The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) over plans to register voters on Thursday October 1.
The main opposition party is seeking “a declaration that the Electoral Commission has acted ultra vires in its attempt to reopen and/or conduct registration of voters on Thursday 1st October, 2020 when the Electoral Commission has not caused to be published in the Gazzette, twenty one (21) days’ notice of this voters registration to the political parties and the general public.
“A declaration that the EC cannot proceed to reopen and /or conduct the voters registration exercise slated for Thursday 1st October 2020 without first publishing in the Gazette, twenty one (21) days’ notice of this voters registration to the political parties and the general public.”
The elections management body had planned to reopen the 2020 voter register for those who were unable to register during the registration exercise.
The register was to be reopened on Thursday, October 1 at the Commission’s district offices nationwide.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 24, the EC said the move is to “give opportunity to those who have attained the age of Eighteen (18) and Citizens who for one reason or the other were not able to register in the just ended Registration Exercise”.
The Administrator of GETFund, Mr. Richard Ampofo Boadu, has revealed that in 2019, the government, through GETFund awarded nine contracts for model senior high schools to be built in various locations across the country in order to improve access to senior high school access.
He made this revelation when he met the press at the Ministry of Information in Accra on Thursday to present a status report of the GETFund.
Providing a nature of the breakdown of the schools, he disclosed that they included one(1) Creative Arts School, the first in the country, one (1) model technical school and five(5) model science-based schools being built from scratch. In addition to this, two(2) existing schools are being upgraded to model schools.
Mr. Boadu further stated that each model is a complex of various infrastructure types relevant to tart a new school (‘self-contained’), and that mobilizations have been paid to contractors on these projects and works are actively ongoing.
The facilities include Administration Block, Creative Arts / Science Block, Dormitory Blocks, Dining Hall with Kitchen, Staff Accommodation, Library Block, recreational facilities, laboratories, roads and external works and service and maintenance sheds.
It appears the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Akwatia in the Eastern Region, Mercy Ama Gyamfi Bello, popularly called Ama Sey, is carrying through her threats to ditch the ruling party and contest the forthcoming parliamentary elections as an Independent candidate.
Some posters and banners of the Akwatia MP have been splashed at all vantage points in the constituency, announcing her entry into the parliamentary race after claiming that she was cheated in the NPP parliamentary primaries.
After the supposed gang up machination, her supporters asked her to stand solo and following the persistent calls on the incumbent MP to contest as an independent parliamentary candidate in the December polls, she is believed to be ready to contest as an independent candidate.
Independent Parliamentary candidate Akwatia Constituency Hon Ama Sey
The posters and banners prepared by a group called Friends of Ama Sey have a logo of a Nursing mother feeding a baby with the Ghana Flag at the background and quotes as” The Greediness Must Fade”.
Ama Sey narrowly lost by four votes margin to Ernest Kumi in a four aspirant race of the constituency parliamentary primary.
After the end of the primaries, she reportedly complained that she was cheated, accusing the party machinery of replacing some ghost names in the party album to vote which cause her defeat
However, she has not publicly declared her intention to contest as an independent candidate but a source close to her confirmed she will pick the parliamentary forms when the Electoral Commission opens nominations even though the party hierarchy has called on her to change her decision.
Hon Ama Sey
While consultations are ongoing to calm her down, some party members and sympathizers are also mounting pressure on her to contest the general election as an Independent candidate.
Interactions with some of the party faithful and floating voters, revealed the incumbent MP has not been treated fairly by the party leaders during its parliamentary primaries.
The aggrieved supporters of the NPP drawn from Wenchi, Takrowase, Dwenase, Topremang, Appinamang, Akwatia, Boaduaas and Kusi last month stormed her residence after a float to had a word with her.
The floating voters including the aged and the physically challenged said they would do everything within their powers to persuade Ama Sey to contest solo in the parliamentary polls in December.
The group Friends of Ama Sey, at a presser, over the weekend claimed some level of greediness, naivety and barbarism have entered into some NPP bigwigs within the constituency and is time to pay back.
The group claims the parliamentary candidate elect, Ernest Kumi is unknown and only surfaced recently in the district level elections.
They are therefore urging Mercy Gyamfi to shut the beaks by running on the thicket of an independent parliament candidate.
They therefore vowed and threatened to vote skirt and blouse in the December polls.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for South Tongu, Mr Kobina Mensah Woyome, has called on the government to sit up and beef up security in the region to prevent further activities of the Western Togoland secessionist group.
This follows the mounting of road blockades on major entry points to some parts of the Volta Region, including the South Tongu Constituency of the region by Western Togolanders.
The group mounted the blockades on Friday dawn [25 September 2020] at Tefle junction and Bakpa-Tademe.
Speaking in an interview with Class News’ Volta regional correspondent Albert Kuzor, the South Tongu MP said: “What is happening now, looking at the scheme in which it has occurred, the coordinated nature of the whole activity here, Mepe, Atimpoku, I hear Afiefe and several other places at a go, at the same time, and the attacks on the police in this manner, it baffles me a bit.
“I don’t think the security will go to sleep and just relax and not be able to be on top and ahead of anything like this.
“Because, the way it happened, it means they might have sat, planned or deliberately, people who ought to act, didn’t act; people who must be acting and preventing them from happening simply just didn’t want to do and, so, for big names to be coming up like this, whether true or not true, which calls for some investigation anyway, it leaves so much to be desired and too many question marks.”
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has cut the sod for the construction and rehabilitation of Sunyani Town Roads.
At a colourful ceremony in Sunyani on Thursday September 24, 2020, the Vice President was joined by Chiefs and people of the Sunyani Traditional Council for the ceremony to herald the commencement of work.
The project will construct and rehabilitate a total of 29 kilometres of Sunyani towns roads, and it is part of major roads across the country being funded under the Sinohydro agreement the Akufo-Addo government signed with Sinohydro Corporation and the Chinese government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawunia said the construction and rehabilitation of the Sunyani inner-city roads is part of President Akufo-Addo’s vision of improving and expanding access to road networks in the country.
“The construction and rehabilitation of inner city roads; a total of 29 kilometres, is in line with President Akuffo-Addo’s vision of improving and expanding road networks in the country,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“As you are aware, His Excellency the President has declared 2020 as the year of roads. Eventhough we have experienced some challenges due to the covid-19 challenges, our focus has been to deliver good quality roads to the good people of this country.”
“In fact, there is road construction going on in every part of this country, and Sunyani, this time it is your turn. These works when completed, will improve road access and improve traffic congestion throughout the city.”
Dr. Bawumia highlighted the impact of the agreement on infrastructure development in the country, adding that the NDC tried everything they could to stop the agreement, which he stressed has been beneficial to Ghanaians.
“When we passed it (Sinohydro agreement) in Parliament, they even wrote to the International Monetary Fund to stop this agreement from taking place after they had said it was 419.”
“Today, we are cutting the sod for the Sunyani inner city roads. And this is not the only project that we are dealing with under this agreement.”
“The Accra inner city roads are being done, Kumasi inner city roads, Tamale Interchange project, PTC roundabout interchange in Takoradi, Adenta-Dodowa dual carriage road, the Western and Cape Coast inner city roads, upgrading of feeder roads in Western and Ashanti, Akim Oda-Ofoase-Ayirebi road, Hohoe Jasikan-Dodo Pepeso road, etc.”
“If we had listened to the NDC, none of these roads would have taken place under the Synohydro agreement.”
“They always think in terms of impossibility. We always think in terms of possibility. The NDC think impossibility and if we follow them, they will leave us behind.”
About eight major suburbs and a total of 26 communities under these suburbs in the Sunyani Municipality are to benefit from the Sunyani inner city roads.
The major suburbs and their surroundings where the road construction and rehabilitation are to take place are: Agyei Ano (Dr. Berko area roads), Mayfair area roads, Baakonlaba area roads, New Town area roads, Estate inner link roads, Berlin Top area roads, Penkwase area roads, and Sunyani inner link roads
Nearly a year after launching the second medical drone distribution centre at Mpanya in the Ashanti Region, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned the fourth medical drone distribution centre of Zipline, in Sefwi Wiawso, in the Western-North Region.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “the launch of the fourth medical drone distribution centre, is part of our broader commitment to expanding the reach of this service, and ensuring that we do not leave anyone behind in access to essential medicines. By this, it means that we now have the biggest medical drone delivery service in the whole world.”
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, 24th September 2020, the President stated that even though some political actors went as far as making unfortunate, ill-considered statements about the drones, the Ghanaian people can all see how impactful this service has been, just within the past eighteen months of its operations.
“I am told over that some one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) medical products have been delivered to several health facilities across the country from the various distribution centres. With the coming on stream of this fourth centre at Sefwi Wiawso, Zipline will be able to serve about two thousand (2,000) health facilities within their range,” he said.
Citing the example of one Charles Coffie, a 44-year-old driver in the Eastern Region, for example, who was saved by the supply of emergency blood products after he suffered severe bleeding during an operation, the President stated that “this is the kind of impact we are talking about”.
He also noted that in the early days of the country’s fight against COVID-19, medical drones were engaged to expedite the transportation of samples to laboratory centres across the country.
“We have also heard very positive stories from health practitioners of the various health facilities benefiting from this project. These testimonies point to one thing – we cannot afford to play politics with everything in this country,” he said.
The President continued, “The incessant politicisation of all issues does no credit to Ghanaian public life. When Zipline is called to supply blood products during emergency situations, it does not ask if the recipient is an NPP or NDC member before doing so. Health, like many other aspects of our national life, knows no party colours.”
With the coming on-stream of the fourth distribution centre, Zipline now has the capability of serving about two thousand (2,000) health facilities within their range.
The President was excited that the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service and other key stakeholders have already initiated discussions with Zipline towards the possibility of expanding the drone services to other deprived and hard-to-reach communities.
“Nananom, beginning 1st October 2020, I am happy to announce the award of a new cocoa producer price of ten thousand, five hundred and sixty cedis (GH¢10,560) per metric ton, equivalent to six hundred and sixty cedis (GH¢660) per bag for the coming 2020/21 crop year. This represents a hike of more than twenty-eight per cent (28%) over the price obtained in the outgoing crop year of 2019/2020.”
These were the words of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 24th September 2020, on day 1 of his 3-day tour of the Western North Region, when he launched the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme, in Sefwi Wiawso.
The current 2019/20 producer price of eight thousand, four hundred and twenty cedis (GH¢8,240) per metric ton, i.e. five hundred and fourteen cedis (GH¢514) per bag, was an 8.2% increase over the 2018/2019 price of seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen cedis (GH¢7,615), i.e. four hundred and seventy-five cedis (GH¢475) per bag.
“By this new producer price, we have kept faith with our commitment, under the international arrangement with Côte d’Ivoire and global stakeholders, by awarding to our farmers the full four hundred United States dollars per metric ton (US$400/MT) Living Income Differential (LID),” he said.
The President continued, “By this substantial increase in the producer price, we are also delivering on our 2016 manifesto promise to reward handsomely the hard work of our cocoa farmers and their unequalled contribution to the economy of Ghana over the years.”
Living Income Differential Touching on the unstable nature of cocoa prices on the world cocoa market, President Akufo-Addo stated that “it remains one of the biggest challenges to ensuring payment of decent farm-gate prices to our cocoa farmers.”
With Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire responsible for 65% of the raw cocoa beans used in making chocolates, the President bemoaned the fact that cocoa farmers from the two countries just US$6 billion from an over $100 billion chocolate industry.
This, he explained, is the meagre return that hardworking farmers get from their toil.
“Government believes that value-addition to our cocoa, and the search for new markets, will make us more money than all the aid given to us by all the donor countries. We shall gain some dignity, and spare the donors the fatigue we have all heard about,” he added.
This, according to President Akufo-Addo, is the rationale for the Strategic Partnership between Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, the common initiative of His Excellency President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire and himself, which is manifesting itself in a joint cocoa production and marketing policy, and which is already paying dividends.
“Today, I am happy to announce that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are receiving a Living Income Differential (LID) of four hundred United States dollars (US$400) per ton of cocoa, which is an additional earning from the world market price for our farmers. The Living Income Differential is going to guarantee some stability to the producer price of cocoa and sustainability of the industry in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire,” the President said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dismissed Madam Mary Boatemaa Marfo as the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.
This follows a recent tape leaked by the DCE’s aid where the woman could be heard inciting party faithful to vote ‘skirt and blouse’ in the upcoming general election.
Madam Mary Boatemaa Marfo has since the release of the tape not reacted to any issue surrounding it.
A letter written by a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kwasi Boateng Adjei, said that the decision by the President is in accordance with Article 243(3)(b) of the 1992 Constitution.
The dismissal of the District Chief Executive (DCE) according to the letter takes effect immediately.
However, aid to Madam Mary Boatemaa Boafo, Owusu Nkrumah has agreed to leaking the tape of her boss.
In an interview with Akoma FM she admitted saying, “Yes I am the source of the leaked tape.”
According to the aid, he released the tape because his boss has never treated him fairly since he started working with her.
He said, “I recorded and leaked the tape because madam Mary Boatemaa whom I’ve served for several years has not been treating me fairly.”
When contacted by the media, Madam Mary Marfo declined to comment on the issue saying that her lawyers have asked her not to speak about the issue in public.
“My lawyers have advised me to restrain myself from commenting on the alleged leaked tape. I will not utter a word,” she said.
Apesika Nkosuo Hene Nana Beyeman Kwame Ababio l. Mr John Dramani Mahamma
The presidential candidate for the largest opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahamma has been installed as Nkosuo Hene (Development Chief) of the Apesika Traditional Area in Kintampo South Constituency in the Bono East region of Ghana.
The stool name given to His Excellency John Dramani Mahamma, the former president of Ghana as Nana Beyeman Kwame Ababio I .
Mr Mahamma was taken through the customary rites by the chief of Jema and Kyidomhene of Nkoranza traditional council, Nana Amponsah Gyan ll.
Nana Amponsah Gyan ll explained that, the NDC presidential candidate deserved to be honoured as he undertook massive developmental projects in the area when he was the president of Ghana.
In an interview with richnews.com , Nana Amponsah Gyan ll acknowledged projects such as roads, water, and schools as some of the legacy projects of the then government, president Mahamma.
The chief Nana Gyan ll expressed disheartening that, some of the projects started during J.M tenure of office has been abandoned by the Akuffo Addo led NPP government.
Nana Amponsah Gyan ll therefore urged his people to return the NDC government into power by voting for Mr Mahamma and NDC in December 7th general polls to enabled him continue from where he left in 2016.
Mr Mahamma the presidential candidate for NDC expressed his willingness and appreciation to the chiefs and the Apesika community for the honour bestowed in him.
He said when he is elected as president coming December 7th general election, the next NDC government will complete all the abandoned projects left to rot under Akyem Sakawa Nana Addo led NPP government administration.
At long last the oft has been interred as Tracey Boakye finally revealed the name of the father of her newly born baby.
This has again attracted mixed reactions as the real identity of the baby’s Daddy got them talking all this while, having many people tagging others for political gains.
Tracy Boakye and daughter
For months now Ghanaians have been rolling their heads over who exactly could be the father of Tracey Boakye’s daughter.
The interesting and shocking part of it said by many social media users is that, John Mahama has been vindicated.
She mentioned him as Nana Kweku O.B on his Instagram post.
RICHNEWS.COM 