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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
EC sensitizes media personnel on election process
Court to rule on NVP's injunction against EC
| A High Court in Accra will on November 5 rule on whether or not to restrain the Electoral Commission (EC) from printing the December 7 presidential ballot papers. The court, presided over by Sir Justice Dennis Agyei, will further rule on whether it had the jurisdiction to preside over a case in which the New Vision Party (NVP) is seeking an order declaring that the EC's refusal to accept the party's presidential nomination forms were unlawful. The NVP had proceeded to the High Court after the EC had rejected its presidential nomination form on October 18, this year. The EC had rejected the NVP presidential nomination form saying the forms were full of blank spaces, contrary to the requirement for completing the forms. According to the EC, it had a constitutional duty to conduct the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 7 and any delay in carrying out the necessary preparation for the election would be detrimental to the whole nation. It had therefore prayed the court to dismiss the application as it had no merit. At the court's sitting on Wednesday, Mr J.K. Yeboah, counsel for NVP, told the court that NVP, led by Prophet Daniel Nkansah, had complied with Constitutional Instrument 75 by filling the presidential nomination forms. However, he said, the EC, under the same Constitutional Instrument, rejected the forms without any justifying cause adding that the action of the Commission constituted a breach of the candidate's rights as a corporate citizen. According to Mr Agyemang, the High Court had the jurisdiction to hear the matter as no election had been conducted and they were not challenging the validity of a person who had been elected. On the injunction, Mr Agyemang said the EC, after rejecting the presidential nomination form of the NVP, the presidential candidate had moved another step by balloting for positions on the ballot paper. The NVP contended further that a great hardship would be inflicted on the party should it win the substantive case and the EC is subsequently directed to accept the nomination form. "This is a clear case where the wheel of the law applies its brake on the defendant to stop any further movement," the party added. The EC, represented by Mr James Quashie Idun, had filed the Commission's affidavit in opposition to the two applications. |
| GNA |
NCCE mounts campaign on proper electoral thumb printing
| NCCE mounts campaign on proper electoral thumb printing The Afigya-Kwabre District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has launched a campaign to educate voters on the proper way to thumb print on ballot papers in the coming elections. Mr Wilberforce Zangina, the District Director, said the campaign would target those who would be voting for the first time saying the campaign has become necessary due to the high number of spoilt ballots during polls. Addressing a meeting of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPAC) at Kodie, on Tuesday, he said the campaign would visit Senior High Schools (SHS) and the churches. Mr Zangina used the occasion to remind the political parties to conduct their electioneering campaign in a responsible manner devoid of invectives, lies and deception. He said they should not do anything likely to fuel anger, antagonism, acrimony and polarization of the people. Mr Zangina said it was important for all to share in the responsibility of protecting the peace, unity and cohesion of the society. The NCCE District Director appealed to the media to be more circumspect in their news reportage and refuse to serve as the conveyor of inflammatory and provocative pronouncements by politicians. Mr Zangina asked Ghanaians to draw useful lessons from civil strife elsewhere on the continent, triggered by disputed elections and work together to make the December 7 polls, transparent and credible. He called on members of the IPAC to closely follow the campaign trail and act swiftly to tackle any abuse of the political parties' code of conduct including defacing of posters and political intimidation. |
| GNA |
PNC will bring back 'operation feed yourself' - Hassan Ayariga
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The Flagbearer of the People's National Convention (PNC) Mr Hassan Ayariga has promised to reintroduce the 'operation feed yourself' policy when given the nod to rule the country. He said leadership was about making good use of the little resources available to the people stressing that the country was endowed with various natural resources which must be used to the advantage of the people. Mr Ayariga was responding to questions from the maiden edition of the 2012 Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate taking place in Tamale on Tuesday where the NDC, the NPP, the CPP and the PNC were participating. The debate is the fourth in series of debates for presidential candidates with representation in parliament since 2000 and sponsored by STAR-Ghana. Mr Ayariga said his government will stop smuggling of cocoa to neighboring countries and making use of fallow lands to engage the youth to produce over two million tons of cocoa saying "we believe in operation feed yourself and we know that is the best way to make the nation progress". He said the PNC leadership would take advantage of the available resources and give the youth the enabling environment to create opportunities to increase food security trough transformation in the agricultural sector. The Presidential hopeful who is 40 years old and born in Bawku said his government will make good use of the available water resources and make the ordinary people benefit from the sharing of the national cake. He advocated for the separation of political power from the economic power where economies will not be afraid to provide professional unbiased advise to the government noting that PNC government will not abandon projects undertaken by previous governments but will revamp and develop them. Mr Ayariga observed that small scale businesses and medium ones must be assisted to expand and employ more individuals to reduce the unemployment rate in the country adding that "taxes network must be broaden to include both internal and external taxes with no tax holidays".
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| GNA |
CDD organizes Election forum in Upper East
| Participants at a forum organized by the Centre for Democratic Development - Ghana (CDD-Ghana ) have called for the need to ensure a peaceful election. Consequently, the stakeholders at the forum which included various political parties, the Electoral Commission(EC), the Security Agencies, the Media , traditional authorities, Religious leaders and the Physically challenged among others, pledged to play their respective roles to ensure violent free election. The forum which was sponsored by the German Agency for International Development (GTZ) on the theme: "Preventing Electoral Violence towards consolidating electoral democracy and integrity of the 2012 election", in the Northern Regions of Ghana. Dr Franklin Oduro, Head of Programme and Research of CDD-Ghana, said under normal circumstances an election was supposed to be one of the easiest ways of choosing leaders and wondered why there was always anxiety, fear and panic when it comes to organizing elections in Ghana. He expressed unhappiness over the numerous legal tussles between the EC and some Political parties in Courts saying that was likely to affect the election if they were not settled amicably. He said "there is also the urgent need on the part of the EC to ensure that the recent Biometric registration that was conducted in the country is certified". Speaking on the Topic: "Towards Peaceful Election 2012-Lessons from 2008 in the Upper East Region", the Upper East Regional Director of the EC, Mr Bruce Ayisi, said political matters were not the preserve of the EC saying it was unfair to claim that the EC was in bed with some political parties. He said to have a peaceful election, there was the need to sensitize the citizenry against political and electoral violence saying "failure to make proper interventions would have a multiplier effect on the electoral environment resulting in undermining the electoral process". Naba Johnson Awuni, Chief of Yorogo, entreated the participants to educate the youth to stay way from being engaged in violence by Politicians. |
| GNA |
Can NPP fulfill its free SHS education policy in 2013 when voted to power?
| Education remains one of the major themes dominating the campaigns of the major political parties in the run up to the December 7 polls in Ghana. The contending parties hope to win the hearts and minds of the electorate with all kinds of promises. While some political parties are promising to transform and make basic education free and compulsory, others have gone beyond that to include the Senior High Schools (SHS), promising to make SHS education free for every Ghanaian child. As has been observed by some critics, talk is cheap but the real test lies in the implementation. So can we take the opposition New Patriotic Party's (NPP) promise of making SHS free for all as serious talk, especially considering that the NPP intends fulfilling it in 2013, or should it be regarded as one of the many easy talks of politicians. The NPP's manifesto promise of free SHS in particular has kept tongues wagging. The party states: "We are fully committed to making secondary education free for every Ghanaian child. By free SHS we mean free tuition, admission, textbook, library, science centre, computer, examination, utilities, boarding and meals. Although the cost of free secondary school education is high, the alternative of a largely uneducated and unskilled workforce is a situation Ghana cannot afford. So NPP will prioritize and fund this expenditure using budgetary resources (including resources from oil exports) in the interest of the long-term growth of Ghana's economy. In partnership with the private sector, we will facilitate and support rapid development of skills, including apprenticeships training for graduates from vocational and technical schools". This seems too loaded a piece to be fulfilled in contemporary Ghana, considering the government's wage bill, the constraints on the national budget and an oil income that is already heavily committed. In the first place, there are over 100,000 students currently in about 555 SHSs across the country. Already, the government is having difficulties in meeting the demands of these existing students while school infrastructure in most of these schools are an eye sore, and compelling school authorities in some areas to convert dining halls and science laboratories into classrooms and dormitories. Some analysts have argued that the economy is too small to implement the free SHS policy but in the opinion of this writer, it has rather been poorly managed due to corruption and the "winner takes all" ineptitude that is so characteristic of the nation's politics. It is realistic for a country with a GDP of 39.2 billion dollars to implement free compulsory universal basic education and free SHS at the same time, the resultant pressure could impact negatively on other sectors of national endeavour. Currently students are paying school fees of not less than GHc500 across the country per annum. These fees complement government in providing infrastructure and the payment of Ghana Education Service (GES) staff. In spite of those fees, schools continue to have ill-equipped libraries, inadequate textbooks and still have difficulties in meeting the feeding needs of students whiles in most instances academic activities get truncated in the Northern parts of the country because feeding grants have been delayed due to the absence of funds. So if feeding grants which are quite minimal compared to the cost of free SHS has funding problems, one can anticipate the cacophony of problems the free SHS is likely to encounter. The NPP manifesto admits that: "We have serious capacity issues nationwide, especially in the rural areas; many schools still exist with inadequate basic facilities." It continues, "We will undertake a major expansion and overhaul of educational facilities and support provision of innovative forms of education delivery and teaching aids, including modern laboratories and libraries. This will make it possible for the non-traditional student to acquire skills". The deficit in classroom infrastructure is not only in the rural areas but in the urban centres as well, and has created situations where more than 100 pupils congest in a single classroom being taught by a single teacher. Only God knows the quality of tuition and assessment that goes on in such an atmosphere. These gargantuan problems cannot just be solved overnight, it will take any political administration interested in solving such problems a considerable length of time - at least five years - to do so. Simply put, therefore, Ghanaians cannot just be cowed into believing that a free SHS education policy can be implemented as early as 2013. It must also be in the minds of Ghanaians that public policy like the free SHS is expected to follow some bureaucratic processes which the NPP may not be able to conclude by 2013 to enable it to commence with the implementation of the free SHS policy. So NPP needs to come again. We live in a country where political parties in the past have made vein promises without fulfilling them. They make promises just to come to power only to turn around and give excuses. The NPP has its share of this history. Some of its promises in the past included the promise of extending railway lines from the Southern part of the country to the Northern sector but this was not accomplished till it left office in 2008. The NPP promised zero tolerance for corruption but Ghanaians began to hear later that corruption started from Adam. The party equally promised more jobs only to turn round to tell Ghanaians that it was only those who were lazy who could not find jobs. How then can the electorate trust this time around that the free SHS will not turn out to be in vein when the party is voted to power? Alhassan Rahinatu, a teacher based in Tamale underscored the need for more concentration at the basic level ensuring that there is quality and free access before extending the policy to the SHS level, else the policy is bound to fail. She indicated that at the school where she teaches, many of the classrooms are crowded because of the repetition of some students whose academic performance was considered poor. In her view, 'if the free SHS is introduced in a rush, many teachers will sit in their houses and collect salaries without teaching'. She noted that although the policy would relieve many parents of financial burden, its introduction is premature because of the existing bottlenecks. Samuel Atinga, a cleaner also thinks that the free SHS system is a brilliant idea and good for a developing country like Ghana to gain adequate human resource for development but expresses worry that the promise might not come to pass. In sum, the free education policy at the Senior High School level is a beautiful novelty by all standards but the numerous challenges currently facing the educational system in the country such as inadequate classrooms, student congestion, teacher deficit and other infrastructural challenges must be addressed first before the introduction of the policy. There must be enough funding to improve the quality of education from the kindergarten level to the universities. Supervision as has been observed, is a great challenge to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and something must be done about solving that problem, else much money would be spent on the education sector without really getting the benefits expected. Corruption, nepotism and other bureaucratic practices inimical to the development of educational must all be addressed before consideration can be given to the introduction of the free SHS policy, else the policy is likely to die at birth just like many others before it.
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| GNA |
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
NPP communicators urged to use descent language
| The First Vice Chairman of the Agona West branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwadwo Kwakye, has appealed to the party's communication officers at the national, regional and constituency levels to be circumspect with their utterances to avert creating problems for the party. He said the NPP's political opponents, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were looking for faults to capitalize on to score political points against the NPP. Speaking to NPP supporters at Agona Nyakrom, he said communication officers should use decent language in their radio, television and phone-in programmes in order to win votes for NPP. Mr Kwakye said the NDC wss desperate to get another mandate from Ghanaians and it was up to the NPP to point it out to the people that the government had done nothing good to remain in power. He appealed to the communication officers to package their messages, especially on the campaign platforms, well to make it easy for NPP to win the December election. Mr Kwakye said the free senior high school, quality health care, jobs and other social interventions messages from Nana Akuffo-Addo had gone down well with the people and urged supporters to step up their campaign to win more votes. Mrs Cynthia Morrison, a leading member of NPP, appealed to Ghanaian women to vote the NPP back to power to enable their children benefit from the f[p0ree SHS policy.
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| GNA |
Citizens of South Tongu march for peaceful elections
| About 1,000 people including personnel of security agencies in the South-Tongu District have undertaken a peace march to herald the need for a violence-free election in the area. Political Parties, governmental departments and agencies took part in the march which started from the Sogakope Police Station, through the principal streets of the town, over the bridge to Sokpoe. Drivers plying the Accra-Aflao highway tooted their horn in support on encountering the marchers while their passengers cheered. Some of the placards held by participants read: South-Tongu and Ghana Needs Peace, Expose Trouble Makers and We Need Peace and Development and not Trouble. The march was organized by the South-Tongu District Electoral Commission in collaboration with the District Inter-Party Advisory Committee. Mr Oscar Amevenku, Tongu Divisional Police Commander, said adequate preparation was in place to ensure a peaceful election in the area. He advised all to get committed to ensuring peaceful elections because the interest of the country was paramount. "Avoid inordinate ambitions to win elections at all cost and resist destroying livelihoods of others," he said. Mr Francis Agbozo, District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), appealed to the people to adhere to the electoral rules. He said plans were in place to contain any "wayward macho man" who would misbehave during the elections. Togbe Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII, Paramount Chief of Tefle, who is also the District Inter-Party Dialogue Committee Chairman, appealed to political parties and their followers to stick to the various procedures and rules discussed and agreed upon, to ensure the peace. Parliamentary candidates and representatives of the various political parties also addressed the marchers about the need to ensure a violence-free election.
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| GNA |
UFP sets its eyes on parliamentary seats
| The National Chairman of the United Front Party (UFP), Nana Agyenim Boateng, says their focus now is on winning more parliamentary seats in the December 7 polls, after the qualification of its flag-bearer by the by Electoral Commission (EC). They are stepping up the campaign in the various constituencies, where they have put up candidates to win those seats. The UFP on September 29, elected Mr Kwaku Owusu Antwi, as its presidential candidate at its Cape Coast special delegates' congress to replace Mr Akwasi Addai, popularly known as "Odike", who it had earlier in December 2011, elected to run on the party's presidential ticket. Addressing a press conference in Kumasi, Nana Boateng, said the party was yet to take a decision on which of the presidential candidates to support - highlighting the continued confusion and cracks within the UFP. Nana Boateng alias "Gyataba" repeated that "Odike" was not the UFP's flag-bearer and that there was no way the party would canvass for votes for him. "Odike" is an imposition by the EC, he said, and alleged that he was expelled from the party on grounds of corruption and conflict of interest. He said they found the decision by the EC to accept his nomination scandalous and renewed the threat to drag the body charged with the conduct of elections, to court. Nana Boateng served notice that at the appropriate time the UFP would come out with the name of the candidate in its view is best qualified to lead the nation and throw its weight behind him. The national executives were consulting with the regional and constituency officers and the grass root, on the one to give their votes to. |
| GNA |
Police calls for public support to facilitate peaceful polls
| Mr Patrick Timbilla, Commissioner of Police, has assured Ghanaians that the police have the capacity to deal with any act that could threaten the December polls. He however, said, the police would need the support and cooperation of the public if they are to succeed, adding that the provision of security is not the preserve of the personnel alone but a shared responsibility. Mr Timbilla was speaking at an orientation workshop organised by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) for members of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI), in Accra at the weekend. He said those who plan to foment trouble are living among people in the communities and that the police could only take preventive measures if they get information on such activities. The Police Commissioner therefore urged Ghanaians to get the telephone numbers of the police and so that they could easily pass on any information. The CFI is a coalition of civil society organisations, including religious bodies and professional associations committed towards the support of State institutions responsible for elections, to play their expected roles to ensure credible and peaceful elections. For this year's elections, the CFI would establish "Situation Rooms" in the regions where people could pass on information that is likely to pose a threat to the electoral process. Mr Timbilla said more than 26,000 security personnel would be deployed to ensure that there is safety at each polling station. He said apart from the security personnel at the polling stations, there would be a standby rapid deployment policy force, which would respond quickly to any crisis signal from any polling station. Mr Timbilla said should the rapid deployed force failed to bring the situation under control at any polling station, the Armed Forces Detachments that would be deployed throughout the country away from the polling stations would be called in to enforce peace. He said in planning for the security measures for the election, polling stations and areas known to record problems during elections were considered and special measures have been put in place to contain any "nasty" situation. Mr Timbilla urged people to use the cameras of their mobile phones to snap pictures of people who would engage in activities that threaten the peace of the country during the elections and pass on the pictures to the police to arrest the culprits for prosecution. He appealed to sellers of alcoholic beverages to voluntarily decide not to sell on the Election Day until the polls are over as their contributions towards ensuring peaceful elections.
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| GNA |
Tamale receives Presidential candidates for IEA debate
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Motor-riders were also seen clad in their party colours whilst others are taking advantage of the influx of people to the town to make brisk business of selling party paraphernalia. Every electricity pole on the road leading to the Radach Memorial centre, the venue for the programme, had NPP and NDC flags flying, while the main hall of the event is decorated in National colours. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag-bearer, Nana Akuffo Addo, PNC's candidate Hassan Ayariga and the Convention People's Party's, Mr Abu Sakara are already in Tamale waiting for the event on Tuesday. President John Dramani Mahama, NDC's candidate is also expected in Tamale Tuesday morning. Dr Clifford Braimah, Northern Regional Secretary of the NPP told the GNA that Nana Addo's triumphant entry into the region on Saturday, three clear days to the event was the manifestation he had the interest of the programme at heart. He said he expected Nana Addo to deliver and explain his free education policy well to Ghanaians to consider voting him to power to exert good governance to Ghanaians. "We don't build schools before offering free education to the people. Free education can go on alongside the provision of school infrastructure and we want to assure the 'doubting Thomases' that the free education will come on if Ghanaians give us the mandate", he said. Mr Iddisa Mumuni, Northern Regional secretary of the CPP expressed the hope that Ghanaians would listen to the agricultural policy of the CPP and vote for its presidential candidate to provide the needed assistance to farmers to produce more food. He said Ghanaians were interested in someone who had their interest at heart and prepared to transform the country, which other politicians had been paying lip service to. He claimed that other politicians, who had the opportunity to serve the country, collapsed some industries but those same political parties were going round promising Ghanaians heaven on earth and appealed to the electorate to reject them and vote the CPP into power. Mr Adam Mahama, Northern Regional chairman of the PNC said he expected Mr Ayariga to stand tall and perform better than the other presidential aspirants and was hopeful that he would win the elections. |
| GNA |
Ghana elections 2012 : List and profile of Presidential candidates and running mates
| NAME OF PREZ. CANDIDATE ( PARTY) | VOTER ID. NO. | SEX | RELIGION | DATE OF BIRTH | HOMETOWN/ REGION | HIGHEST EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION | INSTITUTION | PRESENT/LAST EMPLOYER | POSITION | PROFESSION | MARITAL STATUS |
| JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA (NDC) | 6383003305 | M | CHRISTIAN | 29/11/58 | BOLE NORTHERN | POST GRADUATE DEGREE | UNIVERSITY OF GHANA | GOVERNMENT OF GHANA | PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF GHANA | COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA | MARRIED |
| DR. HENRY HERBERT LARTEY (GCPP) | 1740008352 | M | CHRISTIAN | 5/02/54 | OSU GREATER ACCRA | MBA ECONOMICS AND FINANCE | UNIVERSITY OF BATH, UK. | SELF EMPLOYED | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | FINANCE, AGRICULTURE AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE | SINGLE |
| NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) | 2635019850 | M | CHRISTIAN | 29/03/44 | KYEBI EASTERN REG. | B.SC. ECON | UNIVERSITY OF GHANA | GOVERNMENT OF GHANA | MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS | LEGAL PRACTITIONER | MARRIED |
| PAPA KWESI NDUOM (PPP) | 5045000675 | M | CATHOLIC | 15/02/53 | ELMINA CENTRAL REG. | PHD | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | FIRST NATIONAL SAVINGS & LOANS COMPANY | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT | MARRIED |
| AKWASI ADDAI ODIKE (UFP) | 5276020913 | M | CHRISTIAN | 13/09/64 | ADWUMAKASE-KESE ASHANTI REG. | 'O' LEVEL | ADUMAN SECONDARY SCHOOL | ODIKE VENTURES | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | BUSINESSMAN | MARRIED |
| AYARIGA HASSAN (PNC) | 7500020784 | M | MOSLEM | 4/09/72 | BAWKU UPPER EAST REG. | EX. MASTERS IN GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP | GRADUATE SCH. OF GOV. & LEADERSHIP | CLEAN UP GH. LTD. | MANAGING DIRECTOR | ACCOUNTANCY | MARRIED |
| MICHAEL ABU SAKARA FOSTER ( CPP) | 9759006290 | M | CHRISTIAN | 15/08/58 | MANKUNA NORTHERN REG. | DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY | UNIVERSITY OF READING, UK. | EXECUTIVE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | AGRONOMIST | MARRIED |
| JACOB OSEI YEBOAH (INDP) | 1583029457 | M | CHRISTIAN | 28/10/68 | ATONSU-NSUTA | MBA | WARWICK UNIVERSITY, UK. | VITALSOURCE LTD. | DIRECTOR WEST AFRICA | ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES | MARRIED |
PROFILE OF 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
RUNNING MATES
| NAME OF RUNNING MATE ( PARTY) | VOTER ID. NO. | SEX | AGE | POLLING SATION CODE | CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS | OCCUPATION |
| KWESI BEKOE AMISSAH-ARTHUR (NDC) | 1908013723 | M | 61 | C100515 | 9 SWITCHBACK RD., CANTONMENTS | ECONOMIST |
| JOHN AMEKAH (GCPP) | 2245011933 | M | 60 | C011202 | HEADTEACHER'S BUNGALOW – NEW GBAWE SCHOOL. | RETIRED EDUCATIONIST |
| DR. MAHAMADU BAWUMIA (NPP) | 3027018013 | M | 49 | H230401 | NO. 10 6TH ESTATE ROAD, KANDA, ACCRA. | ECONOMIST |
| EVA LOKKO (PPP) | 3918047741 | F | 59 | C132809 | HNO. J3/3 NTHC ESTATES, LASHIBI, COMM.14, TEMA. | C.E.O. TOTALLY YOUTH |
| FRED OSEI AGYEN (UFP) | 3181010731 | M | 47 | A022201 | A A181 | AGRICULTURIST |
| HELEN SANORITA DZATUGBE MATREVI (PNC) | 5657035621 | F | 42 | C082408 | 23 CYCAS ST. DANSOMAN | BILINGUAL TRANSLATOR |
| NANA AKOSUA FRIMPOMAA (CPP) | 1791020652 | F | 56 | C061613 | 19 HIGH TENSION MENPEASEM, EAST LEGON | SOCIAL ACTIVIST |
| KELVIN NII TACKIE (INDP) | 1242017216 | M | 41 | C160807 | HOUSE NO.2 MARKET ST., ADENTA | BUSINESS EXECUTIVE |
Thursday, October 25, 2012
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Sports journalists join ‘Discerning Voters’ to back President Mahama
"We are committing to win 80% of undecided voters for the President through an ongoing peaceful, yet robust and massive strategy that will change the dynamics of Ghanaian politics."
The Discerning Voters said this at a media briefing to inaugurate the Group in Accra.
Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, senior sports journalist and the Convener of the message noted that the Group was inspired by President John Mahama's sense of maturity, humility, competence and continuous dedication to the needs of Ghanaians.
"If there ever was a man who has made such tremendous impression and impact as President of his country in just four months, then that man is President John Mahama, and surely this man deserves to continue in office as our President"
He noted that the Group had begun massive campaign in villages to inform the electorate about what the NDC had to offer, adding "we want to encourage you to join us to stand up for Ghana, stand up for truth and stand for President John Mahama".
According to Mr Ampofo Ankrah, the decision to campaign for the NDC was not instigated by any form of financial gains, as speculated among a section of the public.
"So confident are we in the Better Ghana Agenda that many of us have resigned from our jobs and put our businesses on hold to ensure this humble desire by President Mahama to continue to save the ordinary Ghanaians…"
Nana Yaw Agyemang, a television sports commentator, who also declared his support for President Mahama, stated that he had a mind of his own and therefore decided on what he considered to be right.
"I cannot be pushed around by anybody, neither can anyone influence me to do anything, but this is to set an example for those who are afraid to declare their stand. I believe President Mahama is the best person to lead the country.
GNA
PNC pledges to support NDC in Navrongo Central
"On the basis of the 2012 PNC Navrongo Central Constituency issues of priority, the Executive should reactivate and conclude discussions with Hon Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo on a collaborative programme for the 2012 elections", the resolution stated.
This, however, goes with bargaining and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which include the NDC giving some opportunities to the PNC in terms of political appointments and jobs, should it win the elections particularly in the constituency.
It would be recalled that in the last elections the NDC won the presidential election and lost that of parliamentary election to the New Patriotic Party candidate, Mr Kofi Adda.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, the NDC parliamentary candidate, who lost the election to Mr Adda, is to contest with the same opponent.
Meanwhile, Mr Woyongo, who was invited by the PNC constituency to their Congress, commended the delegates for taking such bold initiative.
"We have over the years work together as social democrats and share the same ideologies, in 2008 you gave your support for the first and second round of voting and I want to commend you for the collaboration".
He said the big fight ahead was poverty and ignorance and indicated it was only when they joined hands together that they could both fight the common enemy.
The aspirant told the delegates that within four years, the NDC Government had brought about unprecedented developmental projects including massive educational infrastructure, construction and tarring of roads among others, adding that most communities, which had no lights would begin to enjoy the Rural Electrification project before the elections.
"150 poles have already been dispatched to Binda, Yua, Gia and other communities. That is how the commitment to bridging the gap between north and south begins".
He told the delegates that President Mahama was a more credible and winnable candidate and appealed to not to vote him alone but to vote for all NDC parliamentary candidates.
He said an education fund which was launched in the area would be expanded and put into the Navro-Pio Development Fund to assist brilliant but needy students.
"We are going to formalize the MOU and when we win you will also benefit from a lot of opportunities and programmes including National Youth Employment Programme," he added.
Mr Pwoawuvi Joseph Weguri, Constituency Chairman of the PNC, said over the years the PNC had faced numerous challenges not only in the constituency but across the nation.
GNA