Day: December 11, 2023

It is 6pm and one can hear children playing in the neighbourhood of Odorkor, an Accra suburb.

Some middle-aged women can also be seen in houses lining the highway preparing evening meals.

It is that time of the evening when families assemble over meals after a long day.

But the Forson’s home is ’empty’. No evening family activity as the mother of the home – 41-year-old Sarah Ahema Forson is preparing to embark on a campaign for the upcoming District Level Elections (DLE) slated for December 19.

The Assemblywoman, who is seeking re-election, is not able to campaign during the daytime due to her full-time job as an Accountant.

The strategy, therefore, is to abandon her home in the evenings to engage the electorate at night-a time women are expected to provide ‘home’ to their families, especially children.

Though noticeably tired with heavy eyes and legs, Sarah dragged her legs through the trenches in her bid to retain her seat as the Assembly Woman for the Tsuimaami Electoral Area.

But the inspiration i
s not only the retention of the seat.

She tells the Ghana News Agency that her motivation is to be the voice of women and the vulnerable in decision making.

By 9pm, Sarah, her Husband and this Reporter had visited a few households with her message of community development, receiving applause from some voters.

An old woman, nearing 70 years, was moved by the mud stains on Sarah’s blue jeans due to the campaign activities and charged her household to vote for her.

‘Let’s push women. We need women there. See what Sarah is doing. See all that she is going through. All of you should vote for her. We already have many men there…,’ she said with a broad smile.

Ghana is among countries that have made several commitments through statues and treaties to promote and empower women and ensure there is equality and freedom of participation in all spheres of public life, including politics.

The 1992 Constitution has portions dedicated solely for the promotion of women’s rights and participation in politics.

Article 3
5, clause 6 (d), states that ‘make democracy a reality by decentralising the administrative and financial machinery of government to the regions and districts and by affording all possible opportunities to the people to participate in decision-making at every level in national life and in government’ -the people refer to both men and women.

The Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936) allows the President to appoint 30 per cent of Assembly men and women while the remaining 70 per cent are elected.

Despite this provision, the number of women in local government is still low.

A report by Star Ghana Foundation indicates that out of the 2,242 appointments made by the President, women are only 591, constituting 26 per cent.

The situation is same in the appointment of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

Only 38 women out of the 261 got the nod from the President.

In the appointment of MMD Coordinating Directors, 34 out of 261 appointed directors are females and in the appointment of Chief Direc
tors in the Regions (Regional Coordinating Directors), only two out of a total of 16 were appointed by the President.

This has compelled Sarah to abandon her home at nights for campaigns to compete with six men to be elected the Assemblywoman for her area.

She is hopeful that the work she did over the past four years, including desilting of gutters, enrollment of young people in dress and hair making and the construction of drainages will secure her another victory in the upcoming elections.

Fortunately for her, she has siblings taking care of h10-year-old son while she and her husband are on the campaign trail.

Though the campaign appears to be going well, she gets to the office late the next morning and faces queries.

‘Government should ensure that a good percentage of the 30 per cent appointment go in favour of women to fulfill the many statues, protocols and conventions that Ghana has appended its signature to,’ she tells the GNA.

Same appeal was made by the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA)
at its stakeholder engagement, which centred on ‘DLE and Women’s Representation’.

Madam Shamima Muslim, Founder and Convener, AWMA, says women’s involvement and participation in local governance would bring about diversity, enhance responsiveness and leverage synergies.

She also says building women’s capacities to participate in governance at that level enriches Ghana’s human capital by building critical masses of women with understanding in governance; and making more local female role models available.

Mr Kokro Amankwah, General Secretary, National Association of Local Authorities Ghana (NALAG), says more women should be given a chance to hold political offices at the local level.

‘When we are talking about democracy and we decide to leave women or not to support women the way we should, it becomes a democratic deficit and we cannot pride ourselves as a nation and think that we are the gateway to Africa in terms of democracy and other things without paying attention to our women,’ he says.
Source: Ghana
News Agency

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamale South Constituency, says Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will win the 2024 general election on free, fair, and credible grounds.

He said if Ghanaians were to vote based on their current economic conditions and the state of the country, the NDC was convinced that Mr Mahama would win any free, fair, and credible elections in Ghana in 2024.

‘If Ghanaians are to vote based on the state of the country, the state of its institutions and the state of the suffering of the people of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama will humble others,’ he said.

Mr Iddrisu, a former Minority Leader in Parliament, was speaking at the inauguration of the Upper East Regional Women’s Wing Working Committee on the theme: ‘Effective mobilization of the women’s front.’

He said, ‘2024 offers the NDC the best opportunity to recapture political power, and we all must endeavour to work to support John Dramani Mahama.’

The MP said Mr Ma
hama, a former Vice President and President, was more experienced in governance and would be the right Candidate to make Ghana a better place for the citizenry.

He urged the Party to work and ensure that all 15 seats in the Region were captured for the NDC to form a majority in Parliament to support Mr Mahama, who he said would be the next President, to implement policies to the benefit of the ordinary Ghanaian.

He said though there was a clear indication that the NDC would win the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections, he cautioned the Party not to take the elections for granted.

Mr Iddrisu said the credibility and sustainability of their message was important and called on all members of the NDC, especially its Communicators to trumpet the good messages and development projects undertaken by the Party in government over the years.

‘The issues get forgotten too early,’ he noted.

He called on the media to play its watchdog role, saying ‘You held NDC, John Mahama accountable, hold Nana Akufo-A
ddo and Dr Bawumia accountable to their duties, pledges and failures.’

The MP for Pusiga, Madam Laadi Ayii Ayamba, who chaired the inaugural ceremony, said there was a need for the NDC to recapture power from the NPP with a clear majority in Parliament to implement its programmes and policies.

She said the current state of Parliament caused a lot of confusion for them, ‘I want to plead with you. Do not let us get equal numbers again. Let us fight to get better numbers in Parliament. The current numbers are giving us a lot of issues.’

Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, the National Women’s Organizer of the NDC, said the 2024 elections called for hard work, unity of purpose, vigilance, and an uncompromising attitude devoid of any form of intimation.

According to her, the NPP government usually adopted all forms of unfair ways and means to rig elections, ‘Now we will stop them. They should not think that we are joking, they have taken us for a ride for far too long.’

Dr Bissiw urged all Women Organizers of the Party a
nd their Deputies across the country to campaign in every nook and cranny of all the Constituencies to propagate the message of the NDC, especially the ’24-hour economy’ policy of the Party.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr William Nyarkoh, the Assistant Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Dormaa Central Constituency, on Monday, said supporters of Mr Alan Kyerematen, are still loyal and united to the ideals and course of the NPP.

He said none of Alan’s supporters had deserted the NPP in the constituency to join hands with his new party after his breakaway, saying Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President was at Dormaa Ahenkro on his campaign tour ahead of special delegates congress and the Vice President was overwhelmed with supporters and people who thronged the scene.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Dormaa Ahenkro in relation to some happenings in the party after the super delegates congress held in November, and Mr Alan Kyerematen’s resignation, he said the NPP had a tradition that was worth following. 

‘The NPP already has a tradition which can clearly be traced from the United Party (UP) of which Dr. J. B. Danquah and Dr. K. A. Busia, which played immense and significant roles i
n becoming fathers, he said

He said although Mr. Kyerematen’s membership of the NPP, could some extent provide leverage to the party to maximize its chances and fortunes of winning power in next year’s election, it was ‘not politically wise for him to have resigned’ since history has shown repeatedly that those who took such decisions became unsuccessful due to the weak foundation of their political ambition.

‘His rich experiences as a former Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S. and a Minister of Trade in both ex-President Kufuor’s administration for years would have been needed towards the general election next year,’ he added.

He observed that Mr Kyerematen should have learnt from, Mr Goosie Tandoh, Mr Obed Asamoah, and Mrs Konadu Agyemang Rawlings who broke away from the NDC to form their own political parties after some misunderstanding, which did not win them any following. 

Ghanaians now want to know his contribution to government in changing the economy from an import-driven to an export-industrial-drive
n economy to spur the growth of the private sector, apart from the President’s Special Initiative during Kufour’s administration and the one District One Factory in the current administration.

They said the one district one factory broiler processing project at Nseseresu in Dormaa East District had stalled for a long time, while the crate production factory at Korang was yet to be established as well as the starch processing factory at Aboabo Number Four under the same flagship programme all in the Dormaa Central Municipality.

He said the NPP still had men capable of prosecuting the nation’s development agenda saying, ‘There was no need for the party to re-negotiate for Mr Kyerematen to come back’.

‘Dr. Bawumia has been proactive, vibrant and active in the party defending its policies and programmes all the time and often descending to engage with the grassroots,’ he added.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, a former Minister of State said the current lack of job opportunities in Ghana has resulted in an unprecedented brain drain.

He said the transformational agenda of former President John Dramani Mahama including the 24-hour Economy proposed initiative was a game-changer aimed at addressing increased productivity and job creation.

Mr Opong-Fosu made the remarks when the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) Wing of the University of Ghana called on him at his office in Accra.

The meeting was to provide a platform for the executives to express their appreciation for the former Minister’s continuous support of TEIN activities and aspirations and highlighted the importance of involving young voices in policy discussions and decision-making processes.

The discussion delved into various topics, including the challenges students faced in accessing quality education, the need for youth empowerment programmes, and the role of government in fostering job creation and sustainable devel
opment.

He said students who were the major stakeholders, as well as important resources to propagate the vision, would not be left out of the town hall meetings that President Mahama was currently undertaking.

Mr Opong-Fosu pledged his support to offer guidance to the TEIN UG executives and encouraged them to remain focused, resilient, and dedicated to their chosen paths.

He commended the students for their dedication to public service and encouraged them to continue pursuing their dreams, emphasizing the importance of young voices in shaping policies and driving change.

He shared his insights, drawing from his experiences as a student leader and in public service and provided valuable advice on how the TEIN executives could make a meaningful difference in their chosen fields emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the government and young leaders, recognizing the potential for transformative change with diverse voices.

President of the TEIN UG, Mr Paul Amoldago on behalf of the executives e
xpressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in a discussion that would shape their future endeavours, saying: ‘With our aspirations aligned and a renewed sense of purpose, we resolved to embark on our journey to transform our aspirations into reality, contributing to the betterment of our communities and the nation as a whole’.

Mr Amoldago presented their aspirations, focusing on key areas such as education, youth empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development and articulated their desire to contribute to the progress and development of their communities.

He said: ‘Our meeting with the former Minister is an active engagement with a constructive dialogue and gave us an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of governance and policymaking’.

Mr Amoldago expressed their commitment to working towards their goals, leveraging the knowledge gained from the discussion to make a tangible impact in their communities and recognized their enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to makin
g a positive impact.

The TEIN executives planned to implement actionable steps that were discussed during the meeting, including organizing community initiatives, advocating policy changes, and fostering partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with a sense of optimism and determination, while the TEIN UG executives left the meeting inspired and motivated, armed with new perspectives and ideas to drive their aspirations forward.

The TEIN UG presented a plaque to Mr Opong-Fosu to demonstrate their appreciation for supporting their programmes such as handing over ceremonies, orientations and TEIN regional communicators conferences.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Paul Hopeson Kwaw, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region, has rallied delegates in the constituency to vote massively for him to lead the party in the 2024 general elections in the area.

He said when given the nod to lead the party and subsequently elected as the Member of Parliament (MP), he would use his office to lobby for development projects to help benefit the people of Jomoro and appealed to the delegates to endorse him to become the Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency.

He was speaking to Ghana News Agency in an interview in Takoradi, after being vetted and cleared to contest in the NPP orphan constituency primary in Jomoro.

According to Mr Kwaw, Jomoro lagged in terms of development, saying the situation needed a dynamic leader who had international connections.

He said: ‘As a key party member of the United States branch of the NPP and a third-time parliamentary aspirant, I am endowed with rich experience to bring to bear t
he development needs of the people of Jomoro’.

He said he had engaged some foreign investors to venture into a 200-acre rubber plantation farm to revive the defunct tyre factory established by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah at Bonsa.

Mr Kwaw said skills development training would also be on top of his agenda to empower the youth to take advantage of the emerging industries in the area.

He is contesting the Jomoro primary with Mr Kwame Evonla Whajah and Mr Paul Essien, a former MP for Jomoro.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi Board Chairman for the National Procurement Authority has donated motorbikes and other items to the eight New Patriotic Party (NPP) orphan constituencies in the Bono East Region to support smooth campaigns movements toward elections 2024.

Among the items were eight motorbikes and their accessories, 20 boxes of agro-chemicals and five packs of cutlasses to support the eight parliament candidates who have just been elected to contest and reclaim the lost seats from the National Democracy Congress (NDC).

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi presenting the items at Techiman in the Bono East Regional noted that the eight parliamentary candidates who have just been elected to represent the party must desire to work hard to secure victory in the 2024 elections to get more seats.

He urged the individual parliamentary candidates to understand that there was much work to do on the ground and that they must continue to create relative peace and promote good personal relationships with the people t
o develop love for the party.

Mr Kwasi Adu-Gyan, Bono East Regional Minister, pointed out that the only way to secure victory was to create cordial relationships with the constituents and through constant visits to the area to relate by helping to solve their problems to demonstrate your care for them.

He explained that with their cordial relationship with the constituents, it would be obvious that the future would be victorious, saying the NPP was focused on breaking the eight to better the livelihood conditions of the people.

The Regional Minister urged Parliamentary Candidates to use the District Assembly and Unit Committee Level Elections to determine victory in the 2024 elections, as that would be the basis to test the waters at the grounds for victory.

Mr Martin Gyarko, Parliamentary Candidate for the Techiman North and former Deputy Regional Minister for the Bono East received the items on behalf of his colleagues and lauded the initiative, saying it would very be useful during the campaign seasons
.

Mr Gyarko said the motorbikes would be very instrumental in their movement to the areas in their respective constituencies to propagate the messages to the people.

He commended Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi for his positive intentions to project the party in the region and assured them that they would be used judiciously to recapture the lost seats for the party.

Among the orphan constituencies in the Bono East Region include Techiman North, Atebubu-Amantin, Kintampo North, Nkoranza North and South, Sene East and West and Pru East.

At the presentation ceremony was Mr Twumasi Ampofo, former Minister for Energy, the Eight Parliamentary Candidates, and regional party executives.
Source: Ghana News Agency