July 2016 - Page 2 of 2

Abetifi by- election comes off today

Posted on July 16, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

A total of over 43,000 persons are expected to cast their vote in the Abetifi by-election which is being held today (Saturday) to elect a new Member of Parliament for the area.

The election has become necessary following the death of Hon. Peter Wiafe Peprah, who was MP for the area. Voting which is taking place in 117 polling stations across the constituency.

The late MP, who died on Saturday, 21st May, was first elected as Member of Parliament for the Constituency in 2008 and was retained in the 2012 elections.

Today’s by-election is a mere formality for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate, Bryan Acheampong as he has no stiff opposition especially as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has boycotted the election.

Acheampong is contesting candidates of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Independent People’s Party (IPP) and the United Front Party.

The Abetifi Constituency Parliamentary seat has remained the preserve of the opposition NPP as the party has occupied it since the constituency was created.

Parliament bans Daily Graphic reporter

Posted on July 15, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

Parliament has banned a Daily Graphic journalist from reporting on Parliamentary activities over an inaccurate publication.

Mark-Anthony Vinokor, allegedly put up a reportage in the national newspaper on one of parliament’s activities which the House deemed inaccurate.

He reported that an earlier CI 94 which takes care of the upcoming elections laid before the Chamber had been withdrawn and a new one re-laid.

The report added that a new clause was introduced in article 44 of the CI 94 which takes care of punishment of potential and existing electoral officers.

It stated that offenders will be sanctioned to a spot fine of 500 penalty units and or two years imprisonment. The victim may subsequently not be permitted to take part in any elections-related activities for five years.

But Parliament on Thursday described Vinokor’s report as inaccurate and has since sanctioned the reporter after a meeting between leaders, the reporter and the public affairs director of parliament.

Vinokor was asked to retract his publication and a rejoinder published in Friday’s edition of the Daily Graphic but the newspaper failed to retract the publication.

The Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho addressing the House on Friday ordered that the reporter is walked out of the chamber and never brought back to report on any of its activities again.

Vinokor has been referred to the privileges committee of parliament and his accreditation suspended.

Hannah Bissiw called me a PROSTITUTE – Ursula Owusu

Posted on July 14, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

“Many of those who are crying out loud and saying that it is wrong didn’t see anything wrong when I was attacked.

Hannah Bissiw is one person who has called me a prostitute before. She, my colleague in Parliament has used sexually laced insults against me before.

“Today she finds it okay to condemn Honourable Ken Agyapong. That is the height of hypocrisy and I find it laughable and offensive.”

Ursula Owusu speaking on the recent attack on the EC Chair Charlotte Osei by NPP firebrand Kennedy Agyepong

Govt releases ₵600m to EC for elections

Posted on July 10, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, George Loh, says the Electoral Commission (EC) will not be faced with financial challenges ahead of the November polls.

He explained there is nothing to worry about despite claims by some opposition parties that the EC might not be ready for the elections because it is yet to receive the remaining budgetary allocation from the government.

“Haruna Iddrisu who is a member of the Economic Management Team has given us statistics that over GHC600 million has already been advanced to the EC and with the balance that is left it will be given on case by case basis,” he told Joynews’ Elton Brobbey on the sideline of the Committee’s Public Forum held on Monday.

A Parliamentary Consultative Forum held to build consensus for the constitutional amendment brought to fore misgivings of political parties over the behavior and preparation of the Commission.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) questioned the capacity of the EC to generate a credible register ahead of the polls.

It said the Commission might not be prepared for the proposed date since the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is still holding onto portions of its budget.

Commenting on presentations made by political parties, ranking member of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Joe Osei Owusu, told Joynews apart from the NPP, no other political party raised any major issue about the EC’s preparation.

“Their only worry is that from all the steps taken by the EC to-date, they are not convinced that if we pass a law empowering the EC to go about it now, the EC itself will be ready without compromising the integrity of the election,” he said.

But Mr Loh disclosed the credibility of the general election is the responsibility of all stakeholders.

Nonetheless, he said the Committee will meet the Commission to investigate the claims made by the political parties regarding its preparation and credibility of the November polls.

Regulation to guide the conduct of election laid in parliament

Posted on July 10, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

Government has laid two key pieces of legislation related to the conduct of this year’s election before parliament.

This legal instruments are the Public Election Regulation 2016 and the and the Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) Instrument, 2016.

The two documents are meant to regulate the conduct of the 2016 General elections (Presidential and Parliamentary).

The provisions in the new Legislative Instrument seek to fundamentally change elements in the previous instrument, CI 75, used for the 2012 elections.

The papers were laid notwithstanding the concerns raised by the minority over the unavailability of copies of the papers and were subsequently referred to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee chaired by Hon. O. B. Amish for consideration and report to the plenary by the First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton-Odro.

The documents were laid on behalf of the Majority Leader and Leader of the House by Hon. Alfred Agbesi.

Ghana heads into elections in November with the incumbent president John Mahama seeking another mandate while the NPP’s flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo is facing what is likely to be his last attempt at contesting the presidential election in Ghana.

You’ll emerge President on your third try – Adwoa Safo to Akufo Addo

Posted on July 8, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

The three-time flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, will succeed in his bid to becoming the next president of Ghana, Sarah Adwoa Safo, the party’s parliamentary candidate for Dome-Kwabenya has said.

Speaking at the launch of her campaign in the constituency in the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday June 6, Ms Safo said: “Nana Addo and the NPP have good plans for the country. Ghanaians have tried and tested both the NPP and the NDC [and so he should be given the chance to govern].”

“We know that this is the third time Nana Addo is aspiring to be president of Ghana and, God-willing, he shall be lucky on his third attempt.”

The incumbent MP, who is seeking re-election, further told the gathering to work hard for the NPP to win the polls at the polling stations to avoid the need for court action as happened after the 2012 elections.

“There shall be no Supreme Court election petition in Ghana again. The NPP will win the elections at the polling stations, we will protect the ballot and by the grace of God we will win the election,” she said.

We shall treat ballot snatchers like ‘kyinkyinga’ – Napo

Posted on July 7, 2016February 17, 2021 by Fred GhanaMPs

The Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has warned that ballot snatchers in the November general elections shall be ruthlessly dealt with when caught in the act by representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who would be positioned at the polling stations.

According to him, followers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who would be representing the elephant at the polling station will not spare anyone when caught in such act.

He told thousands of NPP followers who stormed the Atomic Park in Accra on Wednesday to lend their support to the campaign launch of the MP for Dome/Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo that any ballot box snatcher shall be treated like kebab (kyinkyinga) when caught in the act.

He said if you look at happenings in the country in relation to the upcoming general elections, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has only one option under its sleeve to win the mandate of the people.

That option, he noted, is to “steal the votes of the electorates” by snatching ballot boxes from the polling stations.

“What is left for the NDC to do is to steal the mandate of the people but before they will arrive at the polling station, we will be there waiting for them. And anyone who dares come to the polling station to snatch the ballot box shall be treated like kyinkyinga.”, he noted.