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The National Liberation Congress (NLC), a new political party, has called for national dialogue on the proposed change in date for the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections.

The NLC called for national consensus on the proposed changes, adding that discussions on the subject should move beyond the Electoral Commission and the Interparty Advisory Committee.

Addressing a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Stephen Atubiga, Founder and Leader, NLC, said the proposal by the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) ‘is good for our democracy’.

‘Our democracy has deepened that a church is proposing a date for elections. That is good for our democracy, and we should have a dialogue and see the way forward,’ he said.

The SDA Church, in a petition to the Electoral Commission, said the elections would have to be moved from the conventional December 7 because the date falls on a Saturday, which would conflict with the Sabbath, a holy day dedicated to the worship of God.

The Church said the first or se
cond Tuesday would be more convenient to promote inclusive democracy.

The Electoral Commission has also proposed a change in the date for presidential and parliamentary elections to allow sufficient time for the Commission to effectively manage its operations, particularly in the event of a run-off.

The EC proposed November 7 for the General Election as part of its proposed electoral reforms.

Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress has publicly kicked against the move, saying: ‘We do not believe that this is being proposed in good faith.’

Mr Atubiga cautioned against the use of legal remedies to push for the change in the voting date instead of dialogue.

He expressed fear that if the Court granted a request by the SDA, it could serve as a precedent for other faith-based organisations and institutions to push their interests.

The NLC also expressed concern over what it described as a surge in ethnocentric and tribal campaigning by representatives of some
political parties.

The Party said the use of inciteful language against a particular ethnic group could undermine the peace and tolerance that had existed among the various ethnic groups for decades.

Mr Atubiga urged political actors to be decorous in their utterances ahead of the elections and encouraged political parties to act against members who stoke ethnic and religious tensions.

‘I call on concerned citizens, the National Peace Council, traditional and religious leaders to speak against people who campaign on religious and tribal lines,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Alhassan Bashir Alhassan Fuseini, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to replace Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, is long overdue.

The President on Wednesday, February 14, announced a major cabinet reshuffle relieving 13 Ministers, including the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta of their duties.

Mr ABA Fuseini speaking to the press at Parliament House in Accra, said with about 10 months to the end of the President’s second term, the reshuffle would achieve very little or nothing at all.

‘Even this reshuffle, many people are saying it should have come about two years, when the competence of the Finance Minister was brought to the fore, not just by we, the Minority but even by the Majority itself,’ Mr Fuseini said.

‘By then there was a clear sign that the economy was heading towards a crush. It was being driven into a ditch due to the reckless borrowing of the Minister. It was very clear……’

He alle
ged that it being rumored that the outgoing Finance Minister was now a Senior Advisor on Finance to the President; adding that anybody who would be the finance minister, would still have to seek clearance from Mr Ofori-Atta.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mr Benjamin Kessie, has urged journalists to sustain the peace in the nation as the country prepared for the 2024 general election.

He said journalists should desist from focusing on stories that would promote hatred, discrimination and violent conflicts.

Mr Kessie who made the call at a press briefing, reiterated that journalists needed to report responsibly, by providing accurate information that enlightens and unites, rather than propagate the seeds of discord.

According to the MCE, the government and other stakeholders have worked tirelessly to maintain peace in the country hence they need not to toy with it.

‘The Media deserves to be acknowledged for the crucial role they play in shaping public opinion. Avoid acts that will generate conflicts and violence to mar the peace the country is currently enjoying,’ he stressed.

Mr Kessie called on journalists to be independent and serve the interest of citizens and the state only, and not any individual
or political party.

He again reminded journalists not to forget the crucial role they played to ensure free and fair general election come Saturday December 7, 2024.

Also, the MCE asked Ghanaians to unite and work together to ensure violence-free elections in every community across the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some residents in the Oti Region Wednesday took to the streets in jubilation over the Ministerial Reshuffle that affected the Oti Regional Minister, Mr Joshua Gmayeenam Makubu.

The residents said they supported President Akufo-Addo’s bold decision to change the minister, who they claim was ‘non-performing and running a one-man show’.

Some of the residents, holding leaves amidst singing and dancing, said the change was a ‘good breather for the region.’

Mr Gesaloge Francis Boyesah Okoro, the Regional Coordinator of Disability Desk-Oti Region, alleged that the Minister failed to pay attention to issues affecting the members.

An insider from the New Patriotic Party in the region said the youth had toiled for the party and deserved to be rewarded but the minister did not give them any opportunity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, appointing new ministers and deputy ministers and reassigning some to other ministries to reorganize the administration.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the President has relieved 13 central and local government ministers of their duties, including Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Environment, Science, and Technology Minister Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta.

The rest of the ministers are Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye; Gender, Children, and Social Protection Minister Lariba Abudu; Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Minister Dan Botwe; Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Freda Prempeh; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Awal; Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey; and Oti Regional Minister Joseph Makubu.

The
President has also relieved Mrs. Fatimatu Abubakar, Information; Collins Ntim Aboagye and Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah, Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development; Ama Pomah Boateng, Communications and Digitalization; Tina Mensah, Health; Abdulai Abanga, Works, and Housing; Benito Owusu Bio, Lands and Natural Resources; Moses Anim, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; William Owireku Aidoo and Andrew Agyapa Mercer, Energy,; Gifty Twum Ampofo, Education; and Bright Owireku-Bobbey, Employment and Labour Relations, of their duties as deputy ministers

In their places, the President has nominated Mohammed Amin Adam, MP for Karaga, as the Finance Minister, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, for the Health Ministry, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Fatimatu Abubakar, Information.

He has also nominated Darkoa Newman for Gender, Children, and Social Protection; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah for Local Government, Decentralisati
on, and Rural Development; Lydia Seyram Alhassan for Sanitation and Water Resources; Andrew Agyapa Mercer for Tourism, Arts, and Culture; Titus Glover for Greater Accra Region; and Daniel Machator for Oti Region.

The President has also nominated 13 individuals for deputy minister positions. They are Sylvester Tetteh, Information; Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development; Charles Acheampong, Communications and Digitalisation; Adeliade Ntim, Health; Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Health; and Dr Prince Hamidu Armah, Works and Housing.

The others are Akwasi Konadu, Lands and Natural Resources; Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba; Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; John Kobina Sania and Collins Adamoka Mensah, Energy; Kingsley Nyarko, Education; Festus Awuah Kwofie, Employment and Labour Relations; and Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah, Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The President also transferred Henry Quartey, the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, to the Interior Ministry. Mr Fra
ncis Asenso Boakye goes to the Roads and Highways Ministry, while former Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah takes over the Works and Housing Ministry.

Former Interior Minister Ambrose Dery has been moved to the President’s Office as a Minister of State, while Abdulai Abanga, Deputy Minister for Works, and Housing, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralizations, and Rural Development.

The statement said the President thanked the ministers and deputy ministers who have left government for their ‘commitment, competence, dedication and hard work in office,’ and wished them success in their future endeavours.

The President was hopeful that Parliament would expedite the approval of the nominees.

Source: Ghana News Agency