Politics

National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam Nartey George, has expressed confidence in retaining his parliamentary seat.

According to him, his track record in the constituency gives him a competitive advantage over his contender, Michael Kwetey Tetteh who needs to humble himself to be taught the dynamism of politics.

“August 24 primary is going to be a major victory for me and my delegates because they know what I have done and can do so the victory lies with them,” he said.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, the MP said his delegates and constituents have faith in him and will not let him down.

“I know my grounds and the people know me so when I speak, they listen because they know it is the voice of the one who sent me speaking. I do things but don’t make noise about them because it is my responsibility.

“I have a track record of delivering and serving my party to the end but some people have eyes and yet they can’t see,” he said.

His comments come after pollster, Ben Ephson predicted defeat for him.

He noted that the former MP for Ningo Prampram, ET Mensah, would be the major factor to affect his chances.

“Things have built up and it is very difficult for him. Last time he was an underdog, this time if Sam George wins, I will be surprised.

“He’s done very well but this time the odds are against him. ET, love him or hate him, is a factor in Ningo Prampram,” he commented.

Source: Adomonline

Two candidates in the Parliamentary Primaries of the Opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) in the Afram Plains South Constituency of the Eastern Region have reportedly stepped down 24 hours to the Saturday election.

According to Starr News, Bismark Ofosu Amponsah and Emmanuel Mbeebi, individually took the decision on personal grounds.

They are said to have subsequently declared their support for competitor Mark Oliver Kevor, the immediate past Eastern Regional Secretary of the Party, tipped by political analysts to emerge winner.

The two are expected to make official announcement Saturday at the voting center having spoken on local radio stations about their decision.

The election will therefore be contested by Joseph Appiah, a former MP, Mark Oliver Kevor, a lecturer and immediate past Secretary and Eric Osei Owusu, the incumbent Member of Parliament

Meanwhile, there will be no primaries in the Ashaiman constituency for the parliamentary race of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, the party has announced.

Incumbent MP Ernest Norgbe has been declared candidate for the party following the demise of his only contender Emmanuel Max-Voy. The party reopened nominations after the death of the aspirant but nobody joined the race.

Former President John Mahama has said he regrets the failure of his government to have sold his policies to the people of Ghana in an understandable manner.

“That has been one of the major difficulties in public service”, he admitted to a question during his Facebook Live interaction with the public on Thursday, 22 August 2019.

“When you lead a country, you have a vision, and you come up with policies that will help you attain that vision; how to communicate that vision is one of the major difficulties governments face”, the flag bearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 polls conceded.

“And, so, it is one of the regrets I have that with the policies that we churned out in education, in the health sector and all that, we did not sell that to the people in a manner that they could understand, and, so, people could see hospitals being built but they did not understand the policy driving it – Bringing Health To Your Doorstep – which was the policy that we were carrying out.

“And, so, I think the next time, we will improve the government communication so that people can, at every step of the way, know what the government is trying to implement”.

Source: classfmonline

A house and a Land Cruiser vehicle belonging to a former Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Dey Abubakari, has been seized to satisfy a 1.5 million-cedi judgment debt in favour of a former National Security Advisor, Alhaji Baba Kamara.

Court officials and auctioneer on Thursday, August 22 went to the house located at Adenta in Accra to post an auction notice on the landed property and to seize the vehicle registered NR 1313-14.

It followed the granting of an order for Alhaji Kamara to attach the assets of the ex-MP for Salaga South to the judgement.

The High Court on April 5, 2019, ordered the ex-NDC MP to pay Alhaji Kamara 1.5 million cedis in damages for defamation.

Mr Abubakari accused Alhaji Kamara of inflating contract costs in the renovation of the Vice-Presidential Mansion and pocketing the money meant for a water project in Salaga.

He also claimed that the former National Security Advisor diverted state vehicles and other items for his personal use, statements Alhaji Kamara found to be defamatory.

Alhaji Kamara consequently sued for damages in March 2017, which was in April 2019 granted by the court presided over by Justice Patience Mills-Tetteh, after finding Abubakari liable on grounds that he deliberately set out to damage Alhaji Kamara’s reputation.

The former MP failed to pay the damages and filed an application to stay the execution of the judgement. In the said application, Abubakari claimed he was unemployed and could thus not pay the amount.

But the court on August 7, 2019, dismissed the application for stay of execution on grounds that the former MP did not raise any exceptional circumstances.

Alhaji Kamara thus took steps to have the judgement executed, leading to the court granting an order for Abubakari’s properties to be sold to offset the judgement debt with immediate effect.

Source: 3news.com

The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the NDC has dissolved the present Akatsi North and South Electoral Committees.

These committees were overseeing the conduct of the parliamentary primaries in the two constituencies.

In their stead, new teams have been put in place to ensure the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.

The decision comes after weeks of accusations of bias leveled against the committees.

FEC on Tuesday 20th August 2019, issued a press statement stating that “The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) at its meeting on Tuesday 20th August 2019, dissolved the Electoral Committees of Akatsi North and South constituencies with immediate effect.

“Subsequently, FEC has constituted a new Electoral Committees to take over and liaise with the Electoral Commission(EC) for the conduct of parliamentary primaries in the aforementioned constituencies on Saturday, August 24th, 2019,” the press statement said.

It continued that; “the Functional Executive Committee has noted that the independence and credibility of these committees in ensuring free, fair, transparent  and credible parliamentary primaries in the two constituencies have been compromised.”

The new Electoral Committee for Akatsi North Constituency comprises Mr. Ben Chester Ati – Chairman, and membership of Dr. Adzroe, Mawutor Agbavitor, Mad. Mary Agbenyenu and Frank Afriyie.

Whereas that of Akatsi South is made up of Mr. Ben Siki Abibu as Chairman and George Kportorwu, Jude Agbamava, Evelyn Goni and C.K. Awudi as members.

Source: myjoyonline

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has “suspended from office, with immediate effect, the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Mr. A.B Adjei“.

This follows the broadcast of allegations made against him in an investigative documentary conducted by Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled “Contracts for Sale”.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, said “President Akufo-Addo has, subsequently, referred the allegations involving conflict of interest to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and those relating to potential acts of corruption to the Office of Special Prosecutor, for their prompt action. 

“The President has also notified the Chairperson of the Board of the PPA to ensure that Mr AB Adjei hands over his office expeditiously to Mr. Frank Mante, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the PPA,” the statement added.

BACKGROUND

Investigations by freelance investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, revealed that Talent Discovery Limited, a company incorporated in June 2017, has won a number of government contracts through restrictive tendering.

Manasseh Azure Awuni has also confirmed that the company was engaged in selling contracts. Undercover encounters with the General Manager of the Company, Thomas Amoah, revealed that the company was selling a ¢22.3 million road contract to K-Drah Enterprise, a fake company Manasseh used for the investigation.

This contract was awarded to B-Molie Limited, a company Mr Amoah said was a sister company of TDL.

The company also had for sale a Ministries of Works and Housing contract to construct a concrete drain in Santa Maria in Accra as well as a contract to build a one-story dormitory block in the Asante Akim North District.

After demanding and taking a registration fee of ¢5000 and deposit from Manasseh’s undercover agent, the General Manager of the TDL, who is also the one who signs the contracts on behalf of the company handed over three contracts, when K-Drah Enterprise promised to come on a particular Thursday and pay for one of the projects.

The Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have confirmed that the contracts being sold by Talent Discovery Limited are authentic contracts that have been awarded to the company. The company has had contracts with the Ghana Water Company (GWCL), Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPHA).

It also has contracts with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Works and Housing, and four contracts with the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives to construct dams under the government’s One Village One Dam Project. At the time of filing this report, Talent Discovery Limited has been shortlisted for restrictive tendering by the Bank of Ghana for the supply and installation of air purifiers. The company has also been shortlisted by the Roads and Highways Ministry for three road contracts and the evaluation is currently ongoing.

The PPA Board has confirmed that TDL was shortlisted by the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development for a contract in 2018. The board also confirmed TDL was brought to the PPA on 14 occasions for restrictive tendering approvals.

Such contracts are approved by the PPA, of which Adjenim Boateng Adjei (AB Adjei) is the CEO.

The General Manager of TDL said the company had links “at the top” so Manasseh Azure Awuni went digging into those behind the company. A search at the Registrar General’s Department revealed that the two directors of the company are Adjenim Adjei and Francis Arhin.

Of the two directors and shareholders of TDL, one of them pointed to the CEO of the PPA, Adjenim Boateng Adjei. The unique spellings of his “Adjenim” and Adjei are the same as those contained in the registration document.

But his official name, as found in documents he signs, is not Adjenim Adjei. He is Adjenim Boateng Adjei, but he uses AB Adjei in official documents, including approval letters at the PPA.

But there are more clues. Two of the companies of the TDL Group, Frosty Ice Natural Mineral Water and ABM Logistics Ghana Limited have two shareholders and directors namely Mercy Adjei and Adjenim Adjei. The Tax Identification Number (TIN) of the Adjenim Adjei used to register the Talent Discovery Group is the same Tax Identification Number used by the Adjenim Adjei in the companies he jointly owns with Mercy Adjei.

The address of Frosty Ice, a member of the TDL Group, is a street in Airport Hills, and that is where the PPA boss, Adjenim Boateng Adjei lives. My investigation also revealed that the wife of the PPA CEO is called Mercy Adjei, so it was highly probable that the Adjenim Adjei of the TDL Group was the same as the Adjenim Boateng Adjei of the Public Procurement Authority.

Source: Peacefmonline

Pollster Ben Ephson says Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency Sam Nartey George and the former Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, will lose in the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries.

Speaking in an interview on 3fm, Mr. Ephson said the two were going to lose because there were some underlying controversies in their respective constituencies and that would go against them.

He explained that Nana Oye Lithur’s former deputy, Rachel Appoh, was out to blur the chances of Oye Lithur, adding the bad blood between the two, gives Oye Lithur’s contender Abu Ramadan a better chance in the Adentan primaries.

“I will be surprised if Nana Oye wins…given the way Nana Oye is going about it and Ramadan, learning a few things,” he shared.

Rachel Appoh accused Nana Oye Lithur of ill-treating her as her deputy and making her work from the reception for almost a year.

In the case of Sam George, Mr. Ephson noted that the former MP for Ningo Prampram, ET Mensah, would be the major factor to affect his chances.“Things have built up and it is very difficult for him. Last time he was an underdog, this time if Sam George wins, I will be surprised.

“He’s done very well but this time the odds are against him. ET, love him or hate him, is a factor in Ningo Prampram,” he commented.

When asked about the Madina Constituency, the pollster tipped Sosu Francis-Xavier over his contender, the former NDC youth organizer, Sidii Abubakar Musah. He noted Sidii’s impact was not felt when he was the Youth Organizer of the party.

“If he had done well he would have been able to reach out. Madina has a lot of population of people from Volta Region, and they have a lot of people from the Muslim areas. Sidii will try to appeal to the Muslims, but Sosu is trying to make inroads into that community,” Mr Ephson noted. “For example, he has been doing pro bono for people who have problems in the community and I think that Sosu should win.”

He said adding that Sosu would be a better challenger to the current MP, Abubakar Saddique Boniface.

The Asawase Contituency was identified as another interesting constituency to watch out for in the NDC’s parliamentary primaries.

According to him, “Asawase is one of the constituencies the NDC has been trying to win [in the Ashanti Region]. Out of the 47, NDC has only 3. And that is a constituency that they have been trying to win. So it is possible that they could be fanning the problems in the constituency.”

However, he said the incumbent Mubarak Muntaka Mohammed stood a better chance of winning.

The NDC is scheduled to hold its parliamentary primaries on Saturday, August 24.

Source: 3news.com

A group calling itself the NDC Action Movement has stated that former Finance Minister, Prof Kwesi Botchwey is not fit to be the running mate of their presidential aspirant, John Dramani Mahama because of his act of treachery against the party.

According to them, Prof Kwesi Botchwey betrayed the party by his actions in the 90s, adding that, he lacks the necessary leadership skills to unify party members.

In a press release signed by the leader of the group, James Agbey, it stated that, “Presidential running mate position does not come with such treachery associated with Prof. Kwesi Botchwey.”

The statement further claims Prof Kwesi Botchwey betrayed the NDC with his infamous interview with the media in 1994 concerning GNPC’s journey to oil exploration under Tsatsu Tsikata, which culminated in his sacking by the then president, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings.

However, the group entreated Former President Mahama to fish out for a credible, tenacious running mate and not fall for the self promotional gimmick of Prof Kwesi Botchwey.

Read below the full statement: 

NDC Running Mate: Prof Kwesi Botchwey Must Stop The Self Promotional Gimmick 

We have become aware of a news item in circulation of a purported nomination of Prof Kwesi Botchwey as the running mate to our flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

We are also aware of the intense horse-trading, lobbying and self promotional gimmicks by some party stalwarts including Prof Kwesi Botchwey all in an attempt to get the flagbearer’s attention and sway his choice of a running mate.

Much as we would want to treat this news item with every disdain that it deserves, we will also like to place on record that, it is nothing but a public relation/ self promotional gimmick by Prof Kwesi Botchwey.

Action Movement takes serious offense to Prof Kwesi Botchwey’s media antics, and his attempt to prop himself up for a job he knows too well is beyond his reach.

As a matter of fact, Prof Kwesi Botchwey’s name HAS NOT come up for consideration by the flagbearer, neither has the flagbearer arrived at any such decision on his choice of running mate.

Action Movement want to put on record that Prof Prof Kwesi Botchwey is certainly an old wine in a new bottle – an old guard attempting to make a come back for the status quo.

We vividly recollect Prof Kwesi Botchwey’s infamous interview with the media in 1994 concerning GNPC’s journey to oil exploration under Tsatsu Tsikata. In that interview, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey said he was not a politician and only a finance minister. He also sought to undermine the same government he was part of in that interview. His actions culminated in his removal as the finance minister. That’s not the mark of a team player.

Presidential running mate position does not come with such treachery associated with Prof. Kwesi Botchwey.

The position of running mate entails more than being a smooth talker and being Professor, and we are by this statement cautioning all Prof Prof Kwesi Botchwey and like minded fellows to shun the the shenanigans and allow the flagbearer a free hand to nominate his choice of a running mate.

Our choice of running mate must necessarily look beyond 2020. We must not gamble with the future of the party by nominating an octogenarian who has nothing more to contribute to the party. It is too risky putting all our eggs in one basket.

The NDC can certainly do better than Asiedu Nkentia and his likes.

We also call on the flagbearer, John Mahama to keep his focus and settle on a person with credibility, tenacity and integrity – An intellectual and a unifier who would bring many aggrieved members and the floating voters on board the NDC train.

Long live the NDC

Signed:

James Agbey (Leader of the Action Movement)

Source: peacefmonline

The Savannah Regional Youth Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Raphael Mahama Akati has disclosed his firm resolve to implement his self-sponsored extra classes across all the districts in the newly created Savannah Region.

The commander in chief of the youth, who is also aspiring to be a parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the NPP in the Bole/Bamboi constituency recently commenced free extra classes for Senior High School students in the Bole District.

The classes, which is to be held on vacation basis, according to him, form part of measures to improve academic performance, relieve the financial burden of poor parents and actively engage students in the district during vacation.

In an exclusive interview with Ananpansah B Abraham, he said plans are far advanced to finance and supervise the execution of the free extra classes idea in all the districts in the Savannah Region.

“AB, education is the key to success. And as a youth leader, I have resolved to commit my little resources into turning around the educational fortunes of the youth and region at large. It is my desire to uplift the educational standards in every district in the Savannah Region by augmenting the efforts of teachers in improving learning outcomes. The Self-Sponsored Extra Classes initiative I have started in Bole District is here to stay. I will soon announce dates for the commencement of the initiative in all the other districts within Savannah Region”.

He admonished the youth to take their education very serious, adding that, the future of Ghana and Savannah Region belongs to them and quality education is the way to that guaranteed future.

President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo he observed, is a visionary leader who since assuming office, has shaped the educational sector of Ghana.

Mr.Akati encouraged the youth to take advantage of the free Senior High School policy introduced by this administration to better their lives.

Commenting on his desire to go to parliament on the ticket of the NPP in the Bole/Bamboi constituency, he said he is the best bet to wrestle power from the NDC in the constituency.

Source: Modernghana

Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, aspirant for the 2020 Parliamentary ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tema East, has indicated his readiness to take over the seat from the NPP, come 2020.

In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency  in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Odamtten, who is a former Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tema said the tricks that his opponents were using  against him in a bid to scare NDC delegates from electing him as Parliamentary Candidate will not wash.

“I am surprised that we actually are back here, where that allegation that when I was MCE, I gave some contracts to some people and have not accounted for the money from that contract, is being peddled around again.

“The accounts of the Assembly are there for all to see, if they really have a case, why don’t they bring it on?” Mr Odamtten asked rhetorically.

According to him, it was no secret that his political opponents were behind the allegation because of their fear that his election as NDC candidate for Tema East would end their authority in the constituency.

“Rather than continuing with this lost cost, I will urge them to wake up and smell the coffee – Ashai Odamtten is coming on the ticket of the NDC and nothing can stop it – I will beat Titus Glover easily and he himself knows,” the former MCE said.

Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten is frontrunner in the race for the 2020 Parliamentary ticket of the NDC in Tema East.

He is in the contest with one other man who is said to be a US-based Ghanaian.

The call for the former Tema MCE to run for the ticket came from the party grassroots themselves as the NDC, this time round decided a positive approach towards the 2020 election.

Mr Odamtten is seen as the NDC’s best chance for Tema East as he comes from both Akan and Ga bloodlines, and in Tema, these ethnic factors heavily inform the decisions of voters.

Apart from that, as former MCE, Mr Odamtten’s infrastructural projects are signature achievements that he can easily contest on against the ruling NPP’s sitting MP, Titus Glover.

“All those who are busily cooking up stories about me, I want you to know that your detraction will never stop me. I promise to kick you out… nothing will stop us.”

Source: GNA