Source: Peace FM

The Member of Parliament for Asawase constituency, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has reacted to former President John Mahama’s choice of running mate; Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.

Speaking in an interaction on Neat FM’s Me Man Nti programme, Hon. Muntaka also debunked claims that ‘she brings nothing to the table’

“it’s not true she will not add anything…she’s humble and hardworking,” he said.

Asked whether he had other people in mind, he said: “…how could I not have other persons in mind; let me be frank; I didn’t know she was even part of the list…”

Listen to him in the video below

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Source: My News GH

The Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu has said that she would have shot some National Democratic Congress (NDC) sponsored thugs who attacked her in Odododiodio in 2012.

This comment comes on the back of the Special Development Initiative Minister’s admission of firing warning shots at one of the registration centres at Awutu Senya East and subsequent calls for her dismissal.

According to the Communications Minister, she sees nothing wrong with Mavis Hawa Koomson’s action of firing warning shots when she felt scared because If she [Ursula Owusu] had the opportunity in 2012, she will not have spared the thugs that attacked her.

She said “I stand with Hawa Koomson. If I had a gun on me in April 2012 when NDC sponsored thugs attacked me in Odododiodio, I would have shot them to protect myself. I didn’t and the rest is history. She had the right to protect herself if she felt threatened”.

The Lawmaker according to reports has honoured the invitation of the Ghana Police Service and has had her gun retrieved and her docket forwarded to the National Headquarters of the CID.

Meanwhile, some Civil Society Organizations and other Institutions have called on the President to sack her from her Ministerial position because her action dents his presidency.

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Source: Class FM

Unionised staff of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) have asked the President to totally cancel rather than just suspend, the recent directive given to the state broadcaster by the Minister of Communication, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, to reduce its channels on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform by three.

A similar directive was given to privately-owned Crystal TV.

However, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 23 July 2020, “directed the Minister of Communication … to suspend the implementation of the directives … pending further consultation with stakeholders”, a statement signed by the Director of Communication at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, said.

It followed a rejection of the Minister’s orders by the National Media Commission and others stakeholders.

However, the Chairman of the GBC union, Mr Sam Nat Kevor, told journalists on Friday, 24 July 2020 that: “The staff will also want to state that, the directive is also illegal, so, we will appreciate if it is cancelled and not suspended”.

“The rank and file of the staff are feeling that the suspension means the directive can be reissued”, he said.

“So, there is a mixed reaction to that statement”, he noted.

“We, therefore, want to say we accept that directive from the President as a cancellation”.

In his view, “GBC has what it takes to run the DTT.”

The Minister’s earlier directive said the move was aimed at cutting cost and freeing up space on the platform.

GBC then petitioned the NMC to intervene.

The Commission, in a subsequent statement signed by its Chairman, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, said: “It is the view of the Commission that any action by any entity which culminates into limiting or depriving the media of the use of public resources legitimately allocated to them undermines their capacity to serve the nation as anticipated by the Constitution”.

“The Commission wishes to state clearly that the directive given to GBC and Crystal TV by the Minister for Communications purports to usurp the constitutional mandate and authority of the National Media Commission and same cannot be obliged under our current constitutional dispensation,” the statement noted.

It added: “To put our concerns on the DTT in context, we wish to state that the National Media Commission has always held and articulated the foregoing view since the process of migration started a little over a decade ago. In the intense partisanship of public policy debate in Ghana, we feel obliged to reiterate that this is not only a matter of fact, but also that of principle.

“The National Media Commission assures the general public that it is highly aware and alert to the huge responsibility it bears as the shepherds against any form of encroachment by individuals, politicians and state agencies on the freedom and independence of the media, and we shall continue to perform our constitutionally-mandated guardian role with high sense of dedication, alertness and patriotism”.

The NMC’s intervention came after the Ghana Journalists Association also kicked against the move.

The GJA asked the minister to immediately suspend the directive.

According to the GJA, the directive “will significantly impact the operations of GBC and among to interference by the government in the work of the state-owned media and this is against the provisions of chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.”

The GJA, in a statement, further noted that the directive has the practical effect of curtailing the broadcast of GBC and will lead to some of its content or programmes going off the air.

“The GJA thinks the actions of a minister of state, with respect to a critical national media infrastructure, cannot and should not be placed on the same level as that of private business transactions. The directive by the communication minister has the potential of curtailing the operations of media houses particularly a state-owned media which the constitution has specifically asked to be insulated from governmental control by a constitutional body,” the statement said.

The association has, thus, asked the Ministry of Communication to “suspend the directive immediately to both GBC and other media houses”.

The GJA’s position dovetailed into that of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), which also believes the directive undermines relevant constitutional and regulatory provisions on institutional governance and operational independence of GBC as well as media pluralism, generally.

“Guided by the lessons of history, the 1992 Constitution and other enabling pieces of legislation have sought to raise guardrails around the state media in particular. These legal provisions are meant to stave off interferences in the management and editorial discretion of the state media. The provision is also designed to enable the state media offer fair voice and visibility to all segments of the national population including minority groups and interests,” MFWA said in a statement.

It added that: “Ghana is also signatory to a number of regional charters and conventions – the relevant ones of which include the African Charter on Broadcasting adopted in Windhoek in 2001, and the Joint Declaration on Media Independence and Diversity in the Digital age, adopted in Accra in 2018 – which seek a shared vision for independent and inclusive media systems. Not only is this attempt by the Minister of Communication to sequester three of the TV channels of the state broadcaster an expression of ministerial overreach; it also unfairly reduces the public service broadcaster’s footprint within the current 40-channel platform.”

MFWA has, thus, called on the Minister of Communication, Ms Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, to withdraw the directive.

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Source: GNA

The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has called on the police to remain firm, fair and professional to prosecute any person who violates the laws of the country without favour.

this, he said, was the only way to completely eradicate the culture of impunity which was increasingly gaining roots in the political space of the country.

The Chief Imam made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency through his Spokesperson, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, following the recent incidence of violence at some centres in the on-going voter registration exercise.

Some of the places that have recorded violence include Banda, Ledzokuku, Asutifi South and Kasoa which led to the death of one person and others injured.

The Chief Imam described the incident as sad and unfortunate, which should be of major concern to all citizens to prevent any slip that would lead to an act of violence and destroy the country’s democracy come December 7.

“Peace is necessary for national development, promotion of health, and brings about deep sense of security,” he said.

He admonished all political actors to eschew violence whether in speech or in action, adding that those who feel aggrieved should be careful how they responded to their opponents.

He called on politicians to avoid interfering in the work of the police in order to ensure that those who break the law were dealt with.

The Chief Imam advised the youth to be on their guard, be law abiding and not serve as a tool in the hand of political parties to champion their interest.

“Put your own individual development and that of the country first rather than allow yourselves to be used as tools for visiting violence against political opponent which is not good for your future,” he stated.

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Source:Newsghana24.com

Scores of young leaders across the globe who are bent on creating a better and more sustainable future for all have urged governments of all nations and world leaders to consider the rots created by the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity rather than a tragedy and ensure best advantage is taken care of them to accelerate the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the passionate young leaders, the crisis brought upon the world by the emergence of COVID-19 should not be a barrier to achieving targets, but rather a catalyst to spur and consolidate every effort in order to scale-up the previous gains towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

The zealous global young leaders made their voices known at a webinar to mark a side event of the 2020 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) held on Friday July 17, 2020 on the theme: “Building Back Better Through Partnership: The Youth and Civil Society Organizations”.

The HLPF is the United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. It is marked annually and globally but due to COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event is being organized as a webinar (zoom) elsewhere in the world.

This webinar which connects various youth leaders across the globe via zoom was initiated by HIRED Consult with support of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Platform on SDGs, the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), the Council of Local Experts (COLE Collective) and the Great Minds Empire Africa (GME).

The ripple effect of COVID-19 has brought untold pain and hardship across the globe. While infection numbers continue to rise with high rates of death, more companies are struggling to survive, terrifying swarms of locusts are destroying food sources and millions of more people are going to bed hungry every night across the globe since the deadly pandemic hit. It is no doubt, we are living through very challenging times. The unfortunate development, as a result has cast a profound effect on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals

So where do we stand in terms of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs at the time of COVID-19 and how we can protect advances made thus so far on the SDGs? A question posed by the moderator to the panel of speakers and participants alike at the forum.

Reacting first to the above question, the Convenor of Civil Society Organizations Youth Sub-Platform on SDGs in Ghana, Mr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor observed the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately hit at a time the SDGs were gaining traction and a significant number of countries were making good progress, adding, “We are currently at a crossroad, but remaining still is suicidal therefore we must strive harder to move forward at all cost”.

In his response, the Continental President, Great Minds Empire, Tama Monday Yari noted the gains made so far in achieving the SDGs are not encouraging at all even before the pandemic hit. “When you look at the 17 goals, we’re still in a vicious cycle; still rounding in the same place”.  “Let’s assume there’s no COVID-19, can we be where we are in the right up?” he quizzed.

Citing, the SDGs 14 and 15 as an example, he furthered, “you know, life below water, life on the land, so much need to be done”, adding, “we need more efforts to realize the goals”, and concluded, “at this stage we need to stop the blame game and not to put it on COVID-19”.

For her part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Founder, Sprout Up Youth and Women Initiative, Viola Nakimbugwe averred that the there’s a great stride of progress currently where the world stands now towards achieving the SDGs. Pointing towards some gains made in her view, she said: “for instance, the global population now living a better life, infant mortality rate at age 5 has declined” adding, “however, advancement across the most of the Global goals has been sluggish or even reversed”, she regretted.

Recounting some of the loses, Ms. Nakimbugwe revealed: “Today, 70 million people seek refuge, famine, extremism, climate events, over population, water scarcity, gender based violence and the rise in arm conflict and its extremism continue to define lives around the world”, adding, at this time of COVID-19, some of these things have actually worsened but there is hope of reversing the trend only if the world leaders exude enhanced political will and commitment”.

A participant who proffered an insightful suggestion, Dr. Gbujie Daniel Chidubem, the Founder of Team 54 Project in Nigeria, noted SDGs Ambassadors have a role to play in creating awareness about SDGs and their attainability and how SDGs contribute to business success. He also added: “we need to change our mindset and think outside the box”.

Other distinguished speakers who won the hearts and minds of participants at the forum with interesting perspectives shared on the various topics discussed focused on the SDGs include Keith Andere, Africa (ECA) Regional Caucus Coordinator, Portia Mabasa, Founder, VoiceItUp Africa Obed Rocky Dadzie, Founder, Voices On The Mount Youth Empowerment.

The 2020 HLPF side event provided great opportunities to the youth and civil societies to discuss themes and SDGs under review, identify new issues, listen to all voices, and help spread greater awareness of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in general at all levels.

It rallied discussants from various countries across the world including Uganda, India, Russia, Nigeria, Ghana and UK who provided wide range of perspectives on the topics under discussion.  

It was hosted and moderated by the able Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of HIRED Consult, Mr John Aggrey who equally doubles as an indefatigable Social Intrapreneur.

HIRED Consult is a youth-led social enterprise with expertise in management and consultancy. The organization focuses on most critical needs and problems of the masses to create opportunities through strategy, operations, and digital delivery across board.

Some Side Events successfully organized and executed by HIRED in the past include the  UN World Environment Day, UN World Oceans, World Refugees Day and UN75 Dialogue.

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr, believes that the nomination of Professor Naana Jean Opoku-Agyemang is an exciting decision and smart choice as a lot of people are yearning to interrogate her vision on how she will support the flagbearer John Dramani Mahama win come December 7.

He said, even though the NDC has not come out to give details if gender factor constituents her nomination, he believes that it is one of the reasons she was nominated.

The veteran journalist added that her nomination has brought in something new which will be part and parcel of the election campaign.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana, he said “I think within the circumstances, it is a smart move, smart choice. I know there have been distortion but you see she is the gender factor. I don’t know I am only speculating, that even though openly I haven’t heard the NDC throw that factor out, I think it might have been one of the factors that went into the selection of Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang”

“I think Mahama, he got everything competitive enough to contest anybody out there. Now, he is coming for an election in spite of all his achievement he did lose massively almost unprecedented within the fourth republican. What else was it going to add to the slate that could let people ask should we give him another chance. My observation is that throw in this gender one…this is not the first time a woman is going in as running mate.”

On Monday, July 6, 2020, former President John Mahama selected former Education Minister, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, as his running mate for the 2020 elections.

He announced this via Twitter after several speculations in the media.

“The @OfficialNDCGh, this afternoon, unanimously, endorsed my nomination of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as my Running Mate for the December 2020 election. She is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant & a role model,” he wrote.

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Source: happyghana.com

A key member of the communications team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Francis Anom Boateng has expressed his disappointment in the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP for speaking in a disparaging manner about the running mate of John Dramani Mahama, Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

In an interview with Kwame Afrifa Mensah on the ’Epa Hoa Daben’ show on Happy98.9FM, he said, “There is no sense in what Wontumi said about the woman. If the person is qualified but she is in NDC and can do the work, what are you going to do with her looks? It is time we tell our people. I don’t like some of these comments.

Wontumi should know that she has family members who may belong to the NPP. And then you come out to condemn her looks? Must we use the appearance of people in politics?

If for example, she has a good intent to give all Ghanaians say, 1000 dollars one day, do you think your comments will compel her to do so?”

Francis Anom Boateng was of the view that any scrutiny of John Mahama’s running mate should be based on her qualifications and not her personal life or her looks.

“Looking at her demeanour, you can tell she is a good woman at home; a good wife. I don’t know how you can falter that woman. But can you say that she can be a very good vice president? That is what we are talking about. The academic achievements do not translate into economic emancipation”, he added.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has laughed off the appointment of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as the running mate of the NDC Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

According to him, the appointment of the learned professor brings no additional value to the NDC ticket, saying that even loudmouth comedienne Afia Schwarzenegger would have been a better choice.

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Source: My News GH

A former Member of Parliament(MP) for Gomoa West, Ama Benyiwa Doe says widely known as Ama Chavez has disclosed that she was kicked out of Parliament through the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) ‘moneycracy’.

In 2004, Ama Benyiwa Doe was defeated at the elections by Kingsley Hackman of the NPP after she had represented the people of Gomoa West for three terms in Parliament

She noted that due to her vociferous nature, the New Patriotic Party(NPP) targeted her constituency and used a lot of money to kick her out cutting short her Parliamentary journey.

“Yes, that was the debut of NPP trying to come back into politics so they were pushing money into people to contest those NDC members who were vociferous and so my place was one target. They targeted and won,” she told Citi TV in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com

Ama Benyiwa Doe insisted she was not interested in vying for the position for the fourth time but she came in because the NPP had taken over the place and there was no other candidate to replace her in the constituency by then.

“I was not even interested in going again but because the NPP had virtually taken over, our people were not interested in coming and I was forced to go because I wasn’t going to leave the place vacant and I went and lost. But in party politics and democracy that’s how it is.”

“By then the NPP had become aggressive and they had introduced ‘moneycracy’ let me put it that way. There were a lot of pushups in money and things like that. I wouldn’t say that politicians use money…now it’s becoming clear from what I’m hearing from the Primaries from our opponents but I’m telling you that for the three times that I won elections in Gomoa, I didn’t use money.

She noted that since she left the seat, the NDC has lost its luster in the Constituency but noted that the current candidate fielded by the National Democratic Congress will bring back the lost glory.

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Kyedom hene of Anomabo Traditional Council Nana Owia Ansah V has made passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo to transform 1D1F big poultry farm bill board that has been erected at Anomabo for several years into real poultry farm to benefit the people of the traditional area. The council also called on President to fix their roads since almost all roads in the traditional area are feeder roads and unmotorable, upgrade Anomabo health center to hospital to meet health delivery needs of the growing population. The council commended President for the construction of Anomabo Fishery College, Free Scholarships, free SHS, the fight against Covid-19 pandemic and above all the construction of water project to benefit 146 communities across nine districts in the Central Region. Nana made the appeal when President Akufo-Addo and his entourage commissioned 47.5 million dollar Anomansa cluster water project.

President Akufo-Addo in delivery his address at the commissioning of the project has called on investors to take advantage of 1D1F flagship program to establish to establish small and medium scale factories in addition to already established poultry farm to provide jobs and expand the local economy. The community Water and Sanitation Agency is mandated to ensure that water for productive used program is linked to support 1D1F initiative is implemented to support small scale industries. Government determination to expand access to water for all to manifest it commitment still remains a key priority. Government has secured another funding for two other rural base water supply projects to increase access to potable water in rural communities under Aqua Africa Water Project to benefit 150 communities in the Ashanti, Eastern, Oti, Greater Accra and Volta. In addition, government has awarded contract for the construction of 645 mechanize borehole system nationwide.

The sector minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah said access to potable water which gives improve sanitation is key to social economic development of the country. Provision of water will ease daily burden on women and children but will also help retain many children in school especially the girl child. The vision of the president for the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program is unparalleled in the history of this country.  Government has been faced with a challenge of meeting ever increasing demands of improved water supply, good sanitation facilities and improved hygiene across the length and breadth of the country with rapid population growth. The sector is grateful to the President for creating an opportunity for them to better coordinates the WASH sector to accelerate the delivery of WASH services to Ghanaians.  She said President Akufo-Addo is a promise keeper, he promised the much needed water and has delivered.

Some beneficiaries who dressed in New Patriotic Party colours could not hide their joy but to share with Adom News. They are happy that President Akufo-Addo and their Member of Parliament Ekow Kwansah Hayford have given them water.

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Renowned Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has said that unscrupulous party officials and aspirants who disregarded the court injunctions but went ahead with the elections should be sanctioned outright.

Prof Gyampo suggested that those involved should be disqualified adding that fresh primaries election should be held.

Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asante Akim North constituency of the Ashanti Region Saturday defied a pending injunction application to hold parliamentary primaries in the area with claims that neither did the EC or Police served them with the application prior to the elections.

There was an injunction at the constituency after some 145 delegates of the party claimed their names have been “unlawfully” and “fraudulently” missing from the register a day to the election.

Reacting to this development, Professor Ransford Gyampo such lawlessness should not be encouraged by any party in country.

“There were two reported instances where some unscrupulous party officials and aspirants, decided to act lawlessly in disregarding court injunctions and going ahead to organized unsupervised elections. This should never be countenanced by any party of law. Those culpable of this offense, should face a sanction of outright disqualification and fresh primary elections should be held for only law abiding candidates,” he said in an interview with GhanaWeb.

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