EC jettisons 'strong room' concept in 2016 elections

Mrs Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) has indicated that the commission would abolish the “strong room” principle in the next year’s general election and rather introduce a more transparent and inclusive process. The commissioner said a bigger room would be secured for receiving and certification of constituency results in a greater transparent process where cameras and screens would be mounted and a lot more people allowed to patronise the chamber. Mrs Charlotte stated this at the closing session of the two-day forum that discussed the voters register after more than 30 petitions were received by the EC calling for a new or an audit roll devoid of names of minors, foreigners and cleansing of multiple registrations. “A more transparent process will be introduced, what we are going to have is a bigger room that we will have cameras and more inclusiveness of the electorate,” she said in response to a question requesting the EC’s position on the concept. The move was hailed by many individuals and organisations as a landmark in Ghana’s electoral system seeking to introduce a robust process to enhance transparency and openness. An allegation raised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the voters register is over bloated and stuffed with names of foreigners and minors generated public debate, prompting the Commission to ask for submission of petitions for investigation. Mr Kwabena Agyapong NPP’s General Secretary said the forum has answered most the party’s concerns. “Today is the day the EC has given us something remotely close to our response, almost giving response to our petition, we are happy at least today we have some responses. “The EC’s response to a lot of the things we said means that we were firmly grounded,” he added.       Source: GNA

Netherlands 'Close 8 Prisons' Due To Lack Of Criminals.

As prison populations surge in the UK, with overcrowded cells and repeat offenders, the opposite is happening in the Netherlands. reports Huffingtonpost.

The country has closed down eight prisons because of a lack of criminals, the Dutch justice ministry has announced.

Declining crime rates in the Netherlands mean that although the country has the capacity for 14,000 prisoners, there are only 12,000 detainees, reported the nrc.nl.

"Let's Now Focus On Winning 2016"- Nana Addo

Let’s Focus On Winning 2016– Akufo-Addo Despite the mishaps the New Patriotic Party has faced in recent times, the hour is nigh for the party to forget about their past nightmares and focus on channelling their energies into activities that would win them power in 2016. The above was a directive from the leader of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as he attended a 2-day training programme organised by the party for selected regional executives across the country. To ensure the structures of the party works efficiently, the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, called on the entire membership of the party to allow those responsible for taking decisions to handle problems that exist in the party. It would be recalled that a decision by the National Executive Committee of the party to suspend thier National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko has generated series of tensions in the party. But for peace to prevail, Nana Addo tasked all members to allow the strutures work. “Our party structures are capable of dealing with the problems, so let us leave the party structures to handle the problems of the party. Let me repeat it. Our party structures are capable of handling the problems in our party, so let us leave it to them to do so, whilst we get on with our main task of mobilisation and organisation of our party,” he stressed. According to him,  Ghanaians are looking forward to see the NPP administration takeover from the NDC after the 2016 elections. He added that the desire for change is because electorates believe it is only the NPP that can return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity. “Our country needs us to win, so let us focus on that.  Let us focus on winning, we are capable of it and I have confidence that the people gathered in this room can deliver victory for us,” he said. An NPP victory in 2016, he once again reiterated, will not be a victory solely for the NPP as a party. “Victory is about building a new Ghana. It is extremely important that we go into this fight knowing that we are not doing so for ourselves or our party, but we are doing so for the people of Ghana. We want to build a prosperous Ghana that our founding fathers dreamt about, and we are capable of doing it. But, first, all of we have to win the election of 2016,” he added. Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his delight at the successful outcome of the training programme, stating that “the little I have heard tells me that it is an important contribution to our forward movement and it is solid. The people in this room are the key to our victory next year and we stand a good chance of winning.” He continued, “at the end of the day, all the messages, tips that are going to improve our performance all boil down to one thing: how committed are we to victory next year? Because if we are committed and we imbibe what we are hearing from here, then we are standing on a solid platform for going ahead next year.”       Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email:chris@peacefmonline.com

Prez Mahama Fires CHRAJ Boss.

President John Dramani Mahama has removed Madam Lauretta Vivian Lamptey from office as Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The President's action was based on the recommendations of a Committee set up by the Chief Justice to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement against Madam Lamptey. Madam Lamptey was accused of spending about 200,000 dollars on rent at the AU Village and about 180, 000 cedis on the renovation of her official residence. The Chief Justice, Madam Georgina Wood, set up the committee following a petition submitted by Richard Nyamah of the NPP and Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyir Anoh Dompreh; demanding that Madam Lamptey be removed from office. The Committee after its findings  concluded that the former CHRAJ boss was unfit to hold the position of Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice. President Mahama on Thursday following the recommendation and in accordance with Article 146(9), removed Madam Lauretta Vivian Lamptey from office as CHRAJ Boss. According to sources, an official statement will be released later.

Source: peacefmonline.com

Afoko Knocked Out....As Court Dismisses Suit Against NPP.

An Accra High Court has thrown out the case between Mr Oppong Kyekyeku and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Oppong Kyekyeku, a member of the party, argued that the party’s Disciplinary Committee did not have the power to suspend its National Chairman, Paul Afoko. According to him, the procedure used to suspend Mr Afoko was in clear violation of the party's constitution. But on Thursday, 4th November 2015, the High Court presided over by Mr. Justice Arkaah-Boafo gave judgement dismissing the entire suit of Mr. Kyekyeku, saying the suit was "premature". The judge upheld the submissions of counsel for the NPP and ruled that "when people join a voluntary organisation, they must abide by the internal processes of the organisation they have freely joined and when those internal mechanisms have been fully exhausted, only then can a person seek redress in Court". Read a full details below Case While Mr. Paul Afoko, the suspended Chairman, of the NPP was the subject of the case before the National Disciplinary Committee of the NPP, one Mr. Oppong Kyekyeku sued the Party (NPP), Most Rev. Dr. Asante Antwi and Hon. C.K. Tedam, Chairman of the NPP Council of Elders, in the High Court, Accra. Suing clearly on behalf of Mr. Afoko, but without saying so, Mr. Kyekyeku reaffirmed certain issues raised by Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, General Secretary of the NPP, and sought to halt the proceedings of the Party’s National Disciplinary Committee. Mr. Kyekyeku sought the following reliefs: a)      A declaration that the 2nd Defendant by inviting the National Chairman to appear before it based on the petition of the 3rd Defendant violates Article 4(3) (d) of the 1st Defendant’s constitution. b)     A declaration that 3rd Defendant as an organ cannot bring a petition against any member of the National Executive and that its present petition to the 2nd Defendant against the National Chairman violates Article 4(3) (d) of the 1st Defendant’s constitution. c)      An order by the Honourable Court directed at the 3rd Defendants to comply with the procedure required under Article 4(3) (d) of the 1st Defendant’s constitution to go through the National Council with its petition through a member of the party against any National Executive Member. d)     An order of interim injunction directed at the 2nd Defendant not to hear any complaint against the National Chairman by the 6th October, 2015. e)      An order of perpetual injunction directed at the 2nd Defendant not to hear any complaint against the National Chairman without following the laid down procedures provided by the NPP bylaws. f)       Cost Solicitor for the Party, Mr. Godfred Dame, appointed by the Constitutional and Legal Committee of the NPP, filed Appearance, Statement of Defense and Opposition to the Plaintiff’s Application for Interim Injunction. Particularly, the Party’s lawyers filed a Motion to Dismiss the Claim of Mr. Kyekyeku altogether on several legal grounds, including the non-exhaustion of internal remedies of the NPP. The lawyers were heard and written submissions ordered by the Court. Today, 4th November 2015, the High Court presided over by Mr. Justice Arkaah-Boafo gave judgement dismissing the entire suit of Mr. Kyekyeku. He said the suit, indeed, was premature. That when people join a voluntary organisation, they must abide by the internal processes of the organisation they have freely joined. When those internal mechanisms have been fully exhausted, only then can a person seek redress in Court. The judge upheld the submissions of counsel for the NPP in the process. Incidentally, a very vital aspect of the drama was the issue as to which lawyer actually represents the NPP. The Law Office of Mr. S.K Boafo appointed lawyers for the NPP from Kumasi on the written authority of Mr. Paul Afoko. Prof. Mike Oquaye vehemently opposed this verbally in open Court and said he (Prof. Oquaye) was the appropriate person to appoint lawyers together with the Constitutional and Legal Committee of the NPP, of which he was Chairman. The Court thereby struck out the Appearance that came from Lawyer Boafo’s office signed by Mr. Yaw Boafo. This was on the 27th October, 2015. Today, 4th November, when the case came for Ruling, the Afoko-appointed lawyers came again with authorisation signed by Mr. Afoko. The Court refused their interventions and ruled against them.      Some issues arise: Firstly, why will Mr. Afoko force to appoint lawyers for the NPP when the Constitutional and Legal Committee has done so since 1992 when the party was formed? Secondly, why will Afoko force to appoint such lawyers when the suit has been filed by someone who stated plainly that he had filed the suit solely to protect the interest of Mr. Afoko? Thirdly, the world should know that the lawyers appointed by Mr. Afoko (S.K. Boafo & Co.) only filed an appearance and at the material time FAILED to file an Affidavit in opposition to the Plaintiff’s Application for Injunction which was fixed to be heard on 27 October 2015. This was unprofessional, collusive strategy to allow an injunction to be obtained against a reputable party like the NPP in an unmeritorious suit and manner. The counter-instructions given by Prof. Oquaye and effected by Lawyer Dame saved the day. This is a very serious development. Fourthly, why should Mr. Afoko force his way to intervene in the case when he knows clearly he has been suspended by the unanimous decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP? Notably, at its meeting on Tuesday, 3rd November, the National Executive Committee and the National Council unanimously re-affirmed the authority of the Constitutional and Legal Committee as the sole organ in the Party to appoint lawyers for the Party. All suits must be referred to the committee as has always been done since 1992. It goes without saying that Mr. Afoko should be advised to exhaust the internal remedies of the Party every step of the appeal to the National Council which he is entitled to do. Finally, it should be a good piece of advice to all members of the party that it is settled law that unless they proceed to exhaust all remedies provided under the Party’s Constitution, they will fail in any Court of Law. There is ample settled law on the matter. Could you imagine if this was otherwise? Politics is a competitive game with several opponents. If in a contest between Parties A and B, Party A secures some 100 people planted in Party B to bring frivolous suits nationwide and cause trouble and instability without recourse to internal remedies, can you imagine how damaging this could be? He/she who have ears to hear, let him/her hear!    ……signed…… C.K. Tedam Chairman, NPP Council of Elders       Source: Peacefmonline.com