Day: December 24, 2023

Mr John Peter Amewu, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Hohoe in the Volta Region, is set to pick nomination forms to recontest the Parliamentary seat on the New Patriotic Party’s ticket.

The incumbent MP, seeking a second term in Parliament, would go unopposed as happened in 2019, which led to a popular acclamation for the 2020 general election.

Mr Samuel A. Azasu, the Hohoe Constituency Communications Director of the Party, told the Ghana News Agency that Mr Amewu’s desire to seek another term had received the endorsement of NPP faithful and sympathisers in the constituency.

He said they were clear in their minds that there was no other candidate than Mr Amewu to retain the seat in 2024.

‘We are united and solidly behind him because of his good works in the Constituency. In fact, we have extended a call to him to come and lead us again since one good turn deserves another’.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Hannah Asamoah, the Agona East Constituency Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has submitted her nomination forms to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primary.

The chairperson, also the former Youth Organizer of the constituency, was accompanied by scores of polling station executives and area coordinators to the Agona East Election office at Duakwa in the Central Region.

Addressing the supporters after the submission, Mrs Asamoah said she was overwhelmed by the support from the teeming members, some of who travelled from afar.

She expressed confidence and trust that their support would go a long way to assist her to win the primary and further recapture the parliamentary seat in 2024.

She called for unity and mutual understanding among the members, without which it would be difficult to achieve the aims and objectives of the party.

”I have not assumed the position of MP, but I have tried my best to provide jobs for the youth in the area of security, education, health and others,” she
said.

The chairperson assured of more jobs for the youth when she won the seat, saying the youth were the future leaders.

She called on the supporters to work extra hard to ensure a convincing win for the NPP in both the parliamentary and presidential elections next year.

Nana Kojo Frempong, the Chairman of the election committee, who received the form, advised the aspirant and her supporters to work as a team and reiterated the need for unity, peace and love within the rank and file in Agona East to ensure victory.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Juliana Awasan, the newly elected Assemblywoman for the Keri South Electoral Area in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, has pledged to engage women to increase their numbers for effective nation building.

Mrs Awasan, the only female elected to represent the Ninth Assembly of Nkwanta South, obtained 947 votes as against her opponent, Bright Gesuokong, who had 783 at the end of the polls.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency after her victory, she said women inclusion in local governance was key to national development and urged her female counterparts to involve themselves in governance at the grassroots for effective nation building.

Mrs Awasan commended the electorates for choosing her to represent them at Assembly and promised to deliver to expectation.

‘I will not disappoint you,’ she said.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Parliament in the early hours of Saturday adjourned sine die for the Christmas and New Year break, after passing the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year ending, December 31, 2024.

The Third Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament, which commenced on 31st October, was supposed to stand adjourned sine die, Friday, 22nd December, for the Christmas festivities, but the marathon all-night sitting went into the early hours of Saturday, December 23.

Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in his closing remarks, delivered on his behalf by Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker, reminded the Members of Parliament (MPs) of their role as ambassadors of Parliamentary democracy in their communities.

They would, therefore, be expected to engage in local Parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen the relationship between Parliament and the citizens, he said.

He urged them to prioritise their safety and be mindful of their surroundings, while ensuring a peaceful and secure Christmas for all.

Mr Babg
in advised them to use the Christmas season to reflect on the meaning and significance of the birth of Christ.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, extended his greatest appreciation to the MPs for devoting themselves to the business of the House in the discharge of their constitutional mandates.

‘Incontrovertibly, Members had worked tirelessly and diligently during this meeting, particularly during the consideration of the sectorial Budget Estimates for the 2024 Financial Year,’ he said.

‘Mr Speaker, your commitment and dedication to your constitutional mandate in steering the affairs of the House is not lost on me,’ the Majority Leader said.

‘I have sometimes disagreed with you on matters of policy and sometimes even the interpretation of the Standing Orders and Constitution. But that is the hallmark of democracy: agreeing to disagree.’

‘Mr Speaker, I cannot express my appreciation enough to you and your able deputies for your management of the House, even w
hen the House had to sit during weekends.’

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the nation was grateful to the Speaker and his two deputies for the numerous sacrifices in ensuring that decorum was maintained for business to be transacted.

He urged Members of the House to take time off their busy schedules to rest during the recess and get themselves energised and refreshed for business in the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth Republic.

That would be after the holding of the parliamentary primary of the New Patriotic Party, scheduled for January 27, 2024, he indicated.

He called on Ghanaians to take advantage of the Christmas season and reconcile with one another, their families, colleagues at work, constituents and above all, their Maker.

He implored drivers to be very cautious on the road to prevent unwanted incidents.

Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Deputy Minority Leader and National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Ellembele, commended the MPs for their dedication to duty, especial
ly the Minority Members for their hard work.

‘We are very proud of you, you have stood on the side of the people of Ghana. And the people of Ghana are proud of you.’

He expressed the Minority’s gratitude to the Speaker for shepherding and guiding the House for a successful business.

Mr Buah wished Members of the House and all Ghanaians a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, has expressed concern over absenteeism among the Members of Parliament (MPs) and lateness to the Chamber by some of those who report for parliamentary business.

That, he said, continued to be a major challenge to ensuring effective parliamentary sessions.

‘I have consistently called for the need to tackle this issue with all the seriousness it deserves, and I believe the call to install electronic clock-in and clock-out system in the Chamber and Committees is in the right direction,’ he said.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made these remarks at the closing of the Third Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana on Saturday.

‘Members have been assigned a responsibility to ensure the democratic credentials of the country is protected and strengthened and I urge us all to live up to this responsibility entrusted to us by the people and the Constitution.’

‘Notwithstanding the abov
e, on behalf of Leadership, I extend our greatest appreciation to Members for devoting themselves to the business of the House in the quest to ensure that we discharge our constitutional mandates and duties effectively and efficiently.’

Incontrovertibly, Members had worked tirelessly and diligently during the session, particularly during the consideration of the sectorial Budget Estimates for the 2024 Financial Year.

He commended the Speaker and his two deputies for their dedication to duty.

‘Mr Speaker, your commitment and dedication to your constitutional mandate in steering the affairs of the House is not lost on me,’ the Majority Leader said.

‘I have sometimes disagreed with you on matters of policy and sometimes even the interpretation of the Standing Orders and Constitution. But that is the hallmark of democracy: agreeing to disagree.’

‘Mr Speaker, I cannot express my appreciation enough to you and your able deputies for your management of the House, even when the House had to sit during weekends.’

He extended ‘a big thank you’ to the Clerk of Parliament and his staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the business of the House was conducted in a smooth manner by providing the needed procedural and technical support to Members.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed appreciation to the Parliamentary Press Corps for serving as the medium through which the business of the House was communicated to the populace.

He reiterated the importance of the Parliamentary Press Corps, whose duty of educating and informing the citizens of the happenings of the House could never be underestimated.

‘You have been reliable partners in our democratic journey, and we appreciate your efforts.’

He urged Members of the House to take time off their busy schedules to rest during the recess and get themselves energised and refreshed for business in the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth Republic.

That would be after the holding of the parliamentary primary of the New Patriotic Party, scheduled for January 27, 2024,
he indicated.

He called on Ghanaians to take advantage of the Christmas season and reconcile with one another, their families, colleagues at work, constituents and above all, their Maker.

He implored drivers to be very cautious on the road to prevent unwanted incidents.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Alois Kog Kyaakpier Mohl, a parliamentary candidate (PC) aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Nandom Constituency, says he has successfully filed nomination to contest in the NPP parliamentary primaries in the constituency despite his ‘expulsion’ from the party.

He indicated that he filed the nomination on Friday, December 22, 2023, at the party’s Headquarters in Accra where the National Treasurer of the NPP, Dr. Charles Dwamena, received the duly completed nomination forms.

Mr Mohl, a Social Development Consultant, said filling of the nomination included the banker’s drafts of all relevant fees – GHS3000.00 for the nomination forms, GHS35,000.00 filing fees and GHS40,000.00 development fees for a non-MP contesting a sitting MP, totaling GHS78,000.00.

The PC aspirant said this in Wa at the weekend when he addressed the media regarding a letter signed by Mr Wuoyang Martin, the Nandom Constituency Secretary of the NPP, announcing the forfeiture of the party membership of Mr Mhol.

The letter
dated 14th December 2023, alleged that Mr Mhol incessantly campaigned against the NPP parliamentary candidate in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 general elections contrary to the provisions of the party constitution.

‘…the leadership of the New Patriotic Party in Nandom would wish to officially write to reiterate your forfeiture of membership of the party, which has been precipitated by your incessant campaign against the Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party Hon. Ambrose Dery in 2012, 2016 and 2020, respectively’, portions of the letter read.

Mr Mohl indicated that following that letter, which he received on 17th December 2023 via WhatsApp, he was denied a nomination form at the constituency level.

He said, at the regional level he was told that all the 15 forms received from the party Headquarters had been distributed to the three constituencies in the region with sitting MPs at the instance of the party’s regional chairman.

He said he, thus, had to access the nomination form from the online portal
and submit the completed form to the party Headquarters as directed by the party.

Mr Mohl said as a formidable member who had served in various positions of the party from the constituency, regional and national levels including the national disciplinary committee of the party, his conduct and utterances must be seen projecting the interest, unity and growth of the party.

‘The letter written by my constituency secretary was not only in bad faith but was inviting me to go down the same lane with him or the constituency executives to cause disaffection in the party and the New Patriotic Party, and I not ready to go that lane’, he explained.

He also described the actions of the constituency secretary as a disregard for the party structures since one’s forfeiture of the party membership could only be announced at the Headquarters based on evidence-based reports and recommendations against him or her from the constituency executive through the regional executives.

The PC aspirant also cited some provisions of
the party constitution, which he thought the constituency executives could not satisfy to expel him from the party including giving him a fair hearing on the allegations leveled against him.

He said the constituency secretary failed to provide evidence to the allegations of campaigning against the party’s sponsored PC in the constituency levelled against him as provided by Article 3 (9) of the party constitution.

Mr Mohl, a former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Social Investment Fund (SIF), said this in a statement, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa.

He had over three decades of experience in public service, and in various positions including a Deputy Director and Head of Desk of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Manpower Development from 2011 to 2013.

He also served as the Deputy Director and National Coordinator of Care Reforms of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection from 2013 to 2015.

He was the Head of the Desk of Inte
rnational Social Services (ISS) of the Department of Social Welfare at the Headquarters from 2002 to 2011.

Mr Mohl had served in various capacities within the NPP including a member of the Upper West Regional Campaign Team of the NPP’s Presidential candidate for the 2020 general election.

He was also the Second Vice Chairman for the Lawra-Nandom Constituency from 2005-2010, and from 2010 to 2014, he served as the Chairman of the Upper West Regional Disciplinary Committee and a member of the National ICT Committee that introduced the NPP’s first plastic biometric membership cards.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Gloria Ofori-Boadu, a legal practitioner and Women’s rights advocate, has filed her nomination to contest the Abuakwa South NPP Primary in Koforidua.

The legal practitioner, who is making the attempt for the third time, filed at the Regional NPP office as she could not do so at the constituency office at Kyebi in the Eastern Region.

The Ghana News Agency gathered that the Kyebi office was locked when she and her team got there, hence her decision to submit at the regional office in line with the party’s directives.

Madam Ofori-Boadu lost the Abuakwa South NPP primary in 2016, whiles she was disqualified on her second attempt in 2020 by the Vetting committee.

She described the reception at the Regional NPP office as very warm with a smooth filing process.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Zimi Kanintii, 28, has defeated his former junior high school (JHS) teacher in the Assembly elections for the Suke Electoral Area, under the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region.

Mr Kanintii polled 486 votes to beat his former teacher, Mr Balebe Bawaru Padmore, who polled 405 votes out of a total 891 valid votes cast. There were 31 rejected ballots.

He is the youngest aspirant to have won the District Level Elections in the Suke Electoral Area at the first attempt.

The usual long queues that characterised the elections were missing, mostly blamed on voter apathy.

Mr Zimi Kanintii (aka Baba Kanintii), in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the contest between ‘a former teacher and a student’ was tough.

‘It was a tough contest. I want to thank all and sundry from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me through all the negativity of this campaign,’ he said.

He said he was the number one on the ballot paper, which also contributed to his victory, saying: ‘The first had remained firs
t.’

It was a worthy service to humanity and God and a prestige to represent the good people of the Suke Electoral Area, he added.

Mr Kanintii said his finances were not as ‘strong as his contender’s,’ but his people knew he was the best candidate to accelerate the development of the community, hence they voted for him.

‘I don’t have money but the welfare of my people is my ultimate priority’ he said, and pledged to work with political leaders, organisations, philanthropists, Non-governmental Organisations, corporate bodies and individuals to lobby for the development of his community.
Source: Ghana News Agency