EC Boss Should Have Been At IEA Election Lecture To Learn From The Nigerian Experience - Mrs Rawlings

Founder and flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has reiterated the need for a credible voters' register. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings called for a new register, stressing that the register is a panacea for Ghana's porous elections. “I think we should have credible register…history teaches people that you learn from other people’s examples. You don’t sit down and pretend you know it all. So, you pick from places where they have experienced certain things, how they’ve done it, how you can improve yours and then you act on it." In an interview with Peacefmonline.com at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) 25th Anniversary Lecture on Free and Fair Elections in Africa, Nana Konadu advised political parties to desist from busing people to polling stations to do the bidding of the paymasters. According to her, "busing people whether they’re Ghanaians or not, busing people whether they’re registered voters or not; may be one of the ways that they want to twist things but I think that if you like your country enough, they will learn the right thing and correct them.” Nana Konadu further expressed concerns over the absence of Ghana's Electoral Commissioner Charlotte Osei at the IEA lecture. The lecture hosted Nigeria's immediate past Electoral Commissioner Prof. Attahiru Jega to share his experiences that led to free and fair elections in Nigeria on March 2015. Present at the function were NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; suspended NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong; the former Chief of Staff, Nana Ato Dadzie; former Commissioner of CHRAJ, Prof. Emile Short among other dignitaries, but Ghana's EC Boss couldn't make the occasion. Addressing the absence of Mrs. Charlotte Osei, Nana Konadu held that the EC Boss should have been present to learn from the Nigerian experience. “I think it would have been good if she had the time to be present at least to listen to the questions that were being asked and then the answers that were going to be given.”

Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NPP Members Pop Champagne To Kwabena Agyepong’s Suspension [PHOTOS]

Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) greeted the news about the suspension of their General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong with loud cheers and celebrations at the party headquarters in Accra. The National Executive Committee which took the decision on Thursday, also suspended the Second Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe indefinitely.  Citi News’ Franklin Badu Junior who was at the party’s headquarters when the NEC ruled on the matter reported that about thirty supporters were popping champagne and wine, jubilating over the development. “A lot of champagne popping at the NPP headquarters at Asylum down. I can see about thirty supporters of the party popping champagne, some with powder, jubilating upon hearing that the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyyepong and the Second Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe have been suspended.  “Some party members started shouting, screaming and pouring champagne immediately after the decision was announced- a sign that what they wanted for the party’s General Secretary and the Second Vice Chairman had received a stamp from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC),” he said. He further stated that some party loyalists chased Agyepong out of the party headquarters with brooms after the decision was taken. This is not the first time Agyepong has met stiff opposition from NPP loyalists at the party’s headquarters. He was earlier confronted with a more violent actions which led to an attack on his vehicle after he brought to the notice of persons present at the party’s steering committee meeting, an application for interlocutory injunction. Persons present at the meeting Some bigwigs within the party, including Nana Addo, Haruna Esseku, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu among others were present at the meeting that saw the suspension of the two. Reports indicate that John Boadu, who is the NPP’s National Organiser is likely to take up Agyepong’s position.

Source: citifmonline.com

Kwabena Agyapong And Crabbe Suspended Indefinitely By NPP

Snippets of information reaching Peacefmonline.comindicates that, the General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Second National Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe, have been suspended indefinitely by the National Executive Committee of the NPP. Media reports earlier indicated that the Disciplinary Committee of the NPP recommended a 15 months suspension for embattled General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong, and an indefinite suspension for its second vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe. Peace FM News' Naana Ntiri who is at the party's headquarters reports that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the opposition New Patriotic Party has upheld the decision by the party's Disciplinary Committee; and went further to commit both to an indefinite suspension. NEC met today to take the decision on whether to affirm the decision of the Disciplinary Committee at the party's headquarters in Asylum Down Accra. The suspensions follow a petition brought forth by some NPP members who accused the General Secretary and the second Vice Chairman of undermining the party’s authority after the suspension of National Chairman, Paul Afoko. Their utterances are believed to have emboldened the petitioners, Chris Arthur, Former TESCON-KNUST President; Adreba Kwaku Abrefa Damoa, London; Kwabena Afum Dankwa, London; and Kwame Baffoe, NPP Regional Youth Organiser, Brong Ahafo to demand sanctions against the two. Earlier today, Director of Communications of the NPP, Nana Akomea, denied reports that the DC has made recommendations for Kwabena Agyapong’s suspension in an interview with Peace FM's Kwami Sefa Kayi. The petitioners stated in their petition filed November 4, 2015 that; “Kwabena Agyepong has rubbished, and keeps rubbishing the suspension of Afoko from his chairmanship. This in our view is an act of mischievous contempt for the authority of the Party as a whole, including its elders, its leadership, and its structures.” However, even before today’s NEC meeting, some groups like the Ashanti Youth Association, Young Executives Forum of NPP, Ashanti Market Women Association and other pro-NPP groups warned the party to back off the decision to suspend Kwabena Agyapong or risk disintegrating the party ahead of the 2016 elections. Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe will now join Paul Afoko as national officers who have been suspended by the party in less than three months. Some political observers had warned that sidelining such figures will deepen the party’s internal strife, but others disagree. It remains to be seen how these suspensions will affect the electoral fortunes of the NPP; if indeed it can.

Source: Alex Ofei-Kwayisi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana and Naana Ntiri/Peace FM News

Angry NDC Youth In Tamale Burn Inusah Fuseini Billboards

A purported dismissal of Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu from office as the Deputy Director of Feeder Roads Department sent some youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tamale Central Constituency on rampage on Wednesday. The youth who were protesting after hearing that the Civil Service had written a letter dismissing Alhaji Seidu popularly known as Engineer, took to the streets and destroyed posters and billboards of their Member of Parliament and Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu was a key challenger to incumbent Alhaji Fuseini in the November 21 NDC parliamentary primary in the Tamale Central Constituency.He lost the elections to Alhaji Fuseini. The destruction of property has generated tension in the area and especially at Tishigu, a suburb in the constituency where Alhaji Fuseini lives in Tamale. Meanwhile, heavily armed policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order. A source close to Engineer Ibrahim's campaign team confirmed that the Engineer has been served with a dismissal letter.

Source: Daily Graphic

We Don’t Need Any ‘Mugabe’ – Hassan Ayariga

The 2012 Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC) says his party is tired of always presenting one candidate who according to him has no vision for PNC. Hassan Ayariga, who was referring to his contender Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama as the ‘Mugabe’ of the party, said when he (Dr Nasigrie Mahama) once again becomes the presidential candidate of the party, he will only end up dividing the party. “My contender is bringing division in the PNC and so I will be worried if he is elected as the presidential candidate of the party when we go to congress” he said. The 7th National Delegates Congress of the PNC will be held in the Upper West Region from December 11 to 13, 2015, in memory of late party stalwarts Alhaji Imoro Egala and President Hilla Limann. The National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan says the party has completed all the processes necessay for the successful two-day congress. He disclosed that the Electoral and Nominations Committee of the party, acting on its mandate, conducted balloting for all the aspirants on December 3, 2015 at the party headquarters in Accra. This follows the picking of nomination forms, filing and vetting of all aspirants to enable the party to go to congress as a united group. At the end of the largely successful balloting exercise, Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama and Dr Abdulai Hassan Ayariga, in that order, will contest the party’s presidential candidate slot. But speaking on Asempa FM Wednesday, Dr. Hassan Ayariga stressed that he is poised to bring unity in the party and therefore will not allow anyone to destroy the party as Dr Nasigrie Mahama did when he was the flagbearer of the party some time ago. He said when Dr. Nasigrie Mahama was elected as the flagbearer of the party, he showed no leadership skill ‘but only enjoys being a flagbearer with no vision’. “My only problem I have with my contender is the division he brought into the party in 2008, 2012 and now. When he was the leader and flagbearer of the party, his conduct brought the party into disarray because some people in the party intentionally campaigned against me”. Asked by show host, Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) what he intends brining on board, the 2012 Presidential candidate indicated that aside 'good' policies, he will rebrand and turn around the fortunes of the party. “The NPP and the NDC is successful because they are committing fully as far as resources are concerned and I intend doing more than that to see the PNC rise on its feet again” he stated.

Source: Adom News