Month: August 2013

Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu has appealed to the nine (9) Supreme Court Judges sitting on the 2012 election petition case to write their individual rulings on the matter.

The manner in which the verdict of the court will be delivered has been the subject for discussion among some political watchers.

While some are looking forward to the Justices writing and delivering their individual rulings on the case, others are of the view that the Judges put their thoughts together and the verdict delivered by the President of the Panel of Judges, Justice William Atuguba.

Hon. Ursula Owusu who was contributing to a discussion on Peace FM’ Kokrokoo show on Thursday posited that the Judges individually delivering their verdict on the matter would go a long way in developing the laws of the country.

The citizenry with baited breath now awaits the verdict of the petition case which has been running for the past eight months, in a legal battle which would justify the removal or retention of Mr John Dramani Mahama as the President of the Republic of Ghana.

The Supreme Court has finally fixed August 29, 2013 as the date for judgement after having disposed of more than 20 interlocutory applications, gathered evidence for four months, as well as received 344-page written addresses from lawyers in the petition.

The highest Court of the land will decide whether or not cancel 3,931,339 votes as a result of the petitioners’ claims of gross and widespread irregularities recorded at 10,119 polling stations during the 2012 presidential poll.

It will also be premised on whether or not to maintain that the declaration of Mahama as the winner of the December 7 and 8, 2012 presidential election was invalid.

Another decision to be considered by the court will be whether or not to declare Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the validly elected President.

It is also expected to make consequential orders it deems fit in the petition.

Issues complained of by Nana Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, and the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, are that some persons were allowed to vote without undergoing biometric verification, some presiding officers did not sign pink sheets (statement of poll and declaration of result form for the office of President), there was over-voting and some pink sheets had duplicate serial numbers.

But the respondents, namely, President Mahama, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have denied the claims on the grounds that the petitioners have failed to prove the said infractions.

They also argue that the election was won by President Mahama on a clean slate and for that reason he should be maintained as President of Ghana.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh,with additional file from graphic.com.gh

Deputy Minister for Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Ghana has not made any significant gain in the ongoing Presidential Election Petition before the Supreme Court.

According to him, challenging the legitimacy of President John Mahama has rather had dire consequences on the country’s growth.

Okudzeto Ablakwa was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday.

The Supreme Court since April 17 has been hearing a petition brought before it by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2012 Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, his vice, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and the party chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

The petitioners who have alleged massive irregularities in last December’s presidential election are praying the court to overturn the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) that the 2012 polls was won by Mr Mahama in their favour.

After months of legal battle, the court – made up of nine judges – is likely to give its final judgement at the end of August.

Sounding optimistic, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Ekosii Sen opined that “we all cannot wait for [August] 29” for the final judgement.

He stated that the country cannot quantify the full implication of the court case in terms of productivity and investments.

“People are hedging; others are out of the country because they are not sure of what will happen. I am of the view that the country has really lost a lot [and] I am only hoping that in terms of the [judgement] maybe we may gain something,” he stated.

The Deputy Education Minister posited that it was an “anticlimax” for him when he saw the petition because the supposed mind-blowing evidence to prove the alleged rigging in the 2012 election was missing.

Okudzeto Ablakwa said the court case has lasted too long but hoped the final outcome could bring about a significant change in the economy.

Myjoyonline.com

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwaah has lambasted the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration for its lackadaisical approach towards the implementation of the recommendations in the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA) report.

The report, as submitted by a committee set up by the Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah is so damning and stinking that the government wants to do everything possible to put it under the carpet, hence the dragging of its feet in taking concrete action on the report findings, according to the MP.

Speaking to a section of the media on the sidelines of a Youth Forum organized by the MP for Tano North at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Brong Ahafo Region last Friday, the Manhyia North MP said that “I have personally gone through the report and I can confidently say that it is stinking having realised that trillions of cedis cannot be accounted for.”

He expressed concern about the level of corruption and financial malfeasance at GYEEDA, pointing out that the huge monies misappropriated by certain individuals could totally transform the whole Tano North constituency.

Mr. Owusu Amankwaah took a swipe at President Mahama for referring the report to another committee led by PV Obeng for further study.

He described PV Obeng’s committee as “unnecessary and an indictment on the earlier committee set up by the sector minister, since it is an attempt to undermine the work of the first committee.

The MP hinted that Parliament is eagerly waiting to deliberate on the report, which indicted some service providers in the country, as well as top officials of the agency.

He expressed grave concern about the lack of political will by the President to dispassionately implement the recommendations in the report so as to retrieve huge amounts of money.

Daily Guide

Member of Parliament for Kpandai in the Northern Region, Mathew Nyindam has assured Ghanaians that the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP) Nana Akufo Addo would not hold the country to ransom after the Supreme Court finally gives its verdict on 29th August 2013.

He said Nana Akufo Addo has amply demonstrated over the years that he is a man of peace and would not do anything untoward to plunge the country into turmoil and disturb the peace that Ghana is currently experiencing.

The MP made the comments while contributing to a discussion on the impending Supreme Court ruling and the attendant issues that have arisen on Accra based Hot FM.

Ahead of the final verdict, a section of the public have expressed their worst trepidation about the aftermath of the verdict fearing that the country might implode but the security agencies have expressed their readiness to deal with any eventualities that might occur.

A governance think tank Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has asked whoever loses the case among the two parties in court not to seek a review of the case, a statement that has generated a lot of public discussions among a cross section of the general public.

However speaking further on the issue Hon. Mathew Nyindam stated further that Nana Akufo Addo would be the last person to cause mayhem in Ghana as he has demonstrated his commitment to ensuring a peaceful Ghana by proceeding to the court to decide the matter and not resorting to the streets to express his displeasure about the polls.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Deputy Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Benita Sena Okity Duah has said she wants to leave a good legacy which is hard work and humility after she has exited office.

She said ‘’I want to be remembered as that deputy ministry who was full of humility and hard work at the end of my tenure of office.

The Deputy Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku is one of the young persons and first term MP who have had the opportunity of serving as ministers/deputy ministers and selected from a party that can boast of very experienced politicians who have been ‘side-lined’ for the younger ones to play a role in government

Some of her critics have questioned her claim to fame in politics as she is only known to have been a former Miss Ghana in the 90’s and the fact that she lacks the requisite experience to be handed a deputy ministerial position.

However speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Hon. Sena Okity Duah stated that she would not be distracted by such comments but remain focused on delivery the mandate assigned to her.

She expressed confidence of being efficient in her duties saying ‘’ I am an achiever and whatever I set my eyes on to do, I make sure I execute it to the end’’ she said.

Hon. Okita Duah stated that working under her boss Nana Oye Lithur who herself is very hardworking, they are sure to deliver the Better Ghana Agenda.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh