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Month: December 2024

President Akufo-Addo to deliver last SONA on Friday

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

President Nana Akufo -Addo will on Friday, January 3, 2025 deliver his last State of the Nation Address as he brings his second term to an end as President of the Republic of Ghana.

This is in line with Article 67 of the 1992 constitution, that the president of the Republic of Ghana presents SONA prior to the dissolution of the eighth (8) Parliament.

The 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic will stand dissolved on Monday, January 6, 2025 and the 9th Parliament will reconvene on the same day at 11:00pm for the election of the Speaker and the two deputy Speakers as well as the swearing in of the new Members of Parliament elects at midnight.

In line with that media accreditation is being worked on and security will be tight on the day.

Ghanamps.com

Sanja Nanja grateful to Atebubu/Amantin constituents for his re-election  

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Mr Sanja Nanja, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) incumbent Member of Parliament for the Atebubu/Amantin constituency in the Bono East Region has expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of the area for his re-election.

He said his re-election in the Election 2024 was an indication that the constituents were also appreciative of his excellent work and promised to do more to improve development and better the lives of the people.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Amantin as part of his thank you tour in the constituency, Mr Nanja also assured the people of his readiness to operate open door policy, accept constructive critics towards bringing the development of the area to the next level.

“Despite the vilifications and unfounded allegations leveled against me by my political detractors in the electioneering, the good people of the constituency were not perturbed, but still trusted and reposed their confidence in me”.

“I am grateful to them, and I will never disappoint them in parliament too,” Mr Nanja stated, pledging to serve the people with humility and to ensure that every community benefitted from development.

“I have from the deep of my heart forgiven those who vilified me in many ways just in the name of politics, the development of Atebubu Amantin is our focus and there is no need for revenge” he added.

Mr Nanja recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated the contributions of the NDC branch executives, founding members, council of elders, and his campaign members towards his re-election.

Eric Boakye/Desmond Owusu/Ghanadistricts.com

Dare not change Bagbin – NDC Professionals Forum cautions MPs

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The professional forum of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has made a strong case for the current Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin to be retained as the Speaker in the ninth parliament.

The President of the forum, Sam Pee Yalley, who made the call on behalf of the forum when the forum presented a citation to the Speaker in recognition of his leadership role said the experiences and mental dexterity exhibited by Hon. Bagbin, the first Speaker from an opposition party to have presided over a hang Parliament and doing so successfully was unmatched and must be encouraged to do more.

“For those who work with you, they see you as the Speaker, but we saw you as a pivotal link between the NDC as a party and the community. You represented the spirit of our party. Anytime we spoke to you and with you, you are insistent that you want to establish strong and stronger institutions as a priority.”

“We want to be the first to dare to say that our Members of Parliament should dare not make a mistake and change you”, Sam Pee Yalley emphasized.

Mr. Sam Pee Yale said the ninth parliament with the NDC with absolute majority also requires some level of commitment from the Speaker to be able to deliver the best for the country and Hon. Alban Bagbin’s experience is what is needed to achieve the desired results.

“You will be needed even more in this one sided parliament because if you are not who you are, there’s going to be the temptation of saying that, as somebody said, Doc, between your government just say Eye Zu and the people will say Eye Za’. But Rt. Hon Speaker, you are more than that.”

He said they believe that Mr Bagbin can lead above all these, “because of our firm believe that with you, Ghana first”.

In response to the honour bestowed on him, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin said “this award is not just recognition of my personal service; it symbolizes the collective effort, resilience, and dedication of each member of the great National Democratic Congress (NDC), and all those who have supported us in our relentless pursuit of a brighter future for Ghana”.

He commended the Proforum for their unwavering commitment and tireless work in facilitating the return of the NDC to power. “Your efforts, your strategic guidance, and your unyielding support have played an indispensable role in this monumental achievement. You have been the backbone of our party’s resurgence, and for that, we owe you a great debt of appreciation. Thank you for your dedication and hard work”, he added.

Ghanamps.com

EC’s so-called MPs-elect from the re-collation exercise are not qualified to be sworn in by me – Bagbin

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin said the so-called MP-elects
from the Electoral Commission’s re-collation and re-declaration exercise are not qualified to be sworn in by him.

Speaking at a Citation Awards ceremony organized by the National Democratic Congress’ Professionals Forum at the D. F Annan Auditorium in Parliament on Saturday, December 28, 2024 where the Speaker was honoured with a Citation for his leadership role, Mr. Bagbin revealed that the decision of the Supreme Court just follows the position he took.

“The decision of the Supreme Court just follows the position I took before even they delivered their position”.

According to him, to become a Member of Parliament, “you have to be elected by the voter; and you have to be declared by the Electoral Commission; and you have to be sworn in by the Speaker.

Until you are sworn–in by the Speaker, you remain an MP-elect”.

“So I was very clear in my mind that some of those re-collations and re-declarations were completely null and void. They were unknown to the law and so they were not properly so-called MPs-elect, and not qualified to be sworn in by the Speaker”.

He said when he discussed his position with the Clark of Parliament and others, they were surprised, but “I told them, Yes, I’m a gatekeeper; the right thing must be done for us to be able to reset Ghana”.

The Supreme Court on Friday, December 27, 2024 quashed the re-collated exercise done by the Electoral Commission in four constituencies including Ablekuma North, Okaikoi Central, Tema Central, and Techiman South but upheld the re-collated results of Ahafo Ano North and Nsawam Adoagyiri because their results were not declared earlier at the constituency levels.

This was after the High Court on December 20, 2024 ordered the Electoral Commission to re-collate results in nine constituencies facing dispute which order the EC followed.

Ghanamps.com

NPP Chairmen of committees want current leadership maintained

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Chairmen of Committees on the Majority side are appealing to the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to maintain the current leadership in the upcoming 9th Parliament which starts January 7, 2024.

Chairman of the Education Committee, Kwabena Amankwah Asiamah who addressed the media on Friday, December 27, 2024 indicated they have acquired a lot of experience and should be maintained.

According to him with the outcome of the December 7, 2024 election and the defeat the party suffered their numbers have gone down.

And to have a strong Minority side the current leadership in the 8th Parliament should be maintained.

These include Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Frank Annoh Dompreh, Habib Idrissu, and Patricia Agyiri.
He further noted that the decision would be good for Ghana’s democracy.

“They are the right caliber of people to lead the party this time around, with the exception of Alex Tetteh, Second Deputy Majority Whip who lost”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Apex Court quashes re-collated results for four constituencies

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Apex Court of the land on Friday, December 27, 2024 has quashed the re-collated exercise done by the Electoral Commission in four constituencies including Ablekuma North, Okaikoi Central, Tema Central, and Techima South.

Meanwhile, the re-collated results of Ahafo Ano North and Nsawam Adoagyiri were upheld by the Court because their results were not declared at all.

According to the court, the trial judge in the December 20, 2024 ruling violated the rights to a hearing of the NDC Parliamentary Candidates when they applied to the High Court.

The High Court on December 20, 2024 ordered the Electoral Commission to re-collate results in nine constituencies facing dispute.

This followed a mandamus application filed by parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stating discrepancies in the tabulated results that enabled gave the National Democratic Congress, NDC candidates to be declared winners.

But the NDC described the ruling of the High Court as unlawful and challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court which ruling quashed the re-collation at the four constituencies.

Meanwhile, the EC failed to complete the re-collation of Dome-Kwabenya and Ablekuma North.

Ghanamps.com

Comparing The Numbers, 2020 and 2024 Elections

Posted on by nii Ghanamps

In a remarkable turn of events, Ghana’s 2024 general elections have concluded with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) achieving a significant victory over the New Patriotic Party (NPP). This outcome reflects a dramatic shift in the nation’s political landscape, as the NDC not only increased its vote share but also secured a dominant majority in Parliament.

Though the EC is yet to release the full complement of the total votes in the presidential elections because of some outstanding constituencies yet to be received, the EC attests that not even all that figure added to the NPP’s candidate will change the outcome. In similar vein, there are some parliamentary results yet to be declared.

The NDC garnered 6,328,397 votes, translating to 56.55% of the total valid votes cast. This marks an increase of 115,215 votes (1.84%) compared to their 2020 performance, where they obtained 6,213,182 votes (47.36%). The party’s parliamentary seats also saw a substantial rise, with the NDC winning 181 seats in 2024 per the 274 out of 276 constituencies so far declared, compared to 137 in 2020, solidifying their control in the legislative arm of government.

On the other hand, the NPP experienced a significant setback, securing only 4,657,304 votes (41.61%) in the 2024 elections—a steep decline of 2,073,283 votes (30.81%) from their 2020 tally of 6,730,587 votes (51.30%). This loss translated into a reduced parliamentary presence, with the NPP retaining only 89 seats per the 274 out of 276 constituencies , a sharp drop from the 137 seats they held in 2020.

The results mark a pivotal moment in Ghana’s political history. The NDC’s increased dominance signals a renewed mandate to lead, potentially altering policy directions across key areas such as economic management, education, and infrastructure development. Conversely, the NPP’s decline suggests a need for introspection and recalibration as they transition to the opposition.

The election outcome has sparked diverse reactions across the country. Supporters of the NDC have celebrated their party’s return to power with calls for immediate action to address pressing socio-economic issues. Meanwhile, analysts attribute the NPP’s losses to various factors, including voter dissatisfaction and changing political dynamics.

As Ghana ushers in a new political chapter, the focus now shifts to how the NDC will utilize its renewed mandate to address the nation’s challenges. For the NPP, the task ahead involves rebuilding trust and re-establishing their connection with the electorate.

The 2024 elections underscore the vibrant nature of Ghana’s democracy, reflecting the will of the people and setting the stage for the country’s future governance.

Registration of MPs for 9th parliament postponed

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

The planned registration of newly elected Members of Parliament for the 9th Parliament of Ghana has been indefinitely postponed due to delays in the Electoral Commission’s (EC) transmission of the list of duly elected Members of Parliament following the December 2024 general elections.

Originally set for Monday, December 23, 2024 the registration was intended to initiate preparations for the new parliamentary session. However, the EC’s failure to meet the deadline has caused a disruption.

Parliament’s Secretariat issued a statement confirming the postponement, citing the absence of the certified list of MPs-elect from the EC as the primary reason.

Ghanamps.com saw some newly elected MPs going to National Investment Bank to open accounts whiles others use the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Parliament.

In a related development, Ghanamps.com saw MPs who could not retain their seats packing out of their offices.

While those who decided not to come back to the House on their own were also seen packing out.

Ghanamps.com

Incumbent Agona West MP, Cynthia Morrison, 279 others expelled from NPP

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

Cynthia Morrison, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Agona West and one of the four MPs in the vacant seat impasse in parliament has been expelled from the New Patriotic Party.

She was expelled alongside 279 other members with immediate effect from December 16, 2024, by the Agona West Constituency branch of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The decision, taken unanimously at an Expanded Constituency Executive Committee meeting on December 15, 2024, imposes an indefinite ban on the expelled individuals.

The affected individuals are thus prohibited from representing themselves as party members, holding any party position, attending or participating in NPP meetings or activities, and using party symbols or flags.

They were expelled according to a release dated December 16, 2024, and signed by the Agona West Constituency Chairman, Alhaji Gibrin Tanko based on several complaints received from other party members against the said persons for:

• Standing as an independent candidate against (the officially elected parliamentary candidate of the Party;

• Joining or declaring their support for another Political Party;

• Supporting an independent candidate in the just-ended December 7, 2024, parliamentary election in Agona West Constituency

• Continuously demonstrating such character against the party in every election year.

Read below the full release.

Ghanamps.com

EC declares 7 re-collated seats for NPP candidates

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Electoral Commission (EC) has begun declaring winners for the nine disputed parliamentary constituencies following the re-collation of results mandated by the Accra High Court. Below are the declared winners so far:

1. Obuasi East Constituency (Ashanti Region)

Mr. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP), retained his seat. He secured 18,558 votes, narrowly defeating Samuel Aboagye of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who polled 18,539 votes. An independent candidate, Adjei Owusu Afriyie, garnered 424 votes. The declaration was made by the Returning Officer, Frederick Mensah, in Accra.

2. Nsawam-Adoagyiri Constituency (Eastern Region)

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, has been declared the winner following the re-collation exercise at the Greater Accra Regional Electoral Commission office in Ridge. Mr. Annoh-Dompreh secured 29,640 votes, while Fummey Philibert of the National Democratic Congress garnered 29,433 votes.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has paused the re-collation exercise for the Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North parliamentary constituencies, citing unresolved issues with missing pink sheets and disputes over key election documents.

The re-collation exercise for Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North, part of the nine constituencies identified for review following a High Court ruling on alleged election irregularities, has been halted.

So far, the EC has completed the re-collation for seven constituencies, all favoring the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Ahafo Ano North, Techiman South, and Tema Central.

In Ablekuma North, the returning officer failed to provide the required pink sheets, with 62 still outstanding, preventing the completion of the re-collation process.

For Dome Kwabenya, pink sheets for three polling stations are only available in soft copy. Both the NPP and National Democratic Congress (NDC) failed to supply the hard copies, with the NPP blaming violent disruptions during the initial collation for the missing documents.

The re-collation was conducted under heavy security of joint military and police forces ensuring order. Despite the suspension, the EC reassured stakeholders of its dedication to resolving the issues in both constituencies.

Ghanamps.com