The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed concern over encroachment on airport lands, warning that it threatens the future expansion of Ghana’s airports and could hamper rescue efforts in the unlikely event of an accident.
Dr Bawumia charged authorities, especially the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) and the Lands Commission, to ensure that airport lands are protected for future expansion projects.
He emphasized the need for these authorities to work closely together to ensure that airport lands are properly protected and managed for future airport expansion, as well as to safeguard lives and property in the event of an accident occurring at or around the airport enclave.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
The Vice President made this call while commissioning the Tamale International Airport Phase II Project, which has now been completed.
The approximately $70 million project is expected to enhance access to markets for the local agriculture industry, as well as enhance tourism and attract passengers from neighboring countries.Source: dailyguidenetwork.com
The former governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has asserted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds the strongest performance record among Ghana’s political parties since the country’s independence in 1957.
Mr. Duffuor argued that the NDC’s record outweighs that of Kwame Nkrumah who focused largely on manufacturing.
“Between 2009 and 2012, our performance has been the best since independence. No government has achieved what we achieved between 2009 and 2012. For forty years, the interest rates had come down, the Treasury Bills (TB) rates came below 10 percent, the Cedi over four years moved by 60 pesewas and our GDP was 14.5 in 2011.”
Speaking on The Point of View on Citi TV, the former Finance Minster said the NDC’s deliberate efforts toward job creation were impeccable which led to a drastic reduction in unemployment rates for the first time between 2012 and 2013.
“The job creation during our time was first class. The unemployment figure had dropped to 2.2 percent by the end of 2012/2013 and the figures are there to show.”
Mr. Duffuour also disclosed that he will campaign actively for former president John Dramani Mahama to win political power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor
“I am confident that we are winning because we are working and the NPP has been [in power] for seven years and has done little but our performance has been the best since independence,” he told host Bernard Avle.
He, however, acknowledged that the NDC encountered a Dollar-Cedi problem in 2014 but that did not affect Ghana’s economy due to stern measures taken by the then NDC government.
“There was a problem in 2014. There was a huge Cedi-Dollar problem but not so much in the depreciation of the Cedi because it was an exogenous problem.”
The Director of Campaign Communications for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has refuted claims that President Akufo-Addo has forced his government appointees to support the Vice President in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries.
Nana Akomea in an interview on JoyNews’ PM Express said his support for Dr Bawumia was not influenced by any coercive measures neither was that of his colleagues.
According to him, Dr Bawumia’s charisma and brand are enough to gain him admiration and support among his party members.
“Being Vice President does not automatically get you the President’s support. I am an appointee of the President, I support Bawumia and I’ve told you why.
“When we go the campaign I see a lot of government appointees like myself and I’m happy. I am happy that these people are also on the campaign. I do not think any of them are supporting Dr Bawumia because the President instructed them to do so,” he said on Wednesday.
Addressing the topic further, the former Employment Minister questioned the idea that anyone could be coerced to support a particular candidate within the party.
“Can I be coerced?” he rhetorically asked, highlighting the individual agency of party members in making their electoral choices.
“And I can’t imagine any of these stalwarts supporting and following Bawumia being coerced to support him,” he said.
Nana Akomea further highlighted the statement from President Akufo-Addo himself, categorically stating that he does not endorse any particular candidate.
He stressed that the statement from the President underlines the neutrality of his position in the internal party contest.
On the back of this, Nana Akomea asserted that unless presented with concrete evidence to the contrary, claims of coercion should be dismissed as mere speculations.
Dr Bawumia is one of 10 aspirants in the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries. The aspirants hoping to lead the party to the 2024 general elections will go through a special delegates conference this weekend.
The conference is aimed at trimming down the number of aspirants from 10 to five prior to the national conference expected to be held in November.
The special delegate conference will come off on Saturday, August 26.Source:myjoyonline.com
Majority Leader of Parliament and Member of Parliament for the Suame Constituency, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has said that he is under immense pressure from members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), to recontest the Suame seat.
According to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, he keeps receiving delegations from the constituency and other stalwarts of the party impressing him not to leave the scene.
The long-serving legislator who has contested and won his seat seven consecutive times since the year 1997 has announced his decision to hang his gloves after twenty-eight years of service in parliament.
Speaking to Kojo Marfo on Abusua 96.5 FM in Kumasi, the legislator disclosed that stalwarts of the party keep knocking on his doors pleading with him to continue representing the constituency and the party in parliament.
Hon.Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader
“They keep coming to me to say that my experience, years of knowledge, and longevity demands that I contest the seat again,” he disclosed.
The Suame Legislator however insisted he stands by his word to stay out of November’s parliamentary primaries of the NPP.
“I said it yesterday and I am saying it now that I will not contest for the Suame Seat again,” he contended.
The MP who has risen through the ranks of parliamentary leadership having served in seven parliaments further disclosed that several persons were beckoning him to accept a proposal for lobbyists to begin rallying support for an Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu running mate ticket.
He told Kwadwo Marfo that “Kwame Mpiani once said anyone who joins the police wants to be an IGP.
“Even in 2016, people came to me when I was supporting Nana Addo’s bid to begin lobbying for the running mate slot. They were ready to mobilize funds for me but I asked them to rather deploy their efforts to mobilize the funds for the presidential bid of Nana Akufo Addo.”
“Till now people still come to me. They tell me I have the experience and knowledge required to become the running mate of any flagbearer,” he further stated.
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has declared his unflinching support for the flag bearer bid of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia whom he argues has contributed in phenomenal dimensions to the party and country.
Saturday’s Special Super Delegates Conference will determine the final five of ten candidates to contest November’s ultimate flag bearer race for the party’s 2024 presidential candidate.
Source: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, Abusua 96.5 FM in Kumasi
Renowned Kumawood actor, Lil Win, has made a surprising foray into the political arena, announcing his intention to run for the parliamentary seat in the Afigya Kwabre North constituency.
Kwadwo Nkansah, as he is known in showbiz, plans to take up this cause as an independent candidate in the Ashanti Region.
LilWin’s decision to embark on a political journey stems from the encouragement and backing he received from local chiefs and elders within the constituency.
According to him, these influential figures in the region strongly urged him to take up the mantle and contest for the seat.
Speaking on Accra-based Okay FM, Lil Win revealed that the chiefs approached him last year with the proposal of standing as an independent candidate for the parliamentary seat.
Kwadwo Nkansah(Lilwin)
“In October of last year, I found myself in a situation where a group of elders approached me. They had already discussed the possibility of me becoming their MP as an independent candidate.
“They assured me of their commitment to securing my triumph in the election,” LilWin explained.
He also disclosed that their persistence intensified after the release of his recent movie, ‘Mr. President.’
After watching the film, the chiefs and leaders visited him to communicate their resolute stance on his candidacy, emphasizing that his family members, including his mother and uncle, were in support of his decision to run.
While initially hesitant about entering politics, LilWin shared that the insistence from the chiefs and local leaders eventually convinced him.
“My initial response was that I wasn’t interested, yet they still kept pressuring me to contest as an independent candidate, that way I do not divide my fans be they NPP, NDC or CPP supporters.
“They also said that I will be provided with an English language tutor so that I can speak better and express myself,” LilWin recounted.
Discussing his plans for the constituency, LilWin emphasized his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by local youth, particularly those grappling with drug and alcohol-related issues.
He expressed his intention to prioritize job creation as a means to combat the hardships faced by the young population.
“In our region, many of the youths face hardships stemming from drug and alcohol issues. So, I think if I come, I will focus on jobs… because there are no jobs, they are engaging in all kinds of deviant behaviours,” he stated.
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey is admonishing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to emulate the actions of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II by dismissing government officials who are found guilty of engaging in illegal mining activities.
This comes on the back of Otumfuo’s decision to destool the Chief of Abuontem, Nana Kwaku Duah III following allegations of his involvement in the illegal sale of lands that rightfully belong to various individuals and families.
The destoolment of Nana Kwaku Duah III and his subsequent handover to the police took place on Monday during a session of the Kumasi Traditional Council held at the Manhyia Palace.
Speaking on the matter, the convener of the Coalition, Ing Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey says Otumfuo has shown leadership which he is charging the president to adapt in his governance.
Ing Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey
“This is what we expect of leadership and I completely agree with Otumfuo that if you are a chief, and you have galamsey happening in your community, you are either complicit and are deeply involved in it or you are incompetent and in both cases, you are not worthy of being the chief or leader of the people. And I think this is the Asantehene walking the talk and so it is the same action that we require of the president.”
This comes a little over a week after the chief of Aduamoa was also destooled due to his involvement in unauthorized multiple land sales and various acts of misconduct.
Location: Awaso/ Western North Region
Programmes: Engineering, Biomedicals, Aviation and Erospace, Robotics
Residential status: mixed/ Boarding and Day
Kpasenkpe STEM SHS
Location: Kpasenkpa/ North East Region
Programmes: Engineering, Biomedicals, Aviation and Erospace, Robotics
Residential status: Mixed/ Boarding and Day
Bosomtwe Girls STEM SHS
Location: Deduako/ Ashanti Region
Programmes: Engineering, Biomedicals, Aviation and Erospace, Robotics
Residential status: Girls/ Boarding and Day
Abomosu STEM SHS
Location: Abomosu/ Eastern Region
Programmes: Engineering, Biomedicals, Aviation and Erospace, Robotics
Residential status: Mixed/ Boarding and Day
Bosomtwe STEM SHS
Location: Jachie/ Ashanti Region
Programmes: Engineering, Biomedicals, Aviation and Erospace, Robotics
Residential status: Mixed/ Boarding and Day
Afigya SHTS
Location: Boamman/ Ashanti Region
Programmes: Engineering, Biomedicals, Aviation
President Akufo-Addo is touting Ghana’s performance in the 2022 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, WASSCE as a vindication of his government’s implementation of key interventions in the educational sector.
Addressing a speech and prize day of the Queen Girls Senior High in the Western North region, the President reiterated that last year’s WASSCE results remain the best Ghana has attained since the introduction of the Free Senior High School programme.
“The 2022 WASSCE results are the best out of the last eight years,” he pointed out.
With this achievement, he noted that “surely there can no longer be any controversy about the validity of the Free SHS policy and its consequential measures.”
Prior to this, President Akufo-Addo in December 2022 indicated that the results of the 2022 WASSCE have made him proud.
He said 60.39% of students recorded A1-C6 in English, as opposed to 51.6% in 2016.
In Integrated Science, he noted that 62.45% recorded A1-C6 in 2022, as opposed to 48.35% in 2016, with the 2022 result being a slight regression from the 2021 pass rate of 65.70%.
President Akufo-Addo added that 61.39% of students recorded A1-C6 in Mathematics, as compared to 33.12% in 2016; and 71.51% recorded A1-C6 in Social Studies, as compared to 54.55% in 2016.
“Lest we forget, the 2021 batch of students, who also obtained very commendable results, were the pioneers of the double track system, which elicited a lot of vilification and unfounded criticism on its introduction,” he said while delivering an address at the 70th Anniversary Celebration of Opoku Ware Senior High School.
Aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Francis Addai-Nimoh has questioned the ability of any member of the Akufo-Addo government to lead the NPP to victory in the 2024 general election.
He claims that the party requires a “new face” in order to win the general election.
He made this statement after visiting the Manhyia Palace to declare his intention to run in the NPP presidential primaries.
There, the Asantehene advised the party to carefully select a candidate who is likely to win power.
“The mantra of the party now is, we need to break the eight. For the first time, we are ready to set this record in the political discourse of our country. I believe it is possible, it can be achieved. One of the conditions I have outlined about the possibility of this is that the party needs a new face.
A new face that is unblemished, a new face that will come with a fresh appeal,” Addai-Nimoh said.
“A new face that has a natural appeal to unify people, not any anyone with an artificial ability but one that the people resonate with, and a new face that is not part of the current administration. That is what the records show, that if you have a candidate who is part of the outgoing government, you are not likely to win,” the flagbearer hopeful added.
Addai-Nimoh is on his second attempt, seeking to become the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections.
“So, I think we need a new face so that is what I have been championing to the grassroots and rank and file of the party that if we are determined, we can set this record by getting a new face and that new face is no other person than Addai-Nimoh.
