Isaac Amoah
About Isaac Amoah
Posts by Isaac Amoah:
AFRICAN ELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI) PLEADS WITH PARLIAMENT OF GHANA FOR FORENSIC AUDIT OF 2024 VOTERS’ REGISTER
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE.
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
DATE: 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2024.
AFRICAN ELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI) PLEADS WITH THE PARLIAMENT OF GHANA FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE 2024 VOTERS’ REGISTER
- The African Electoral Institute (AEI) urges the Parliament of Ghana to launch a thorough investigation into the concerns of stakeholders for a forensic audit of the country’s 2024 voters’ register.
- AEI believes a Parliamentary inquiry will help determine the validity of concerns raised by stakeholders, identify potential vulnerabilities in the register, and ensure the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process through a robust and healthier voter register.
-
A parliamentary investigation will address the concerns of all stakeholders, especially parliamentarians who rely on the voters’ register for re-election, since a credible and transparent electoral process is essential for Ghana’s democracy.
- African Electoral Institute calls on all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the Parliamentary investigation team, should one be established to work towards ensuring the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.
-
African Electoral Institute pleads with the Parliament of Ghana that such an investigation team or committee should be established within the shortest possible time since time is of essence in the electoral process.
-
In conclusion, the African Electoral Institute believes that a forensic audit of the voters register will help to cure and correct the errors to the satisfaction of all stakeholders which will bring closure to this nagging issue and underscore the credibility of the electoral process.
- END-
SIGNED:
Deputy Director of Communications and External Relations
Joshua Nii Adjin-Adjin Tettey
0540904550
Electoral Security Department.
Ex WO1 Alhaji Yussif Mahamah.
0243311965
About Us:
African Electoral Institute ( AEI) is a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) founded to deliver sustainable electoral solutions to Emerging and Developed Democracies to strengthen, augment, and build electoral stakeholders capacity and participation on electoral issues through electoral education on voter’s rights and freedom, electoral research, election monitoring, election observation, election results collation, election security awareness and training of polling agents and elections directors underscoring the fact that “elections are won at the polling stations’’ and the participation of all identifiable electoral stakeholders in an electoral process such as Political Parties, Governmental Institutions, underpinning transparency and accountability for a free, fair, and credible elections in Africa and the wider world.
We are on: africanelectoralinstitute.com
X: @AInstitute9287
Lindedin: African Electoral Institute
#ntegrityofChoice
Dr Bawumia’s digitalisation agenda receives commendation
Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, has lauded the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for his relentless efforts in driving the digitalisation agenda across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
“In an era where technology is reshaping governance and public service delivery, the National Service Authority has leveraged the Vice President’s digitalisation drive to improve its general operations, emerging as a beacon of innovation and efficiency,he said.
Addressing the media in Accra on Friday, Mr. Assibey Antwi highlighted the significant impact of the digitization initiatives spearheaded by the Vice President, particularly in the public sector, where it has led to the ‘cleansing’ and increased efficiency of the sector.
Impact of the Digitalization Initiative
According to the Director-General, the digitisation agenda, which forms a crucial part of the government’s broader vision for national development, has brought about transformative changes that are reshaping the landscape of public administration in Ghana.
He observed that introducing biometric systems, digital payment platforms, and the synchronisation of databases across government agencies have enhanced efficiency and rooted out longstanding issues of fraud and corruption.
“Dr Bawumia’s commitment to digitalising the public sector has been a game-changer. Mr Assibey Antwi remarked.
He stated that during a visit to the National Service Authority, Vice President Dr Bawumia commended the Authority for its impressive achievement through digitalization.
He encouraged other sectors to adopt digital transformation and utilize technology to drive development and enhance service delivery.
The NSA has also made significant advancements in data management through its Electronic School List Submissions initiative.
By developing ‘Flare’, a secure online platform that allows accredited institutions to submit school lists and connect with user agencies seeking skilled graduates for employment, the initiative has enhanced transparency and efficiency in managing class lists.
Osei Assibey Antwi,Executive Director
“It has mitigated issues such as data breaches and processing errors, while also providing educational institutions with the benefit of real-time processing updates and a streamlined submission process,” he stated.
“The Payment of Personnel Allowances via Ghana Pay initiative has further streamlined allowance disbursement.
The Ghana Pay platform enables direct payments to personnel’s bank accounts, offering a more reliable and user-friendly alternative to the previously problematic Ezwich payment platform,” he outlined.
Regarding revenue, he said financial management has also been revolutionised with the introduction of seamless billing and the IGF Administration App. This app, he mentioned, integrates with the Ghana.GOV payment platform, automating invoicing and receipt generation while offering various payment options.
Impact on deployment
Mr Assibey Antwi further explained that the impact of the digitisation drive has been felt across various facets of national life, pointing out that the National Service Authority (NSA) had greatly benefited from the digitalisation agenda, particularly in the areas of personnel management and deployment.
Recounting the introduction of an online portal for the registration and deployment of national service personnel, he explained that it had significantly streamlined their operations, reduced delays, and minimised the human element in the allocation process.
Efficient Operations
The DG stated that the Authority has become more efficient in its operations due to digitalisation, adding that the online system has made it easier for personnel to register, select their preferred regions, and receive their postings without the usual bureaucratic hurdles.
This level of transparency and efficiency was previously unheard of, and it’s all due to the digital reforms championed by Dr Bawumia,” he recalled.
He emphasised that the benefits of digitisation extended beyond financial savings and operational efficiency as it had also enhanced transparency and accountability, fostering greater public trust in government institutions and therefore urged other sectors to embrace the digital transformation and leverage technology to drive development and improve service delivery.
Mr. Assibey Antwi called on Ghanaians to support the government’s digitisation agenda, recognising it as a critical tool for national development and expressed optimism that with continued investment in digital infrastructure and a commitment to innovation, Ghana was on the path to becoming a fully digitised economy, capable of competing on the global stage.
“The future is digital, and we must all embrace it.
The Vice President has laid a solid foundation, and it is now up to all of us to build on it and ensure that Ghana reaps the full benefits of this digital revolution, he indicated.
Some good examples of the benefits of Dr Bawumia’s digitalization agenda to the nation are the introduction of a single enhanced ID card (Ghana card) as an enabler and the advancement of DVLA operations through digitalization.
Others are the modernization of SSNIT operations through digitalization, revamping of STEM education and the coupled with the supply of electronic devices to students and teachers to promote effective teaching and learning at all levels of education among others.
Group to petition Bawumia, Mahama for clear stance against Illegal mining
Source: Myjoyonline.com
The Media Coalition against Illegal Mining [Galamsey] has announced plans to petition the two leading presidential candidates, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging them to publicly denounce illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
The coalition is calling for a clear and decisive stance from both candidates as the nation continues to grapple with the environmental damage caused by galamsey.
Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on Saturday, September 14, the convener of the coalition, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, stressed the importance of having both candidates express their disapproval of illegal mining.
He emphasised that a strong public declaration from the presidential hopefuls would demonstrate their commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis.
Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey
Ing. Ashigbey clarified that the coalition is not advocating for a complete ban on all mining activities.
Instead, it is calling for a state of emergency and the strict enforcement of Ghana’s mining laws to prevent further destruction of the environment and water bodies caused by galamsey operations.
He further explained that the coalition’s efforts are focused on ensuring that the country’s mining laws are properly implemented, and that illegal miners are held accountable for the damage they cause.
The coalition believes that both NPP and NDC leadership must take a firm position on the issue, given the significant impact of galamsey on the nation’s resources.
As part of its next steps, the Media Coalition against Galamsey intends to formally urge Dr Bawumia and Mr Mahama to openly declare their stance against illegal mining.
The coalition hopes that this move will encourage stronger political commitment to tackling the menace, particularly ahead of the 2024 general elections.
“The Media Coalition Against Galamsey is not calling for a ban. We are calling for a declaration of a state of emergency and enforcing the laws that we have. The NDC and the NPP sat in Parliament and passed LI 2462 and if you see the people who have been given these permits to go into the forest reserves, we are saying this LI should be revoked and it is the President who can revoke the LI by replacing it with a new LI and if you don’t do that, you will not be able to resolve the problem.”
“To deal with the issue of politicisation, we are going to be calling on the current Vice President, and the former president [John Dramani Mahama], who is the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to also openly declare their revulsion for what is happening and their support for the crisis efforts,” he said.
Fight against galamsey:Kan Dapaah leads Akufo-Addo’s 5-member ministerial committee to engage stakeholders
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set up a five-member ad hoc ministerial committee to engage stakeholders to assess the government’s efforts to deal with illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Albert Kan Dapaah
Galamsey has gained notoriety in recent times, with many unions and associations demanding that President Akufo-Addo declare a state of emergency to provide ample time to deal with the menace.
Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar issued a notice on Friday, September 13, announcing the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, as the chairman of the committee to be assisted by four other ministers.
Below is the full list.
On the instruction of the Presiden
t of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an adhoc Ministerial committee has been set up to engage all stakeholders to assess government’s efforts in dealing with illegal mining in Ghana.
The five-member committee is led by the
- National Security Minister, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah
Other members of the committee are:
- Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor
- Minister for Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul
- Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah
- Minister for information, Fatimatu Abubakar
Flashback:I will grant amnesty to all arrested Galamsey operators – Mahama
Source: Stella Amoyaw ( 23 October 2020 3:23am)
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama says he will grant amnesty to all arrested galamsey operators if voted into office come December 7 polls.
John Mahama disclosed this at a durbar of chiefs and people at Odum-Banso in the Western Region on Thursday.
Addressing the Chiefs and people of the community, he stated that his administration will give these offenders a second chance to better their lives.
“When we come into power, I will grant amnesty to everyone who was arrested for operating in Galamsey. I believe that these operators are remorseful towards any unlawful activities, so we will give them another chance.”
The former president also noted that his government has a well-planned policy that will develop small scale mining.
He emphasised that the party will expand job opportunities in the mining sector, to create wealth for the people, especially those living in mining communities.
John Mahama added that unlike the NPP government, his administration will put political affiliations aside and ensure that the initiative benefits every small-scale miner.
“The Akufo-Addo government has allowed his party members to benefit from small scale-mining and has stopped people who are not affiliated to the NPP party to starve,” he stated.
He added that every mining district in Ghana will be assigned professionals from the University of Mines and Technology at Tarkwa (UMaT) to regulate and train all small scale miners to ensure the safety of the miners during the mining process.
The flagbearer stated that the NDC administration the UMaT professionals will also train small scale miners in land reclamation.
This, he said, will minimise the death toll and the negative impact of mining on the environment.
John Mahama urged the people of the Odum-Banso to vote massively for him and his parliamentary candidate.
Deputy Lands Minister rejects calls for blanket ban on small-scale mining
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has pushed back against recent demands for a blanket ban on all small-scale mining operations, describing such calls as misguided.
While condemning the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, including the degradation of major water bodies, Duker stated the government’s commitment to promoting responsible mining practices.
He noted that the government remains resolute in its efforts to end illegal mining activities but stressed the need for a collective approach to address the issue.
George Mireku Duker
His remarks follow appeals from professional organisations, such as the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other unions, who have urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately ban small-scale mining in response to the widespread environmental damage caused by illegal operations.
Organised Labour has also threatened a nationwide strike if the government fails to take decisive steps to end the destruction of water bodies and the environment by illegal miners.
However, speaking at the commissioning of the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region, Duker argued that banning small-scale mining would be a misplaced priority.
He further disclosed that the government plans to deploy river guards to protect water bodies from further harm.
“It is misdirected because I was expecting them to have condemned the statement made by his excellency the former President Mahama before even calling for this action because you can’t just in a way out of the blue you just say put a ban. Ban on what?” he questioned.
“What are the metrics, what have you done. What analysis have you done. The statement President Mahama made was unfortunate so why didn’t they in a way ask him to apologise?”
He acknowledged the damage being caused to water bodies and expressed support for taking measures against those responsible.
“Yes, people are destroying our water bodies; there are measures we need to take to clamp down on recalcitrants who are destroying our water bodies, and I agree with them perfectly…But I am against it.”
“Personally, I am against the call for the ban on mining generally. You can’t ban mining. Why must you ban mining?” he added.Source: Myjoyonline.com
Exhibition of voters register is an Audit of the Register – EC schools NDC ahead of demo
The Electoral Commission (EC) has questioned the call for a forensic audit of the Voters Register as proposed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pointing out that an “exhibition offers an avenue for the auditing of the Register”.
According to the EC, the Exhibition “unearths discrepancies and allows for prescribed legal processes to correct the discrepancies.”
The NDC, about a fortnight ago, demanded a forensic audit of the voter’s register, stating it is fraught with irregularities.
Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah, was emphatic that without a forensic audit or parliamentary investigation of the register, it “remains incurably defective”.
He cited irregularities in the register during the voters’ exhibition exercise which ended on August 27, 2024, to back his assertions, and maintained it is “not fit for purpose“.
It is the position of the largest opposition party that the voters register in its current state has “deliberately been tampered with“; hence, their call for an independent forensic audit.
“Fellow Ghanaians, Without a forensic audit or parliamentary investigation of the voters register, the register remains incurably defective …. Without a forensic audit or thorough parliamentary investigation of the EC’s voters register, the register will remain incurably defective. Forget about adjudication!!! It’s obvious the register has deliberately been tampered with! ….. The exhibition exercise has revealed avoidable problems, which, if not resolved, can jeopardize the outcome of the 2024 elections,” he posted on Facebook.
But the Commission wondered which body will be required to “fix the discrepancies in the register” in the aftermath of the forensic audit.
Assuring the General Public and all Stakeholders, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of its commitment to providing a robust and credible Voters Register that will guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible General Election in December 2024, the EC revealed that all identified errors with the Provisional Voters Register are being corrected.
Additionally, it said, they will soon address the Public on steps being taken before the Final Certified Register is released for the 2024 Elections.
The EC gave this assurance during a press conference in Accra on Thursday, 12th September, 2024.
Addressing the media, Deputy Chairman, Operations, Mr. Samuel Tettey highlighted the auditing function of the Exhibition of the register:
“The Commission wishes to inform the General Public that, the Voters Exhibition Exercise in itself is an audit. The Exhibition offers an avenue for the auditing of the Register. It unearths discrepancies and allows for prescribed legal processes to correct the discrepancies. Perhaps this is the first time the NDC has taken interest in the Register; otherwise one would have expected them to call for such an audit of the 2016 Register which contained photos of plants and animals representing Voters. It is important to note that, contrary to what is being alluded, since 1992 the Voters Register has never been audited.
“The Exhibition Exercise enables citizens to verify their details and allows for the unearthing of discrepancies in the register. Additionally, it provides for the correction of discrepancies in the Register. This is not new. This has been the practice since 1992. The process of cleaning and strengthening the Voters Register is well defined by law.
“We have also noted comments by the NDC to the effect that “the very doctor that created the problem should not be the doctor that will resolve the problem. The EC must agree for an independent body to audit them.” The EC holds a contrary view to the position held by the NDC. We reiterate that it is the EC that is clothed with the responsibility and capacity to address discrepancies in the Provisional Voters Register. The Commission has been doing this since 1992. It has the experience to do this and does not require any external organization to do its work.
“We reiterate that the Law makes provision for the self-auditing of the Voters Register through the Voters Exhibition Exercise. The Exercise makes available the provisional copy of the Register and allows citizens to verify their details and point out discrepancies with their details. Additionally, the same Law allows for the correction of these discrepancies by the EC at all levels from the field to the districts to the Head Office.
“This is the laid down, tried and tested process and it works. What then is the purpose of the proposed forensic audit? The Commission is of the view that such an audit will add no value whatsoever to the well-defined tried and tested processes documented for the cleaning and strengthening of the provisional voters register.
“The question is, should the forensic audit be conducted, who will fix the discrepancies in the register? The answer is it is the same Commission that will fix the discrepancies and that is what we are doing. It is for this reason that the EC is of the view that the call for a forensic audit is misguided. The Commission believes that, as has been the case in the past, the Exhibition Exercise will contribute to the strengthening of the Voters Register.”
The Commission further explained that the law envisaged that discrepancies would arise following a registration exercise and provided remedies for fixing the discrepancies including the following:
•Inclusion of omitted names
•Objection to names of unqualified voters on the register
•Removal of names of deceased voters from the register
•Replacement of poor quality or damaged Voter ID Cards
•Correction to wrong spelling of names
•Correction to wrong registration center codes
• Amendment to other registration details (e.g. age, sex etc.) as a result of clerical error.
Mr. Tetteh concluded by saying, “The Commission wishes to state that, almost all the discrepancies identified have to date been corrected. As in 2020, the Commission is committed to providing the country and all Political Parties with a robust and credible Voters Register that will guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible General Election in December 2024. We urge the public to trust the EC to do this again and again.”Source: Peacefmonline.com
Mahama makes U-turn,says NDC will impose complete ban on galamsey and take stringent measures against offenders
Former President and current flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has vowed to arrest and imprison all illegal miners involved in galamsey if he is elected in the upcoming presidential election.
This statement marks a stark reversal from his previous position, where he had promised to free those already imprisoned for engaging in the illegal activity.
Speaking at Aboabo No. 4 in the Dormaa Central Constituency of the Bono Region during his nationwide campaign tour, Mahama declared that an NDC-led administration would impose a complete ban on galamsey and take stringent measures against offenders.
John Mahama
“Not only will the new NDC administration ban galamsey, but we are also going to arrest and prosecute the galamseyers,” he stated firmly.
Mahama’s recent comments come as a surprise, as they contrast with his earlier promises to provide leniency for those involved in illegal mining.
Prior to the 2020 general election, Mahama had pledged to grant amnesty to galamsey miners imprisoned under the current Akufo-Addo administration, questioning the rationale behind incarcerating Ghanaians for mining offenses.
In June 2024, during a media encounter in Accra, Mahama reiterated his promise of amnesty, arguing that many of those prosecuted were victims working under influential figures in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He suggested they should not have been imprisoned.
However, his recent stance appears to have shifted, with no mention of amnesty in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto. Instead, Mahama is now pledging a full-scale war on galamsey, raising concerns about his consistency on the issue.
Residents in mining communities, whose relatives remain imprisoned, have expressed doubts about whether Mahama would follow through with his earlier promises, given his current rhetoric and the absence of an amnesty plan in his party’s platform.
Mahama’s changing position has sparked debate over his commitment to addressing illegal mining and his broader credibility as a political leader.
As the election approaches, his tougher stance on galamsey will likely continue to be a major topic of discussion.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
