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Amendment of Chieftaincy Act to meet challenges
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- Created on Tuesday, 28 January 2014 00:00
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Amendment of Chieftaincy Act to meet challenges
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Danaa, has stated that attempts to amend the Chieftaincy Act are aimed at refining the law to meet all challenges confronting the chieftaincy institution in modern times.
He said when power was delegated to chiefs, they were expected to use it to assist the government in bringing law and order in their jurisdictions, adding that issues such as galamsey mining and Indian hemp cultivation could be controlled under the ambit of effective chieftaincy authority.
According to him, the new version of the law states that those who refused to respond to the summons of chiefs would be liable for prosecution.
{sidebar id=10 align=right}Dr Danaa was addressing the first meeting of the year of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs at Ho last weekend.
He said the government was committed to fashioning out proposals to transform the chieftaincy institution, which has existed for more than 200 years, to make it more relevant to the Ghanaian society and the international community.
He, therefore, urged all to work together to bring modernisation into the chieftaincy practice, such as the proposal to admit queens into the regional and national house of chiefs.
Dr Danaa said all elevations of traditional councils would be conducted in a manner devoid of rancour and added that some traditional areas had paramount chiefs without traditional councils and once the name of a paramount chief appeared in the regional house of chiefs, they were recognised.
In an address, the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs and Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, said the house so far had 59 permanent members, from the original 15. He added that all the 118 paramount chiefs would become permanent by the end of the year.
He, however, gave the condition that all traditional areas must have well-furnished secretariats with furniture and equipment and that all chiefs should attend their traditional council meetings.
Togbe Afede disclosed that there were 28 chieftaincy conflicts pending and expressed the hope that there would be enough understanding and collaboration with the standing committee to ensure their resolution by the end of the year.
On development projects, he announced that a contractor had been identified for the new airport project in Ho and work was expected to begin soon, while work was also progressing steadily on the construction of facilities for the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).
He advised chiefs to provide the requisite leadership to inspire their people to enable them to partake in the development process in their communities. The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, called on chiefs and queens to be patient because the government had so many good things in mind for the region. He acknowledged their support for him and his deputy and also commended them for remaining calm even in the face of agitating issues.
For his part, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, who was on a two-day duty tour of the region, expressed regret on the state of Kpando Stadium and said there was a proposal to rehabilitate the stadium in view of its use as the grounds for premier league encounters.
He asked all stakeholders to make inputs into proposals for a new stadium for the region—whether the new one proposed for UHAS should serve that purpose or that the old sports stadium should rehabilitated in addition to the new one proposed for UHAS.
He later inspected a 53.36 acres of land earmarked for a sports complex in Ho, which is already saddled with encroachment by estate developers.
Mr Afriyie-Ankrah appealed to chiefs to pray for the Black Stars as the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup got nearer, because the Stars were in a tough group.
Source: Graphic Online
No commentsNPP regional elections: winners and losers in 10 regions
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- Created on Monday, 27 January 2014 00:00
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NPP regional elections: winners and losers in 10 regions
{sidebar id=10 align=right}The New Patriotic Party (NPP) last Saturday moved a step further in its preparation towards the 2016 general election when it successfully conducted elections in all the 10 regions to elect its regional officers.
The regional elections came after the party had concluded elections in 275 constituencies to elect polling station and constituency executives.
The election of new national executive for the party will take place on March 1,2014.
Nominations for the positions are scheduled to open, today.
The national executive elections will be the last hurdle for the party to complete its reorganisational efforts and then elect a presidential candidate to lead the party into the 2016 general election.
About 5,000 delegates cast their votes at 10 voting centres across the country for 267 candidates who contested the various regional positions.
Greater Accra
Rose Hayford Darko & Benjamin Xomam Glover report from Tema that the atmosphere was relaxed when the 33 candidates vying for various positions were given two minutes each to address delegates prior to the start of voting.
After the elections the incumbent Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, polled 344 votes out of the 550 votes cast to retain his position for another term.
His main challenger, Mr George Isaac Amoo, obtained 205 votes.
One ballot was rejected.
The election was Supervised by the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC), led by Mr Alex Poku-Akubia.
A third candidate for the chairmanship, Nii Akwei Addo, withdrew from the contest some few minutes before voting.
In all, 575 delegates from 31 out of the 34 constituencies in the region accredited to vote took part in the election.
Delegates from three constituencies, namely, Krowor, Okaikoi North and Okaikoi South, could not participate in election because of a court injunction secured by some members of the party to prevent them from holding constituency elections.
The newly elected regional party executives were sworn into office by Mr Ben Annan, a founder member of NPP in the Greater Accra Region.
Ashanti Region
The election of a chairman for the Ashanti Regional branch of the NPP ended in a landslide victory for the young party philanthropist, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, over his older and more politically experienced opponent, Kwame Osei Prempeh, a former MP for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo, last Saturday, reports Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor from Kumasi.
Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, polled 559 votes, as against 209 by Mr Osei Prempeh, to win the much coveted regional chairmanship of the party.
One ballot was rejected.
In all, 769 delegates from 44 out of the 47 constituencies in the region voted.
Three constituencies where the party is yet to hold constituency elections could not take part in the regional congress. They are Atwima Kwanwoma, Ejisu and Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo.
Even before the election got underway, it was obvious from the cheers received by the candidates when they were introduced that it was a done deal for Chairman Wontumi.
Later, in his victory speech, Mr Antwi-Boasiako thanked all party members and supporters for their support and pledged to work assiduously to ensure victory for the party in 2016.
Mr Osei-Prempeh,who conceded defeat, pledged his support to the party and the newly elected chairman and promised to work with him for progress.
The other newly elected executives are Abdul Raul, First Vice-Chairman; Madam Beatrice Serwaa Derkyi, Second Vice-Chairman; Samuel Pyne, Regional Secretary; Manaf Ibrahim, Assistant Secretary.
The others are Regional Treasurer, Zeinabu Sallow; Regional Organiser, Kennedy Kwasi Kankam; Nana Ama Ampomaah, Regional Women’s Organiser; Regional Youth Organiser, Justin Kodua, and Nasara Coordinator for the Ashanti Region, Mohammed Abdul Hamid.
Western Region
From Takoradi, Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah & Andrew Tetteh reported that 451 delegates from the 26 constituencies in the Western Region participated in the elections held in the auditorium of the Takoradi Polytechnic (T-Poly), which saw Mr Kofi Atta Dickson Nketia, aka Kendicks, dethroning the incumbent regional chairman, Nana Owusu Ankomah, in the race.
The 55-year-old chief executive officer (CEO) of a pharmaceutical company in Takoradi polled 285 votes as against the 124 secured by Nana Ankoma, with Mr Joseph E. Payne, the third contender, obtaining 41 of the ballots in an election conducted by the Western Regional Office of the EC.
In all, 32 candidates vied for the positions of regional chairman, first and second vice chairman, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, organiser, women's organiser, youth organiser and Nasara coordinator.
In a short post-election address, Nana Ankomah conceded defeat wholeheartedly, noting that “what is important is that in 2016 the NPP comes to power because it is the only group willing to secure power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC)”.
For his part, Mr Nketia indicated that there was no winner and loser in the election and that what was important was for all members of the party to unite and rally solidly behind the new executive members towards a resounding victory in 2016.
Brong Ahafo Region
From the Brong Ahafo Region, Asiedu Marfo reports that the NPP successfully elected its 10-member regional executive to run the affairs of the party in the region for the next four years at the regional delegates' conference in Sunyani.
Thirty-one candidates vied for positions in the keenly contested election.
The incumbent Regional Chairman, Mr Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, polled 259 votes to beat his three opponents —- Messrs Kwame Twumasi Awua, Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour and Mr Joseph Adjei, who stepped down at the 11th hour.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Cheremeh called on all the candidates who lost to come together to campaign vigorously to win the 2016 general election.
Upper West Region
From Wa, Michael Quaye reports that the seemingly bitter campaigning session leading to the election, ended positively when the victor and the vanquished pledged support for each other after peaceful polls that elected new executive members for the part in the Upper West Region.
Incumbent Alhaji Abdul- Rahman Abubakar was re-elected for a third term as regional chairman for the party, but stated upon being officially declared the winner that “the true winner today is the NPP.
“If I had my way, I will stop the celebrations regarding my victory. But even if we decide to celebrate, it should be in moderation and for the entire party.”
Alhaji Abubakar beat challengers Alhaji Toyiba Mahama and Ishak Gaaba Dapilaa who polled 63 and 39 votes respectively in the main contest that had attracted interest and attention in the region.
Central Region
Gilbert Agbey reports from Agona Swedru that the Central Regional conference to elect regional officers of the NPP was held at the Town Hall in Agona Swedru.
The election, which was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., was delayed until 12:30 p.m.
At the end of it all, the Chief Executive Officer of Allship Company Limited, Mr Robert K Kutin, was elected the new Regional Chairman of the party.
He polled 346 votes to defeat his only challenger, Mr Eustace Kumi Bruce, who obtained only 65 votes.
In an address after the new executives had been sworn in, Mr Kutin thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in the new regional leadership of the party.
Upper East Region
In Bolgatanga, the regional delegates conference of the party to elect officers for the region was temporarily held up for almost one hour due to the ineligibility of delegates from the Bongo Constituency to take part in the election, reports Alhandu Abdul-Hamid.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the EC, Mr Azu Boscos, said since there was an injunction on the Bongo Constituency election, delegates from that constituency could not be eligible to vote.
The Council of Elders of the party in the region, as well as the regional election committee and delegates from the Bongo Constituency, had to meet behind closed doors to resolve the problem.
After extensive consultations, it was decided that the delegates from the Bongo Constituency should not be allowed to vote.
At the end of the election, Mr Adams Mahama, a known contractor and confidante of the late Vice-President Aliu Mahama, emerged as the Chairman of the party with 153 votes.
Northern Region
From Tamale, Zakaria Alhassan and Samuel Duodu report that the 62-year-old businessman cum contractor, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, was third time lucky last Saturday when he emerged from a very competitive contest as the new Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP.
The outspoken contractor beat the incumbent Northern Regional Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Rufai Yahaya Iddi; a former Northern Regional Secretary of the party, Dr Clifford Braimah, and the incumbent Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Tia Sulemana, to the position.
In all, 39 candidates vied for the nine positions of the party in the region.
Mr Naabu, who was elated by the outcome of the election, entreated his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party to join hands to work hard to ensure the growth of the NPP in the region.
Eastern Region
Kofoya-Tetteh reports from Koforidua that a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Mr Kinston Kissi, is now the new Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP.
He beat his only challenger, Dr Samuel Yaw Annoh, the incumbent, by 361 votes to 229 to carry the day in the election which was very peaceful.
Shortly after the new executive members had been sworn into office, Mr Kissi, on behalf of his colleagues, asked the rank and file of the party to consider the event as victory for the NPP but not for individuals.
He gave an assurance that they would do their best to ensure NPP victory in the 2016 general election and called for support from all members of the party.
Volta Region
A 42-year-old energy policy analyst, Mr John Peter Amewu, was elected the new NPP Volta Regional Chairman in a keenly contested election held last weekend at the Ho Polytechnic auditorium.
Mr Amewu, who is a former Hohoe District Chief Executive, beat a former Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, and Mr Julius Kwami Ametefe.
The first vice-chairman position was won by Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, while an educationist, Madam Esther Ejeani, was elected second vice-chairman, with the position of secretary going to Mr Joseph Homenya.
The post of assistant secretary went to Mr Joshua Makubu, while Mr Makafui Woanyah became the regional organiser.
Madam Akua Sika Nkansah emerged the women's organiser, with the position of youth organiser going to Mr Maxwell Lugudor.
The position of treasurer was won by a former Nkwanta District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Dentey, while the Nasara coordinator was won by Hajia Fuseini.
In a victory speech, Mr Amewu declared that the end of factionalism in the party in the Volta Region was in sight and that the victory was a new dawn for the party to chart a fresh course for victory in the 2016 elections.
He said the party continued to make geometric growth in the region, an indication of the hard work of past executives, and called on party members to work harder and come together as a team to win power.
Delegates from the Keta Constituency were restrained by a court injunction from voting.
Source: Ghana | Daily Graphic
Lion Attacks Volta Queen
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- Created on Monday, 27 January 2014 00:00
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Lion Attacks Volta Queen
The Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, in a rare outrage has descended heavily on the queen mother of the Alavanyo Traditional Area, Mamaga Ametor II, describing her as a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The Minister was furious over a claim made by the queen mother that Members of Parliament (MPs), Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and Assembly members in the region were doing little for the region and neglecting the development of the area.
Mamaga Ametor, spokesperson for Concerned Queen Mothers of the Volta Region, told Accra-based Citi Fm that “the MPs, DCEs, Assembly members are not trying to help the region to develop. What are they doing to direct the region into development, there is no development going on in the region.
{sidebar id=10 align=right}“More so, they lack the initiative to bring developmental projects to the region, adding, “Our leaders are not lobbying, talking, negotiating and pushing development for the region…I mean the MPs, DCEs and others.”
The queen mother lamented that citizens of the region were severely losing out on development, adding that “the youth of the area are suffering the most…If you compare other regions to our region, we are lagging behind, she added, saying, “We want them to do something!”
Mamaga Amertor who admitted that the MPs were not development agents charged the MPs to rather fast track the development of the region. She also questioned the impact and contribution of the Volta MPs on the floor of Parliament saying, “Our MPs are not talking in Parliament; we are not hearing from them.’’
“Let me ask this question, how many times have you heard any Volta MP in Parliament talking about the problems of the region; how many times have you heard the MPs speak about the development of the region?’’
However, in quick outburst, the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo popularly known as “Lion” accused the eminent queen mother of “doing propaganda work for the NPP.”
He added that “I have a lot of information about what she is doing” and claimed that the queen mother was accusing the MPs because “the NPP have no representative in Parliament.”
“I wonder why a queen mother would be making such assumptions when I operate an open door policy. I have even offered her several assistance and I am surprised at her allegations.”
In another response to the Minister, Mama Ametor II said, “No one is talking about politics and so the Minister should get his facts right. Secondly, if all MPs and DCEs were active, vibrant, lobbying and assisting like he (Afotey Agbo) was doing, the region would have been a better place.”
Volta NDC Unhappy
Despite the ranting of the Volta Regional Minister, who is also the MP for Kpong-Akatamanso in the Greater Accra Region, the queen mother’s claims seem to be coinciding with earlier ones made by some leading representatives from the Volta Region in President Mahama’s government and the NDC party.
It would be recalled that the National Chairman of the governing NDC, Dr Kwabena Adjei bemoaned what he described as the “dangerous level of corruption and greed among the current Government appointees overseeing the affairs of the country” at a meeting in Ho on December 29, 2013.
He said the phenomenon could be described as the worst since the beginning of Ghana’s fourth republic. These, he said, were being done at the expense of the development of the region and advancement of foot soldiers.
H.E. Dan Abodakpui, Ghana’s former Ambassador to Malaysia who chaired the occasion also lambasted some appointees of the President for doing little to advance the course of the region.
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, who presided over the meeting called for unity, expressed dissatisfaction about how some Municipal and District Executives were confirmed and called for a more democratic and decorum process in the future.
Also in attendants were the Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, MPs, MDCEs, NEC Members from the region, Regional Executives, Council of State Members from the region and five representatives of all 26 constituencies in the region.
From Fred Duodu, Ho
Source: Daily Guide/Ghana
Political Parties Are Taking Ghanaians For A Ride – Tony Aidoo
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- Created on Monday, 27 January 2014 00:00
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Political Parties Are Taking Ghanaians For A Ride – Tony Aidoo
{sidebar id=10 align=right}Head of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency, Dr. Tony Aidoo has criticised political parties and governments for failing to organise congress to discuss national policy issues apart from electing officers.
”Over the years all the political parties have been going to congress; when did they ever went[go] to congress and spend even 24 hours looking at the policy issues,?” he quizzed.
”When on both sides of the parties, do they ever go to congress and say that we are going to look at policies and programmes and projects and debate and adopt them… No they go to elect officers.
Speaking on an Accra based Joy FM, Mr. Aidoo said the Ghanaian electorate is being taken for a ride by the politicians.
”The politics of today are not played to the benefit of the electorate.”
Touching on the GYEEDA scandal and the prosecution of its former boss, Abuga Pele Mr. Aidoo said he is ”embarrassed” this is happening in an NDC administration.
”I feel very embarrassed as I sit here because for over eight years I was one of the voice’s that berated the Kufour [Former President] administration for crony capitalism and today I see evidence of it in an NDC administration.”
”It should not have happened in the first place,” he added.
He stated that the NDC in its 2008 manifesto pledged to establish a monitory and evaluation system as a means to achieve accountability and followed it up with setting up a unit.
”The National Youth Employment Programme that became GYEEDA is one of the units never ever submitted one data,” he revealed.
According to him constant reminders didn’t yield any result. There was no political muscle to ensure that people deliver. ”The warning signals that could have come with adequate data, analysis of the data and reportage to the Presidency that this is what is going was totally absent.”
He concluded by saying that of all the political parties and entities in the country, ”the NDC has the greater responsibility or duty to fight corruption and therefore the failure to me is not only embarrassing but it saddens me.”
Source: Citifmonline
Duncan Williams Preaches Mandela Instead of Christ
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- Created on Monday, 27 January 2014 00:00
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Duncan Williams Preaches Mandela Instead of Christ
It is sad to see in this day and age that there are many pastors who no longer want to mirror Christ, but they rather mirror their own celebrity idols.