Day: December 14, 2023

A total of 78 candidates are contesting the district’s assembly election in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.

The number, which consists of 66 men and 12 women, is prepared for battle on December 19, 2023, the day the Election Commission has set for the election.

A total of 186 candidates, comprising 159 men and 27 women have also registered to run in the district’s unit committee election.

Mrs Kafui Randolph, Ho West District Officer of the Electoral Commission made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Ho.

Meanwhile, Dr Harrison Kofi Belley, a Governance Expert bemoaned the low participation of women in the process.

He told GNA that women’s participation and representation in decision-making and governance processes were crucial in the country’s progressive match.

The lecturer called for more support for women to participate in the process and take up more political positions in the country.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has advised the electorate to participate and avoid voting on family tides, in the upcoming District Levels Elections (DLEs)..

Instead, the commission urged the eligible voters to choose the right and competent people who had the capacity to present community needs for the various District and Municipal Assemblies to capture and tackle such needs in their development by the District Level Elections Regulations, 2015 (C.I. 89), the Electoral Commission will conduct the District Level Elections on December 19, this year.

This follows the expiration of the term of the Assembly and Unit Committee Members on December 17, 2023.

Madam Adiza Gyengyenaa, the Berekum West District Director of the NCCE who gave the advice, highlighted the relevance of the DLEs, saying the elections were critical to give the constituents louder voices in the decision making process at the local levels.

She advised the electorate to vote appropriately when they go to polls, to reduce
incidences of spoilt ballots. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a separate sensitization forum held in some of the local communities in the District, Madam Gyengyenaa indicated high incidences of rejected ballots would compromise the outcome of the DLEs.

‘We must ensure that we vote correctly in deciding our choices so that competent and right candidates would be elected to represent the people at the Assembly levels,’ she stated. The District Office of the NCCE organised the separate fora at the Jinijini, Fententaa, Nkyenkyenman, Pruso, Mantukwa and Anyinom farming communities in the district.

It further extended the sensitization to other communities, including Benkasa, Nanasuano and Abi Junction to highlight the need for the electorate to participate in the DLEs.

Madam Gyengyenaa indicated that decentralization remained integral and critical in pushing forward development at the local levels, saying, right and competent people ought to be elected to contribute
meaningfully to decision making processes at the assembly levels.

The NCCE District Director said selecting the right, competent and well enlightened persons to the various Assemblies would not only help strengthen the decentralization concept, but also push the assemblies to tackle the priority and immediate needs of the local communities.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Four aspiring Assembly Members at the New Takoradi Electoral Area in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have presented their manifestos to help residents make informed decisions in the upcoming district level elections.

The candidates; Mrs Hannah Tetteh, a former Assembly Member for the area, Mr Gilbert Siaw Afriyie, the incumbent Assembly Member, Mr Francis Eshun and Mr Joseph Kobbinah Mensah outlined their development plans to persuade the electorates to vote for them.

According to Mr Afriyie, as the Assembly Member for the last four years, he had been able to provide solar panels to the New Takoradi Clinic to augment the national electricity grid to ensure the facility operated without issues of power outages.

He noted that he had also provided security personnel to the clinic to aid a 24-hour operation, while settling the bills of those who defaulted for accessing health care services.

Mr Afriyie said during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he distributed some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) inclu
ding; face masks, alcohol-based sanitizers, veronica buckets and gallons of liquid soap to help protect residents against the virus.

Mr Afriyie added that he had partnered some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to implement policies programmes aimed at improving on the welfare of vulnerable groups including; children and women in the area.

For his next term, he said he would lobby for more developmental projects to improve upon the living conditions of the people and implored them to vote massively for him come December 19.

For her part, Mrs Tetteh, promised to make streets lightening across the electoral area her priority project, and appealed to residents to give her the chance to become the Assembly Member for New Takoradi.

Mr Eshun, another contestant, also promised to lead a community resource mobilization drive to aid in the construction of a modern community centre to provide a space needed for residents to hold events.

For Mr Mensah, he said he would devise strategic measures to tackle sanita
tion issues within the electoral area to help ensure a clean and healthy environment.

Mr William kofi Honu, Returning Officer for New Takoradi, who moderated the event said it was important for the aspirants to present their manifestos for the people to know their goals, opinions, and policies to help them make informed choices.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Ernest Eli Billy Kwami, the District Director, Denkyembour District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Akwatia, has urged the electorate to be apolitical in the upcoming District Level Elections (DLEs).

He said per article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution, DLEs were non-partisan and advised voters to avoid such inclinations.

He gave the advice at a sensitisation forum organised by the Commission on the upcoming DLEs slated for December 19.

Mr Kwami underscored the importance of local governance to the rapid socio-economic development of small towns and villages and encouraged the populace to participate in the exercise.

He appealed to the citizens to elect competent and qualified candidates committed to the development of their communities.

‘Please desist from demanding financial or other personal benefits from the candidates for votes. It is illegal,’ he said.

The NCCE District Director engaged the community on the roles and duties of local Assemblies, Assembly and Unit Co
mmittee members as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution, Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and Legislative Instrument 1967, and The Local Government (Urban, Zonal and Town Councils and Unit Committees) Established Instrument, 2010.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) would embark on a two-day visit to the Western Region, dubbed: ‘Building Ghana Tour’.

A statement signed by Mr Richard Kirk-Mensah, NDC Western Regional Communication Officer, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Takoradi, said the former President would on the first day, December 16 visit the Nzema area.

The statement noted that: ‘The Building Ghana Tour would kick start in Jaway Wharf in the Jomoro district, where the leader of the NDC is expected to interact with market women, drivers, transport unions, and other identifiable groups in that enclave’.

It continued: ‘The team would pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council at Atuabo and then meet artisans, dressmakers, hairdressers, and traders in Atuabo’.

According to the statement, Mr Mahama and his entourage would also meet the students of Esiama Nursing School in the Ellembelle Constituency.

The NDC flagbearer woul
d end the first day of the tour in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira constituency where he would interact with fisherfolks in Axim and pay a courtesy call to the Paramount Chiefs of Nsein and Lower Axim.

Former President Mahama would begin the second day of the tour with a fellowship at the Roman Catholic Church at Apowa, after which a community engagement would be held with the people in the area.

According to the statement, a town hall meeting would also be held in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, where the Former President would use the platform to throw more light on the 24-hour Economy proposal by the NDC.

The release further noted that, while in the Metropolis, Mr. Mahama would interact with the students at Holy Child Teacher Training College.

‘Former President Mahama would end his 2-day tour of the Region in the Shama Constituency, where he is expected to engage the fishing community in Anlo Beach’, it said.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The Electoral Commission (EC) intends to display results from the various polling stations on a dedicated online portable as part of efforts to enhance transparency in the 2024 General Election.

The Commission said it would display scanned signed pink sheets on the portal, which the public can access in real-time.

Mrs Jane Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, disclosed this at a stakeholder meeting to take stock of events after the 2020 General Election as part of preparations towards the 2024 General Election.

The meeting, organised by the National Peace Council, was held at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Thursday.

Mrs Mensa said the decision to publish polling station results would promote inclusion and involve citizens throughout the election process.

‘We intend to display the results from the polling station on a dedicated portal. This proposal aligns with the EU Observer Mission recommendation. For the first time in our history, we posted results from the 16 Regions and 275 Constituenc
ies in real-time.

‘This time around, we plan to display the scanned signed pink sheets on a dedicated portal. We are confident that this arrangement will promote transparency and engender further trust and confidence in our electoral processes,’ she said.

The EC also proposed to close polls at 15:00 hours to ensure that counting was done in broad daylight to enhance transparency.

The Commission said the experience from the 2020 Election indicated that by 13:00 hours, about 70 per cent of polling centres were empty of voters due to the creation of multiple polling centres that sped the process.

Mrs Mensa said the EC intended to create many polling centres and ensure that each polling centre had not more than 500 voters to limit voting time.

She said in the last election, voters spent not more than five minutes casting their voting because of the creation of more voting centres.

‘We are convinced that closing the polls at 3 pm will enable counting and collating to take place in broad daylight and promote
the needed transparency and orderliness we so desire.

‘We trust that our Parliament will support this drive to ensure greater transparency and orderliness in our electoral process,’ Mrs Mensa said.

The Commission also proposed an all-year-round exhibition exercise, which would enable citizens to check their registration details on their smartphones and other mobile devices.

Mrs Mensa said she was hopeful that Parliament would pass the new Constitutional Instrument that recommended a continuous voter registration exercise and sought to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document to establish an applicant’s citizenship.

She said the proposal would help to phase out the guarantor system, which had been fraught with challenges and undermined the credibility of the voter register.

Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, said the Council would continuously dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful election in 2024.

He appealed to the National Democratic Congre
ss to return to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to foster consensus building.

‘If we all commit to peace Ghana will have one of the best elections in Africa,’ he said.

Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said the 2024 Election was peculiar in the wake of political instability in the West Africa Sub-region.

‘We are more vulnerable than before. We must work with each other and assure each other so that we can arrive at the elections and beyond the elections in peace and intact,’ she said.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has celebrated the hundredth birthday of Mr Richard Maximilian Akwei, Ghana’s oldest career diploma.

He is the sole survivor of the Group of 10 Pioneer Ghanaian Foreign Service Officers.

Mr Ramses Joseph Cleland, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, led a delegation from the Ministry to pay a courtesy call on Mr Akwei at his residence in Accra.

The Chief Director on behalf of Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, presented Mr Akwei with a bouquet and wished him well and further praised him for his invaluable contributions to the Foreign Ministry Service of Ghana.

Other members of the Delegation included Mr Sidney Ellis, Director of Administration, and Madam Nana Tenewa Asamoah, Director of Information and Public Affairs.

Mr Akwei was born on 27th November 1923 to Mr Richard Mabuo Akwei and Mrs Martha Akwei in Accra.

He attended the Prince of Wales (Ach
imota) College, Accra in 1939, receiving a Cambridge School Certificate from the London University with Matriculation in 1942.

Mr Akwei joined the Foreign Service Corps in 1956 and was posted to the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, as a Cadet Diplomat.

Upon Ghana’s attainment of independence on 6th March 1957, Mr Akwei was appointed Counsellor and Head of Chancery for the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC, playing a leading role in the liberation movement of Africa.

From 1961, Mr Akwei was engaged in the projection of Ghana’s foreign policy globally, under the country’s first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah.?

He served as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Ambassador to Switzerland 1965-1967 and Permanent Representative to the UN, New York 1967-1972.

In addition, Mr Akwei served as Ghana’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China 1972-1976.

He was a Senior Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1976-1978.

Mr Cleland on behalf of the staff
of the Ministry conveyed their hearty congratulations to Mr Akwei.

‘This enviable milestone underscores the grace of God upon your life and the many years of distinguished service to our dear country,’ Mr Cleland said.

‘Your contribution to Ghana’s Foreign Policy during your time of active service is evident in the positive image Ghana enjoys on the international stage.’

Mr Cleland said as the sole survivor of the Group of 10 pioneer Ghanaian Foreign Service Officers, Mr Akwei’s years of distinguished service to the country’s foreign policy continue to be a lamp unto the feet of many officers who seek to make an impact in their chosen career.

‘On this occasion, we join your family and friends in wishing you a wonderful celebration. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.’

On his part, a visibly elated Mr Akwei expressed gratitude to Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, for the honour done to him.

He wished the Minister
the best in her career; saying ‘I hear there is a bright future looming for the Minister’.

To the Chief Director, Mr Akwei said: ‘Well, Mr Joe Cleland, your father, he was my colleague and my friend, when I was in active service. And I remember him very well. Oh, well, we were very good comrades.’
Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has agreed to rejoin the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) following an intervention by the National Peace Council (NPC).

The Party accepted the NPC’s request at a stock-taking conference at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Thursday.

The conference was to evaluate institutional progress towards building the required resilience for credible, transparent, and peaceful general elections in 2024.

The NDC had boycotted IPAC meetings since March 2020 after the party expressed displeasure about the posture of the Electoral Commission.

The Party had accused the Commission of failing to take into consideration decisions at IPAC meetings as part of its electoral reforms.

At the opening of Thursday’s meeting in Peduase, Dr Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, appealed to the NDC to rejoin IPAC to help build consensus.

He said the Council had engaged the EC and the NDC on the issue extensively and was hopeful that the NDC would make a dec
laration by the end of the meeting.

Mrs Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, in her address at the meeting, also invited the NDC to rejoin IPAC and indicated that the Commission was committed to receiving the Party in the interest of consolidating Ghana’s democracy.

‘We miss the fire of the NDC at IPAC meetings and we invite them,’ Mrs Mensa said.

Reacting to the call, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman, NDC, said the NDC was committed to supporting efforts to shape the country’s democratic and electoral processes and accepted to rejoin the IPAC.

He said before the Party would participate in the next IPAC meeting; the EC must ensure that IPAC returned to its ‘consensus building’ approach to implementing electoral reforms.

‘On behalf of the Party, we accept the appeal from the National Peace Council that we should consider returning to IPAC, but we want to return to IPAC and not any other forum.

‘The other side is for us to work to make sure that IPAC returns to its consensus-bui
lding days…the issues that blocked our return should be dealt with before our next IPAC meeting,’ Mr Nketia said.

He also expressed concern with the EC’s efforts towards making the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the Commission’s proposed continuous voter registration exercise.

The NDC argued that the move had the potential to disenfranchise about 1 million voters, a position the EC had debunked.

‘We will support it if everyone had the Ghana Card,’ Mr Nketia said.

Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said the 2024 Election was peculiar in the wake of political instability in the West Africa Sub-region.

‘We are more vulnerable than before. We must work with each other and assure each other so that we can arrive at the elections and beyond the elections in peace and intact,’ she said.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Ishmael Nii Amartei Telfer, aspiring assemblyman for Osu Alata Electoral Area has launched a ‘Ghetto Hunt Initiative’ project aimed at offering vocational skill training for the youth in the Electoral Area to make them self-reliant.

The youth would be given training in batik tie-and-dye, shoe-making, dressmaking, tailoring, basket-weaving, and barbering.

The aspiring Assemblyman has also provided about 50 toilet facilities for some households in the Electoral Area and the regular organization of clean-up exercises.

Nii Telfer who is contesting for the position for the second time running, disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Thursday.

He said the provision of the amenities for the community was his personal contribution towards the improvement of the standard of living of the people.

The aspiring Assemblyman said he has also opened extra classes for some basic school pupils in the Electoral Area to help them broaden their knowledge.

He said for the past four years
, he had registered more than 1,000 people on to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable them to access free medical care.

‘I have also provided about 20 people aged 70 and above with private insurance in the community and that more aged will also benefit from the scheme’ he said.

Nii Telfer called on the electorate to vote massively for him to enable him to undertake more projects in the area when voted to power.

He called for peace and unity during the District Level Elections scheduled for December 19.
Source: Ghana News Agency