Madam Konadu Agyeman Rawlings accepts NPD flagbearership

A member of the Communications Team of the National Democratic Party, NDP, Veil Godsenor says former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has accepted the flagbearership of NDP to contest the 2012 elections.

Mrs. Rawlings had been linked to the formation of the NDP after the Sunyani Congress which the former First Lady lost to then President Mills.

The NDC leadership however named President John Mahama as flagbearer after the death of President Mills.

The NDP leadership declared its offer to Nana Konadu as flagbearer on its ticket, should she express interest to contest the Presidential elections in December.

Mr Godsenor told Radio Ghana on Friday, the NDP will go to congress on October 6 to formally endorse the former First Lady.

On whether former President Rawlings' perceived support for President John Mahama could affect the fortunes of the NDP, Mr Godsenor stated that Mr Rawlings will in no way support the NDC in the 2012 elections.

In a related development, General Secretary for the NDP, Dr. Joseph Manboah-Rockson was unable to corroborate the statement by Mr. Godsenor.

"I have not received official communication from the former First Lady's office so I cannot confirm or deny the report," Mr. Godsenor told Myjoyonline.com on Saturday, in a follow-up interview.

Statement - NPP & Akufo-Addo can do better

The John Mahama 2012 Campaign has noted the content of a press conference addressed by a deputy communications director of the opposition NPP. 

We are of the view that it is important to raise the level of political discourse to a higher level of decency and debate to focus on the issues of most concern to Ghanaians and not flimsy, baseless personal attacks. 

We note with regret that our opponents in the NPP are obviously not capable of conducting their campaign within that frame. This is unfortunate, but no doubt would give the people of Ghana an indication of the pathetic and desperate nature of their campaign for election 2012.

The content of the NPP press conference is not worth public time, as it brings home no issues worthy of consideration by the good people of Ghana. It was simply an attempt to malign His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama. 

Did President Mahama give STX $264 million? No. 

Did President Mahama terminate the contracts between the Government of Ghana and CP, Rockshell and Alfred Woyome? No.

Beyond throwing allegations of Corruption at appointees of this Government did the text of their press conference have any substance?No.

The respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies will respond in detail to all the allegations of corruption involving projects of those Ministries, and the people of Ghana will be reminded of the details of each transaction and the process it went through. 

We will also remind Ghanaians of transactions that were concluded during the NPP administration, and properties that were acquired by NPP functionaries, or sold by the NPP Government to their business cronies so that voters are reminded of the facts surrounding the transactions the previous administration was involved with. 

The NDC Government of the Late President John Atta Mills, and now President Mahama has focused on bringing development across the country. 

The people of Ghana heard these affirmations in the tributes that were paid to the Late President Mills, and these have reflected in the public endorsement of President Mahama as he has travelled the length and breadth of this country. 

This is what the NPP would like the people of Ghana to forget hence the vicious personal attack on John Dramani Mahama. 

Unlike the speech writers of the NPP we believe the people of Ghana are more discerning, and now that they have made the debate on character central to their campaign, we believe that the people of Ghana will make the assessment of the character of the contenders for the Presidency, and choose the better man to advance the agenda of creating a peaceful, prosperous country where every citizen irrespective of where they come from, or their religious and political affiliation will have the opportunity to succeed. 

We have taken note of the fact that the NPP and Nana Akufo- Addo have proceeded to launch a viral attack on facebook and other such social media platforms in the vain hope perhaps, that once allegations and slander are planted online they will at some point be repeated in the print and electronic media as news. Desperate people try desperate tactics, and as the good book says, "by their fruits you shall know them".

President Mahama assures the people of Ghana that he will continue to work in their best interest. The NDC campaign for the 2012 elections will continue to focus on the most important social, economic and governance issues affecting our country and will explain to the people of Ghana in this campaign the areas on which John Dramani Mahama and his Government will focus their attention if given the mandate of the people of this country, in order to work for you and continue to advance the better Ghana agenda.



Hon. Hanna S. Tetteh
Director of Communications

Female presidential candidate for Ghana Elections

Ghana may have her first female president if Madam Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party is voted for in the 2012 elections.

If she wins, she will also be the first ever Ghanaian president incapable of speaking English. She is proficient in the Twi dialect.

That notwithstanding, 58 years old Akua Donkor believes she is the best candidate for the job and has already begun a campaign of promising.

She told Joy News electricity, water and other facilities will be provided free of charge to Ghanaians if she is voted into power.

She does not understand how Ghana with all her rich resources is unable to provide the citizens with these facilities.

Akua Donkor also assured that the Ghana, under her leadership, will process all her natural resources in the country.

She does see how her inability to speak English will become an impediment for her.

She insisted she will have interpreters who will accompany her in carrying out her official duties.

In an advanced world of technology, Madam Donkor is also banking her hopes on great technological materials capable of interpreting the twi language when she attends international conferences around the world.

The GFP flagbearer is a farmer from the Kwabre West constituency of the Ashanti Region.

The party was on Friday certified by the Electoral Commission to contest both the presidential and parliamentary elections come December 7, 2012.

Ghana's election 2012 estimated at GH¢243m

Elections 2012 is estimated to cost the nation more than 243 million Ghana Cedis. 

The electoral budget available to the GNA indicates that the Biometric Voter Registration Exercise will cost 148, 942, 378.00 Ghana cedis; the exhibition of the Provisional Register 7, 477, 966.00 Ghana cedis and the Presidential and Parliamentary elections 87,107, 961.00 Ghana cedis.
Explaining the financial estimates, the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan,said government has already released a total of 134, 726, 083.00 Ghana cedis so far to the Commission. 


Culled from:GBC NEWS

PPP wants inclusion of all Ghanaians in national development

The Progressive People's Party (PPP) on Thursday called for the inclusion of all Ghanaians in the national development agenda to maintain unity in the country.

The PPP said: "There is too much discrimination due to unnecessary partisanship in the award of state contracts, appointments to key public service positions and the distribution of national resources.”

The request is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, National Secretary of the party, in reaction to President Mahama's maiden broadcast to the country on Wednesday, copied to Ghana News Agency.

The PPP said: "These are the things that militate against peace and unity in Ghana, and President John Dramani Mahama should make a personal commitment to reverse the trend in order to sustain peace and unity in our beloved country.

The statement expressed hope that President Mahama would carefully consider these issues raised by the PPP, and present to the nation policies that would consolidate peace and unity in the country.

The statement said the party would support all efforts to sustain unity and peace demonstrated by Ghanaians following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills.

It said: "The PPP wishes to state that in other jurisdictions, a Presidential address attracts an equal opportunity for other political parties and key stakeholders to share their views on the issues raised and prescribe concrete solutions to the problems at stake.

In a country where the State owned media provides extensive coverage to government’s programmes and activities and give unfair advantage to the party in power against other political parties, this presents a barrier to unity. The anomaly needs to be corrected to sustain the unity currently prevailing."

The statement said abuse of incumbency by political party in power should be avoided and called on the government to “address the issue of lack of transparency and broader consultation in decision-making.”

It said the White Paper sought to concentrate more power in the hands of the President in the selection or election of Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives against the collective wish of Ghanaians to have them elected directly without any executive interference.

The statement said giving the President great powers would not promote unity in the practical sense.

NDP receives provisional certificate

The move will enable the NDP to launch and roll out its programme for the December 2012 elections.

The party, linked to the Rawlingses has “our nation our future” as its motto.

The former first family has yet to confirm or deny any role in the formation of the new party.

Interim Chairman Dr Josiah Aryeh told Joy News’ Francis Abban shortly after he received the provisional certificate that the new party, unlike others will address the needs of the people.

He said they were going to hold a meeting to elect interim executive.

The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.
The move will enable the NDP to launch and roll out its programme for the December 2012 elections.
The party, linked to the Rawlingses has “our nation our future” as its motto.

The former first family has yet to confirm or deny any role in the formation of the new party.

Interim Chairman Dr Josiah Aryeh told Joy News’ Francis Abban shortly after he received the provisional certificate that the new party, unlike others will address the needs of the people.

He said they were going to hold a meeting to elect interim executive.

The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.
The party, linked to the Rawlingses has “our nation our future” as its motto.
The former first family has yet to confirm or deny any role in the formation of the new party.

Interim Chairman Dr Josiah Aryeh told Joy News’ Francis Abban shortly after he received the provisional certificate that the new party, unlike others will address the needs of the people.

He said they were going to hold a meeting to elect interim executive.

The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.
The former first family has yet to confirm or deny any role in the formation of the new party.
Interim Chairman Dr Josiah Aryeh told Joy News’ Francis Abban shortly after he received the provisional certificate that the new party, unlike others will address the needs of the people.

He said they were going to hold a meeting to elect interim executive.

The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.
Interim Chairman Dr Josiah Aryeh told Joy News’ Francis Abban shortly after he received the provisional certificate that the new party, unlike others will address the needs of the people.
He said they were going to hold a meeting to elect interim executive.

The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.
He said they were going to hold a meeting to elect interim executive.
The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.
The party meanwhile is maintaining its colours of black, red, white and green, despite the little controversy over the possible clash in colours with the ruling NDC.

The newly formed National Democratic Party received its provisional certificate from the Electoral Commission Wednesday.

President Mahama will not be distracted by falsehood – John Jinapor

John Jinapor, the spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama says the president will not be distracted by falsehood being peddled by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). 

He was reacting to statements by the NPP to the effect that the new president and his vice had contributed to the economic failures of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). 
Chairman of the party, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey minced no words in characterizing the president as an incompetent, indecisive leader whose track record as the head of the economic management team was nothing but a failure.
However, John Jinapor who spoke to Joy FM’s Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on the Super Morning Show Wednesday discounted the claims, saying Ghana’s economy chalked up unprecedented growth while Mr Mahama headed the economic management team.
He also described as false, the NPP’s claim that President Mahama admitted to ‘running the show’ as vice president under late President Mills’ leadership, maintaining that President Mahama was proud of what he did to complement Professor Mills’ efforts.
“We welcome that debate but the debate of falsehood, the debate of inaccuracies we will not want to be part of it,” Jinapor said. 
Admitting that government had struggled with some aspects of the economy, especially the free fall of the cedi, the president’s spokesperson noted those challenges were not peculiar to Ghana.
Regardless, he said, “We are doing whatever we can to arrest the situation. We have demonstrated sincerity, we have demonstrated commitment to duty and we are tackling it.”
The Director of Communications of the NPP, Nana Akomea who spoke on the same programme, rejected Mr Jinapor's accusations that the party peddled falsehood at its Tuesday press conference. He said all the sought to do was to make the point John Mahama and his vice “are part of the same old story of failed leadership that we have had in the last three years.”
He said the two – Mahama as vice president Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as Governor of the Bank of Ghana - had total oversight over the Ghanaian economy, yet “the biggest failure of the NDC is the economy.”
He said interest rates were high and that prices of goods and services had kept increasing despite the fact that inflation was low. All these were making “the cost of living..absolutely impossible.”
“And we (NPP) are saying that this was the same team…(whose) record is not good and you can’t run away from it.”