I'm Mad....Paul Afoko Breaks Silence...

Embattled chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Paul Afoko, has broken his silence on his suspension, saying he is "hurt, mad and disappointed by the decision which received an overwhelming endorsement Thursday. "I'm sad, hurt, angry, mad and disappointed....but you know what? I will put on a smile. God is in the middle of the storm. It is well," he stated in a Facebook post Friday afternoon. Mr. Afoko's lawyer,  Martin Kpebu had on Thursday night indicated their intention to head to court to seek redress after the party's National Council which is the second highest decision-making body affirmed the earlier decision that indefinitely suspended him. It, is however, not clear whether Mr. Afoko would pursue the intended legal action against the decision in view of his latest post which appears to suggest he has taken the decision in good faith notwithstanding his disagreement. A unanimous vote by the party's National Executive Committee on October 23 indefinitely suspended Mr. Afoko and made his first Vice Chair, Freddie Blay the acting chairman; a decision that been challenged by Mr Afoko and some party members. After back and forth, Mr Afoko on Monday appealed the decision of the NEC at the National Council level stating constitutional breaches as the basis of the 14-paged petition, which prompted the highest decision-making body of the party after congress, to meet over the matter Thursday afternoon. After a long deliberations, the Council concluded the decision of the NEC should remain until further notice. "The decision was by voting; one dissenting, six absentia, and 70 votes in favour of the motion to affirm the decision," General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong announced at the end of the marathon meeting attended by former President John Kufuor and flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. But moments after the decision, Mr. Afoko's lawyer, Martin Kpebu, arrived at the embattled chairman's office begin preparing a writ to challenge the Council's decision. His lawyer told tv3network.com that the writ was likely to be filed latest by Monday, but declined to give further details.

Source: tv3network.com/

Rawlings Writes To Mugabe Over Burundi Killings

Former President J.J Rawlings has requested for an urgent deployment of African Union troops to Burundi to prevent, contain and possibly arrest those who are committing extra-judicial killings in that country. According to Mr Rawlings, the recent violent developments in Burundi require pragmatic action. In a diplomatic letter to the current African Union Chairman and Zimbabwean President, Mr Robert Mugabe, which the Daily Graphic intercepted, Mr Rawlings stated: “If these killings are not contained and the government not checkmated, both militarily and politically, the government will attempt to consolidate itself at the high cost of human life, the exodus of vulnerable ethnic groups will continue and the rest will be terrorised into subjugation.” In the view of Mr Rawlings, the Heads of State of the East African Community who intervened in the failed coup in Burundi last May could have anticipated the kind of vindictive reaction that would, no doubt, reignite and exacerbate the cold-blooded killings of Burundi’s past.” “Your Excellency, the citizens of Burundi does not deserve this violence being visited on them as a result of a quest to perpetuate one’s rule,” Mr Rawlings stated, saying the urgent deployment of the African Union Standby Force was of utmost necessity.

Source: Daily Graphic

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