Mahama was a 'reckless driver'; drove NDC to defeat – Bagbin laments

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has impugned the leadership qualities of ex-president John Mahama.

Comparing him to a "reckless driver" the flagbearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says he perceived disaster for the party during John Dramani Mahama’s tenure as president.

He said although he warned about the danger ahead, he was ignored but his fears came to pass when the party loss miserably in the 2016 general elections.

The Nadoli Kaleo Member of Parliament wants to prevent an even miserable defeat in 2020, a reason he is pushing for the party leadership to be changed.

“You struggle at the grass root, you harvest for us to win, usually after that where do you count? That is one of the reasons why you used to hear my voice criticising my own people. Because I could see afar that this driver was driving recklessly and he would get into an accident.

“I was giving the warning signals. So when I started raising those issues, if my brothers and sisters in NDC had taken note and worked hard, I don’t think we would have lost the 2016 elections with almost one million votes,” he said.

Mr Bagbin has been one of the most vocal critics of the Mahama-led administration even before it lost power to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016.

Describing the administration as an “animal farm” he has consistently held that the former president was the reason the NDC lost the 2016 elections.

As the race for the presidential elections heats up in the party, Mr Bagbin is again raising doubt about former president Mahama’s ability to perform although he is yet to declare his intentions.

Out of the six who have shown interest in the topmost position of the party, Mr Bagbin believes he is the party’s best bet.

He told supporters of the party in the Volta Region where he has been campaigning that he has their interest at heart and has been unimpressed with the way they have been treated by the previous administration.

“Today, those who were leading us from 2013 to 2016 with those powers where are they? We are again struggling to get the party back to power.

“Today I have decided to risk it once again, to offer myself to lead once again to recover our lost glory. The decision is in your hands.”

The seven-time MP is also planning a way to bring back former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings to the NDC if elected.

“People who are committed to the NDC are leaving one by one. Even our first mother had to go and form a party...even the founding father is now criticising us.”

Mr Bagbin wants the numbers on his side and promised not to engage in politics of insult, “we are trying to do a clean campaign so that at the end of the day, whoever is elected can get all of us back.

“And if it is me, I will do everything to bring everybody back,” he added.

I will put Volta Region at its 'rightful place' - Bagbin

Alban Bagbin, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and DC Flagbearer Hopeful

Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer Hopeful has said he would put Volta Region at its rightful place when elected Flagbearer of his Party and as President of the country in 2020.

He said the NDC had learnt bitter lessons with Volta Region and that he was ready to take care of the “spirit” of the Party in the Region, place the Region at a rightful place, for a better future.

“The spirit of NDC is in the Volta Region and if you take care of the spirit, you will have a better future…We know the root of our Party is here. So I’m here to tap the root. I know if we water the roots well, the tree will grow and we will have beautiful fruits,” Mr Bagbin said when he paid a courtesy call on some Asogli chiefs in Ho, ahead of his meeting with some members of the NDC.

Mr Bagbin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nadowli/Kaleo promised a “team leadership” and called for support from the traditional rulers.

He said his vision was to tap the wisdom of traditional rulers to develop Ghana’s local governance system and put chiefs at their right place in local governance.

Mr Bagbin noted that governments were running faster, leaving chiefs and the people behind and underscored the need for chiefs to be located and given leadership in local governance.

Goosie Tanoh under pressure to contest NDC flagbearerhip

A new group believed to be activists of National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region has joined calls on Goosie Tanoh to contest the largest opposition party’s flagbearerhip race come December 7, 2018.

The New Independent Movement of Upper West is the latest group to join Youth Action for Development from the Volta Region and Greater Nzema Development Association to mount pressure on Mr Tanoh to vie the topmost position of the opposition party.

Mr Peter Temekuu, Secretary and Dominic Ziemah Andornye, Organiser of the New Independent Movement in a joint statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Wa on Wednesday said: “a very comprehensive and reliable assessment” on the contestants have found Mr Tanoh most suitable.

They said they were card bearing members, activists, elders and youth of the NDC who had agreed that the “approachable, kind, trustworthy and workaholic Goosie Tanoh” was Ghana’s best hope for national leadership.

“We are emphatically working and canvassing for support across other youth groups in the party,” the statement said: “Though there are other candidates, Goosie Tanoh stands tall among them and can deliver to our expectations”.

Goosie Tanoh is a Founding Member of NDC and a leading figure in the defunct Provisional National Defense Council that metamorphosed into NDC.

The statement described him as the man who represented the grassroots-based committees for the defence of the revolution at the consultative assembly who wrote Ghana’s 1992 constitution.

He was quoted as being part of the principal strategists in designing and building NDC in 1992 for a successful campaign during that year’s election.

“Goosie led the Reform Movement that was the first to raise the alarm about the problem of autocracy and arrogance in the NDC in 1995 and in 1999,” the statement said.

He was a presidential candidate of the breakaway National Reform Party in 2000 after NDC leadership was reported to have rejected demands for reform.

According to the group, Mr Tanoh re-joined the NDC in 2004 at the request of many party members especially late President John Evans Attah Mills and other comrades of the Party.

“Since his return to NDC 15 years ago, Goosie has worked with us and other progressive groups within the party to coordinate election campaign and strengthening the party grassroots branches,” it said.

The statement also described him as competent, unifier, fair and honest person with deep experience and knowledge alongside other personal traits like trustworthy, humility, inspiring and courageous.

They called on NDC delegates and sympathisers to throw their support behind the man they feel could lead the party to cruise victory in the 2020 polls. “It is our hope and prayer that Mr Goosie Tanoh will listen to our humble calls (to contest) and do so soon enough to allow us to build an effective campaign”.
Source: ghananewsagency.org

Rawlings didn’t call me crook – Anita Desoso

Former President Rawlings and Anita De Sosoo

A National Vice Chairperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Anita Desoso, has denied claims that former President Jerry John Rawlings referred to her as a crook.

The reference was made by the NDC founder after she begged him on behalf of the executives of the NDC at a June 4 anniversary celebration at Madina, in Accra.

According to Anita Desoso, she considers the former president as her father but does not accept the reference he made.

“I am not a crook,” she protested. “On the stage at Madina, he did not say that but when he went home after two to three weeks, I don’t know what happened and you could see people around him trying to say certain things to him but I don’t blame my dad.”

Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show, she mentioned that a lot of people lauded her for taking such a move when they realized the party needed peace.

She also said that even though the General Secretary of the party, Asiedu Nketia, claimed she took that decision on her own, she said it was in the right direction since she is a National Vice Chairperson and cannot be instructed on certain issues.
“I am the National Vice Chairperson and the General Secretary is the administrator so I have every right to also take certain decisions. Do you think what I did all the members where angry with me? Pastors, imams and elders came to my home to tell me that they need peace and encourage me not to give up.”

The aspiring National Organizer revealed that a lot of NDC members are not happy about the disagreements between officials and she is praying that things are resolved since most party supporters wish they are together.
Source: 3news.com

Awuku has a bright future and must work at it – Kufuor

Listeners of Starr Chart on Accra-based Starr 103.5 FM, Wednesday, August 15, 2018, had a surprise of their lives when a former President of the Republic, John Agyekum Kufuor, showered his blessings on the National Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Awuku, and tasked him to work towards realizing his vision.

Awuku, he noted, has a bright future and expects something ‘very high’ from him in his political career.

“You are a virtual son of mine so I am blessing you on this occasion and I am expecting something very high from you. Don’t disappoint. May God bless you”, he prayed for Awuku when he called on phone to share some of his thoughts about the National Organiser of the NPP having contributed to his upbringing into the political landscape of the country.

When asked by host, Bola Ray why he (Kufuor) is expecting something very high from Awuku, he retorted “I am expecting something very high because I believe he’s got the potential and capability to realize it. We need young men like him in our present life. I believe he’s competent and has got the makings of a successful political leader but he must work for it”.

Awuku had appeared on Starr Chart as a guest to be celebrated by the national radio station for his immense contributions to the development of Ghanaian youth.

Commenting further, the former Ghanaian Leader urged Awuku to be a very good public servant while climbing the political ladder, believing that will help him get the support of all to realize his future ambition.

“Let me tell you that you have a bright future and must work to realize this future. Be principled; be visionary and be a very good public servant. Whatever you are doing, never forget that you should be a servant leader for the good of not only the party but for the nation. I am sure you can do it because I’ve known you for quite some time”.
 Source: kasapafmonline.com

I wish 'humble' Sammy Awuku was NDC – Ablakwa

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has hailed the National Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammy Awuku as “very humble” and “charismatic.”

“I must say that Sammy Awuku has always shown potential. He is very charismatic. The first time I saw him I knew he was going to go far if he decided to take up politics right from student level to the national level,” said Ablakwa, Wednesday on Starr Chat.

“I am so proud of him. I am proud of what he has achieved. As Youth Organizer of the [New Patriotic Party], he did a phenomenal job. You have to give it to him. He knew how to mobilize the youth, how to strike a chord, blend with them.

“And, I think that it comes from the experiences we share in Commonwealth Hall, in student politics at the University of Ghana. Sometimes people underrate student politics, but I must say that it is a very good preparatory ground and I am not surprised that he is now the National Organiser of the [New Patriotic Party],” he told Starr Chat host Bola Ray.

He continued, “This is somebody who I can tell you Bola that he is going places. I would have wished he was in my party the NDC.”

“What I like about Sammy Awuku is that he is a brother, he listens, and he is very humble. The first time I saw him he looks like a spoilt child, quite bigger than all of us and plumb. But when you get closer to him you notice that he has some warmth and he is always ready to listen to different views,” the North Tongu lawmaker added.

For more news go to Starrfmonline.com.

Sack Bagbin, 53 other absentee MPs – Economic Fighters

The Economic Fighters League (EFL) has submitted a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, demanding that he declares the seats of 54 absentee legislators vacant.

Fighter-General Hardi Yakubu noted in the petition dated 13 August 2018 that based on the work of Odekro, it has been established beyond doubt that these MPs have violated article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution.

According to him, Article 97 (1) of the 1992 constitution stipulates that, “A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament; (c) if he is absent, without permission in writing of the Speaker and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet”.

He pointed out that the Speaker has adjourned sittings for want of quorum on several occasions.

“Recently, the first deputy speaker lamented this attitude of absenteeism and said that those who absent themselves should probably not be in the House. They should leave. He was right as this is the position of the constitution. Absenteeism not only deprives us, the people of proper representation in Parliament, it can only lead to poor scrutiny of bills, agreements and other Executive actions. It also costs us money.

“The records show that for the first session (January to December 2017) of the 7th Parliament, 54 MPs violated Article 97 (1) (c) by absenting themselves from 15 sittings or more without your permission. The records also show that they did not provide any “reasonable explanation” to the Privileges Committee.

He said: “Doing nothing about this chronic absenteeism makes nonsense of the Constitution and confirms the view that the laws of Ghana work only when some classes of citizens are involved and are impotent when others are involved”.

Attached is the list of the 54 MPs.