L' Observateur Burundi

The Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, a Deputy Minister of Education, on Wednesday took a swipe at some political leaders who are using religious stereotyping for their political gains.

He said those religious stereotypes were dangerous and unhelpful to the maintenace of peace as God could anoint anyone, irrespective of his religion, to fulfil His will and purposes for the people.

Rev. Fordjour cited Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia as a clear example of a Muslim Vice President, whom God used to fulfil the aspirations of the Trinity Theological Seminary of aquiring a hostel facility for pastor trainees.

The Deputy Minister expressed these sentiments when Vice President Bawumia cut the sod for the construction of a 200-capacity hostel for the Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra on Wednesday.

Vice President Bawumia, as a Guest of Honour during the Seminary’s 76th graduation ceremony in 2021, promised to facilitate the construction of a hostel for the institution.

Therefore, the sod-cutting ceremony was
in fulfilment of the promise he made to the school.

‘Under the benevolence of Alhaji Bawumia, a Muslim Vice President, God has brought joy to the heart of the Christian Community. God used a Muslim Vice President to bring this dream to pass,’ Rev. Fordjour said.

‘It is a demonstration of the fact that God is not a respecter of persons and can use anyone or any citizen to bring to pass His will for his people, and bring prosperity to the country.’

Rev. Fordjour referenced Isaiah: 45, where God used King Cyrus, who was the ruler of Persia, to help the Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which it was in ruins.

He also mentioned King Hiram of Tyre, whom God used to support King David to build a palace.

‘God can use anyone to bring prosperity to His people and His shall pass. This must shut the tendencies of religious stereotypes as some are trying to tread’.

Rev. Fordjour again cited a scenario at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) when he was a student, where a Muslim SRC President fac
ilitated the construction of a decent place of worship for the students.

The four-storey hostel facility for the Trinity Theological Seminary would be completed within 14 months, with funding from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), in partnership with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Office of the Vice President.

Dr Bawumia said the hostel would provide a conducive accommodation for the students to study.

Under his administration, he would usher in a golden age of partnership between government and private religious organisations to improve infrastructure development in the country, he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is working to ensure peace and unity among party members and supporters at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region ahead of the by-election in the constituency.

The party is contemplating discussions with some of the interested parliamentary aspirants to persuade them to rescind their decision and withdraw from the race to foster unity.

As of Tuesday, April 2, when the nominations were opened, seven people had picked forms to contest the primary.

They are Dr Evans Duah, Madam Abenaa Amoah, Madam Helena Mensah, Lawyer Kwabena Boateng, Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi, Mr Kingsley Karikari Mensah, and Mrs Portia Acheampong Abronye.

Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, told journalists at Ejisu that efforts were underway to persuade some of the contestants to back down.

He indicated that in a big party like the NPP, a lot of people would want to serve.

When Dr John Kuma, then Member of Parliament, passed on, many in the constituency thought it would b
e appropriate to step in, to continue with the good works of the late MP.

‘At the moment, we are united. We have talked to the constituency chairman to rescind his decision to contest after showing interest and advised him to rather help in the organisation of the elections and the 2024 general election,’ Chairman Boasiako stated.

He said the party was working to ensure absolute peace and unity in Ejisu during the by-elections to enable it to participate in the December elections in peace and unity.

The Ejisu constituency seat became vacant following the death of the MP, Dr John Apontua Kuma, on March 7, 2024, who was also a Deputy Minister of Finance.

The party opened nominations for the vacant position on Tuesday, April 2, and it is expected to close on Thursday April 4.

Source: Ghana News Agency

As part of drumming home messages on the NDC’s proposed 24- hour economy policy, Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang, under the banner of ‘Yes, Let’s Win Together 2024,’ took to the streets of Tema focusing on women and children.

Focusing on the benefits of the policy, the campaign extended to retail outreach in Tema West and East, where Prof. Naana engaged directly with residents, explaining the intricacies of the 24-hour economic policy proposal.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said through door-to-door campaigns, particularly targeting youth and women groups, she aimed to address the challenges hindering their development.

In a spontaneous encounter along the Sakumono beach road, the statement said Prof. Naana crossed paths with NDC campaigners rallying support for James Enu, parliamentary candidate for Tema West.

‘Joining forces with them, Prof. Naana expressed gratitude for their dedication to the NDC cause, highlighting the importance of grassroots activism in driving meaningful chan
ge. Prof.

Naana’s visit to Tema not only showcased her commitment to inclusive governance but also demonstrated her ability to connect with communities at a grassroots level’.

It said as the 2024 elections approached, her advocacy for progressive policies and collaborative leadership resonated with the people of Tema and beyond.

Hon. Abu Kansangbata, former Deputy Minister of State has praised Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang for addressing various youth and women groups.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamaklo, Director, Legal Affairs, National Democratic Congress (NDC), says it is important for polling agents to be educated on the nation’s electoral laws to ensure credible elections in the country.

He said polling agents must be educated particularly on the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 126 which governed voter registration and CI 127 which centred on the election process.

He said by equipping polling agents with the proper understanding of the electoral laws, they would become empowered to ensure compliance with the laws during voting at the polling stations.

‘An agent is not just an observer or a glorified spectator. The polling agent is there to play a certain critical role, including certifying that what has happened on the election day accords with the requirements of the law.’ Mr Tamaklo said.

He made these statements on Tuesday during a seminar held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) as part of activities to mark the GIMPA Law Students’ Assoc
iation’s Week celebration.

The Seminar was on the topic: ‘Enhancing the Integrity of Elections 2024 – A Review of the Electoral Laws of Ghana’.

Mr Tamaklo noted that the right to vote was a fundamental human right that should be preserved at all times.

He advocated the acceptance of the birth certificate as one of the documents for voter registration, as it contained the needed evidence, including a person’s age, parentage, and citizenship.

Mr Yaw Appau, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, called on political party leaders to be truthful to their supporters on matters concerning elections.

He noted that when party leaders intentionally spread falsehood, it could incite the electorate to cause mayhem and consequently ruin the nation’s electoral process.

Mr Appau said the electorate should also be discerning and probe the utterances of their party leaders to avoid being deceived.

‘As supporters, we must not hastily act on everything that the politicians say. We must let them provide the basis for the
things they tell us. We should be able to put the party leaders on their toes so that we can safeguard the peace in the country.’

Mr Appau advised the Electoral Commission to listen to the views and concerns of all stakeholders in the electoral process to build consensus and undertake options for the best interest of the country.

Mr Ebenezer Sefa-Kissi, President of the GIMPA Law Students’ Association, said the electoral system alone would not safeguard peace in the country, adding that, the electoral laws must also be applied to guarantee a peaceful election.

He encouraged citizens to use the law courts to address their grievances on electoral matters instead of resorting to violence.

He urged his fellow Law students to study Ghana’s Electoral Laws so that they could be good advocates for the nation’s peace and stability.

Source: Ghana News Agency