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Deputy Speaker backs closure of ‘illegal’ churches

The 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Ocquaye has welcomed the decision by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to clamp down on all ‘illegal’ churches in the capital.

According to Professor Mike Ocquaye the City Authorities must intervene to regulate the level of noise making by Churches to balance the interest of all Ghanaians. He said the activities of some churches in residential areas and other communities is greatly causing nuisance and also affecting the work of many people in the communities in which the churches operate.

“It is time we really thought about this thing carefully, it is affecting Doctors, Nurses and other people in various residential areas where this noise level is going on. I believe that whilst we all worship God, God actually enjoins us to love our neighbors and if you prevent your neighbor from sleep, do you love that neighbor? So I think it is time churches themselves put sanctions on themselves and if this fails the appropriate authorities must intervene to balance the interest of all Ghanaians”.

The Chief Executive Officer of AMA, Alfred Vanderpuije told Citi FM on Sunday September 5 that his outfit would soon take pragmatic measures to close down all ‘illegal churches’ in Accra.

The Accra Mayor revealed to Citi FM that about ninety percent (90%) of churches in Accra are without permit to operate from their various locations adding that most of these churches are noted for noise making which causes nuisance to the community.

Speaking to host of Citi Breakfast Show Benard Avle, Professor Mike Ocquaye who is also a Reverend Minister said Christians are not lawless people so any church which does not register must be severely dealt with.

Prof. Mike Ocquaye said churches have taken advantage of the fact that most people fear to criticize the church because they might be seen as anti Christ.

A former Boss of the Accra Metropolitan Authority, Nat Nunoo Amarteifio also told Citi FM that many Ghanaians are scared of being attacked by pastors when criticized of the level of noise their churches make.

“Most Ghanaians are afraid of being called satanic, most Ghanaians are afraid of criticizing churches and when you do raise your voice against this noise and as many people will attest, the moment you raise your voice that you are being disturbed, they immediately start calling you names and organize their congregants to harass you molest you”.

He added that the AMA’s decision to clamp down on illegally situated churches in residential areas and other communities is a step in the right direction.

Source: citi fm

Fanteakwa MP criticizes organizers of Fetu Afahye

The New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, has criticized organizers of this year’s Ogua Fetu Afahye held in the Central region, for showing disrespect to the Presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo when he attended the event.

He described the refusal of the organizers to allow Nana Akufo Addo and his entourage from greeting the Chiefs on the dais and the failure to acknowledge the presence of Nana Akufo Addo who had been officially invited to the festival celebration, as an unfortunate development which should be discontinued.

Nana Akufo Addo and his entourage which included Kwamena Bartels, Boakye Agyarko; Isaac Edumadze, former Central Regional Minister; Madam Christine Churcher, Fred Oware, first national vice chairman of NPP; and the Central regional chairman of the party, Danquah Smith had the utter shock of their lives when they were prevented by a Presidential Aide Nii Lante Vandapuye from greeting the chiefs at the durbar grounds, when they had paid a courtesy call on the Oguaamanhen the previous day to confirm they would attend the festival.

Speaking on Peace fm’s morning show, the Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, expressed concern over some politicians’ inability to tolerate their political opponents wherever they find them.

He added that the attitude of showing ones political opponent ‘where power lies’ should be discouraged as it does not auger well for the deepening of Ghana’s democracy.

It would be recalled that two years ago at the same event, security personnel of the then President Kufour , reportedly tried to prevent a bodyguard of Professor Mills from accompanying him to a dais to exchange pleasantries with President Kufuor and other dignitaries at a durbar to climax the Oguaa Fetu Afahye at the Jubilee Park.

This resulted into a scuffle between the two security details during which Prof. Mills’ security men claimed they were subjected to beatings resulting in one of them being hospitalized.

Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Asikuma Odobeng Brakwa MP hails Prez Mills

Anti-corruption crusader and NPP MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Hon. P.C. Appiah Ofori, has hailed the decision by President John Evans Atta Mills to set up a Public Interest Committee (PIC) to probe the financial management of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

He told Peace Fm in an interview that demand for accountability from the GFA will go a long way to ensure financial discipline in the administration of Football in Ghana.

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament’s recent public hearings on the Auditor-General’s 2004 Report on the Financial Administration of some District Assemblies in the country, Hon. P.C. Appiah Ofori said financial malfeasance in Public institutions in the country is one of the major challenges of the nation which must be fought through with a collective effort.

“People are just embezzling money without being punished and if President Mills is coming out with this, I think it is a laudable idea. GFA and many other institutions, having spent the country’s fund (Consolidated Fund) without accounting for it, must be punished because it’s worrying…

…Even though people say that constitutionally the government is not supposed to interfere in the activities of the GFA, it is money from the Consolidated Fund and anyone who spends money out of it must be made to account for it,” he added.

Source:peacefm

Investigate Atiwa bye – election violence – Ablekuma North MP

The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, Justice Joe Appiah, has called on President John Evans Attah Mills, to immediately institute a thorough investigation into the violence that attended the Atiwa by elections on Tuesday, and the culprits made to face the law.

According to the MP it is important that President Mills who has over all responsibility over the security of the state does not allow such criminal acts to go unpunished.

The Atiwa by- election which was held on Tuesday recorded several criminal incidents including the running over and injury of some NPP supporters by a car driven by the NDC’s National Women’s Organizer Anita De-Souza, after the supporters refused to remove a roadblock they had erected.

Speaking to ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon. Justice Joe Appiah, bemoaned the persistent violence that appears to be a regular feature in recent by -elections, attributing it to the lack of political will to prosecute offenders.

‘’Is it not strange that the security agencies are unable to effect arrest of persons who engage in electoral violence even when it happens right before them’’? he asked.

He contends that if the president remains quiet about the mayhem that was visited on residents of Atiwa, it will mean a tacit endorsement of what transpired.

Justice Joe Appiah noted that Ghana’s fledging democracy will be enhanced further only if such unfortunate violent acts are avoided.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim /ghanamps.gov.gh

Mfantseman East to have water treament plant

Residents of Mfantseman East and its environs will shortly experience an improvement in the quality of water supplied as a new water treatment plant is to be built in the area soon.

The quality of water supplied to that area over the years has not been good, a situation that contnuous to be a source of worry to many inhabitants.

Water is very important to the mechanics of the human body. The body cannot work without it because all the cell and organ functions made up in the human entire anatomy and physiology depend on water for their functioning.

In a quest to redeem his promise of enhancing the quality of water supplied to the area, the Member of Parliament for Mfansteman East, George Kuntu Blankson, has acquired the land, the necessary documentation and other machinery for the construction of a water treatment plant at Kwanyako in the Mfansteman East constituency of the Central Region.

Speaking to ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon. George Kuntu Blankson , who is also the deputy majority chief whip stated that aside water being a basic necessity of life, it is such an important component to our physiology and it essential that the quality of water consumed must be good, hence his commitment to making sure potable water is supplied to his constituents.

He adds that when the construction of the treatment plant is completed, it will immensely reduce the rate of water borne diseases in the area.

Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

NDC youth rallies support for Tamale Central MP

An NDC youth group called Hon. Inusah Fuseini Fan Club has rubbished calls for the replacement of the Tamale Central Member of Parliament for elections 2012.

The group described as politically naïve and insensitive calls made by the Coalition of Changli NDC youth for the replacement of the MP, and said it is part of a grand ploy to tarnish the hard won reputation of the Tamale Central Legislator.

Yakubu Abdul Jalil Bawa, Secretary to the Inusah Fuseini Fan Club at a News Conference in Tamale dubbed “Setting the records straight” expressed shock at what he termed as baseless accusations leveled against Hon. Inusah Fuseini by one Abdul Karim Seidu alias Chesua, leader of the Changli Coalition of NDC youth.

He warned that the club will fiercely resist attempts by any individual or group of persons to underrate the sterling performance of the Tamale Central MP.

He described the Tamale Central MP as a time tested and astute politician who the constituents of Tamale Central Constituency cannot afford to lose as their representative in Parliament and thereby reiterated their loyalty and commitment to Hon. Inusah Fuseini.

Abdul Jalil Bawa said the MP had contributed immensely to development in the areas of education with the building of a three unit classroom bock each for the Faarikiya, Nobiscora and Wataniya basic and Junior high schools.

He further mentioned the building of an ultra modern community clinic at Moshie Zongo, the connection of pipe lines and electricity to Dohinaayili and some deprived communities in the constituency.

The Inusah Fuseini Fan Club Secretary said the MP is committed to complete ongoing projects and similar ones in the offing before 2012, for which reason he has to be retained for 2012.

Hon. Inusah Fuseini won the Tamale Central Constituency seat on the ticket of the NDC through a by-election after the resignation of Dr. Wayo Seini who won the election in 2004 for the NDC.

Source:citifm

Security during Atiwa by – election was poor – NPP

The Opposition New Patriotic Party says security personnel in Tuesday’s by-election in Atiwa failed to live up to expectation leading to clashes that could have been avoided.

The party in a statement said “The inability of Ghana’s security services to provide adequate security in the just ended Atiwa by-election must be of grave concern to everybody. We saw the same security failures in the Akwatia by-elections. We saw the same in Chereponi. And now, we have seen the same in Atiwa. In all three by-elections under this administration, armed policemen looked on unconcerned while organised thugs wielding arms and other dangerous weapons attacked innocent people at will”.

“The persistent excuse given by such well armed but indifferent security personnel that they are unable to act because they have not received instruction to do so is, to say the least, ridiculous! What is the use of security presence if the personnel would look on unconcerned while armed thugs assault innocent voters and scare off others? “

Tuesday’s by-election ended with a landslide victory for the NPP, which had occupied the seat since 1996. Voting was smooth with minor hitches, until the latter part of voting when a severe clash ensued between some NPP Youth activists and the so-called Azoka boys of the NDC.

The incident which occurred at Abomosu left about seven NPP supporters injured with rumours earlier that two of them had died. The injuries, according to reports occurred when a vehicle allegedly driven by the NDC’s National Women Organizer Anita De-Souza, run over some NPP activists who had mounted a road block.

The New Patriotic Party General Secretary Kojo Owusu Afriyie said government must explain these security failures and the measures being taken to ensure that they will not recur.
“The recurring failure of state security to protect these by-elections poses frightening threat to our democracy.

The President, the Minister for Interior and the Inspector General of Police ought to explain this failure.

The New Patriotic Party believes that what appears to be security lapses are indeed a deliberate strategy to intimidate political opponents and give electoral advantage to the ruling NDC. The NPP does not rule out the complicity of senior elements in our security forces.

It is obvious that police personnel sent to election premises are instructed not to act without specific command from above while thugs encourage intimidating political opponents and their sympathisers”.

“Unless this threatening development is sincerely and boldly addressed by government, the country stands the danger of violent elections in 2012 when 230 constituencies (not one constituency) will need state security.

The implications of such negative signal even ahead of 2012 for the economy and the country as a whole are obvious” the statement said.

The Opposition New Patriotic Party says security personnel in Tuesday’s by-election in Atiwa failed to live up to expectation leading to skirmishes that could have been avoided.

The party in a statement said “The inability of Ghana’s security services to provide adequate security in the just ended Atiwa by-election must be of grave concern to everybody. We saw the same security failures in the Akwatia by-elections.

We saw the same in Chereponi. And now, we have seen the same in Atiwa. In all three by-elections under this administration, armed policemen looked on unconcerned while organised thugs wielding arms and other dangerous weapons attacked innocent people at will”.

“The persistent excuse given by such well armed but indifferent security personnel that they are unable to act because they have not received instruction to do so is, to say the least, ridiculous! What is the use of security presence if the personnel would look on unconcerned while armed thugs assault innocent voters and scare off others? “

Tuesday’s by-election ended with a landslide victory for the NPP, which had occupied the seat since 1996. Voting was smooth with minor hitches, until the latter part of voting when a severe clash ensued between some NPP Youth activists and the so-called Azoka boys of the NDC.

The incident which occurred at Abomosu left about seven NPP supporters injured with rumours earlier that two of them had died. The injuries, according to reports occurred when a vehicle allegedly driven by the NDC’s National Women Organizer Anita De-Souza, run over some NPP activists who had mounted a road block.

The New Patriotic Party General Secretary Kojo Owusu Afriyie said government must explain these security failures and the measures being taken to ensure that they will not recur.

“The recurring failure of state security to protect these by-elections poses frightening threat to our democracy. The President, the Minister for Interior and the Inspector General of Police ought to explain this failure.

The New Patriotic Party believes that what appears to be security lapses are indeed a deliberate strategy to intimidate political opponents and give electoral advantage to the ruling NDC.

The NPP does not rule out the complicity of senior elements in our security forces. It is obvious that police personnel sent to election premises are instructed not to act without specific command from above while thugs encourage intimidating political opponents and their sympathisers”.

“Unless this threatening development is sincerely and boldly addressed by government, the country stands the danger of violent elections in 2012 when 230 constituencies (not one constituency) will need state security. The implications of such negative signal even ahead of 2012 for the economy and the country as a whole are obvious” the statement said.

Source:kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Ghana is siting on a time bomb – Okere MP

The Member of Parliament for Okere constituency, Dan Kweku Botwe, has strongly condemned the continuous acts of violence that has characterized by- elections in the country over the years, including the just ended Atiwa by- election.

Citing the violence during the Akwatia and Chereponi by- elections, he noted that Ghana is siting on a time- bomb which may explode if steps are not taken immediately to deal with electoral violence, a situation which could have far reaching consequences for the security of the state.

The Atiwa by election held on Tuesday was marred by several acts of violence instigated by thugs who infiltrated the constituency and in some instances disrupted voting process which was going on peacefully.

Some supporters and members of the ruling National Democratic Congress party led by Azorka were also reported to have manhandled some of the residents in a cruel manner, ostensibly to take advantage to rig the election.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh Hon. Dan Kweku Botwe, expressed surprise at the inability of the huge number of police personnel in the constituency to deal with the violent situation he described as shameful.
‘’ I find it difficult to understand why 1200 police personnel deployed in one constituency could not maintain peace in that area, the police could not effect any arrest despite the fact that crimes were committed in their full glare’’, he said.

‘’The police failed woefully to live up to expectation, whoever was that ‘’big man’ controlling the police in Atiwa should be ashamed of himself’’, he added. Dan Botwe, called on the police to be bold enough to discharge its constitutional duty without fear of favour.

He emphasized the need for Ghanaians to eschew such unwarranted misdeed during political activities as the country strives to enhance its democratic development.

Source: Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

NPP wins Atiwa by- election

The Electoral Comission has declared New Patriotic Party’s Kwasi Amoako-Attah winner of the Atiwa by-election which was held on Tuesday 31st August 2010, after polling 20,282 or 75 percent of valid votes cast.

The ruling National Democratic Congress’ Emmanuel Atta Twum obtained 6,190 of the votes to place second, followed in third position by the New Vision Party’s George Apraku Padmore with 477 or 1.76% votes while the People’s National Convention’s Kasum Abdul-Karim trailed at fourth place with 94 or 0.35% of votes.

As many as 497 votes were rejected out of a total of 27,043 cast, and a voter turnout of 53.3%. Atiwa has 51,658 registered voters.

Atiwa constituency has been a strong hold of the opposition New Patriotic Part since 1996.

In 2008 the NPP won the parliamentary seat by 26,423 votes or 76.43 percent of valid votes, followed by the NDC with 7,851 or 22.71 percent while the PNC’s Abdul-Karim followed with 296 votes or 0.86 percent.

The Atiwa Parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of the NPP Member of Parliament for the area, Kwasi Annoh Ankamah on July 1.

Source:Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh