Month: May 2012

Ms Samia Nkrumah, Leader and Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), on Saturday said the party had embarked upon on a new program, to make it more dynamic.

She said this would begin with a decentralized data-bank of its membership and that “by the time we are in our full campaign mood, we would have up-graded our administrative machinery and our overall strategy to turn the party into one that would change the policy direction of the country.”

Ms Samia Nkrumah, said this at the first National Delegates Congress of the party, which was held at Essipon in Sekondi.

The party’s leader said the theme for the congress “Ghana Must Work Again”, must resonate in the hearts and minds of Ghanaians when the CPP’s election campaign took off.

“Despite the challenges of our recent past, you should stand firm, be unshakable and loyal to the party. Demonstrate to the whole world that the CPP never dies,” she said.

Ms Samiah Nkrumah continued, “ we have been banished, exiled, incarcerated, but they could not kill our spirit. It should be clear to all those who wish us harm, that no circumstances could destroy our party.”

She commended members of the party for their enthusiasm at the congress saying, “your commitment to your party has not been in vain.”

The CPP Leader said the party was energized and focused to take its place in Ghana as a sincere and purposeful party.

“Our direction is set with clarity and certainty. Today, we are inspired by being in this historic city of Sekondi, the region that has given us our only parliamentarian, and should be the region to give us ten more in the up-coming general election,” she said.

Ms Samia Nkrumah was optimistic that the CPP could lead and direct the country to become “truly self reliant and prosperous.

Dr Abu Sakara, 2008 Vice Presidential candidate for the CPP, was elected flagbearer of the party for the 2012 presidential elections following the party’s first National Delegates Congress, which was held in the Western Region on Saturday, May 12th 2012.

He polled 1,130 votes representing 55.2 percent of total votes cast, to beat his only opponent, Mr Bright Akwetey, who had 917 votes.

GNA

The Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea has said, the Convention Peoples Party’s electoral fortunes would be enhanced in Ghana’s politics if they enter into a working partnership with the NPP.

According to him, the CPP would be better off if they engage with the NPP rather than associating itself with the ruling NDC party which continues to ‘undermine’ the CPP by drawing away a large chunk of CPP supporters to its fold.

The Convention Peoples Party goes to congress at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi on Saturday 12^th May 2012 to elect the parties flag bearer for the December 2012 elections

The 2008 vice presidential candidate of the party, Dr Abu Sakara Foster, an Agricultural Economist, and an Accra-based Lawyer and former presidential aspirant, Mr Emmanuel Bright Akwetey are the two contestants.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Friday, Nana Akomea who is also the Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South wished the CPP the best of luck in its endeavours, expecting a successful congress that will improve Ghana’s democratic development.

He however re-countered the alliance between the CPP and the NPP in the2000 and 2004 election that ensured that three CPP candidates in the persons of Kojo Armah, Freddie Blay and Papa Kwesi Nduom won their parliamentary seats.

“We the NPP had great working relationship with the CPP in the past that ensured that Dr Nduom became a minister under the kuffour administration, the CPP will never make meaningful impact at elections as long as the NDC survives’’ he said.

Nana Akomea added that the NPP will not hesitate to welcome a working agreement with the CPP in the nearest future.

Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South, Stephen Balado Manu says the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) should direct its energy on compiling and announcing the 2010 Population and Housing Census results rather than spending time to attack NPP vice Presidential Candidate Dr Mahamadu Bawumia.

According to him, the whole country is expecting the census results which has unduly delayed, a situation which has raised several concerns among political parties and all well meaning Ghanaians and instead of announcing the results the GSS has decided to wade into politics.

Hon. Balado Manu comment was in reaction to a press conference held by the Ghana Statistical Service in Accra on Wednesday in response to the shocking interpretation of their inflation figures by Dr Mahamadu Bawumia during the 5^th annual Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lecture in Accra last week.

Dr. Bawumia in the lecture contended that the figures by the GSS about the sustained single digit inflation by government are not consistent with the economic indicators in the country, an assertion the GSS said sort to question its credibility.

Contributing to a discussion on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, Stephen Balado Manu stated that the attacks on Dr. Bawumia was unwarranted as he painted the true picture of the economy.

He posited that the single digit inflation figure appears not to be real as prices of goods and services in the country continues to rise while high interest rate and a rapid depreciation of the cedi has become the order of the day.

Hon. Balado Manu added that Dr. Bawumia’s comments about the single digit inflation is dead right and as such must attract the interest of all well meaning Ghanaians for a non political approach to addressed issues he raised.

The GSS has recently stated on several media platforms that it would not be stampeded to announce inaccurate census results.

 Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing, David Tetteh Assumeng has cautioned government to tread cautiously this time around in the new housing deal, to avoid repeating mistakes made in the STX housing deal.

David Tetteh Assumeng said government cannot pretend to have not learnt any lessons from the failed STX deal, “so government must be very careful and tread cautiously and make sure that whatsoever steps it takes to deliver housing for the people, becomes a success”.

“The next project must be successful because the government has a limited time and must make sure that the timeline of execution is not taken for granted”, the MP for Shai Osudoku told Adom News on Tuesday.

Mr. Assumeng was one of the leading NDC members of parliament, who championed the course of the infamous STX Korean affordable housing deal, but luck eluded them and the deal backfired.

Opposition NPP raised several red flags about the deal but government perceived them to be adversaries to the progress of the government, until a mere unending board room wrangling brought the STX deal to ground zero.

Speaking in an interview with Adom news, about the new deal between government and the Guma Group from South Africa for the construct about 500 affordable housing units for security agencies, he sounds a strong caution to the government that when the deal comes to parliament, it will not be treated with kid’s groves.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing said “I believe that if that agreement is to come to parliament, it will not be an easy task, we would have to do proper due diligent, know those who are behind and know whether they are committed to delivering housing for this country and whether they have no other political baggage that will stall the project.”

Adom FM

Member of Parliament (MP), for Ellembelle Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has visited some towns in his constituency to interact with the people and explain government policies to them.

The towns he visited are Aiyinasi, Awiebo,Esiama, Adoabo,sanzule and Azulenloanu.

Mr. Buah inspected on-going projects and commissioned other completed projects.

At Ahunlu, a suburb of Esiama, the MP commissioned a GH¢32,000 water closet toilet facility and assured the people that plans were underway to construct another GH¢50,000 water closet toilet facility for the town.

Another GH¢32000 toilet facility was also commissioned at Adoabo to help improve on sanitation along the coastal belt.

The MP also commissioned a GH¢20,000 market shed at Azulenloanu, a project which started over 16 years ago.

Mr. Buah later met with 157 remedial students at Aiyinasi, who are to be registered and enjoy free tuition to write this year’s November/December examinations, all under his sponsorship.

At Awiebo, the MP paid a surprise visit to the Christian Community Church, where he donated GH¢700 and used clothes to the church and its orphanage; the Christian Orphanage Home.

He also visited the Awiebo Ebenezer Methodist Church and donated GH¢200 towards the activities of the church.

In each of the towns, Mr. Buah pledged his commitment to bring positive development to the area which will turn the economic fortunes of the people round.

Mr Buah used the occasion to advise the people to refrain from the politics of insults and vilification in the run up to the December elections.

GNA

The Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, Enoch Teye Mensah has sharply responded to the New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) criticism of government decision of engaging a foreign company to build 500 houses saying the NPP does not have the moral authority to advice government of growing local businesses.

According to him, the NPP has no track record to demonstrate its commitment in using local contractors to build completed quality housing projects for Ghanaians and as such must be the last to advice government on such an issue.

The NPP has lashed out against government for once again sidelining Ghanaian estate developers after the botched STX Korean Housing deal, for a South African firm to construct 500 housing units when local contractors have the capacity to do more than that.

The party said “with the failure of the STX, all have hoped Ghanaian estate developers will be at the centre of governmental partnership and support in the delivery of affordable housing. It is therefore with great sadness that we learn government has embarked on yet another partnership with and support for a foreign company, GUMA of South Africa, to deliver 500 affordable housing units’’.

However speaking on Radio Gold on Wednesday, Hon. E.T Mensah who is also the MP for Ningo/Prampram dismissed the NPP’s claim saying the NDC government remains committed to growing local contractors and has amply demonstrated it in the past by supporting them to build several housing projects including the SSNIT estates spread across the country.

He said the contrary to suggestions that government had closed its doors to GREDA saying his ministry is yet to receive the petition it claims it had sent to government adding that GREDA will be given the opportunity when it satisfies government’s requirement.

Hon. E.T Mensah he cleared the air stating that the government has not signed any contract with the Guma Group as is being speculated, and that it is an MoU which requires that the Guma Group uses modern technology to complete 500 housing units within or before the year comes to a close, adding there are still over 10, 000 housing units following the collapse of the STX housing project.

Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh