Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, is embarking on a campaign tour across the Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East Regions, commencing on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. This follows his recent visits to the Eastern, Western, and Western North regions, where he conveyed messages of hope and solicited support for the upcoming December 2024 general elections.
A statement from the Bawumia Campaign Team, signed by Director of Communications Dennis Miracles Aboagye on May 5, outlined Dr. Bawumia’s agenda. He will delve into his vision for the mining sector during a Transformational Dialogue organized by the University of Energy and Natural Resources on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Subsequently, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, he will address the Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, focusing on the interplay between digitalization and corruption in governance.
Encouraging continued support for Dr. Bawumia, the campaign team emphasized his commitment to presenting bold solutions for Ghana’s future development. They reassured the public of Dr. Bawumia’s dedication to fulfilling his promises upon assuming the presidency.
In a statement, Dr. Gideon Boako, the Spokesperson of Vice President and Presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has refuted the narrative that some enraged youth blocked the Vice President’s convoy on the Nkawkaw-Kumasi highway on Saturday, 4th May, 2024.
Dr. Boako explained that the Vice President was not even on that road during the entire week.
Dr.Bawumia with the campaign team
The Vice President was in the Western region on 1st and 2nd May, then moved to the Western North region on Thursday, 3rd May, and arrived in Kumasi around 10 pm the same day.
He left Kumasi in the morning of Saturday, 4th May, to Accra by air, and did not use the Nkawkaw-Kumasi road.
According to Dr. Boako’s understanding, the blockade was due to an accident in which a loaded fuel tanker had fallen on the main road.
The youth, in an attempt to prevent large casualties in the unfortunate event of an explosion, blocked the road until the fire service and other security agencies cleared it for commuters to use.
In a captivating turn of events, the name of Irene Naa Torshie Addo, a prominent female politician, was in the spotlight during the official launch of Otumfuo’s commemorative stamp at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The launch of the stamp was part of the activities marking the 25th anniversary of Otumfuo’s ascension to the Asante Golden Stool.
The event was organised by Ghana Post, and it was attended by legions of dignitaries.
One of the highlights of the occasion was the purchase of a stamp by Naa Torshie Addo, who paid a staggering GH¢20,000 for it.
Although Naa Torshie was not physically present at the event, her name generated a significant buzz of excitement among the attendees, with the audience erupting with loud cheers and shouts of “our running mate” when her name was mentioned.
This unexpected development has fuelled speculations that Naa Torshie Addo might be considered as a potential running mate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
There have been rumours and discussions in the political space surrounding the possibility of Naa Torshie becoming Dr. Bawumia’s running mate. Therefore, her name sparked widespread interests and speculations at the event.
The Asantehene’s 25th anniversary celebration and the launch of the commemorative stamp have undoubtedly added a new layer of intrigue to the political arena.
As the nation watches closely, the coming days and weeks are sure to be filled with intense discussions and speculations surrounding Naa Totshie Addo’s potential role in the upcoming elections.
Background
Commemorative stamps serve as tools to honour and remember significant figures in history.
These stamps are, therefore, expected to serve as a tribute to the rich heritage and legacy of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The stamps are not merely postage stamps but a symbol for the remembrance of culture and the appreciation of history.
They are also a means of immortalising historical figures and events by ensuring that their legacies endure for generations.
The commemorative stamps will, therefore, be a symbol of legacy for generations to come.
Some trader associations in Kumasi have vowed to campaign against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 general election “if the government fails to complete all the abandoned markets in the Ashanti Region.”
The associations, including the Second-hand Cloth Sellers Association, Santasi Traders Union, Suame Magazine Workers Union, Mamponteng Traders Association, Central Market Traders Association, and the Kumasi Lotto Sellers Association, jointly issued a release on Monday, May 6, and threatened to collaborate with other aggrieved associations to stage a five-day protest if their demands are not granted.
In the interim, the associations have also appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Ashanti Queen Mother, Nana Konadu Yiadom, to intervene to prompt the government to act on their demands.
The aggrieved traders also warned that the barricades on the Kejetia Second Phase project be removed before they take that action by themselves.
“We are by this press release urging the Contracta company to remove all the barricades from the Kejetia second phase projects before we do it by ourselves because we will not think twice to take it off to do our businesses there if our demand is not heard.”
Below is the full press release.
PRESS RELEASE BY ALL TRADERS GROUPS IN THE ASHANTI REGION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GREAT ASANTE MAN YOUTH UNION.
6th May, 2024
Good morning esteemed members of the media,
We, the entirety of traders in the Kumasi and its environs, including the Second-hand Cloth Sellers Association, Santasi Traders Union, Suame Magazine Workers Union, Mamponteng Traders Association, Central Market Traders Association, Kumasi Lotto Sellers Association, have jointly decided to initiate a campaign against the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 general election if the government fails to complete all the abandoned markets in the Ashanti Region, including the much-awaited Phase Two of the Kejetia Market.
Over the past one year, six months, progress on these projects has come to a halt due to the renegotiation of a loan agreement following the country’s decision to opt for a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while other markets including Mamponteng market, Krofrom market and Santasi market has been abandoned since former President Kufuor era.
Presently, we have four major markets left abandoned by the NPP government:
Krofrom Market
Mamponteng Market
Santasi Market
Phase Two of the Kejetia Market.
We, the aforementioned traders’ unions within the Ashanti Region, have continuously voiced our concerns regarding the challenges we face in conducting business at our current locations.
The government’s failure to meet completion targets has left us disheartened and frustrated. We fail to comprehend why a project would be initiated only to be abandoned, leaving our fellow traders to sell their goods in unsuitable conditions.
Our livelihoods are greatly affected by adverse weather conditions; each rainfall turns our marketplaces into muddy quagmires, while the scorching sun blankets the area in dust, making it difficult for us to operate effectively.
The Ashanti Region, a stronghold of the NPP, rightfully expects swift development, especially in Kumasi. However, the lack of progress on these crucial projects has left us deeply disappointed.
We, the aforementioned traders’ union, earnestly appeal to His Majesty, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, once more to intervene on our behalf.
We humbly implore Asantehene to lend his support and influence towards the restoration and completion of all abandoned markets in the region.
Furthermore, we extend our plea to the Ashanti Queen Mother, Nana Konadu Yiadom, who holds jurisdiction over all markets in the Ashanti Kingdom.
We believe that her background as a former trader will foster a deeper understanding of our plight and inspire her to champion our cause.
If our demand did not yield any result, we the aforementioned traders together with Asanteman Youth Union will joined the five days demonstration by our brothers and sisters of Central Market and second hand cloth sellers to demonstrate against the government.
We on this press release urging the contracta company to remove all the barricades from the Kejetia second phase projects before we do it by ourselves because we will not think twice to take it off to do our businesses there if our demand did not heard.
Thank you, Asanteman.
Thank you, Ghana.
Together, let us strive for a better future for all traders and citizens alike.
National Communications Officer for the National Democratic congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has disclosed that should Ghanaians vest power in the party in December this year, the Mahama-led administration intends establishing a National Women’s Development Bank.
According to lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC believes if women are empowered financially, they will be able to help grow the economy of the country.
Sammy Gyamfi
Referencing data published in the 2023 National Population Census, he said women outnumber men in the country and constitute over 51% of Ghana’s total population, hence the need to take a critical look at their needs.
Considering the data above, the NDC communication boss said, “if you are able to promote women, the job is half done because women are way more than men in Ghana. That is why we are talking about the national Women’s Development Bank. We have noticed that women love to engage in businesses, but they don’t have the requisite capital to start such businesses. A lot of the women have started with their own capital but are not able to sustain it due to the unfavourbale economic conditions in the country in recent times. We are also aware of the loans women have to go for and the draconian interest that come with the loan.’’
“We are also aware that, women spend all their profits in servicing their loans to the extent that, at the end of the day, they end up getting nothing,” he added.
Sammy Gyamfi was speaking in an exclusive interview on United Television’s ‘’Mpu ne Mpu” show on Friday May 3.
The NDC National Communications Officer further intimated that it is in light of the plethora of challenges that women face, which has necessitated the idea of having a national Women’s Development Bank; a vision of the John Mahama and his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
“…… the bank will promote women empowerment in order to give them a very good loan service with an interest rate of less than 10%,” he assured.
Touching on the Banking sector clean up, Sammy Gyamfi noted that, the government, led by Nana Akufo Addo and Dr. Bawumia, deliberately closed down those banks simply because the said owners were non-members of the ruling government.
‘’The government should have devised a more appropriate way of addressing the banking issues instead of closing them down. They have closed down all indigenous banks, savings and loans, and micro finances, leading to the distress women have found themselves in now,” but added that the National Women’s Dev’t Bank “is a game-changer for women. The 24-hour is for everybody but the National Women’s Development Bank is for all women because John Mahama is concerned about women welfare and intends to give them the best financial support system. ‘’
In terms of proximity, he added that the Women’s Development Bank will have its headquarters situated in Accra, but will be decentralized at the regional and district levels.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has expressed concern over the inconsistent power supply in Ghana, known as “dumsor”, and its impact on media houses.
He highlighted that the irregular power supply is negatively affecting the international standing of Ghanaian journalists.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
At the World Press Freedom Day 2024 event at the Koforidua Technical University on Friday, May 3, the GJA President mentioned instances of some broadcast equipment being damaged due to power outages.
He pointed out that media houses are now faced with the challenge of procuring costly generators amidst rising fuel prices.
“One key feature of WPFD is the release of the global press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders, which gauges press freedom performances of countries. The introduction of economic indicators in the computation of the index has contributed to lowering Ghana’s performance.
“That is why we are worried about the current erratic electricity supply that is eroding the economic fortunes of media houses. Reports suggest damage to broadcast equipment as a result of the erratic power outages. Media houses now have to grapple with the procurement of expensive generators at a time when fuel prices are skyrocketing,” he stated.
Mr. Dwumfour echoed the call for the Electricity Company of Ghana to provide a power supply timetable to prevent economic losses for media houses.
“We want to add our voice to the numerous calls on the Electricity Company of Ghana to provide a timetable on electricity supply to save media houses from economic losses that would ultimately affect the press freedom ranking of the country,” he said.
Source:Leticia Osei
The Ghana Police Service has commenced investigations into the alleged electoral offence involving temporary officers of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Dr Kingsley Nyarko during the by-election at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
A viral video on April 30 during the by-election showed Dr Nyarko placing a white envelope on a table in front of two EC officials during the by-election. ‘
The action led to allegations of potential influence over the electoral process.
In a post on X on Friday, the police confirmed the commencement of investigations into the incident.
They stated that the individuals involved have been invited to aid in the investigation, and that they were collaborating with the EC in the matter.
“The Ghana Police Service has commenced investigation into the alleged electoral offence involving some temporary officers of the Electoral Commission and a Member of Parliament during the by-election at Ejisu in the Ashanti region.”
“The persons involved, George Sasu, Regina Serwaa and Dr Kingsley Nyarko have subsequently been invited by the Police to assist the investigation and their statements duly taken. Police is working together with the Electoral Commission as the investigation continues,” it stated.
Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has once again criticised former President John Mahama for the erratic power outages that occurred during his administration.
He jokingly referred to the phenomenon at the time as ‘dum dum’, a play on the local term for power outages, known as ‘dumsor’.
This criticism arises amid a resurgence in electricity supply problems, which has become a cause of concern among Ghanaians.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh aka NAPO
This issue came up during Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee sitting on May 3, 2024.
As part of his response, the Minister responded that “we have gone past the era where we have 72 to 96 days of lights out and six hours of light on. We are the era of “dum sie sie” which is profoundly different from dumsor.”
He explained that during former President John Mahama’s tenure, one major characteristic was erratic power supply, but this duration the case was different.
Read also: Energy Minister denies return of ‘Dumsor’ as he dismisses calls for timetable
“Dumsor as inflicted on Ghanaians has only happened as characterised His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s governance.
“He is the only President on record that for four years that he reigned, for four years that he ruled, for four years that he governed dum dum dum,” he added.
Addressing the committee members, Dr Opoku Prempeh insisted that the erratic power supply the country was experiencing was not “dumsor” but “dum sie sie.”
According to him, Mr Mahama’s version was far more erratic because there was inadequate power to keep the lights on consistently.
However, “dum sie sie” implies that the lights go off so that maintenance work and other activities within the energy sector can be carried out.
Source: Connielove Mawutornyo Dzodzegbe
It has come to my notice from several social media publications someone by the name Amuse Bouche alleging that about 11 years ago, at JQB psychology, I insinuated sex to change her grade and make life for her hell at legon.
I do not know JQB psychology at the University of Ghana. But, I know a lecture hall named JQB.
The name—Amuse Bouche is not a real name of a human-being. Someone is behind such a name, and purposely trying to defame me.
I want to put on record that, no such event ever occurred that involved me. I do not, and have never met such a person anywhere in my life.
I would challenge the person making such allegation against me to come out publicly, disclose their identity, officially report me to the university authorities for appropriate redress.
I would want the person accusing me to also come clear on the exact year the alleged incident happened, the programme pursued, and the course or courses I taught.
Kingsley Nyarko, MP, Kwadaso.
I also would encourage any other person that I have taught at the University of Ghana during the years I was a lecturer and have demanded, insinuated and suggested sexual favors in order to alter their grades to come out and say so publicly or report me to the appropriate authorities.
The University of Ghana has a policy in place to address sexual harassment, and takes complaints seriously. I encourage both the accuser and the university to disclose whether any complaints have been received previously and how they were handled. This serves as a reminder for the accuser to utilize this option too.
Coming on the back of the unfortunate incident at Ejisu on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024, I see a clear attempt by some persons to deliberately mar, dent and soil my image and reputation built over the years.
I will stand firm as I always do in difficult times, and by the grace of God, I shall overcome and be vindicated at the end.
I want to urge my family, friends, well-wishers and constituents to be calm, and I reassure all that, the alleged incident never ever happened. It is a blatant lie, orchestrated to discredit and weaken me, but it won’t work.
