflicts and disasters was important.
     Mr Absalom Mutere, Acting Dean of Journalism, AUCC, comparing the Ghana elections to that of Kenya, said the election coverage in both countries was similar except that the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation was accused of being biased in favour of the ruling government.
     He called for the review of the inverted pyramid structure of news reporting to a more robust form of news presentation, which would not only attract audience, but also make journalism an interesting venture.
GNA

Four persons take nomination forms to contest Council of State Membership in Eastern Region

Four persons have so far collected nomination forms to contest for Council of State membership in the Eastern Region.
They include Reverend Mrs Paullina Yeboah, a retired educationist, Dr Adolph Appiah, a medical doctor, Nana Kodua Kesse, Chief of Oyoko and Adontehene of the New Juaben Traditional area and Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu III, chief of Akyem Anyinase.
Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, Deputy Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), who disclosed this to the GNA in Koforidua, said the four persons who picked the forms were expected to file their nominations between January 25 and 27.
He said the election had been scheduled for February 10 2009.
GNA

NPP urged to remain united

Mrs. Gifty Ohene-Konadu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim South, has urged members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remain united as the party strived to reclaim power in 2012.
     She said unity was important to the rejuvenation of the party and urged members to place party interest above personal ones, to boost the party's chances of wresting power from the ruling government in the next elections.
     According to the MP, it was time for the party to prove its resilience by working hard to return to power in the shortest possible time and charged its teeming supporters to remain steadfast in the face of the challenges ahead.
     Mrs Ohene-Konadu made the call at Ahyiresu near Kwahu-Praso on Tuesday when she embarked on a week-long tour of the constituency to thank the people for re-electing her as MP for a second consecutive term.
     Among the communities visited by the MP were Muramura, Kwahu-Praso, Nadieso, Pra River, Formanso, Adansi and Asankare. Others were Obogu, Danyameso, Odubi, Kyempo, Subinso, Takyikrom and Komeso.
     Addressing separate durbars held in her honour, the MP thanked the people for the confidence reposed in her.
     She urged them to put behind them the partisan politics that characterized the 2008 election and work in harmony for the total development of the constituency.
     She said it was imperative for Ghanaians to consolidate the international praise the country received in the aftermath of the elections, by living peacefully in communities without political intimidation and harassment.
     The MP assured the people of her commitment to equitably disburse her Common Fund across the constituency and called for their support to enable her discharge her duties effectively.
     She also urged the people to rally behind the ruling government in its quest to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians, saying, governance thrived on the support of the people.
GNA

Qualified Muslims would be given appointments - Mills

President John Evans Atta Mills has promised to make qualified Muslims part of his administration to realize the national vision of a better Ghana.
     He said appointment of Muslims to positions of responsibility would be based on qualification and not merely on the grounds of being a Muslim.
     Speaking to a delegation from the National Muslims Council, which paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra, President Mills assured Ghanaians of fair appointments based on qualifications for the benefit of building a better nation.
     President Atta Mills acknowledged the availability of national skilled human resources and gave an indication to start the use the nation's human resources with those from deprived communities.
     The President said the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as a social democratic party, recognized the support it enjoyed from Muslim communities.
     He said in line with the national constitutional requirements of balance in regional and geographical representation, the Government would be making the best use of is human resources, beginning first with the underprivileged, marginalized and deprived.
     President Atta Mills promised to run an open and transparent government, and gave the assurance that the Zongos would be part of the national development agenda.
     He thanked the leadership and membership of the Muslim groups in Ghana for their prayers for peace and stability in the run-up to the elections and thereafter and urged them to pray harder for the nation even after the elections.
     "I will urge you to continue to pray to Allah to give me and my team wisdom to create a better Ghana for the benefit of us all," President Atta Mills said, adding, "May Allah continue to bless you and use you for the benefit of our dear nation."
      Sheikh Dr. Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam and the leader of the delegation, said the hard won victory of the President at the last general election was an expression of the confidence that Ghanaians had in the President's ability to lead the nation for a better future.
     He congratulated the President and his Vice on their election and called on contending factions in the election to bury their differences and come together to form a united front to find solutions to the problems of the nation.
     In that regard, the Chief Imam commended the President for his inaugural statement to be a father for all Ghanaians and to implement a policy of inclusiveness as the most appropriate in the aftermath of the confrontational electioneering process.
      He prayed for the help of Allah to help and guide the President to fulfill his promises and in the process heal the wounds of the nation so that Ghanaians would together work for national economic transformation.
     "What Ghana needs most is a purposeful leadership that has the capacity and the ability to command the respect of all and also the capacity to create a vision of a prosperous future for all. We need selfless leadership that is fair and just and also has the courage of its convictions and the strength to take bold and firm decisions.
     "...In conclusion, the National Chief Imam prays for good health and God's guidance for the president, members of Government and God's guidance for the president, members of government and the good people of Ghana," the National Chief Imam said.
GNA

IEA pleased with outcome of 2008 elections

The Institute of Economic Affairs said on Thursday that it was pleased with the peaceful outcome of the 2008 general elections despite the fact that it stretched democracy and its institutions to their elastic limits.
     The IEA said peace was generally kept, a fact it attributed to the work and commitment of its Presidential Debates Committee and National Enforcement Body of the Code of Conduct 2008.
     Presenting a joint statement on behalf of the two bodies, the Reverend Dr Fred Deegbe, Chairman, National Enforcement Body, said the Presidential Debates apart from introducing issues-driven approach also helped to move the campaigns away from one of personalities, acrimony, insults and attacks.
     The debates also helped to calm tensions through the display of political maturity by the flag bearers, which helped their followers to comport themselves.
     Dr Deegbe said the adoption of the Political Parties Code of Conduct, 2008, a document drafted and voluntarily acceded to by the registered political parties, had also contributed to the peaceful conduct of the elections.
     The code, he said, ensured compliance with the law, leading to the avoidance of past breaches of the electoral law such as campaigning 24 hours before elections, wearing party paraphernalia on Election Day, use of inflammatory language and disrespect for political rivals.
     "Thus despite the high stakes and tension of Election 2008, it recorded the lowest number of violent incidents and general breaches of the law," Dr Deegbe said.
     The two bodies congratulated all the presidential and parliamentary candidates in the 2008 elections, especially President John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
     "Their comportment, even in difficult times, led to a peaceful outcome," he said.
     Whilst congratulating President Atta Mills for winning the elections, the two bodies reminded him of his campaign pledges of investing in the economy, jobs and people.
     The IEA called on Ghanaians, political parties and civil society to contribute their quota to the task of building the nation.
GNA

Harassment of Alan's men cost NPP

Ghana's main opposition party, the New Patriotic, Party (NPP), has started the process of how and why it lost the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.

On our part, we will publish our findings as and when our research team come up with their analysis.

An important factor which led to the defeat of the NPP 2008 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo was the way and manner certain members of his campaign team pursued an agenda of harassing leading members of the NPP who supported the NPP flag-bearership bid of Mr. Alan K wadwo Kyerematen. The harassment was in various forms, including using all methods, legal and illegal, to prevent them from winning primaries to be NPP's parliamentary candidates.

'Operation Prevent Kalamari's Men', that is frustrating persons who supported Mr. Kyerematen went on throughout the country but it was very pronounced in the NPP's 'political World Bank' the Ashanti Region.

What these anti-Alan K elements did was to send word to delegates, alleging that certain persons should not be considered for election as parliamentary candidates because they would make the work of Nana Addo's government difficult.

This led to a situation where quite a number of NPP's primaries, especially in their safe seats, were fraught with lots of problems. The NPP National and Constituency executives took their supporters for granted thinking that no matter what happens, those seats would be won.

The September 22, 2008 issue of The Daily Dispatch had a front-page story headed "APATHY IN ASBANTI WILL HURT NPP 'PAA'''. That caption has been reproduced elsewhere on this page.

Part of the article stated, "it is becoming increasingly clear that the NPP seems to be taking the region for granted, with apathy likely to set in among the hard core supporters of the NPP. Apart from apathy, the fact that some losing candidates at the party's primaries in the region are prepared to contest as independent parliamentary candidates indicates that there are problems with the existing NPP mechanism of electing their parliamentary candidates. "

Initial analysis of the December 7 and December 28, 2008 presidential election results reveal that apathy in the Ashanti Region COST Nana Akufo¬-Addo, a first round victory in the December 7 elections.

In the first round on December 7, Nana Akufo-Addo had 1,214,350 valid votes. In the run-off on Decemoer 28, Nana-Akufo-Addo had 1,438,820 votes. The difference was 224, 470 votes: If you consider that Nana Akufo-Addo needed less than 73,500 votes to win on the first round on December 7, then supporters of the NPP will now realise how those attempts to harass Mr. Kyerematen's supporters and apathy cost them, rather dearly.

In terms of the differences in the valid votes cast in the first round and run-off elections, we are mindful of allegations of voter irregularities in the Ashanti and Volta Regions.

The NPP will have to deal with many latent tensions within the party, the first being tensions between the Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen factions. Only the supporters who do not want to deal with the truth will deny all is well with these two factions!


Source: Daily Dispatch

Harassment of Alan's men cost NPP

Ghana's main opposition party, the New Patriotic, Party (NPP), has started the process of how and why it lost the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.

On our part, we will publish our findings as and when our research team come up with their analysis.

An important factor which led to the defeat of the NPP 2008 presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo was the way and manner certain members of his campaign team pursued an agenda of harassing leading members of the NPP who supported the NPP flag-bearership bid of Mr. Alan K wadwo Kyerematen. The harassment was in various forms, including using all methods, legal and illegal, to prevent them from winning primaries to be NPP's parliamentary candidates.

'Operation Prevent Kalamari's Men', that is frustrating persons who supported Mr. Kyerematen went on throughout the country but it was very pronounced in the NPP's 'political World Bank' the Ashanti Region.

What these anti-Alan K elements did was to send word to delegates, alleging that certain persons should not be considered for election as parliamentary candidates because they would make the work of Nana Addo's government difficult.

This led to a situation where quite a number of NPP's primaries, especially in their safe seats, were fraught with lots of problems. The NPP National and Constituency executives took their supporters for granted thinking that no matter what happens, those seats would be won.

The September 22, 2008 issue of The Daily Dispatch had a front-page story headed "APATHY IN ASBANTI WILL HURT NPP 'PAA'''. That caption has been reproduced elsewhere on this page.

Part of the article stated, "it is becoming increasingly clear that the NPP seems to be taking the region for granted, with apathy likely to set in among the hard core supporters of the NPP. Apart from apathy, the fact that some losing candidates at the party's primaries in the region are prepared to contest as independent parliamentary candidates indicates that there are problems with the existing NPP mechanism of electing their parliamentary candidates. "

Initial analysis of the December 7 and December 28, 2008 presidential election results reveal that apathy in the Ashanti Region COST Nana Akufo¬-Addo, a first round victory in the December 7 elections.

In the first round on December 7, Nana Akufo-Addo had 1,214,350 valid votes. In the run-off on Decemoer 28, Nana-Akufo-Addo had 1,438,820 votes. The difference was 224, 470 votes: If you consider that Nana Akufo-Addo needed less than 73,500 votes to win on the first round on December 7, then supporters of the NPP will now realise how those attempts to harass Mr. Kyerematen's supporters and apathy cost them, rather dearly.

In terms of the differences in the valid votes cast in the first round and run-off elections, we are mindful of allegations of voter irregularities in the Ashanti and Volta Regions.

The NPP will have to deal with many latent tensions within the party, the first being tensions between the Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen factions. Only the supporters who do not want to deal with the truth will deny all is well with these two factions!


Source: Daily Dispatch