There will be peace, no matter the verdict - Mahama reiterates

President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Ghanaians will continue to live in peace and harmony, no matter the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 presidential election petition.

He said the focus after the judgement should be on how to grow the economy and ensure dignified lives for the people.

President Mahama made the statement at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday when he received the outgoing High Commissioner of Canada, Ms Trudy Kernighan, in his office.

The Supreme Court has fixed tomorrow, for its judgement on the election petition in which the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is challenging the declaration of President Mahama as winner of the 2012 presidential election.

President Mahama said Ghanaians had a lot of experience in democratic governance and also respected the rule of law.

Therefore, he said, the Supreme Court verdict would further enhance Ghana's image as a democratic country, as Ghanaians would go through it peacefully.

Touching on Ghana-Canada relations, the President said the ties between the two countries were based on the common values of democracy and the rule of law.

He mentioned the work of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in the areas of health and agriculture in the three northern regions as one of the important contributions of Canada to the country.

President Mahama commended Ms Kernighan for her efforts at promoting Ghana-Canada relations during her three-year duty tour of Ghana.

In her remarks, Ms Kernighan expressed the hope that the judgement on the election petition would come off peacefully.

She stressed the need for Ghanaians to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court to maintain the prevailing peace in the country.

Ms Kernighan said Canada cherished its friendship with Ghana and indicated that Canada was ready to deepen diplomatic and trade relations with Ghana.

Source: Daily Graphic

Supreme Court will rule in Ghana’s favour - Duncan-Williams

The Supreme Court ruling on the 2012 presidential election petition will serve the interest of the country, the General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has stated.

He said in spite of the fears being expressed, the country would sail through the difficult moments surrounding the petition.

He, however, urged Ghanaians not to stop praying, as the hand of God was crucial at this moment.

"Our true love for this country can be demonstrated through prayer because prayer is a by-product of love. If you love somebody, you will care, pray and protect that person (Ps 122:6-7). What we do after the verdict will reveal who we truly are — the parties, the security agencies, the media, religious groups and everybody,"  he stressed.

"I believe the Supreme Court will rule in favour of Ghana. It will do what is right for the good of all Ghanaians. We must respect its judgement," he added.

The Archbishop, who is also the Chairman of the National Association of Charismatic Christian Churches (NACCC), was speaking to the Daily Graphic on his perspective on the aftermath of the verdict.

While commending the court for its performance so far, he urged parties in the case to respect and abide by the court's ruling.

After 48 sittings, the Supreme Court declared that it would rule on the petition which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) filed on December 28, 2012 challenging the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama as winner of the 2012 presidential poll tomorrow.

As Ghanaians anxiously await the court's decision, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said, "Our reaction will reveal who we truly are and whether we care about Ghana or not. It will be demonstrated by our actions, pronouncements and attitude after the verdict. It is a test for both sides and us all."

There have been calls from a section of society on the party that will win the case not to jubilate in order not to provoke the losing party and its followers.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams shared in the same sentiment, saying, "No matter what, the verdict will favour one party against the other. Whoever it favours should restrain its supporters from jubilating because the victory must be for the country."

Using the Biblical King Solomon's judgement of a case as an example, he said Ghana was that baby and could not be divided or killed.

"We exist as Ghanaians because our country exists. Let's not do anything to destroy our hard-earned reputation at this time in our history," Archbishop Duncan-Williams admonished.

He said should  the country be plunged into chaos after the verdict, neither the winner nor the loser would be able to pursue his political ambitions.

Source: Daily Graphic

 

JUSAG calls off strike

Members of the Judicial Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) have suspended their intended strike.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2013, the members served notice that they would embark on an industrial action on August 27 if all outstanding allowances due them were not paid by August 26.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning last Thursday released funds for the payment of some of the allowances, including those for fuel, car and motorbike maintenance and overtime, to the members of the association, with their clothing allowance pending.

But the members insisted that until the clothing allowance was paid, they would still embark on the strike.

However, the President of JUSAG, Mr Francis Brakwah, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that "the strike has been suspended".

He said besides receiving assurances from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, "I am privy to efforts being made to have the money paid to us".

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians not to panic, as "the intended strike is suspended".

Last Sunday, Mr Brakwah had dismissed criticisms that the group would hold the country to ransom if its members carried out their threat of strike two days before the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the 2012 presidential election petition.

"It is not because of the Supreme Court. It is just coincidence. As we speak, most of the courts are on recess. If we had not announced this in January, people would have been justified that we had an agenda,

"Those saying that are entitled to their opinion, but they must know that our demands did not start today. We had started demanding these allowances since March and threatened the strike in April this year. It is not as if it came out of the blue," Mr Brakwah had told the Daily Graphic.

By Albert K. Salia/Daily Graphic/Ghana

Celebrate Supreme Court verdict in moderation – NAFOP

Mr Kofi Boateng, National Patron of Nana For President 2012 (NAFOP), a youth wing within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), over the weekend appealed for celebration in moderation after the Supreme Court verdict is delivered.

 He said whichever way the verdict goes, it was important for the followers of the two major political parties, the NPP and the National Democratic Congress, to moderate their jubilation and guard against tendencies that could infuriate each other and disturb the peace of the nation.

 Mr Boateng said this during an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after NAFOP organized a prayer service at Wenchi to seek God's intervention and to sustain national peace as the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its verdict on the 2012 Presidential Election petition.

 Thousands of the NPP and NDC supporters had earlier embarked on a peace walk in the Municipality to demonstrate their readiness to accept the Court's verdict and the prayer service was attended by both supporters of the NDC and NPP who were clad in their party colours and paraphernalia.

 Mr Boateng said Ghana's democracy would survive if Ghanaians, especially supporters of the NDC and NPP, allowed national interest to overshadow their partisan considerations and accept the verdict in good faith.

 He said whatever decision the Supreme Court might reach, was purposely for the supreme interest of the nation and it behooves on the leadership of the two political parties to accept the decision for their followers to follow suit.

 Mr Richard Kwadwo Adu, Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of NAFOP, appealed to all party and political activists to see themselves as partners in development and avoid tendencies that could disturb the harmony of the nation.

Source: GNA

NPP Vice Chair counsels supporters not to make divisive statements

Second Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Sheikh T.B Damba is appealing to party sympathisers to stand united as the party awaits the Supreme Court judgment, on the petition challenging the declaration of John Mahama as winner of the December 2012 presidential elections.

He admonished party functionaries to also desist from making statements that tend to create divisions among the rank and file of the party.

Sheikh Damba in a release issued Sunday and copied to Myjoyonline.com said: "Rather than struggling internally for positions, let us desist from statements that tend to create divisions among the rank and file of the party because the race for National positions will only thrive on a stronger and formidable foundation".

"It is once said; the greatest thing that has ever happened in human civilization is the man or woman who lives and practice tolerance. The fiber of Ghana's young democracy is being tested waiting for what becomes of it as the whole world has pointed their lenses on those in the ring and those at the ringsides waiting for the final bell to ring".

The Vice Chair further urged the party's supporters particularly those at the grassroot level, not to feel dejected by the seemingly harsh comments from some senior members of the party adding, that emphasises the fact that the NPP is "a party that believes in all-inclusiveness".

The statement further emphasised: "The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is neither a party for Southerners nor any ethnic group as some people are made to believe, particularly our brothers and sisters in the Zongo and Muslim communities".

"I want to emphasise that, NPP is a party that believes that, Christianity and Islam go hand-in-hand. Due to this, NPP as a party has five Northerners as National Party Executives. Three of the five are practicing Muslims which defeats the unfounded allegations that NPP is a party for Southerners. In fact, it is a party that believes in all-inclusiveness."

Source: myjoyonline

Three Students initiate peace project

Three Communication Studies students of the University of Ghana, Legon have initiated a programme to support peace efforts by other organisations.

Dubbed "OneGhana Project", its objective is to get a cross-section of the Ghanaian society to vouch for peace and unity.

It is also a peace picture campaign in which those involved would take a picture with the Peace Board.

The Chief Executive of the OneGhana Project, Mr Tommy Emmanuel Doku, made this known when the team called on the Director of Newspapers of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, at the company's head office in Accra.

He said the Peace Board, as the receptacle for peace messages, allowed the individuals who subscribed to the project to scribble down peace messages such as 'I am proud to be a Ghanaian; and I stand for peace and unity'.

He also said so far, politicians from both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had signed onto the campaign. Others, he said, included former President J.J. Rawlings, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey of the Institute of Democratic Governance; Mr J.H. Mensah, a Senior Minister in the Kufuor administration, and musicians like Obuor, Okyeame Kwame and EL.

Mr Doku explained that he and his colleagues, Mr Isaac Nunoo and Mr Kodjo Silas, decided to initiate the peace project because 'the future belongs to the youth and it is their responsibility to protect it."

He was optimistic that there would be a united Ghana after the Supreme Court had given its verdict on August 29.

Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh commended the students for their initiative and urged all Ghanaians to respect the decision of the Supreme Court.

Source: Daily Graphic

‘Stay above politics to win society’s trust’

The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has called on religious leaders to refrain from making public their political affiliations to enable them to win the goodwill of all Ghanaians.

It stated that religious leaders were in positions of trust and they needed to be neutral for Ghanaians to see them as unifying authorities.

"Our leaders need to remain neutral, so that if we reach a point, for instance, after the Supreme Court verdict, and there is tension and they are called upon, Ghanaians will listen to them," it stated.

Speaking at the 13th General Assembly meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) at Kwahu-Abetifi over the weekend, the Secretary General of the CCG, Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, indicated that when the public became aware of the political affiliations of religious leaders, a negative perception about the clergy would be formed, which would not augur well for the country.

The meeting was held on the theme: "The fruit of the Holy Spirit and the believer", and it was used to honour individuals who have contributed significantly to the development and growth of the church over the years.

Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong stated that there was strong political polarisation in the country, with politicians going all out to have people on their side.

"Today, politicians are penetrating every nook and cranny of our society, including churches, and they are seeking to divide the people. They want to know which church is for party A and which is for party B. If you are a pastor and you say nice things about the government, then the other political parties tag you as belonging to the party in government," he stated.

Inversely, he said, when clergymen declared their position on an issue against the government in power, the church was branded as being against the government.

He said that had caused most pastors to refrain from speaking on issues of national interest and that those who spoke ended up creating problems for themselves, as they were not taken seriously by society.

Notwithstanding that growing negative political trend in the country, he indicated that a number of men of God were also playing into the hands of politicians.

"Now, there is an increasing number of pastors openly displaying their political leanings, which does not augur well for the country's political discourse," he said.

to him, although every Ghanaian had the right to freely associate with any political party, "pastors should not in any way openly display their political leanings,as such behaviour will destroy the confidence and trust the people have in them".

He called on churches to engage with state institutions, ministries and professionals and share their positions on national issues with them.

"Our ability to speak to the facts and figures we obtain from these credible institutions will make what we say more credible in the eyes of the public," Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong added.

Source: Daily Graphic