By: Martin Asiedu-Dartey/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
A former Director of Communication at Ghana’s presidency, Koku
Anyidoho, has made a potentially controversial claim that he has been
discussing his political future with his former boss, the late President
John Atta Mills.
He told radio listeners late Thursday that the departed Ghanaian
leader has encouraged him to contest for the Deputy General Secretary
position of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“I have spoken to President Mills,” Mr. Anyidoho claimed. “Let
anybody laugh as much as they want to laugh; he has given me his go
ahead. I will work hard for my party the NDC to retain power.”
His comments follow speculations in sections of the media that he
[Koku Anyidoho] has been preparing to run for the position of Deputy
General Secretary of the ruling NDC.
The NDC has two Deputy General Secretary positions; one in charge of Operation and the other in charge of Administration.
Kofi Adams, an Aide to former President Jerry Rawlings, is the
incumbent Deputy General Secretary in charge of Administration in the
NDC. The position of Deputy General Secretary in charge of Operation is
presently occupied by George Lawson. It is unclear if the two men intend
to seek reelection to their respective positions.
“There is a strong move for me to contest,” Mr. Anyidoho told Eyewitness News on Citi 97.3 FM.
“I still need to do some consultations and speak to some god fathers of
the party, but I can let you know that I will never turn my back
against my party. What the party wants me to do is what I will do.”
Mr. Anyidoho, who lost his position as Director of Communication at
Presidency shortly after his boss died in office declined to respond to
views that he intends to use the position of Deputy General Secretary to
shore-up his waning influence in the NDC.
When pressed by show host, Richard Dela Sky, to respond to
views that he intends to revive his fading influence in the NDC by
contesting for the position of Deputy General Secretary of the party, he
responded: “That is your conjecture”.
“I will support our General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who has
done a very strong job; I will support Yaw Gyan who has been a strong
organizer and I will work for my party,” he said.
The NDC is yet to go to congress to elect new national officers ahead of the 2016 elections.
Some two weeks ago, the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)
held its national conference in Tamale where delegates elected officers
to fill key leadership positions in the party.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Nana Addo arrives in Tamale for NPP Conference
Source: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com| Nathan Gadugah
The 2012 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo has arrived in Tamale on Thursday ahead of the National Delegates Conference, Saturday.
Akufo-Addo was accompanied by his vice-presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Freddy Blay, Ayawaso Central MP Henry Quartey, and former Greater Accra Region Minister Sheick IC Quaye.
Hundreds of party supporters were at the airport to welcome, the 2012 party leader who has declared his intention to run again in 2016.
His arrival will surely lift up political activity, in the Northern Regional capital which will host over 2000 delegates for a conference that will elect new national executives for the party.
Except for the party flags hoisted on the major streets of Tamale and posters and bill boards of aspirants competing for attention, Tamale has largely been quiet days leading up to the conference.
The Tamale Sports Stadium, venue for the Conference has seen most of the political activity thus far.
Even without the presence of the men jostling for positions in the party's highest offices, the imposing billboards of the candidates at the stadium are just enough adverts that something big would be happening.
It was Stephen Ntim who had the biggest of billboards. If the size of the boards is a determining factor in who wins the party's chairmanship position, Ntim should be ahead of his competitors. Fred Oware also has sizable bill boards hoisted around the stadium. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has a not too big poster, too small for an incumbent, perhaps. Paul Afoko also has sizeable posters around the stadium environment.
For the General Secretary position, it is incumbent Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and his competitor Kwabena Agyapong who are the most visible. Their boards are also very huge and imposing. Capt Nkrabea Effah Dartey who is counting on God's grace also has a number of small sized posters within the stadium. Yaw Buabeng Asamoah appears to be depending largely on small sized paper posters than large sized bill boards.
Other posters of candidates that found space and expression included those of Sammy Awuku who is contesting the National Youth Organiser position, Sammy Crabbe, first National Vice chairmanship position.
In all 44 candidates will be vying for the Chairman, General Secretary, National Organiser, National Youth Organiser, First Vice Chairman, Women Organiser positions.
The 2012 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo has arrived in Tamale on Thursday ahead of the National Delegates Conference, Saturday.
Akufo-Addo was accompanied by his vice-presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Freddy Blay, Ayawaso Central MP Henry Quartey, and former Greater Accra Region Minister Sheick IC Quaye.
Hundreds of party supporters were at the airport to welcome, the 2012 party leader who has declared his intention to run again in 2016.
His arrival will surely lift up political activity, in the Northern Regional capital which will host over 2000 delegates for a conference that will elect new national executives for the party.
Except for the party flags hoisted on the major streets of Tamale and posters and bill boards of aspirants competing for attention, Tamale has largely been quiet days leading up to the conference.
The Tamale Sports Stadium, venue for the Conference has seen most of the political activity thus far.
Even without the presence of the men jostling for positions in the party's highest offices, the imposing billboards of the candidates at the stadium are just enough adverts that something big would be happening.
It was Stephen Ntim who had the biggest of billboards. If the size of the boards is a determining factor in who wins the party's chairmanship position, Ntim should be ahead of his competitors. Fred Oware also has sizable bill boards hoisted around the stadium. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has a not too big poster, too small for an incumbent, perhaps. Paul Afoko also has sizeable posters around the stadium environment.
For the General Secretary position, it is incumbent Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and his competitor Kwabena Agyapong who are the most visible. Their boards are also very huge and imposing. Capt Nkrabea Effah Dartey who is counting on God's grace also has a number of small sized posters within the stadium. Yaw Buabeng Asamoah appears to be depending largely on small sized paper posters than large sized bill boards.
Other posters of candidates that found space and expression included those of Sammy Awuku who is contesting the National Youth Organiser position, Sammy Crabbe, first National Vice chairmanship position.
In all 44 candidates will be vying for the Chairman, General Secretary, National Organiser, National Youth Organiser, First Vice Chairman, Women Organiser positions.
Security tightens in Tamale ahead of NPP conference
Source: citifmonline.com
Additional Police personnel on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 arrived in
Tamale, the host city of the New Patriotic Party’s national delegates’ conference.
The party’s regional leadership and the police high command said security arrangements were far advanced to ensure an incident-free event on Saturday April 12, 2014.
Citi News’ Northern Regional Correspondent, Mashoud Kombat reported that economic activities were booming in the area.
He said the whole Tamale metropolis had been branded with NPP colours, posters and banners of all the competing aspirants for various positions.
According to him, there had been upward adjustment in hotel prices, though all accommodation facilities in the Tamale metropolis were fully booked.
Some Tamale residents expressed their delight in the upcoming event and anticipated a violence free event.
The party’s regional leadership and the police high command said security arrangements were far advanced to ensure an incident-free event on Saturday April 12, 2014.
Citi News’ Northern Regional Correspondent, Mashoud Kombat reported that economic activities were booming in the area.
He said the whole Tamale metropolis had been branded with NPP colours, posters and banners of all the competing aspirants for various positions.
According to him, there had been upward adjustment in hotel prices, though all accommodation facilities in the Tamale metropolis were fully booked.
Some Tamale residents expressed their delight in the upcoming event and anticipated a violence free event.
NDC Communicators petition IGP to arrest Wontumi
Source: The Chronicle
The Ashanti regional Communication Team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on the Inspector-General of Police to arrest the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi, for his alleged reckless and irresponsible statement in the media.
In a statement released in Kumasi and signed by a member of the Ashanti Regional Communication team of the NDC, Mr. Samed Akalilu, Wontumi was quoted has having complained thus: “I continue to receive death threats on my life. Some close confidantes of the Government, who are my friends, have in recent times also hinted me that there is a grand design to plant drugs, either in my car or in any of my buildings, so as to brand me as a drug baron.”
According to the release, Chairman Wontumi also said he has not reported the matter to the security agencies, saying he has not and will not do so, and explained that the police in particular have on several occasions failed him.
Wontumi further noted that he would organize millions of people in Ashanti to overthrow the Mahama-led administration in a “Tunisian-Arab uprising fashion”.
The Ashanti Regional Communication team of the NDC considers these comments as unfortunate, careless and regrettable.
“It is pathetic, to say the least, that the Chairman of the largest opposition party in the Ashanti Region, who bought his way into the NPP’s leadership, does not believe in constitutional democracy, peace and stability,” the NDC communicator indicated.
It said ever since Wontumi betrayed Alan Kyerematen for Nana Akufo-Addo, his attitude has suddenly been modeled on that of the twice-failed Presidential hopeful.
“We find his comments one with Nana Addo’s “All-die-be-die” declaration and would not be comfortable handling these as mere rhetoric. The communication team recalled how the “all-die-be-die” mantra incited many young activists of the NPP to gather at the Obra spot for days in protest.
The Ashanti Regional NDC Communication team said as law-abiding citizens of Asanteman, they would not look on when few misguided, exuberant and uniformed person hold the region to ransom through treachery.
They indicated that the claim of Wontumi to implicate him with drugs is laughable, petty and cheap. This populist defense would not do the trick should he be caught with drugs, he should devise a better alibi.
“We have not forgotten about Wontumi’s galamsey operations which brought him on a collision course with the police recently," Mr. Akalilu stated.
According to him, Wontumi’s incessant penchant for defiance of the law of our country is disturbing, and undermines genuine efforts being made by the REGSEC and Chiefs to guarantee the welfare of Asanteman and called on the IGP, Mohammed Alhassan to immediately apprehend Mr. Bernard Antwi Bosiako for interrogation and investigations regarding his unguarded statements.
The Ashanti regional Communication Team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on the Inspector-General of Police to arrest the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi, for his alleged reckless and irresponsible statement in the media.
In a statement released in Kumasi and signed by a member of the Ashanti Regional Communication team of the NDC, Mr. Samed Akalilu, Wontumi was quoted has having complained thus: “I continue to receive death threats on my life. Some close confidantes of the Government, who are my friends, have in recent times also hinted me that there is a grand design to plant drugs, either in my car or in any of my buildings, so as to brand me as a drug baron.”
According to the release, Chairman Wontumi also said he has not reported the matter to the security agencies, saying he has not and will not do so, and explained that the police in particular have on several occasions failed him.
Wontumi further noted that he would organize millions of people in Ashanti to overthrow the Mahama-led administration in a “Tunisian-Arab uprising fashion”.
The Ashanti Regional Communication team of the NDC considers these comments as unfortunate, careless and regrettable.
“It is pathetic, to say the least, that the Chairman of the largest opposition party in the Ashanti Region, who bought his way into the NPP’s leadership, does not believe in constitutional democracy, peace and stability,” the NDC communicator indicated.
It said ever since Wontumi betrayed Alan Kyerematen for Nana Akufo-Addo, his attitude has suddenly been modeled on that of the twice-failed Presidential hopeful.
“We find his comments one with Nana Addo’s “All-die-be-die” declaration and would not be comfortable handling these as mere rhetoric. The communication team recalled how the “all-die-be-die” mantra incited many young activists of the NPP to gather at the Obra spot for days in protest.
The Ashanti Regional NDC Communication team said as law-abiding citizens of Asanteman, they would not look on when few misguided, exuberant and uniformed person hold the region to ransom through treachery.
They indicated that the claim of Wontumi to implicate him with drugs is laughable, petty and cheap. This populist defense would not do the trick should he be caught with drugs, he should devise a better alibi.
“We have not forgotten about Wontumi’s galamsey operations which brought him on a collision course with the police recently," Mr. Akalilu stated.
According to him, Wontumi’s incessant penchant for defiance of the law of our country is disturbing, and undermines genuine efforts being made by the REGSEC and Chiefs to guarantee the welfare of Asanteman and called on the IGP, Mohammed Alhassan to immediately apprehend Mr. Bernard Antwi Bosiako for interrogation and investigations regarding his unguarded statements.
K.B Asante slams gov’t over housing deal
A former diplomat, Mr. K. B. Asante, has expressed worry about government’s intention to support foreign real estate companies to build houses in Ghana.
The decision by the government to facilitate loans or assist foreign estates developers like those from South Korea, which did not materialize, and now the Moroccans, leaves a lot to worry about, he said.
Mr Asante said this in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a public lecture organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs on the theme: “Marcus Garvey’s Economic Empowerment and Relevance to Ghana”.
He said Ghana could boast of competent real estate companies, which when given the same assistance that is being offered to foreign firms, could do even better jobs.
The lecture was attended by representatives from various Pan-Africanist movements, students from the Institute of African Studies, Political Science and History Departments of the University of Ghana.
Mr. Asante said under the leadership of former President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ring Road Estates, Labone Estates and the Job 600 were all built by Ghanaians, adding that this was because Nkrumah had confidence in the Ghanaian.
“Assist them and they would deliver, the Moroccans are not better than us.”
On the rate of depreciation of the Ghana Cedi against major foreign currencies, Mr Asante said no amount of manipulation of banking rules save the Cedi unless Ghanaians begin would to produce more for the export market to earn more foreign exchange.
He called for the imposition of taxes on imported items like rice and chicken products in order to salvage the local rice and poultry industries.
Mr Asante said taking loans for the nation’s socio-economic development was good but it should be done with circumspection.
He said “from the look of things, we seem to be moving backward” and urged Ghanaians to change their attitude and have confidence in themselves and patronize local goods.
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