Day: November 18, 2023

Ghana’s Parliament will on Monday, November 20, 2023, partner STAR-Ghana Foundation to organise a breakfast forum to commemorate 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy under the Fourth Republic.

The event, which would coincide with the fifth anniversary of the STAR-Ghana Foundation, is in recognition of the need for more effective engagement with the public and wider participation in the work of Parliament, having been ranked first in Africa.

A press release by Mr David Sebastian Damoah, Director of Media Relations, Parliament, said about 150 participants from Parliament, Civil Society Organisations, Think Tanks, Trade Unions, and the media, among others would attend the forum.

The forum, dubbed: ‘Thirty Years of Parliamentary Democracy under the Fourth Republic: Reflection on citizens engagement and the way forward’, would have Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford, the Speaker, deliver the keynote address whilst guest speakers would be Professor Akosua Darkwah, University of Ghana and Dr Rasheed Draman,
Africa Centre for Parliamentary Studies, the press release said.

It said the Speaker’s breakfast forum was to consolidate the relationship between Parliament and CSOs by exploring new ways of working together for accountable governance.

It said for more public participation in the work of Parliament, it would set up a ‘Citizens’ Bureau,’ within Parliamentary Service to institutionalise Parliament-citizens’ engagement through partnerships with the media, CSOs and think tanks.

The Bureau, the release said would develop and maintain a database of CSOs with the opportunity to easily share information and research findings with Parliament whilst accessing relevant information from Parliament to support their work.

It said such engagements would reduce the misunderstanding between Parliament and the public as well as serve as an early warning signal to the elected representatives of the people on vexed issues for early resolution.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. John Mantse Akwetey, an aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary for the Ningo-Prampram constituency, has outlined a seven-point agenda for constituents to spur him into victory.

Mr. Akwetey is among three hopefuls who have expressed interest in representing the party as the parliamentary candidate for the constituency for the 2024 general election.

The other two aspirants are Mrs. Patricia Narko Kumodji-Nartey, a consultant and paralegal, and Mr. Michael Tetteh Eku, the NPP constituency chairman, who doubles as the Ningo-Prampram District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, he said the agenda included the empowerment of electoral area coordinators and polling station executives through the establishment of dedicated offices in each electoral area.?

He said the officers would operate on designated days to actively engage with party members and listen to their concerns and contributions.

He state
d that as part of the agenda, they would place the electoral area coordinators and polling station executives at the heart of political campaign, as their dedication and grass-root efforts were invaluable, and together.

Mr. Akwetey added that he would launch a job profile database for the party’s delegates, dividing them into three key groups, namely job seekers, artisans, and student interns.

He explained that the job seekers would be assisted in their employment search, while the artisans would showcase and support skilled tradespeople, and internship opportunities would be provided for students to facilitate their educational career growth.

‘We plan to rebrand and reposition our political party by focusing on the issues that matter most to young people. We’ll also engage with them through social media, town hall meetings, and youth-led initiatives to ensure their voices are heard and valued in our party’s decision-making process,’ he said.

The parliamentary candidate hopeful said he would also launch t
he Needy Constituents Scholarship Fund, adding that it would empower deserving individuals within the constituency by providing scholarships and support for higher education and vocational training.

Mr. Akwetey added that if voted as the NPP parliamentary candidate for Ningo-Prampram, he would also introduce an inter-electoral area of fun games and cooking competitions to unite the community and strengthen the party’s purpose.?

He noted that he and his team would establish an award scheme to recognise and honour the dedicated, long-serving party members who had selflessly contributed to the growth of the party in the constituency.?

Mr. Akwetey, who is the Public Relations Officer for the Ghana TVET Service, hails from New Ningo and served as a polling station secretary and electoral area coordinator, respectively, from 2008 to 2011 and 2014 to 2017.

He also acted as the NPP’s Communications Director for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency and served within the IT strongroom at the national headquarters of the
NPP for the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Mr. Akwetey also contested for the Greater Accra Region’s slot in 2021 as a Council of State member.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Rev. Dr Fred Deegbe, a former Chairman of the Christian Council, has urged Christians to vote for politicians who will develop the country and not those who will offer money at the polls.

‘We must critically assess them and see whether they have something (development) to offer the people and not just because they have money…’

Rev. Deegbe said this at a National Christian Forum (NCF) 2023 organised by the Advocate for Christ Ghana (A4CG) in partnership with the Action Chapel International, Methodist Church of Ghana, Frimpong Manso Institute and some media organisations.

The forum was on the theme: ‘Election 2024: Assessing the impact of Political Parties and how Christians should vote’.

The forum, in its fourth year, aims to evaluate the impact of political parties and governments on various aspects of national life, including the Church, government, public and private sectors, media, citizens, and overall national development.

Rev. Deegbe urged political parties and governments to tackle corruption
, which he said was permeating into all spheres of life and if not checked could affect future generations negatively.

‘We are seeing corruption at the national level trickling down… if our national leaders are displaying this, and if we Church leaders are not condemning this, then what are doing?’ He asked.

Rev. Julius Coomson, a Pastor at Legon Interdenominational Church, called for a campaign against corruption targeting the youth.

Prof Afua Hesse, a Paediatric Surgeon, said the fight against corruption must not be left to politicians alone.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Twenty-one parliamentary aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Oti Region have been cleared by the vetting committee to contest the upcoming primary on December 2.

They signed an undertaking to remain resolute behind the party, irrespective of whoever emerges as the winner.

The committee was under the chairmanship of Mr Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Dr Asiedu Kokro, the Deputy Director of Communications, and Mr Abdul Taric Bonsu, the Deputy Nasara Coordinator.

Mr Mustapha, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the vetting, appealed to the candidates to conduct their campaigns in a civilised and mature manner.

He urged them to refrain from insults, acrimony, and false accusations against each other.

Mr Evans Yaw Dapaah, the Regional Chairman of the NPP, emphasised on the Party’s mission to ‘break the eight’ and nobody should do anything to jeopardise that goal.

He gave the assurance that the regional executives were fully prepared to support the constitu
encies to win the seats.

He urged the executives of the constituencies to remain neutral, fair, transparent, and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.

The NPP was poised to capture all the parliamentary seats in the region, he said, and called for all hands-on deck to realise that dream.

Source: Ghana News Agency