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Return Ghana to democratic principles; PPP tells Mills
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- Category: Politics
- Created on Monday, 26 March 2012 00:00
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PPP tells Mills to return Ghana to democratic principles
The Progressive People's Party (PPP) wishes to ask President Mills with all due respect to ensure that his administration returns to democratic principles and tolerance in dealing with all Ghanaians.
We have cause to worry. When then candidate Mills was campaigning for votes to become president, he was a model of modesty. He could not stand what he and his NDC campaigners called the "arrogant, high-handed, heartless" attitude of the then Kufuor-led NPP administration.
{sidebar id=10 align=right}He led an "I care for you" door-to-door foot-based campaign. He was against "profligate" spending. He and his people considered the travels of then President Kufuor a waste of state resources. When the international community praised that government, candidate Mills doubted the credibility of what was said about our country.
He and his campaign team called those in government inconsiderate and vindictive. He did not think government was taking care of the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian and promised everyone "drastically" reduced fuel prices. He was the champion of the ordinary worker.
What has happened to the man of peace? Where is the modest government that would waste not? What happened to the champion of the underdog? Or was it all a ruse just to win sympathy and votes?
We are concerned that when Ghanaians complain about high prices, poor education results, blackouts, etc., President Mills now drenched in power can stare down the suffering masses and boldly say at the Mantse Agbona that "...those who are disappointed will continue to be disappointed"!
Has modesty taken flight? The President who discounted the praises of international praise words can now bask in the positive words of the Americans - so much so that he was moved to declare his three years of "accomplishments" unprecedented in the history of Ghana. Such a difference power makes!
We cannot believe that the short-lived boycott of the Multimedia broadcasting organization had the approval of democrat Mills. Our 1992 constitution requires access to be given to media organizations to government ministries, agencies and departments. When those who brand themselves social democrats decide to treat media organizations as "gate crashers", we have cause for concern.
When a leading member of the NDC cautions other media outlets to take note of government's short-lived boycott of the multimedia organisation, we are concerned. Our national anthem calls on all citizens to "...resist oppressors rule".
When the General Secretary of the NDC infers that the "special forces" outdoored on 6th March are aimed at some people in our society, we cannot help but be worried.
We do not want tyranny or dictatorship in Ghana. For the avoidance of doubt, we call on President Mills to clear the air and calm the fears of the people. We love the freedom given to us by our constitution.
Awake Ghana!
Kofi Asamoah-Siaw National Secretary
From: Myjoyonline.com
No commentsNPP Targets Gh¢6 Million
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- Category: Politics
- Created on Monday, 26 March 2012 00:00
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NPP Targets Gh¢6 Million
The largest opposition political party in the country, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is planning to raise a staggering
GH¢6 million in a fundraising programme dubbed ‘Yibima’ to help the party campaign effectively to win the impending general elections.
{sidebar id=12 align=right}Speaking at a colourful ceremony in Kumasi on Friday to officially outdoor the programme, Stephen Amoah, a member of the NPP and manager of the Fundraising product, urged every patriotic Ghanaian to support the programme, which he described as a worthy one.
He said the huge amount would help the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo embark on an effective campaign across the country to help win more votes in the December polls.
Mr. Amoah stated emphatically that the NPP flagbearer is the most suitable person to rescue Ghana from the mess created by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging the populace to contribute to the project.
Throwing more light on the fundraising programme, he said, “Yibima has been modeled in such a way that it provides opportunity for even those at the bottom of the social ladder who want to make financial commitment to the NPP to do so without any uphill struggle.”
He noted that “coupons of almost all denominations have been made for the fundraising, seventy percent of the total that would be made up of the one Ghana cedi denomination and the rest would be divided among the other denominations above Ghana one cedis.
Mr. Amoah explained that “it is projected that one million coupons would be sold between April and May, 2012 two million coupons between June and August and three million coupons for the last period of the polls.
He flatly debunked assertions that the NPP was bankrupt and could not campaign effectively, stating that fundraising formed part of three methods that political parties across the world derive support, mentioning lobbying and campaigning as the other two methods.
Explaining further, Mr. Amoah said the NPP leader would resuscitate the weak educational, health and other key departments of the state.
He therefore appealed to all and sundry, including NDC faithful that have the interest of mother Ghana at heart to support Nana Addo with their cash and vote to enable him implement better programmes as president to make Ghana a better place to live.
NPP constituency executives and other leading members of the party were present at the programme.
On his part, Ralph Agyapong, a leading member in Kumasi, urged ordinary Ghanaians to support the programme, noting, “This is the best investment that any Ghanaian can do in these present hard times.
He observed that Ghana was on the brink of collapse, attributing the deplorable development to the poor leadership of the NDC.
“Ghana needs Nana Addo to save us from further misery at the hands of the NDC,” he said.
Source: Joe Awuah/Daily Guide
ECOWAS steps up cooperation with China
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- Category: Business & Finance
- Created on Monday, 26 March 2012 00:00
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President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has assured China and its private sector operators of a stronger, mutually-beneficial and sustainable partnership that will build social and economic development now and in the future.
“ECOWAS is ready and prepared to work with China in the context of the Community’s vision for 2020, so that together we can take our relationship to the next appreciable level that will be sustained with more actions and mutual benefits.”
Mr. Ouedraogo was speaking in Accra at the opening of the second ECOWAS-China Economic and Trade Forum, aimed at encouraging the Chinese business community and investors to consider developing partnerships in ECOWAS member-countries.
{sidebar id=11 align=right}Key projects expected to attract Chinese interest are infrastructure development -- taking into account roads, railways, housing, construction and transportation -- health care, mining, agriculture, power, pharmaceuticals, and information and communications technology.
Mr. Ouedraogo, speaking under the topic ‘Institutionalising the Strategic Economic Partnership Between ECOWAS and the Republic of China’, said: “ECOWAS is fully aware that this forum, which is a follow-up to the first one in Beijing four years ago, requires that we jointly review implementation of several agreements entered into and signed since 2008, and chart a new course for further investment aimed at boosting local consumption and realising progress in the areas of industrial development and export.
{sidebar id=10 align=right}“We certainly will gain new heights in the next few years of our [regional] development cooperation if it is pursued in strong partnership with our friends.”
In a speech read for him, Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, said: “Partnerships that will emerge from this forum must be aimed at enhancing production capacities to address supply-side constraints and other trade-facilitation infrastructure in order to enhance intra-West African trade and engage better in global trade.
“The outcome must be a landmark in the ECOWAS-China development agenda, providing useful insights, strong business contacts, and realistic and firm solutions to our business challenges.”
He said the forum is an expression of the determination of ECOWAS leaders to strive for the promotion of integration and the simultaneous economic development of ECOWAS member- states, which would create a favourable environment for sustainable economic growth through a strategic partnership with China.
Outlining some expected achievements of the ECOWAS-China Economic and Trade Forum, Mr. Mahama explained that the forum seeks to maximise inflows of foreign direct investment from China into ECOWAS countries, and attract long-term concessionary funds for developing public infrastructure.
“The forum will as well promote ECOWAS-China trade and, by extension, intra-ECOWAS trade to create a conducive framework for private-sector institutions and entrepreneurs of the ECOWAS zone to meet with their Chinese counterparts for the purpose of forming joint ventures that will lead to re-capitalisation, re-equipment and enhancement of production capacities.
“The overall goal is to promote Chinese investments in West Africa by forging strategic partnerships in leading sectors of the regional economy,” Mr. Mahama stated.
The second ECOWAS-China Economic and Trade Forum is an assembly of business executives, private-sector operators, investors, policymakers, government officials, investment-promotion agencies and entrepreneurs from the two sides.
This year’s forum, being hosted by the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industy, is targetted at attracting additional Chinese investments into the power sector, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agro-food and allied services, mining, as well as information and communications technology.
The maiden event held in China in 2008 saw over 1,000 participants from West Africa, with 200 private-sector operators and 150 government officials attending.
From: The B&FT/Ghana
Gov't, EC Rubbish NPPs Manipulation Allegations
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- Category: Politics
- Created on Monday, 26 March 2012 00:00
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{sidebar id=10 align=right}Government has dismissed allegations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), that the Electoral Commission (EC) is conniving with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to manipulate the ongoing biometric registration exercise.
The Communication Directorate of the NPP in a statement on Saturday alleged that the EC, contrary to the agreed number of registration centres, the EC had added many new registration centres without the knowledge of the NPP.
According to the NPP, all the newly created registration centres are created in the perceived strongholds of the NDC.
The NPP also alleged that according to its regional monitoring desk it has uncovered that most registration equipment sent to perceived NPP strongholds are faulty resulting in undue delay of the registration exercise in such centres.
However, speaking on Breakfast XYZ, the Minister of Information, Hon. Fritz Baffour dismissed the allegations describing them as absurd.
“I just can’t believe that a statement like that can be issued by the NPP, because I am not privy to any plan that Government wants to connive with the EC. We want this to be a free and fair election, anything other than that will be a disaster for this nation”. Hon. Baffour said.
He added that “I will just put that on the back burner completely, there is no truth in that”.
Meanwhile, the Greater Accra regional director for the Electoral Commission, Alexandra Poku Okobia has also denied that the EC deliberately sent faulty equipment to perceived NPP strongholds to cause undue delays.
He however admitted that the biometric registration system has encountered numerous challenges in various polling stations across the country but not only in perceived NPP strongholds.
Source: XYZ News/Ghana
NDC-Rawlings Rift Really Requires A Mediator – Dr. Whyte
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- Category: Politics
- Created on Sunday, 25 March 2012 12:51
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NDC-Rawlings Rift Really Requires A Mediator – Dr. Whyte
A research fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kpesah Whyte, has supported the call by the Member of Parliament for Adenta, Kojo Adu Asare, that a mediator be employed to solve the rift between the NDC and its founder, former President JJ Rawlings.
Tension between the two took a new twist when the former first couple failed to turn up at the party’s maiden regional rally held in Accra.
{sidebar id=12 align=right}Mr. Whyte said to Citi News it is a good call particularly in this election year.
“The suggestion made by the Adenta MP is in the right direction and any step or strategy that will work towards the internal unity of the NDC is laudable,” he said.
He also advised the NDC to move beyond the issues with the founder and focus on the ordinary Ghanaian.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Mohammed Naziru, a founding member of the Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR) believes the call for a mediator is unnecessary.
According to him, a return by government to the ideals of the National Democratic Congress will bring the founder back to the fold of the party.
“When there is accountability and social justice people will not be seen as trying to hijack the presidency,” he told Citi News.
Source: Citifmonline.com