Day: December 7, 2023

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed to Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Party’s Presidential Candidate, to appoint Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the Election 2024.

The former President, having dropped a hint of his running mate to be a former minister who worked effectively, humble and has the interest of the people at heart, they believed the traits best fitted Prof. Opoku-Agyemang.

A statement signed by Dr Jerry Paul Ninnoni, the Communications Officer for the branch, acknowledged the choice of a running mate as the prerogative of Mr Mahama and the party leadership.

However, it believed Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was the best among her coequals with an exemplary track proven record to confirm her integrity, humility, hard work and commitment to the course of the NDC.

‘We base our assessment of her suitability for the position on the fact that in politics, particularly in our part of the world, consistency, besides one’s cap
abilities, is key in achieving electoral results,’ the statement said.

‘The choice of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang brings on board many benefits to the NDC as a political party gearing to take over the governance of Ghana…’

It relished Prof. Opoku-Agyemang to be the first female Vice President of Ghana to repeat her achievements as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Ghana.

Such noble achievement, the statement indicated, would not only be celebrated locally, but will make a strong global statement on Ghana’s commitment to mainstreaming gender into its political democratic dispensation, giving women who were hitherto sidelined, lead roles.

‘It’s just not a matter of her incredible individual achievements, but what she brings on board as far as the NDC’s agenda for 2024 is concerned.’

‘The NDC’s performance in the 2020 election is there for all to see. The decision by former President Mahama to settle on Prof. Opoku- Agyemang nearly gave the NDC the ultimate victory.…’

‘This is why maintai
ning her as the running mate for the 2024 election is non-negotiable if the NDC wants to take over the governance of Ghana from January 2025.’

The statement said there was no doubt that Prof Opoku-Agyemang was the most effective female politician, not just within the party but nationwide.

Since her introduction to mainstream politics as the Minister of Education, she had continued to endear herself to many, not just members of the NDC, it said.

Significantly her stewardship at the education ministry was replete with well-thought through policies whose benefits the country was reaping.

Her role as a mentor of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network of the NDC (TEIN), encouraging female members to take up leadership roles could not be overemphasized.

Prof. Opoku- Agyemang is a scholar of international repute and a trailblazer for females at the highest level of university administration.

Before her appointed as a Vice-Chancellor of the UCC in 2008, she occupied key strategic positions at the UCC inclu
ding being the Head of the Department of English, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, all at the UCC.

Prof Opoku-Agyeman has served on the boards of many local and international organisations, including the Centre for Democratic Governance.

Others are the College of Physicians and Surgeons as an Eminent Citizen, the editorial board of the Harriet Tubman Series on the African Diaspora (Africa World Press Inc. USA) and the Africa Initiative in Canada.

She is currently the Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), has lamented the continuous deteriorating terrorism threat level in coastal West Africa.

He said the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso continued to trigger militant encroachment southwards into coastal States of West Africa, particularly in Northern Benin and Northern Togo.

He noted that in Poni, a district in Burkina Faso that borders the Ivory Coast witnessed increased attacks while Koulpelogo province continued to witness increasing attacks closer to the frontier with Ghana.

‘The rapid development now leaves the Ivory Coast and Ghana on high alert against possible attacks,’ Dr Chambas remarked at the opening ceremony of the Research and Action for Peace (REcAP) Network Regional Conference in Accra.

He said Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Togo experienced increased number of displaced persons fleeing terrorist attacks and counter ter
rorism operations in Burkina Faso.

He said this situation was creating a high national security risks as some of the local populations were reportedly crossing into these countries with their cattle.

The two-day meeting, on the theme ‘Unifying for Stability: Addressing Violent Extremism amidst Political Uncertainties in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin’, is being organised by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) with the support of the European Union (EU).

It brought experts, policy makers, international and regional actors together to collectively brainstorm, share experts’ knowledge and good practices on how to collectively respond to violent extremism in the context of the continuing challenges in the implementation of existing counterterrorism mechanisms and efforts in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.

According to data available in the Africa Terrorism Database, hosted by the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), the period from 01 January 2023, to 30 Sept
ember 2023, recorded 2,122 terrorist attacks resulting in 12,092 deaths across the continent, higher than those recorded in the same period in 2022.

Dr Chambas said the 2023 data represented an increase of 95 per cent and 55 per cent in the number of attacks and deaths respectively, when compared to the same period in 2022.

He said also, a total of 2,865 people were injured during attacks and that the records also indicated that 5,592 of the deaths were civilians whilst 3,178 were military/security personnel with 3,322 terrorist fighters killed by security forces during the attacks launched by terrorist groups.

He said in addition to the number of terrorists killed during reprisal attacks by security forces, 5,312 fighters of the various terrorist groups were neutralized during deliberate counter-terrorism operations launched by the military, bringing the total number of terrorist fighters eliminated during the period to 8,534.

Dr Chambas said at the regional level, West Africa recorded the highest number
of terrorist attacks; adding that the region recorded 1,027 attacks that resulted in 6,255 deaths.

He noted that Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo were the countries in which the attacks occurred in the region with Burkina Faso experiencing a rather exponential increase in the number of attacks during the period.

Mrs Levinia Addae-Mensah, Deputy Executive Director/Programme Director, WANEP, said the recent developments in the political landscape of West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin had been extremely worrying, particularly West Africa.

She said within the last few years the region had witnessed a number of coup d’états, attempted coups; saying ‘it almost becomes like a weekly affair and hoped that last of the skirmishes in Guinea Bissau be the last’.

Mr Romain SZTARK, Head of Multi-Country Operations West Africa and North Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, said economic disparities, unemployment, and poverty could and often would, fuel the grievances that extremists could exploit.

S
ource: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament is demanding a parliamentary scrutiny of the Lithium Agreement signed by the Government and Barari DV Ghana Ltd, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Ltd.

The agreement aims to facilitate lithium mining operations in the Central Region for a 15-year period.

Mr John Jinapor, the Ranking Member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, said Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution explicitly mandated parliamentary approval for transactions involving the exploitation of natural resources.

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra, he said: ‘We demand that the Akufo-Addo Government tables or lays this agreement before Parliament without delay.’

He pledged the Minority’s commitment to thoroughly scrutinise the terms of the agreement to ensure it aligned with the interests of Ghanaians.

He said Lithium, which was being hailed as the ‘new gold’ had gained prominence as a lucrative resource in the global market due to its increasing demand in
green technologies.

He reiterated the importance of ensuring Ghana reaps maximum benefits from this valuable resource.

Mr Jinapor said the minority would engage civil society, seek guidance from legal experts, and involve influential personalities, including former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, known for her stance on lithium agreements.

He cautioned that any attempt by Barari DV Ghana Limited to commence mining without parliamentary approval would be deemed illegal.

Mr Jinapor reminded officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission that they had no authority to permit lithium mining without the required parliamentary approval and other necessary licenses.

‘If the agreement does not meet the interests of Ghana, the NDC Minority will vehemently oppose its approval by the House,’ he said.

Mr Jinapor said a future NDC Government in 2025 would ensure the seizure of unapproved mining licenses granted to companies until proper parliamentary approval was obtained.

He assur
ed of transparent and accountable management of Ghana’s natural resources ‘when the NDC comes into power’

Source: Ghana News Agency