Our attention has been drawn to the circulation of a video which erroneously and unfairly misrepresents our position and views with respect to our preferred choice for the upcoming presidential elections in our party.
We are highly livid and worried about how our statements have been mischievously pieced together to portray a supposed declaration for Hon. Alan Kyerematen, and same shown on UTV during their major news bulletin.
We the Constituency chairmen of the Adanse enclave have already openly and boldly declared our support for the Vice President,
HE Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as our choice for the flag-bearership race, and this is a decision that we don’t intend to rescind nor reverse. To set the records straight, among the 6 constituency chairmen of the Adanse Enclave,
it is only the New Edubiase constituency chairman who doesn’t support Dr. Bawumia, and even with that, he doesn’t support Hon. Kyerematen either.
We as constituency chairmen thought it was the right, appropriate and honourable thing to do,
when we received and honoured the invitation of Hon Alan Kyerematen’s team to the delegates durbar since he’s also one of the presidential aspirants and a stalwart of our party.
We accorded him that respect just as we would accord any other presidential aspirant the same respect a d audience.
But for his team to misrepresent our statements is something we find absolutely wrong and unfair.
We therefore demand an unqualified apology from them. Thank you.
In a stride towards bolstering interparty collaboration and advancing the cause of democracy, the Co-Chairperson of DUA, Md. Louisa Atta-Agyemang, travelled to Togo to attend the congress of the Forum Démocratique Républicain – a member party of the Democrat Union of Africa and one of the leading political parties in Togo. With a resolute purpose, Md. Atta-Agyemang’s journey was aimed at strengthening the ties between DUA and the FDR party and to share meaningful insights with the party.
Under the theme, “Let’s Break the Chains of Servitude to Regain the Pride of Being Togolese,” the FDR’s ccongress provided a platform to empower party members, foster unity, and enhance the party’s resurgence. The theme’s resonance echoed the heartfelt yearning of the Togolese people to overcome challenges, reclaim their heritage, and pave the way for a brighter future.
The presence of Md. Louisa Atta-Agyemang at the congress signified the dedication of the Democrat Union of Africa to nurturing cross-border partnerships,
specifically with the FDR party, and fostering an exchange of progressive ideas within the African political landscape. Her attendance added on to the discourse surrounding democratic principles, as well as enhancing the collective understanding of effective governance and political strategies.
The event was heavily attended by the high-ranking members of the party led by the Chairperson Hon Apevon Dodji.
With an emphasis on unity and progress, the FDR Party Congress served as a platform for collaboration, discussion, and transformative conversations. Md. Atta-Agyemang’s participation further highlighted the need to promote democratic ideals and the holistic development of African nations.
Co-Chairperson of Democrat Union of Africa (DUA), Md. Louisa Atta-Agyemang
She brought the audience’s attention to the fact that development cannot thrive in chaos and hence centre right political parties should always work to protect the democratic dispensation of the state.
In her address, she condemned the increasing use of coups to take power in the West African Region: “African leaders and the entire world must stand to strongly condemn the recent increase in Coups in the West African Sub-region.
The recent one in Niger is one that comes to test the resolve of all of us. We must learn that the consequences of Coups are always retrogressive and affects the socio-economic gains made, no matter how little it may be.
I believe that no matter how terrible a Democracy may be, it is always better than a dictatorship. Leaders in the West African region must find diplomatic and all reasonable means to curb this phenomenon starting with Niger. Taking power by force cannot become a way of life. Democracy’s light prevails over Tyranny.” Her calls come in strongly to support the international calls for a return to civilian rule in Niger, after power was forcefully seized by the military junta in West Africa’s uranium rich country.
In the aftermath of the congress, the FDR party hopes to garner momentum to capture power in the foreseeable future. Md. Louisa Atta-Agyemang’s participation in the FDR Party Congress is a remarkable step towards strengthening ties, fostering unity, and harnessing the collective power of African political leaders for the betterment of their nations.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is collaborating with the National Service Scheme this year to boost the production of food and other agricultural products in the country.
According to the Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Brian Acheampong, the move would see MOFA providing technical support to the NSS farms to boost the production of soya beans, rice, maize, onion, tomatoes and okra which have high market demands in the country.
He announced this when he visited the Sekyere Kumawu Economic Enclave Project over the weekend.
The trip was aimed at acquainting himself with the state of development on the National Service Farming Projects in the area.
He gave assurance of the government’s support towards the development of the NSS farming projects and commended the leadership of the Scheme for its effort and foresight towards the development of the agricultural sector in the country.
The Minister was upbeat that the move by the NSS would go a long way towards the production of food and other agric products for the local market and for export as well.
Mr Acheampong who went to the area with a technical team pledged to support the Scheme in the preparation of its farm lands to enhance their operations.
The Executive Director of the Scheme, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, explained that the Scheme is poised to ensure that NSS personnel have the opportunity to be exposed to practical work opportunities so they would make good use of their skills towards the development of the nation during the service period.
He explained that if all NSS farms across the country are able to operate at full capacity, it would surely lead to the production of various food crops such as maize, cashew as well as the rearing of livestock and poultry products to boost food production in the country.
Mr Osei Assibey stated that the Scheme was repositioning itself to become a real force to solve the unemployment situation in the country.
He indicated that the skills acquired by the personnel during their service would go a long way to prepare them to establish their own business or be prepared well for the job market.
Background
The NSS currently has 8000 acres of farmlands across the country. It has 5000 acres in the Sekyere Kumawu District where the Scheme has its Sekyere Kumawu Economic Enclave Project.
The Scheme this year has harvested 700 acres of maize at Kumawu, yet to harvest 1000 acres of rice in the area and about to cultivate 300 acres of beans.
I strongly disagree with H. E. Nana Akufo-Addo for stating that the University of Ghana could be named after JB Danquah.
The University of Ghana can maybe name a Hall of Residency or any facility within the University after JB Danquah but suggesting that the whole University of Ghana should be named after JB Danquah is absolutely ridiculous and provocative to the University community and Ghanaians at large.
For strategic marketing perspectives, the brand, University of Ghana, serves as a promotional and National tourist destination for the Republic of Ghana. This is the only University carrying the brand name, Ghana and you want to change to what? In fact, any attempt to name the University of Ghana after JB Danquah SHALL Be RESISTED AT ALL COST by academia and well meaning Ghanaians.
Was University of Ghana built with the personal funds of JB Danquah?
Was the University of Ghana built on the personal lands of JB Danquah?
Does the University of Ghana use personal funds of JB Danquah to pay staff of the University Community?
Why must we named a whole University of Ghana after JB Danquah because of his Advocacy for the University?
Was JB Danquah the only person who advocated for the establishment of the University of Ghana?
Why then not named the University of Ghana after:
Chairperson and members of Asquith Commission.
Mr. David Mowbray Balme, the first Principal of the University College of the Gold Coast.
Chairman of the College Council who made a request to Nkrumah’s Government in the 1960-61 academic year for a legislation that constituted the University College of the Gold Coast into a full University with power to award its own degrees.
Speaker and Members of Parliament who passed an Act of Parliament on October 1, 1961(Act 79).
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who assented the University of Ghana Act into law and became its first Chancellor.
Nana Kobina Nketsia IV, then Omanhene of Essikado who served as the first Interim Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana.
Notable personalities below who also largely advocated for the establishment of the University of Ghana:
(a). Sir Arku Korsah
(b). Dr. F. Nanka-Bruce
(c). Rev. Prof. C. G. Baeta
(d). Sir E. Asafu-Adjaye
Chiefs and People of La who made lands available for the establishment of the University of Ghana.
Cocoa Farmers who raised substantial amount of monies for the establishment of the University of Ghana.
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II who agreed to Bradley’s recommendation that the Premier University of the Country should be located in Accra provided that another University would be established in Kumasi. This was rightly so because substantial amount of the Cocoa Revenue for the establishment of the University of Ghana came from the ASHANTI REGION.
We SHALL STRONGLY RESIST any attempt by Akufo-Addo’s Government and any future Government to re-name the PREMIER UNIVERSITY OF GHANA after JB Danquah or any individual.
Just like, President Akufo-Addo and his family members, and to large extent members of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) have REFUSED to accept that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is the Sole Founder of Ghana because he is not the only person who advocated/fought for the independence of Ghana, why must Ghanaians and the University Community accept the assumption from President Akufo-Addo that, the University of Ghana should be re-name after JB Danquah because he led advocacy against the minority report of the Elliot Commission which was suggesting that the University College for the whole of British West Africa should be established at Ibadan in Nigeria? The fact that JB Danquah led an advocacy means that there were equally Prominent Personalities, Scholars, Civil Society Organizations, Committees etc that also separately and jointly advocated for the establishment of the University College of the Gold Coast.
If we don’t accept the Founder’s Status of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah for Ghana then it is absolutely morally, politically and ethically wrong for President Akufo-Addo to suggest that we should re-name the University of Ghana after his grand-uncle JB Danquah.
Mr. President, instead of re-naming University of Ghana after JB Danquah, can your Government establish a new “University of JB Danquah”?.
Fellow Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliations, it is our collective Patriotic duty to protect and preserved the brand name of the only Premier University in the country, the University of Ghana.
Again, it is very important that, the management of the University of Ghana takes steps to update its history on the official website of the University to reflect every significant personality or institutions and traditional authorities that contributed to the establishment of the University.
The Ministry of Education has announced that the school selection for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates is set to begin from August 23 to September 4, 2023.
According to the Ministry, it has put in place measures to help the student complete the placement process.
“To provide clarity and guidance on the selection process, the Ministry has developed an informative video that elaborates on the School selection guidelines, a statement issued by Kwasi Kwarteng, Spokesperson for the Ministry said.
More than 600,000 candidates are sitting for the exams nationwide which started on Monday, August 7, and ends on Friday August 11, 2023.
The Chief of Bekwai-Abodom, Nana Saforo Koto, has been destooled by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
The destoolment is as a result of Nana Saforo Koto’s inability to defend himself against nearly 20 charges presented by concerned residents within his community.
The charges against him predominantly revolve around the alleged unrestricted sale of land to illegal miners, a practice fueling the destructive illegal small-scale mining alias ‘galamsey’ operations that have wreaked havoc on local water bodies.
Moreover, he stands accused of neglecting his community duties for an extended period of 7 years, resulting in the abandonment of critical traditional rites and rituals within the stool house, along with other customary activities.
Subordinates operating under his authority have taken issue with Nana Saforo Koto’s blatant disregard for essential traditional practices associated with his position.
Otunfuo Osei Tutu II,Asantenhene
During the proceedings at a sitting of the Asanteman Traditional Council, Otumfuo Kyeame Kwaku Owusu, a key representative of the Asantehene, revealed that Nana Saforo Koto, when given the chance to address the allegations at the committee level, failed to provide satisfactory responses.
After attentively considering the perspectives of various divisional chiefs and assessing the available evidence, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II deemed Nana Saforo Koto culpable on all counts. Consequently, the decision was reached to strip him of his title. Source:myghanamedia.com
Presidential Staffer who doubles as the 2020 Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Ningo Prampram Constituency in the Greater Region, Mr Alexander Lionel Martey, has called on the general public to ignore spurious reports making rounds in the media to the effect that he duped one Hajia Diana to the tune of Ghc35,000 and ran into hiding.
The presidential staffer when contacted in our investigations on the matter stated that the said report was an attempt by Hajia Diana and her followers to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.
“I want to state categorically clear that this is false and a total fabrication concocted to tarnish my name and my hard-earned reputation,” he stressed.
According to information available to MyPagegh.com, the said report which was published on July 13, 2023, by matcommedia.com was completely false and also defamatory of the character of Mr. Martey.
This news outlet gathered that the journalist has spoken to Hajia Diana who claimed Mr. Martey was introduced to her by one Linda who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aslin Fashion School in Kwadaso Estate in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Alexander Lionel Martey,
According to Hajia, she and Alex agreed for her company to supply some sewing machines and he (Alexander Martey) will pay later after the 2020 general election and till now Mr. Martey has failed to honour his promise.
According to Hajia, after giving out the machines to Mr, Martey, she went on to give Mr. Martey an amount of ten thousand Ghana Cedis as a helping hand which Mr. Martey has honoured through her bank account.
Our reporter who spoke with Hajia asked if there were any agreements to that effect, but Hajia couldn’t give out any documents to back her claims.
The news outlet continued to investigate the matter by contacting Mr. Martey to find out from him.
Mr. Martey did not deny the fact that he knew Hajia and what she did for him during his campaign at Ningo Prampram on the ticket of the NPP.
Greater Region, Mr Alexander Lionel Martey,
He stated that Hajia happens to be an Auntie of his friend Linda so when he needed a sponsor for his campaign he spoke to Linda and later Hajia Diana was introduced to him to help him and not to buy any machine.
He stated that he did not ask for even the price of the machine because he only needed sponsorship from Hajia.
According to him, he did not know why Hajia will turn back and come and demand money from him.
But according to Hajia in all this, Mr. Martey, said if he wins he will also help Hajia Diana in one way or the other.
But according Mr. Martey there was actually no understanding that he will get her son into the military before she gave the sponsorship, NO.
It was somewhere in 2021 that she (Hajia) approached him with a request to help her two sons to get job into the security services. Which his efforts help has not materialize yet so she felt peeved.
According to Mr. Martey, such help don’t come on a silver platter so Hajia should give him sometime.
This statement from him got Hajia angry and demanded for twenty five thousand Ghana cedis from him which happens to be the price of the sewing machines Hajia gave to support his campaign in which Linda was aware of.
Following this development, the news outlet went to the CEO of Aslin Fashion School to find out the real truth of the matter.
During the meeting, Linda explained to them that she introduced Hajia to Martey on grounds that Hajia can sponsor his needs which is sewing machines and so she gave Hajia’s contact number to Martey and also gave Hajia Martey’s own so it ended there until now that Hajia has started sending threatening messages to her to call Martey to pay her for the machines.
According to the Linda, she was shocked to hear from Hajia that Mr. Martey owed her for the purchase of those machines because they all knew there wasn’t any purchasing of any machines.
Because there wasn’t any documentation which any of them signed since all they knew was sponsorship to help someone’s campaign.
The Electoral Commission (EC) will announce a new date for the District Level Election, Dr Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services, has stated.
This has become necessary after the October 3, 2023 date initially set for the election was cancelled.
Dr Serebour, however, insisted that the election would be held by December this year when the four-year term of the current assembly members would have elapsed.
The commission, he added, would soon meet to affirm a proposed new date which was still under wraps.
In addition, the EC would spell out a new time table for the election by next week, he said.
While awaiting the new date, the Director of Electoral Services said registration and exhibition of the voter register would go ahead in readiness for the main event.
At least 1.5 million eligible Ghanaians who have turned 18 years between 2021 and 2023 are expected to be captured onto the register.
The EC has been challenged with its proposed new Constitutional Instrument (CI) to do away with the guarantor system but it has been asked by Parliament to maintain it.
Dr Serebour Quaicoe (left), Director, Electoral-Services, explaining a point at the conference. Picture: ELVIS NII NOI DOWUONA
The guarantor system, according to the EC, did not produce a credible voter register because it allowed for non-Ghanaians to be rolled onto it.
Dr Serebour was contributing to a discussion at a national stakeholders dialogue in Accra yesterday.
As Ghanaians await the new date, civil society organisations are pushing for an increase in women and marginalised groups’ participation in an inclusive democracy.
Out of 6,000 assembly members elected at the last election, only 245 women were directly elected.
As a sequel to this, the Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD) is leading the charge to raise public awareness and whip up interest in the local level elections.
Apathy
The common thread that runs through the various presentations is that local level election has suffered apathy and low voter turnout over the years.
The 1988/89 voter year remains the highest turnout of 59.3 per cent.
But as years went by, the number kept dwindling, they said.
At the last district level election in 2019, the turnout was as low as 33 per cent.
The election is expected to take place in all 6,272 electoral areas and 38,622 polling stations nationwide.
Section Six of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) (as amended by Act 940) provides that District Level Elections shall be held every four years and the interval between it and the parliamentary elections shall be held at least six months apart.
Reforms, capacity building
The Director for Programmes and Advocacy at CDD-Ghana, Dr Kojo Asante, said that local government elections played a crucial role in promoting citizen participation.
He added that there was overwhelming support to elect district officials but opinions differed as to whether it should be on partisan or nonpartisan basis.
“Ghana’s democracy needs a boost and credible reforms around the election of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDCEs).
However, elections without comprehensive reforms will only add to the problems,” he stated.
Dr Asante, therefore, called for local governance reforms that would address the inclusivity deficit by involving more women and other marginalised groups so that power, governance and decision making could be more progressively decentralised.
NALAG
The General Secretary of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Kokro Amankwah, said as a nation, “we have the moral and emotional responsibility to empower women by putting more of them into local government positions.
In that respect, he disclosed that the association in collaboration with the GIZ was in the process of training and developing the capacity of 315 women who had shown interest in competing at various district assemblies.
The Atwima constituency chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Oduro Kyerematen, has said the Party members and constituents appreciate Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen’s sacrifices and services to the New Patriotic Party over the years.
According to him, Alan Kyerematen deserves commendation for his services and called for support of the delegates.
The presidential hopeful is meeting delegates on his third day of the cluster delegates durbar.
The party chairman stressed the need for delegates to reward Alan Kyerematen for his dedication to the party saying this is the time to show our appreciation.
“He (Alan)deserves our appreciation and wish him God’s guidance in his endeavours”, the chairman welcome the flagbearer hopeful to the durbar on Wednesday.
Taking his turn at the forum, Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah, MP for Tema West and member of the Alan campaign team, stressed that it is the turn of Alan to assume the leadership of the party.
He said Alan Kyerematen is best suited to take over from Nana Akufo-Addo to more job opportunities and thus create wealth to meet the needs of the people.
He said democracy thrives on numbers and since Alan Kyerematen is well connected across the length and breadth of the country and globally from his exposure, delegates must not let the opportunity for their own to lead the party slip by.
Meanwhile, Mr. Alan Kyerematen has pledged to poll two million votes to increase votes in the Ashanti Region to conveniently break the 8 and thus fulfil every NPP member’s dream that Nana Akufo-Addo hands over power to an NPP government. E N D
