Category: Politics

Youth Organizers of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), and Conveners of ELECTION WATCH GHANA have called for Serial numbers of all biometric voter registration kits that will be used for the upcoming limited voter registration exercise.

‘ Following credible media reports regarding the theft or disappearance of Biometric Verification registration kit (BVRs) at the Headquarters of the Commission and the destruction of BVD’s during the just ended District and Municipal Assembly election,2023, we write to request your office to furnish all political parties with the following’.

A statement jointly signed by Jude Balma and Mark Ewusi Arkoh, Conveners also requested that Number of the corresponding registration centres and all Registration printout during the limited voter registration should have the Biometric Voter Registration kits serial number on it, for authentication purposes.

‘This request is necessitated by our commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s elec
toral processes conform to best and widely accepted practices.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

One of the key values of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is Inclusivity, Nana Oye Bampoe-Addo, Chairperson of the Gender, Children and Social Protection Committee of the NDC Manifesto committee, said on Tuesday.

She said the NDC is a social democratic party and takes the inputs and concerns of the civil society seriously thus making sure to cater for the needs of the vulnerable.

Ms Bampoe-Addo made the remarks when the NDC had a pre-manifesto engagement with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) and Star Ghana to dialogue about issues of concern to them.

Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, Executive Director of the GFD, highlighted issues of concern to the disability community, calling on the NDC to pay attention to issues, including social protection interventions for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.

Ms Eunice Agbenyadzi, Technical Director, Star Ghana, who gave a presentation of social protection, also called for urbanization of social protection interventions to cater fo
r vulnerable populations in urban areas.

Some members of the NDC Manifesto committee called on the disability community and civil society organisations to campaign for the NDC to come back to power since they are the best when it comes to social protection intervention.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to outdoor its running mate for the December 7 general elections, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the public in Accra on Wednesday, April 24.

The event would take place at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) at 1600 hours.

A statement signed by the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, and copied to Ghana News Agency in Takoradi, said the event would be graced by the NDC’s Flagbearer for 2024 general elections, Former President John Dramani Mahama.

Others are members of the National Executive Committee and members of the Council of Elders of the party.

Also in attendance would be Members of Parliament and an array of distinguished guests from the Diplomatic corps, the clergy, traditional leaders, women groups, academia, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, labour organisations, and creative arts among others.

The statement said Prof Opoku-Agyemang would address the nation o
n the NDC’s vision for a progressive, inclusive and prosperous Ghana as well as the life-transforming policies of its flagbearer for the December 7, 2024, general elections.

The statement added that her address would be preceded by several activities between 1600 hours and 1655 hours before the official commencement of the main programme of the day at 1700 hours.

The statement asked all media houses who intend to deploy reporters to cover the event to contact the national Communications Bureau of the NDC for the necessary accreditation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will not participate in the upcoming Ejisu Constituency by-election scheduled for April 30, 2024.

According to Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the Party’s General Secretary, the decision was to enable it to channel all its resources towards winning the seat in the national election in December 2024.

Mr Kwetey made the disclosure in an interview with the media, on the sidelines of a news conference, in Accra, on Monday.

The Ejisu Constituency seat became vacant following the demise of the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr John Kumah, on March 7, 2024.

Subsequently, the Electoral Commission set April 30, 2024, for a by-election to find a replacement for the former Deputy Finance Minister.

The New Patriotic Party, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, elected Mr Kwabena Boateng as its candidate for the by-election.

Speaking to the media, on Monday, Mr Kwetey said the Party would not compete in the by-election, explaining that it would focus on winning the seat in the general
election in December.

‘NDC will officially not be taking part in the Ejisu by-election,’ he indicated.

‘We have already set into motion processes leading to December 7, it’s just a few months away. We want to continue those processes and ensure that come December 7, we are prepared to combat in all the constituencies and Ejisu will be one of them.

‘So, for this by-election, NDC will not be part of it. We are very confident about the processes we have in place. We just want to make sure we have the time to implement them fully. And between now and December 7, we will be in the position to make sure we are deploying everything that we have done, so that will be the way we want to go,’ the General Secretary stressed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United Nations office in Ghana in collaboration with the National Peace Council is to roll out the ‘I Pledge for Peace Campaign’ in April ahead of the polls in December.

This is contained in a press release signed by Faith Junko Edison, the Head of Public Relations, National Peace Council, and Cynthia Prah, the National Information Officer for the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

The campaign, according to Mr. Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, would actively engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, communities, civil society organizations, government entities, religious leaders, and youth groups.

Its primary goal is to foster a culture of peace, advocate peaceful elections, and promote tolerance and peaceful co-existence before, during, and after the electoral process.

‘… Elections are not a period of combat and the unhealthy exchange of views or for divisive language. We want to use this campaign to urge stakeholders to publicly commit to peace, and b
y extension, a peaceful election. We believe that the positive actions of stakeholders, through social media and other channels, will encourage tolerance and discourage misinformation’, he noted.

The campaign, he explained, would encourage individuals and organisations to make public pledges for peace, amplifying the message via communication channels, including social media with the aim to create a collective commitment to a peaceful election.

Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, also underscored the importance of individual contributions to peace through the spread of messages that encouraged such.

‘Until every life is respected, and properties protected, achieving peaceful co-existence remains a distant goal… the National Peace Council will do everything in its power to support this campaign and ensure a peaceful election come December 2024,’ he said.

Ghana’s democracy though has deficits, remains a beacon of hope for Africa.

The UN said it would continue to support the
country to foster its development agenda in a peaceful atmosphere and uphold its reputation as a regional pacesetter for democratic governance.

The ‘I Pledge for Peace Campaign’ thus reflects this collaborative effort between the UN, the National Peace Council and other various stakeholders to create a peaceful and inclusive electoral process in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the security protocols within the Electoral Commission (EC) to safeguard vital electoral materials ahead of the 2024 polls.

The Party’s call follows the alleged theft of some critical electoral devices such as Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits and Biometric Voter Devices (BVDs) at the EC.

The Commission, has subsequently, denied those claims, explaining that the missing items were laptops.

Addressing a news conference dubbed the ‘Moment of Truth’ series, in Accra on Monday, Mr Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, called for swift and thorough overhaul of the Commission’s security protocols to curtail future breaches.

He said the missing devices were of great concern to the Party as they had the potential to bring electoral process into disrepute.

Mr Kwetey explained that the BVR kits and BVDs together with the laptops, formed a robust framework designed to protect the electoral process and uphold its credibility
.

As a result, Mr Kwetey said, when such devices were compromised or stolen, it posed a severe threat not only to the elections but the entire democracy of the country.

‘That is why the theft of these kits from under the watchful eyes of the EC’s surveillance cannot be taken lightly and must be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency,’ he stressed.

He also rejected the EC’s explanation that the missing laptops, as standalone devices, could not be used to access critical information from the Commission.

He explained that the missing laptops represented a significant breach in the security protocols of the Commission, which could be exploited during the actual elections.

‘We must ask ourselves, and demand answers from the EC about the potential for these devices to be used in crafting nefarious means to manipulate voter data or to clone voter registration. Is this not a recipe for electoral disaster that could question the very legitimacy of our governance?’

Again, he said, the incidents cast do
ubt over the credibility and trustworthiness of the EC, and questioned the Commission’s decision to withhold such vital information from its stakeholders.

He demanded that the EC explained its inaction, saying ‘the stakes are too high for such negligence.’

The General Secretary called for an immediate independent probe into the missing materials to bring finality to the situation and restore the sanctity and credibility to the country’s electoral process.

The investigation, he said, must be carried out by an independent body, supported by international observers, to ensure neutrality and thoroughness.

‘The outcome must provide a detailed report that not only comprehensively identifies those actually responsible but also outlines significant corrective measures to prevent such beaches in the future,’ he said.

He added that the Party would ‘accept nothing less than a full restoration of total security for all EC logistical equipment for the upcoming elections, a thorough investigation and complete accounta
bility,’ to ensure the free, fair and transparent elections.

Additionally, the General Secretary called for an extensive independent audit of the Commission’s inventory, including all BVR and BVD equipment to ascertain the integrity of these materials and processes.

He warned that failure by the Commission to swiftly and decisively act on the matter could lead to an electoral process fraught with mistrust and questions of legitimacy.

‘The NDC, alongside the citizens of Ghana, will accept nothing less than full transparency, immediate action, and concrete solutions to this egregious breach of electoral security,’ he said.

‘The time for action is now; the future of Ghana’s democracy is in the balance, and we will settle for nothing less than stringent safeguards that ensure every Ghanaian’s vote is counted and protected,’ Mr Kwetey added.

Mr Kwetey expressed the NDC’s commitment to secure the country’s electoral process and safeguard its democracy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sheik Armiyawo Shaibu, a member of the National Peace Council, has urged stakeholders to preach against all forms of violence and hate speech ahead of the December elections.

He said misinformation and hate speech could influence public opinion and election outcomes, therefore, key actors in the electoral process should guard against the phenomenon.

He made the call at the 2024 Africa’s Peace, Investment and Tourism Summit in Accra on Monday.

The conference, organised by the David Douglas Leadership Forum, brought together business executives, traditional leaders, students, traders, political party representatives and groups from different African countries and the diaspora.

It, among other things, sought to unite stakeholders to foster peace and explore investment and tourism opportunities on the continent.

Sheik Shaibu, also the spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, stressed the importance of tolerating divergent views and maintaining social cohesion in the election period and beyond.

Referring to
aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), he urged various agencies to work ‘professionally and efficiently to ensure credible electoral outcomes to deepen the country’s democratic gains”.

He, like other speakers at the Summit, agreed that a peaceful atmosphere was required for Ghana and the African continent to attract the ”right investments” and boost existing economic fortunes.

”…We have a responsibility to create opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to peacefully coexist. Diversity is a valuable virtue which we all need to thrive,” Sheik Shaibu stated.

In his address, Mr David Douglas Tengey, Convener of the Summit, said it was time to find lasting solutions to conflicts and a myriad of challenges affecting the development of the African continent.

He said the Summit was to inspire participants to be ”agents of positive change” across sectors and their communities as peace and development were ”interconnected”.

”The Summit is to place the spotlight on the pivotal role
s of the creative arts in bridging cultural difference and promoting social cohesion…it seeks to strengthen regional unity, collaboration, and knowledge transfer,” Mr Tengey noted.

Ms Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana, said the world had become ”immune to human suffering” however, efforts must be intensified to maintain lasting peace.

She highlighted measures her country was taking to promote tourism and stressed the need to promote intra-Africa tourism.

Discussions at the Summit focused on peace and security, investment, funding opportunities and foreign direct investment in Africa, public-private partnership, youth and social enterprise, among others.

Panellists, taking turns on the various subjects, encouraged citizens to play active roles in maintaining peace and promote national unity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Seid Mubarak, the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Sunyani East Constituency has urged the youth against being manipulated by politicians to perpetrate violence in the December 2024 polls.

The parliamentary candidate said he was dedicated to safeguarding the youth from being used to incite violence before, during, and after the Election 2024.

Mr Mubarak made the statement in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani on peace towards the upcoming general elections.

Touching on his prospects in the elections, Mr Mubarak said he was optimistic about a resounding victory, emphasising his commitment to unite the youth in the constituency to collaborate on strategies for achieving development that had long been elusive in the community.

He said Sunyani was lagging in terms of development, saying, the township had reached a point where it needed modern sporting infrastructure to promote sporting activities effectively.

He highlighted another crucial infrastructure
gap being a modernised market, to help stimulate economic growth and development in the area by creating opportunities for increased economic activities.

He said he would remain loyal to promoting development in the constituency and restore Sunyani’s reputation as the cleanest city in Ghana which could be achievable if he was voted into power.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, a Governance Expert, says traditional authorities must bring to bear their leadership expertise to advance the structures of local governance in the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, he described chiefs as regal ombudsmen and women, who could contribute to the decision-making process towards the development of the various districts.

He said it was imperative for local government authorities to ensure that they involved traditional rulers more in their development planning processes for accelerated growth.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi, for instance, said: ‘When it comes to issues of conflict, traditional leaders often have experience in conflict resolution and mediation, so their presence in the assemblies can help in resolving disputes and promoting harmony within the community’.

‘When we talk about community engagement, chiefs are often respected and influential figures within their communities, so their involvement in the Assemblies can help in engaging the community
and encourage participation in local governance.’

Chiefs could also contribute to the preservation and promotion of traditional knowledge, customs, and practices within the assembly, ensuring that these important aspects of Ghanaian culture were upheld.

‘They can also play a role in identifying and prioritizing local development initiatives, drawing on their knowledge of the community’s needs and aspirations,’ he added.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi underscored the importance of involving traditional authorities in their respective assemblies to help bridge the gap between traditional and modern local governance to guarantee inclusive and culturally sensitive decision-making processes.

Source: Ghana News Agency