NDC flagbearship race: Forget the past, let’s aim for a fresh start – Sly Mensah

Sylvester Mensah and Overlord of Gonjaland traditional area, Yangbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I

Flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress, Sylvester Mensah has urged enthusiasts and supporters of the party to wipe the slate clean and have a renewed attitude towards the party and its activities to ensure better results in the 2020 elections.

Mr. Mensah who has launched a massive campaign in the Northern Regions of the country since the party flagged off the race said this during a visit to the Gonjaland traditional area. He began with a call on the Overlord of Gonjaland traditional area, Yangbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, to officially inform him of his tour of the Northern Region and communicate his political intentions as well.

After a warm reception at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo by the Yangbonwura, he proceeded to interact with party faithful to plead for their support and votes in the NDC Presidential primaries to be held in December.

He made an emotional appeal to delegates to put their pain and frustrations of the past behind them and give him their mandate for a fresh start, for change in leadership, a new voice, a new face, a new culture and a new vision.

He further admonished delegates to keep united in the face of glaring failure by the Nana Addo's NPP government.

He highlighted how key policies proposed by the NPP have failed. The 1D1F he said has failed, Free SHS was limping, and the banking sector is collapsing and becoming an industry for non-Ghanaians. He lamented on how all employees who don't belong to the NPP are being sacked. That traders and private businesses are folding up and Ghanaians have regretted giving the NPP their mandate.
Sly Mensah, however, explained the implications for the party if a leader with one term is selected to lead the party into the 2020 elections.

He assured delegates of a departure from the old ways, pledging to make the party supreme and stronger. He addressed all the local challenges of the party and gave an insight into national policy alternatives to create jobs for the youth.

Sylvester Mensah is one of five other candidates who has formally declared their ambitions to vie for the flagbearership position of the NDC.

His contenders are; Former Minister of Trade and Industry Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Former Rector of UPSA, Prof Joshua Alabi, Second Deputy Speaker in Parliament and Nadowli/Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin and Elikplim Agbemava, some of whom have already received endorsements from some party members.

The NDC flagged off the race on August 8 and announced that presidential hopefuls can start campaigning.
 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

NDC flagbearership race: Gonjaland warmly receives Sly Mensah

Sylvester Mensah and Overlord of Gonjaland traditional area, Yangbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I

Flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress, Sylvester Mensah will stop at nothing till he wins the slot to lead the party to the nation’s next elections in 2020.

Tackling from all angles, he is earnestly pursuing his bid to become the NDC’s next flagbearer and this time, he has taken his campaign to the home of the Gonja’s in the Northern region of the country.

Sylvester Mensah who is former Boss of the National Health Insurance Scheme accompanied by party executives paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Gonjaland traditional area, Yangbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, to officially inform him of his tour of the Northern Region and communicate his political intentions as well.

He was warmly received at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo by the Yangbonwura who expressed satisfaction and said special prayers for him to succeed in his quest to become NDC flagbearer and subsequently President of Ghana.

The visit follows others embarked on by Mr. Mensah as he takes his tour to the Northern Region. He, prior to this, called on the overlord of Mamprugu, Nayiri, Naa Boahgu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga and his elders, to reveal his intentions and to seek their support.

At Walewale, he met with executives of Walewale and Yagaba Kubori constituencies where he revealed his vision for the party; to see a unified party that rewards its followers and ensure prosperity for its rank and file.
Sylvester Mensah is one of five other candidates who have formally declared their ambitions to vie for the flagbearership position of the NDC.

His contenders are; Former Minister of Trade and Industry Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Former Rector of UPSA, Prof Joshua Alabi, Second Deputy Speaker in Parliament and Nadowli/Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin and Elikplim Agbemava, some of whom have already received endorsements from some party members.

The NDC flagged off the race on August 8 and announced that presidential hopefuls can start campaigning.

NDC Race: Let’s all support Bagbin; he’s a good man – Nkwanta Chiefs

Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin

The Chiefs and Opinion Leaders in Nkwanta in the Volta Region who have followed the activities of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) since its inception have appealed to the rank and file of the party to fully support the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to win the vacant flagbearer position of the umbrella family.

To them, Hon. Bagbin’s continuous stay in Parliament for the past twenty-five (25) years is an indication that he is a very good man and has been doing things right the way his constituents want them to be.

They believe that an extension of the people’s mandate across the length and breadth of the country, especially, the kingmakers of the NDC, will enable the Nadowli/Kaleo lawmaker to lead and win power for the NDC in the 2020 general elections.

“We have monitored with keen interest the activities of Hon. Bagbin and we can only conclude that he is a very good man. If he is not a good man, his constituents would have voted him out of office long ago. His continuous stay in office as the NDC MP for Nadowli/Kaleo is a true indication that he is a very good man and loved by all. We the chiefs and elders of Nkwanta know him very well and will follow and support him to achieve all that he wants. I will therefore appeal to you all, to also support him”, one of the Chiefs of Nkwanta remarked while welcoming Hon. Bagbin to the area.

Another Chief of the area who also spoke appealed to Hon. Bagbin to help develop Nkwanta since the people of the area have been neglected for far too long by successive governments.

Hon. Bagbin who had declared his intention to contest the vacant flagbearer position of the NDC stormed the Volta Region on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, to begin his campaign with Nkwanta being his first destination.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Nkwanta, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament urged the people to critically examine what has gone wrong that has led to the party losing votes in the Volta Region and proffer a solution to it.

To him, there is something wrong that needed to be corrected, stressing that it is not good to work with somebody for years and later dump that person for another person who doesn’t even believe in your policies.

Rewarding loyalty, he noted, should be the best way forward.
Source: kasapafmonline.com

I will appoint NDC executives in Ashanti Region – Wontumi brags

Ashanti regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi-Bosiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi

Ashanti regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) says he will determine new executives for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region.

Bernard Antwi-Bosiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi said he has a bigger stake in the NDC and members will kowtow to his whims and caprices.

The outspoken NPP Chairman made this known on Asempa FM’s political discussion show, Ekosii Sen Monday ahead of the NDC’s primaries.

The opposition party is preparing for its primaries to elect regional and national executives and a flagbearer ahead of the 2020 general elections.

In the Ashanti region, former Deputy Sports Minister, Joseph Yamin is vying for the Ashanti regional Chairman of the NDC.

Other notable NDC members in the region have also declared their intention to contest and win more seats for their party in the stronghold of the ruling party.
But Chairman Wontumi said those who have indicated their intention to contest makes his work very easy.

He explained that, with people like Joseph Yamin contesting for Regional Chairman shows how weak the NDC is in the Ashanti region.

Chairman Wontumi who described himself as Kumasi Governor said though he won’t vote in the NDC primaries, he has people who will do the work for him.

In his view, the Ashanti region will be a one party region after 2020 because they will win all the Parliamentary seats in the region.
The NPP man who described himself as the Governor of the Ashanti region said the massive infrastructure development being undertaken by the Akufo-Addo government in the region will make 2020 elections a cool chop.

Chairman Wontumi urged the NDC to eat a humble pie and support the government to accelerate Ghana’s socio-economic development.
Source: adomonline.com

Don't let partisan politics divide us - MCE to constituents

Ernest Kofi addressing the people of the Jomoro Municipality

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Jomoro Municipality in the Western Region, Ernest Kofie, has advised the chiefs and people of the area not to allow partisan politics to divide them to enable development projects that would improve their living standards.

Ernest Kofi made the above utterance during his second familiarisation tour since his appointment as MCE by President Akufo-Addo last year.

The tour sought to identify problems confronting the people as well as initiate strategies to solve them by bringing local governance to the doorstep of the people in various constituencies he visited.

Some of the communities visited he visited were Jaway Wharf, Ekpu, Atwebanso, New Edobo and Old Edobo.

The problems the communities faced include poor roads network, toilet facilities, electricity and the bad state of some school buildings.

Touching on the Free Senior High School (SHS) flagship program of his party, as an example, he urged the community to rally behind President Akufo-Addo by doing their best to educate their children to the Junior High so they can enjoy program.

"The Free SHS has come to stay and is going to help all of us and not only NPP members, we shouldn't do politics with this laudable programme and let me say that the newly introduced Double Track System is also very laudable and will help more students to be enrolled and let me say that last academic year, the Free SHS program increased economic activities in Jomoro market places and I know this coming academic year too, the economic activities will increase more", he emphasized.

He said that the Double-Track System would be helping some SHS to enroll more students this academic year and added that the government can't wait till infrastructures are put up in all Senior High Schools in Ghana.

"We can't wait for the infrastructure deficit to be solved completely before we can implement this Free SHS, no way, my government has vision and I urge you all to give deaf ears to some propagandists who wish the collapse of this policy", he emphasized.

The Acting Chief of the area, Abusuakpanyinli Archer Kwaw thanked the MCE for visiting them to identify their concerns.

He used the occasion to charge the MCE and Assembly to find a lasting solution to the impasse between them and the police over the alleged death of one man who died at Half Assini police cell last year.

"We are not safe at all, everyday people come and steal our things and just recently, some unknown thieves came to steal all my clothes and monies and as I'm speaking I don't have penny to buy food and also I have only one shirt that am using", said.

The MCE gave a very encouraging response to their request and promised to work assiduously with their request.

'I’ve shamed my critics' – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

According to President Akufo-Addo, “the work that we promised to do, the promises I made during the campaign period, I believe that all Ghanaians can attest to the fact that they were not idle promises, but rather promises that I honestly believed that I could fulfill, once I won power.”

Addressing a durbar of chiefs held in his honour at Beposo, on Saturday, 11th August, 2018, i.e. day 2 of his 5-day tour of the Ashanti Region, President Akufo-Addo stressed that, amongst others, Free Senior High School Education is a reality today.

“Those who said we could not do it have been put to shame. Very soon, we will pass legislation that stipulates that every child in Ghana should go to school up to Senior High School level, at least. We don’t want dropouts. This way, everyone can find meaningful employment in this country,” the President said.

He continued, “We have reduced electricity tariffs as well, so as to bring relief to individual households, as well as to businesses. By so doing, business owners, especially entrepreneurs, will be energised to bring in more income. We came to visit you and to inform you that the promises we made to you here in Beposo, during the campaign period, are being fulfilled.

President Akufo-Addo thanked the Chief of Beposo, Nana Boamah Kwabi IV, for the large tracts of land, i.e. 24,000 acres, given to his administration to facilitate the realization of Government’s flagship projects such as the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, and 1-District-1-Factory.

“These are very valuable additions. I am truly thankful. In the same vein, the Kwamanhene has also offered us 5,000 acres for Planting for Food and Jobs. The Nsutamanhene has also given us 3,000 acres for warehouses. Out of the 21 constituencies here in Asanteman that will have warehouses, the Nsuta constituency will receive one,” he added.

Touching the concerns of the Beposohene on the extension of electricity to all communities in Beposo, President Akufo-Addo assured that Government is working towards ensuring that “every town and village in this country will have access to electricity, so that nobody will be left behind.

“It is systematic. We are pushing for complete rural electrification and very soon, you will hear from us here in Beposo.”

Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo visited the Rocklands Farms in Beposo, Wontumi Farms in Asare Nkwanta, and visited Assam, in Mampong, to inspect ongoing works on the Kofiase-Mampong road, which is being constructed for the first time in the country’s history.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the period of stay of his administration in office has witnessed the fulfillment of many of the promises he made to the Ghanaian people in the run-up to the December 2016 elections.

For more news go to Starrfmonline.com.

ministerial reshuffle: Akufo-Addo has only increased his ministers to 111 - Asiedu Nketia

Asiedu Nketia is General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has pooh-poohed on President Akufo-Addo's first ministerial reshuffle saying instead of downsizing the number of appointees in his administration, the president has "increased the number".

Speaking on Okay fm's "Ade Akye Abia" Morning Show, the outspoken NDC General Secretary, while urging the president to reduce the size of his government because it is a major drain on the country's economy. says, he has created a new ministry at the office of the vice presdient for the reshuffled zongo minister, Hon, Boniface Saddique.

"Well, if we are to expect another list, that's fine but if this the final list, then he has left Ghanaians very disappointed," he stated.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday announced his first ever ministerial reshuffle.

Though the announcement was not a surprise to many, what was shocking, was the list of appointees that appeared to have been assigned lesser roles of importance in his administration.

The casualties include notables such as the Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisah-Djaba.

She is now Ambassador-designate to Italy.

Information Minister Mustapha Hamid has been reassigned to the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development. While Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Member of Parliament for Madina constituency and former Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, is now Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President.

Commenting on the reshuffle, the NDC Chief Scribe described as "ridiculous" the fact that a developing country with such a huge government size, would go seeking financial aid from a developed state that has less members in government.



"These countries we borrow from have small size governments, so how can we go to them for aid with a 110 or so ministers for me? It sounds ridiculous...How can you go borrowing with this large size government, nobody or no country will take you serious...what the NPP government is doing is just a show of incompetence and does not give any indication of a productive government," he added.
Source: peacefmonline.com