Day: November 27, 2023

NPP Orphan Constituency Primary: Three to contest in Ashaiman


Three persons are gearing up to contest in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in the Ashiaman Constituency.

They are Alhaji Labaran Yakubu Barry, a 55-year-old businessman, Justice King Essel, an educationist, and Thomas Adongo, a 43-year-old MPhil student in Languages at the University of Education, Winneba.

Alhaji Labaran Yakubu Barry told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Saturday’s election would be confirmation of his candidacy.

‘God willing, I will still maintain the slot as the candidate because on the ground, I’m the most popular among all the candidates and also in terms of operations and the dynamics of the constituency, I’m the one that has the data to turn things around in the constituency so, everything is ok for now, we are just waiting for the day for the confirmation that’s all…’

He said the NPP increased its votes in past elections when he was the candidate.

‘In 2012, the results were just over 32,000. The increment from 2012 to 2016 was only 16 votes. However,
since I took over in 2016, I increased it from 32,000 to 35,000. In 2020, I further raised it from 35,000 to 45,000 for the parliamentary and 36,000 to 41,000 for the presidential. So, in the parliamentary, I appreciated 4,000 plus more than the President.’

He emphasised challenges such as poor road networks, inadequate drainage, and lack of representation in government as factors undermining the Party’s prospects in the constituency.

In his bid for a shift from NDC incumbency to NPP, first-time contender Justice King Essel emphasised the need for development in the constituency.

‘My message of change resonates; Ashaiman needs an NPP Member of Parliament. Over the years, development has been stagnant, and it’s time for Ashaiman to be heard. I’m advocating for the NPP, and based on my past achievements, I believe I am the face of that change.’

Thomas Adongo, a two-time contestant, expressed the desire to serve based on experience as an Assembly Member and as a long-time Regional Party Officer.

The Constit
uency Secretary, Joseph Otoo, said all was set for the election to take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023, as scheduled.

He, however, highlighted concerns about voter migration, especially from neighbouring constituencies like Kpone Katamanso, Ningo Prampram, Sege Ada, and Sogakope.

Some 1,850 delegates across 350 polling stations would vote in the parliamentary primary in the Ashiaman constituency.

The NPP’s only win in parliamentary elections in the constituency was in 2000 when it was part of Adentan.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Guinness Ghana DJ Awards: Shatta Wale turns on fans, appreciates local DJs


Hundreds of music enthusiasts turned up on Saturday night to experience another enthralling edition of the Guinness Ghana DJ Awards, which climaxed with heart-throbbing performances at the Grand Arena, Accra International Conference Centre.

Guests jammed with trending and nostalgic hit records as top Ghanaian Disc Jockeys (DJs) threw in back-to-back mixes amidst multi-coloured fashion, glitz and glamour, and break-neck dance moves.

Artistes, including Keche, Edem, Abiana, DSL, Dope Nation, ably backed by TV3’s DJ Faculty, all brought on their A-game, but the highlight of the five-hour show was that of ‘On God’ hitmaker, Shatta Wale.

The Shatta Movement Boss opened his performance from the DJ booth on stage, trying a few scratches on the turntables before facing his charged fans, who sang along to his high-tempo rhythms.

Pledging his support for the industry, Shatta Wale took a moment off his act to appreciate local DJs promoting Ghanaian music, and commended Mercury Quaye, Founder of the Ghana DJ Awards,
for leading the charge throughout the years.

Top winners at the 11th edition of the awards included DJ Lord, who was crowned DJ of The Year and Best Southern Zone DJ.

Female DJ of The Year went to TMSKDJ. DJ Phantom won Best Student DJ while AD DJ emerged as Afrobeat DJ of The Year.

Ghana DJ Awards celebrates radio, mobile, and club Disc Jockeys and seeks to foster the development of the Ghana music industry.

The first edition was held at the National Theatre in February 2013 and has since become an annual celebration and a platform for professionals in the industry.

The awards night was preceded by the Ghana DJ Clinic, held on November 11, 2023, to among other things, empower aspiring DJs as well-established professionals to push their careers to the next level.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Prudential Life Insurance launches new policy


Prudential Life Insurance (PLI) has launched a micro insurance policy to protect people against uncertainties in life.

The new policy known as ‘Mekakrawa’ insures a subscriber and one dependent against the loss of life due to natural and accidental death, permanent disability and critical illness.

A news brief on the policy said it was essential to prepare for the worst in life because life was full of unpredictable twist and turns.

It said that those unpredicted emergencies could leave one financially vulnerable if he or she did not have any insurance to rely on.

The natural and accidental death component of the policy would ensure that benefits are paid to the beneficiary of the policy when the policyholder dies.

However, if the dependent dies, then the benefit will be paid to the subscriber.

The permanent disability insurance covers the payment of benefits when the subscriber becomes permanently disabled through the loss of the use of two limbs, or both hands, or loss of sight, or two eyes and in th
e event of total paralysis.

The critical illness component insures one against critical illness such as cancer, stroke, kidney failure and heart attack.

The minimum age on entry for a ‘Mekakrawa’ subscription is eighteen 18 years while the maximum age is 59 years.

The entry age requirement for dependent of ‘Mekakrawa’ subscribers is zero while the maximum age is 74 years.

The amount of money needed for subscription ranges from GHS3 for a bronze policy, which comes with a benefit of GHS 975.

Subscribers can also go for the GHS4, Ruby policy, GHS9,Emerald policy,GHS22.5, Sapphire policy,GHc27,Pearl policy,GHS36,Gold policy, GHc45, Diamond policy which comes with different benefits.

To be able to make a claim, one has to wait for a period of three months after subscription in the case of death and critical illness.

The waiting period, however, did not apply to accidental death and total permanent disability benefits, the brief said.

The identification documents one need in order to make a claim is the Na
tional ID (Ghana Card), or Voters ID, or Passport, or Driver’s License.

Some benefits may need a police report, death certificate or other legal documents.

One can subscribe at the comfort of the home using *778# on MTN or request a callback for a ‘Mekakrawa’ subscription.

Source: Ghana News Agency