Category: Politics

Mr. Ransford Antwi, an independent parliamentary candidate for the Sunyani East constituency, has expressed joy over the growing support and encouragement from residents in the area.

‘Many constituents continue to support my decision to run for the position of Member of Parliament (MP) in the area,’ he stated.

Mr Antwi told?the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani, he was committed to the progress and development of the people in his constituency and the entire Bono Region, while emphasizing his readiness to work tirelessly towards achieving these goals.

Mr. Antwi, a native of Sunyani, is a prominent figure in both the sports and business industries and currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Suncity Group of Companies and also a Board Member for the Ohio African Community Excellence Awards in the USA, a prestigious international awards scheme dedicated to honouring individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to African communities.

The Independent Parliamentary Aspirant expressed gratitude for the overwhelming endorsements from the majority of constituents who have shown confidence in him.

He pledged his firm commitment to the people in the area, assuring them that he would fulfill all promises made once entrusted with the mandate.

‘I am greatly inspired, and motivated by the admiration and confidence my people have in me,?knowing my good works in the constituency and trusting I could do more?if given the nod, as the MP in this year’s?general elections.

He stated that he has been in the constituency for many years and was familiar with the various situations present and assured of utilizing all available resources to address the identified issues effectively.

Furthermore, he assured the constituents of his dedication to developing the area in collaboration with the people and stressed the importance of their support and cooperation in achieving this goal.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Volta Regional Directorate of Electoral Commission (EC) has recorded a total of 808 applicants, whose registration has been challenged, seven days into the national exercise.

They were alleged to be either minors or foreigners.

Mr Eric Dzakpasu, Regional Director of EC, revealed this to the Ghana News Agency during a visit to the registration centre on Tuesday.

He said a total of 14,888 new voters in the Region were registered within one week of the limited voter registration exercise.

He said apart from the initial two days’ glitches of dysfunctional kits and network challenges, all had been smooth.

The Director disclosed that all registration centres, including the mobile teams, had been equipped with generators and internet turbo routers to facilitate the exercise.

Festus Agbolosu, the New Patriotic Party’s agent at the centre, commended the Electoral Commission for the peaceful nature it had conducted the exercise so far.

He urged the qualified citizens to participate in the exercise to get the
card so they could vote for the party come December 7.

He said the NPP party had done a lot for the country and should be given the opportunity to continue to transform the country.

In a related, some 1,706 new voters were captured in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region within the same period.

The number comprises 631 males and 1,075 females with 17 registrants having their applications challenged on the grounds of either being foreigners or minors.

Nana Oduro Numapau, Ho Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency during a visit to the register centre on Tuesday to observe the exercise.

The Director said with the exception of the network difficulties they faced at the start of the exercise, the process had been smooth and without a hitch.

Nana Oduro advised all eligible persons to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain a voter card in order to participate in the next elections and any other electoral activities in the country.

Meanwhile, at the
time GNA visited the centre, a significant number of students from some second-cycle institutions had flocked to the EC’s office to have their names added to the voter list.

Close to 100 students from OLA Senior High School and and Wallace Academy Senior High School were seen at the centre in queue waiting patiently to go through the process to acquire the voter card.

Their delighted expressions indicate that they were pleased to have turned 18 years old, which made them eligible to apply for a card that would allow them to vote in national elections.

After getting their cards, a few students, who spoke with the GNA, expressed happiness, describing the process as fast and smooth.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A total of 12,449 new voters, comprising 5,380 males and 7,069 females, have been enrolled onto Ghana’s Voters Register after seven days of limited Voter registration in the Upper East Region.

Provisional statistics from the Electoral Commission reveals the figure also include 19 persons with disabilities and 34 persons captured as traumatised cases.

The Commission also indicated that out of the number of people provisionally registered, majority of them used the Guarantor System, recording 6,968 persons while 5,476 and five persons registered with the Ghana Card and the Passport respectively.

Mr William Obeng Adarkwa, the Upper East Regional Director of the Commission, who revealed these to the Ghana News Agency, noted that 37 people had so far had their registration challenged.

According to the Regional Director, apart from the initial challenges with the online registration system due to poor network in some areas particularly the rural communities, the exercise has been moving smoothly.

‘We currently
use both systems, that is, the offline and online for the registration… when the network is good, we register people using the online system but when we have challenges with the network then we have the option of offline, so the registration has been smooth,’ he said.

Mr Adarkwa noted that the 51 registration centres including the 15 district offices, two University campuses and mobile registration teams were activated to start the registration in the region.

He said apart from the 15 district offices that were mandated to register persons for the whole of the stipulated 21 days, the rest of the centres would fold up if those centres are not recording high numbers.

He urged all persons who have turned 18 years to register to afford them opportunity to vote in the upcoming 2024 General elections.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Alex Acquah, the Oti Regional Police Commander, has advised Party Agents assigned to the Voter Registration centres to desist from interfering with the electoral process.

He said their unnecessary challenges of potential registrants could create chaos at these centres, so they must cease and rather follow the due process.

The Regional Commander said instead they should allow the applicant to go through the process and a Challenge Form filled against, but not prevented from registering.

ACP Acquah gave this warning, when he visited the premises of Kadjebi District Office of Electoral Commission (EC) to observe how the Limited Voter Registration exercise was going.

ACP Acquah, who was accompanied to the E.C Office registration centre by Supt. Frank Nana Asomaning, the Kadjebi District Police Commander, said Ghana needed peace before, during and after the December 7 polls.

Mr. Christian Bokode, Deputy District Electoral Officer, Kadjebi gave the Police Commander th
e total number of registered voters as at close of work on Monday, May 13, 2024 as 1,352 Voters including; 719 males and 633 females.

Kadjebi District is having the exercise in five hard-to-reach communities and E.C District Office in Kadjebi, making six Polling Stations.

The communities include; Dodo-Fie D/A Primary School Polling Station where registration took place between 7-8 May, Dodi-Akum D/A Primary School Polling Station from 9-10 May, Dodi-Aboabo D/A Primary School Polling Station from 11-12 May, Obuase D/A Primary School 1 Polling Station from 13-14 May and Yaadzo D/A Primary School Polling Station from 15-16 May, while the E.C District Office, Kadjebi runs from 7-27 May, 2024.

The 21-day nationwide exercise commenced on Tuesday, May 7 and ends on Monday, May 27.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Central Regional Communications Bureau of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged government to be innovative in resolving the Mallam-Weija -Kasoa rain and construction induced gridlock.

Heavy rains and construction works had worsened the situation, causing chaotic traffic, major disruptions and frustration for commuters.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency and signed by Ms Gabriella Tetteh, the Regional Communications Officer, condemned the heavy gridlock, describing the phenomenon as glaring incompetence on the part of the requisite authorities.

The Party called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, to swiftly execute a comprehensive action plan to tackle the congestion.

That, it said, should include ensuring on-site contractors establishing alternative routes to mitigate disruptions, while the Ghana Police Service deployed personnel to bring the traffic situation under control.

It said government had been ineffective in managing the
debilitating traffic congestion plaguing the Kasoa-Winneba route, the statement said.

The NDC said the seeming perpetual gridlock represented a dire safety hazard, inflicting intolerable delays and economic suffering on motorists, commuters and businesses.

The NDC denounced what it said were brazen neglect of the Central Region populace and all affected commuters.

‘The NDC expresses profound dismay at the woefully inadequate response of the Ghana Police Service in alleviating commuter distress. The absence of proactive traffic management strategies is utterly deplorable.

‘The NDC demands immediate action from President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia,’ the NDC said.

The NDC reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advocating for the Central Region and vowed to ‘withstand the continued affliction inflicted by President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia upon its populace.’

There had been massive gridlock this week on the Mallam-Weija-Kasoa road persistently which began after a downpour around 1600 hours
on Monday, May 13.

Residents had to navigate through the waters to reach their homes.

Heavy-duty trucks bound for the Central and Western Regions were seen parked on the shoulders of the roads with drivers sleeping in their seats.

Vehicles travelling from Kasoa to Kaneshie, Lapaz, and Dansoman also faced challenging situations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Peter Kwabena Gyasi, the Deputy Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, has advised security agencies to maintain neutrality in their efforts to uphold law and order before, during and after elections.

He urged them to refrain from pledging allegiance to any political party and also prevent against intimidation of the citizenry but rather try to put in their best in protecting the lives of public from any actions that could harm them.

Mr. Gyasi gave the advice during an engagement with the staff of the Bono Regional Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in Sunyani as part of the Commission’s Constitution Week celebration on the theme: ‘Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved.’

He noted that as security personnel it was imperative to refrain from interfering in the political activities of any political party.

”According to Article 3, Clause 2 of the 1992 Constitution, any activity of a person or group of persons which suppresses or seeks to suppress
the lawful political activity of any other person or any class of persons, or persons generally is unlawful,’ Mr Gyasi emphasised.

He encouraged security personnel to actively engage in the electoral process, from voter registration to the final declaration of results, without committing any electoral offences, to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure a fair and transparent election.

He emphasised that ensuring free, fair, peaceful, and violence-free elections, there was a core value that Ghanaians must cherish as a nation by having ‘Respect for Human Dignity,’ captured in article 15, clauses one and two of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.

He said it was imperative the personnel uphold this fundamental principle in order to maintain the integrity of the democratic process and promote a society built on respect and equality for all individuals.

Mr. Gyasi called on all security personnel to actively promote a culture of political tolerance leading up to the December elections.

Mr. Charles
Owusu, the Chief Revenue Officer for the Bono Region, commended the NCCE for their informative programme, while encouraging them to continue fulfilling their duties for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Source: Ghana News Agency