Month: December 2014

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Politics

Huudu Yahaya pulls out of race, backs Portuphy

A national Chairman aspirant of the NDC, Alhaji Hudu Yahya has pulled out of the race without giving reasons for his decision.

There were rumors last month that he had decided not to run for the position again, a rumor he vehemently denied. He has however thrown his weight behind the former head of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Kofi Portuphy.

The position is currently being held by Kwabena Adjei who is seeking reelection. Also I. The race is Dan Abodakpi who was a former Member of Parliament for Keta and former Minister of Trade and Industry under the Rawlings administration.

Over 3,000 delegates have converged at the Baba Yara sports stadium to elect executives for the party to who would steer affairs for the next four years.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey/3news.com/Ghana

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Politics

NDC Congress: Candidates using sneaky means to campaign

Some candidates vying for various positions in the NDC defied direct orders to stop campaigning by presenting branded bottled waters and drinks to delegates who had queued up to vote.

Campaigning officially ended yesterday, Friday, but some delegates still found dubious ways of attempting to influence delegates in the last minute of the voting process. Leadership of the party lashed out at the candidates whose agents were distributing the branded bottles of water and drinks.

Calling for the cessation of the distribution, one of the party executives, through the PA system said if the distribution continued those candidates would be disqualified.

Some of the candidates included Dan Abodakpi, who’s vying for the National Chairman position of the party and his direct contender, Kofi Portuphy. Both men are contesting the incumbent, Kwabena Adjei who is also seeking reelection.

Another contender for that position, Alhaji Huudu Yahya, withdrew about 10 minutes before voting began. No reason has been given for his decision.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

NDC elects national executives today

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will today, Saturday, December 20, elect its national functional executives for the next four years.

The executives will be elected during its national delegates’ congress to be held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

In all, 70 members are aspiring for 23 positions on the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Over 3,000 delegates are expected to cast their votes.

Six polling stations will be set up within the sports stadium for the election, which will be supervised by the Electoral Commission.

None of the aspirants will be allowed to make any speeches during the congress, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia told journalists on Friday.

The leader of the party, John Dramani Mahama, and his vice, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, will be in attendance.

The climax of the elections is expected to be the chairmanship race among incumbent Dr Kwabena Adjei, Kofi Portuphy, the National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Daniel Abodakpi, a former ambassador to Malaysia, and Huudu Yahaya, a Vice Chairman.

The congress is themed: “Overcoming Emerging Challenges in Achieving the Better Ghana Agenda for Victory in 2016”.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

Rawlings calls for return of wife Nana Konadu to NDC

Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Jerry John Rawlings has persuaded the rank and file of the ruling party to encourage his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, to return to the party.

Mrs Rawlings left the NDC in the run-up to the 2012 elections to found the National Democratic Party (NDP).

She had contested then leader, the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, ahead of the elections but lost in a humiliating defeat.

Addressing delegates at the 8th National Congress of the NDC, Mr Rawlings, a two-time presidential candidate of the party, said: “Let us invite our mother Nana Konadu to come back home”.

The Former First Lady, who was disqualified by the Electoral Commission to contest the 2012 elections, has not been seen at any of NDC’s rallies since leaving in 2012.

“I hope she can hear us, I hope she can see us,” Mr Rawlings said but wondered: “Can you blame her?”

The NDC is electing its national executives for the next four years in Kumasi.

Reports say those who supported the former first lady – in the Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings (FONKAR) – stand a better chance of being elected into executive positions.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

Liberia holds vote delayed by Ebola

Voting is under way in Liberia in an election that was postponed in October because of the Ebola outbreak.

Liberians are choosing representatives to the country’s senate.

Among the 139 candidates vying for 15 seats are former football star George Weah and Robert Sirleaf, the son of Liberia’s president.

Ebola has infected about 19,000 people in West Africa, killing more than 7,373 – with 3,346 deaths in Liberia, according to the latest UN figures.

The senate elections were postponed in October in a bid to stop campaigners and voters spreading the virus.

The election is being held just days after neighbouring Sierra Leone clamped down on public gatherings.

It has banned Sunday trading, restricted travel between districts and prohibited public celebrations over Christmas and the New Year.

One of Sierra Leone’s top doctors, Victor Willoughby, died from Ebola on Thursday, just hours after the arrival of experimental drug ZMab which could have been used to treat him.

Healthcare workers are among those most at risk of catching Ebola which is spread by bodily fluids and requires close contact with victims.

In November, Liberia’s election commission chairman, Jerome Korkoya, urged candidates and supporters to follow public health regulations in the run-up to the senate elections.

“For instance, the transportation of large groups of electorates by candidates clustered in vehicles and the congregation of huge number of people will be regulated,” he said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was in Liberia on Friday at the start of a two-day visit to countries affected by Ebola in West Africa. He continued on to Guinea on Saturday.

After stepping off the plane, he washed his hands and had his temperature taken – two important practices to help stop the spread of the disease.

Mr Ban urged people to follow strict health regulations until the epidemic was over.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf lifted a state of emergency last month that was imposed in August to control the outbreak.

Source: Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

NDC-NPP will continue to rule Ghana – Agyapong

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwabena Agyei Agyepong says the two major political parties – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – will continue to rule the country at least “into the near future”.

He, therefore, called for more collaboration between the two parties and, in general, other political parties.

Since the advent of the 4th Republic, the NDC has governed the country a total of 14 years with the NPP having governed for eight years.

In his solidarity message to delegates of the ruling party at its 8th national congress, Mr Agyepong, who served as Presidential Spokesperson sometime during NPP’s administration, lamented the road the interaction between the two parties has taken.

“We cannot continue down this road and scare good people away from the opportunity to serve our country in dignity,” he told the thousands of NDC supporters gathered at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where the congress was held.

“As politicians, we have a duty to lead by example by upholding and respecting the virtues and values of society.”

The NPP General Secretary also called for NDC’s support in its “drive to get a fresh and more credible voters’ register so we can be guaranteed a sane political environment to fulfill the vision one Ghana AND secure our common future.”

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

NDC: Propaganda Secretary post now Communications officer

The governing National Democratic Congress, NDC, has adopted a proposal to change the title of Propaganda Secretary,  a key position within the party’s executive body to Communications Officer.  

This motion was adopted by delegates of the party at the 8th national delegates Congress which came off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.  

This was amongst several other amendments adopted at the Congress grounds.  One other key provision of the party’s constitution which was adopted is the expansion of the party’s electoral college which would now include former Members of Parliament, former ministers, and persons who held other key positions in the party.    

Asked whether this new name wouldn’t be a duplication of roles within a party which already has a communications unit,  a former Propaganda Secretary,  Fiifi Kwetey said: “It would rather enhance the party’s communication machinery.  

“There is a clear difference in roles for the various roles because the Communications Officer and his deputies would be the official mouthpiece of the party in speaking and debating for the party.

“But the communications director would be the one dealing directly with the media in terms of press releases and communiques from the party.”  

He, however, denied perceptions that the party changed the name because of connotations attached to it.  

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

My election will be a game-changer for the NDC – Ofosu-Ampofo

Former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has talked up his chances at this year’s national delegates’ congress of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying his election as one of the vice chairmen of the party would be a game-changer.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo contesting the vice chairmanship post as ‘Adwuma Wura’ and ‘The Man You Can Trust’, is Number 11 on the ballot paper.

According to the former National Organiser, his focus will be to bring his experience to bear on the organizational machinery of the party in order to ensure victory in 2016.

“Party existence is winning elections and winning elections is all about organization and I have what it takes in terms of organizational ability to bring it to bear on the party’s organizational machinery,” he said in an interview with TV3’s Martin Asiedu-Dartey on Friday, December 19.

He cited the women’s wing as one of the vibrant within the party.

“We believe that the women ought to be recognized, motivated and supported so that they will be able to play that backbone role to help this party.”

The Tema West NDC Member of Parliament-aspirant in the 2012 elections expressed confidence in his chances during Saturday’s congress, saying it is going to revive the NDC.

But on his candidacy, he said: “I keep on telling people that my inclusion in the new executive at the frontline level will be a game changer for the NDC.”

The NDC elects its functional executives for the next four years, on Saturday in Kumasi.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

No decision on NPP’s parliamentary primaries yet – Afoko

National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Paul Afoko has dismissed directives making rounds over the parliamentary primaries of the party.

The directives are asking constituency executives interested in contesting the party’s parliamentary primaries to tender in their resignations by end of the year and submit their CVs for pre-vetting.

“I wish to stress that the directive is unauthorized and must be ignored by all constituency executives across the country,” Mr Afoko said in a statement released on Friday, December 19, 2014.

He explained that under the party’s constitution only the National Executive Committee and the Steering Committee can take such decisions.

“…on this occasion, no such decision has been taken by any of the bodies empowered to do so,” he stressed.

“The constitution is the guiding document for our activities and I wish to implore all party members to remain calm and respect the party’s constitution.”

The NPP’s internal reorganization ahead of the 2016 elections is expected to be climaxed with the election of the party’s parliamentary candidates in 2015.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

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Politics

450 uniformed men deployed for NDC congress

300 police officers and 150 soldiers have been deployed to provide security at the Delegates congress of the National Democratic Congress which comes on Saturday Dec. 20.

These men have also been tasked to ensure that the congress which comes off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi does not create uncomfortable traffic congestion sin and around the venue.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Ashanti regional Minister Joseph Yamin when he spoke on TV 3’s morning program, ‘New Day’. He said “the police force have deployed 300 officers to help with security and protection of property both in and around the stadium and about 150 soldiers have also been sent to help beef up security.

“So delegates can be assured of adequate security and protection throughout the congress period and people who have ulterior motives should not even dare to come and cause any confusion. Delegates can come, support their various candidates, vote and leave in peace.”

The venue of the congress has been splashed with paraphernalia and NDC colours with various sizes and shapes of candidates vying for various executive positions in the party.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey/3news.com/Ghana