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Uganda ‘shuts down’ social media ahead of election

Ellis Ferdinand
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Uganda ‘shuts down’ social media ahead of election

Ugandan officials ordered internet service providers to shut down social media and messaging applications on Tuesday.

The move comes two days ahead of the country’s presidential election which will see one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, Yoweri Museveni, against opposition front runner and popular singer Bobi Wine.

What happened?

Uganda’s communications regulator (UCC) ordered the country’s internet service providers to block all social media platforms until further notice, according to a letter seen by news agencies AFP and Reuters.

The letter told telecommunications firms to “immediately suspend any access and use” of the apps and sites.

Both Reuters and AFP cited sources saying the government made it clear that the ban was in retaliation for Facebook’s decision to delete some government-linked accounts.

Facebook said it removed the accounts for seeking to manipulate public debate ahead of the election, adding that they were tied to the Ministry for Information and Technology.

What platforms have been affected?

Users in the East African country said on Tuesday that they were unable to access WhatsApp and Facebook and Twitter.

Social media and messaging services have been key tools used by all parties to campaign in Uganda.

Violence ahead of election

Some 18 million Ugandans are registered to vote on Thursday in presidential and parliamentary elections.

Scores of people were killed in violence ahead of the election and crackdowns on opposition rallies.

While election monitors have been prosecuted, government critics have been jailed and journalists reporting on opposition rallies have been attacked.

Museveni, a 76-year-old former guerrilla leader who seized power in 1986, is looking to secure a sixth term. Critics say the veteran leader has abused his position to silence the opposition.

Longtime leader Yoweri Museveni (L) and popstar turned candidate Bobi Wine (R)

Wine is the frontrunner among 10 opposition candidates challenging Museveni.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has gained a large following among young people in Uganda, where 80% of the population is under 30.

Earlier on Tuesday, Wine said soldiers raided his home and arrested his security guards while he was doing a live radio interview.

Uganda’s military and police force have not yet commented on Wine’s claims.

SOURCE: AFT/Reuters

Election of Speaker: A Supreme Court judge attempted to bribe a female NDC MP – Muntaka

Ellis Ferdinand
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Election of Speaker: A Supreme Court judge attempted to bribe a female NDC MP – Muntaka

A Supreme Court judge is alleged to have called to bribe a female MP

The National Democratic Congress Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Asawase, has alleged that a Supreme Court judge called a female MP-elect from the NDC and persuaded her to vote against the NDC’s nominee of Speaker for the 8th Parliament.

The NDC Chief Whip alleged that this judge was advocating for the governing party and was ready to offer the said female MP fuel for the four years of her parliamentary work.

Narrating this to Joy News on Sunday, January 10, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Muntaka stated further: “So shamefully, a Supreme Court Judge calls a colleague lady, telling her what they will give her. She has children, they will help her take care of her children. She can take fuel from a filling station for the four years,” Muntaka alleged.

He further indicated that the times the said judge called the MP has been recorded and the NDC caucus will investigate it.

Meanwhile, Muntaka countered Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s claim that the NDC side bribed some MPs in the NPP fold to vote for Alban Bagbin instead of Prof. Mike Oquaye.

He quizzed: “In all these crises and being in opposition for four years, how could we have got all these monies to bribe those who are in government?” If you ask every candidate of ours, you virtually have to finance everything that you have to do…how could we have been bribing. The thing is that if you have bad leadership, that is what you have; you’ll be so scared of your own shadow.

“Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is a nice gentleman when you come to the workings of the House but as a leader, I can tell you he is a very terrible one. He doesn’t know how to carry people along.”

The Suame MP had earlier told Kumasi-based Angel FM that prior to the election of Speaker, he heard rumours that some of the MPs on the NPP side which he leads were planning to dissent against Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye.

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had said on Angel FM: “I heard rumours that the NDC was trying to bribe some of our members to vote against Speaker Oquaye, so I quickly called those whose names were mentioned to speak with them. Others too had some unresolved issues with him and had said they would not vote for him. I met all those members in the hotel and spoke at length with them to rescind their decision, but it practically fell on deaf ears.”

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Investigate Clerk of Parliament for putting his office in disrepute – Asiedu Nketia

Ellis Ferdinand
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Investigate Clerk of Parliament for putting his office in disrepute – Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Aseidu Nketia has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the conduct of the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah.

According to him, the clerk was involved in a ‘calculated ploy’ to disenfranchise the MP-elect of Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson from partaking in the voting exercise that sought to elect the Speaker for the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.

Mr Nketia in a press conference maintained that the NDC had concrete evidence to prove that the clerk had compromised his office.

Check This Out:  Nana Addo is only a watchman at the presidency – NDC

The NDC General Secretary said the Clerk had to explain “how an order of injunction that was allegedly dispatched from Cape Coast at 4:44 PM could be served on the Clerk of Parliament at 4:55 PM.”

“The clerk ruled that he had received the court order so the MP-elect of Assin North could not participate in the proceedings, a calculated ploy to reduce the voting strength of the NDC side.

“An NPP official actually served the Clerk with the court Order, and not a bailiff. It is the considered view of the NDC that this act of connivance by Clerk of Parliament constitute serious misconduct on the part of the occupant of the high office of the Clerk of Parliament of the Republic of Ghana and must not go unaddressed,” Aseidu Nketia said.

According to the evidence, the Clerk of Parliament convened the house in the absence of a Speaker and invited the nominees from the floor of parliament.

Consequently, MP Tamale South and In-Coming Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu proposed Hon. Bagbin to take the chair as Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

The General Secretary stated that while Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak rose to second the motion, “in a bizarre twist of events and in clear breach of the standing orders, the Clerk of Parliament recognized NPP MP for Efutu Afenyo Markin who rose on point of order.

“Hon. Afenyo sought to find out from the Clerk whether he had received service of a Cape Coast High Court Order restraining the MP Elect of Assin North from being sworn-in as a Member of Parliament.”

According to Mr. Johnson Nketia, “a debate ensued but before all sides could be heard adequately… the Clerk ruled that he had received the court Order so the MP-elect of Assin North could not participate in the proceedings, a calculated ploy to reduce the voting strength of the NDC side,” he said.

Mr. Nketia further stated that the Clerk was “compelled by his own embarrassment to reverse his earlier decision when he could not provide further and better particulars of the service including the name of the bailiff who effected the service.”

On the whole, he stated that it was a big shame that the Clerk of Parliament scandalously lent himself as a tool in the conspiracy to reduce the NDC’s Parliamentary numbers and give the NPP an unfair advantage in the speakership election.

 

Our ‘math errors’ didn’t affect final results; dismiss JM’s ‘incompetent’, ‘contrived’, ‘baseless’ petition – EC prays SC

Ellis Ferdinand
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Our ‘math errors’ didn’t affect final results; dismiss JM’s ‘incompetent’, ‘contrived’, ‘baseless’ petition – EC prays SC

In its response to the petition of the presidential candidate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress in the recently-held general elections, the election management body stated that “notwithstanding all the resources and training deployed and the facilities put in place, there is a possibility of minor discrepancies as a result of computational and mathematical errors made in the course of the collation of the results but these did not have a material effect on the overall results as declared.”

“1st Respondent states that the petition ought to be dismissed also because the Petitioner does not challenge the validity of the election conducted throughout the 38,622 polling stations and the 311 special voting centres in the country, or contest the lawfulness of votes obtained by any of the parties to the election”.

“1st Respondent adds that the petitioner has failed to indicate the exact number of votes and percentages that he or the other candidates ought to have obtained in comparison to the number of votes and percentages declared by the 1st Petitioner”.

“The 1st Respondent, accordingly, raises a preliminary legal objection to the petition as being incompetent and not, as required by article 64(1) of the Constitution and Rule 68(1) of the Supreme Court rules 1996 (CI 16), as amended, amounting to a challenge of the validity of the presidential election conducted by the 1st Respondent on 7 December 2020”.

“Wherefore, the 1st Respondent prays the petition and all the grounds in support thereof, be summarily dismissed by this honourable court for not disclosing any reasonable cause of action”, the EC’s response prayed the court.

Mahama argues that only the public declaration made by Mrs Mensa on 9 December 2020 is guaranteed by the Constitution, and further that all the subsequent corrections were unconstitutional, and in any case declared through unsigned documents, which make them no declarations at all.

Mahama further avers that any such corrections should have been done in the presence of the representatives of the candidates and that the errors go beyond inadvertent mistakes.

The case will be heard from 14 January and judgement is expected to be delivered by 10 February.

 

Source: ClassFMonline.com

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Issues about who occupies Majority in Parliament can be interpreted by the Speaker- Okudzeto

Ellis Ferdinand
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Issues about who occupies Majority in Parliament can be interpreted by the Speaker- Okudzeto

Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that the debate about who occupies Majority in Parliament can be best interpreted by the speaker of Parliament.

Read his statement below:

 

As the spotlight remains on the historic developments in Ghana’s 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic, I have keenly followed many interesting debates and multiple viewpoints about the implications of the current unprecedented and fascinating configuration of Parliament (137-137-1).

Matters relating to whether there is a majority caucus properly so called; the formula for committee membership allocations; which side chairs committees requiring majority control; should chairmanship of committees be shared equally to reflect current realities and so on and so forth.

Only one man can settle this debate and that man is the Speaker of Parliament.

Standing Order 5 provides: In case of doubt, these Orders shall be interpreted by Mr. Speaker as he deems fit.

Standing Order 6 presents even more authoritative clarity: In all cases not provided for in these Orders, Mr. Speaker shall make provisions as he deems fit.

As the courts have held, parliament is the master of its procedures. In addition to that, our Standing Orders confer on the Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament tremendous powers which are extremely difficult to challenge.

I have deep confidence that the Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin, Ghana’s most experienced and most decorated legislator who has been a treasure trove to the august House and now having been elected Rt. Hon. Speaker can surely be relied upon to bring to bear his fountain of rich and unmatched legislative knowledge as he rules shortly on all these vexed matters.

May God be his guide and may the supreme national interest be his inspiration.

Fear Haruna Iddrisu, he’s tactical and formidable – NPP former minister warns his party

Ellis Ferdinand
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Fear Haruna Iddrisu, he’s tactical and formidable – NPP former minister warns his party

While being asked to reach out for consensus-building in the 8th Parliament, Members of Parliament (MPs) of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have also been advised to be tactical and fearful of colleague members belonging to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the august House.

According to Captain (rtd) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, when it comes to the debates on the floor of the House, experienced people like Hon. Haruna Iddrisu and others in NDC are unmatched, hence, there is a need for NPP lawmakers to sharpen their debate skills to match them boot-for-boot.

“Fear Haruna Iddrisu and be tactical especially when you are dealing with other NDC members in terms of the debate”, the former NPP for Berekum advised when he spoke to what political pundits described as tight Parliament in the 8th Parliament.

“The NPP MPs should not take NDC for granted especially the likes of Haruna Iddrisu who is a formidable person I know,” he added.

Speaking on Kumasi-based local radio station monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Captain (rtd) Nkrabeah Effeh-Dartey admonished NPP lawmaker to concentrate more on their parliamentary duties.

Source: My News GH

election 2020: Mahama files motion for amendment of Election Petition

Ellis Ferdinand
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election 2020: Mahama files motion for amendment of Election Petition

 The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 general elections, John Dramani Mahama ‘has filed a motion praying the Supreme Court to allow him to amend the writ he filed to challenge the validity of the Declaration of President-Elect by the Electoral Commission.

Mahama in the motion for amendment is praying the court to correct an error or a “mistake” in the election petition.

Check This Out: Nana Addo is only a watchman at the presidency – NDC

The mistake, as stated in the motion was in relief (f) of the election petition.

The election petition, filed on December 30, 2020, to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election results, interchanged the first Respondent, namely the Electoral Commission (EC) with the second Respondent, namely Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in several places.

The motion reads that during the pre-trial conference, Counsel for and on behalf of the petitioner shall seek leave of the Court to amend his petition as follows:

 

Check This Out:  History: NDC’s Alban Bagbin elected Speaker of Ghana’s 8th Parliament

 

“(a) By reversing the position and designation of the parties under paragraph (6) of the writ filed on 30/12/2020 by amending paragraph (f) of the reliefs……repeated in paragraph 35(f) of the petition by replacing ‘1st Respondent’ in the second and third lines with ‘2nd Respondent’ to read as follows: ‘(f) An order of mandatory injunction directing the 1st Respondent to proceed [and] conduct a second election with petitioner and 2nd Respondent as the candidates as required under Articles 63(4) and (5) of the Constitution.’”

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to hear the motion for amendment on Thursday, January 14. The case will end by February 10.

Read Mahama’s motion below:

 

 

Nana Addo is only a watchman at the presidency – NDC

Ellis Ferdinand
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Nana Addo is only a watchman at the presidency – NDC

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has slammed President Akufo-Addo blaming him for the invasion of the military in the Chamber of Parliament.

Addressing the press on Friday, January 8, 2021 at the party’s headquarters, he said the chaotic scenes were a repeat of what happened during the December 7, 2020 general elections.

He said no one should be blamed for the incident but the President who he described as the acting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He stated all the intimidation, abuse of power and use of the military were an orchestrated way for the NPP to rig the polls for the election of Speaker but failed due to the diligence of the NDC MPs.

He said God found a way to expose the NPP and how they planned in rigging the process for the election of a Speaker just like they did in the presidential election which the party is currently challenging at the Supreme Court.

He insisted there would be a clear majority for the NDC if the Techiman South and other constituencies they have challenged are addressed.

He called on Speaker Alban Bagbin to investigate the invasion of the military and the ballot snatching by Carlos Ahenkorah, the Tema West MP, the breach of security in parliament which he accused the Marshall of doing.

He further asked for a full probe into the actions of the Clerk of Parliament.

He stressed notwithstanding the inauguration of President Akufo-Addo, the NDC shall not recognize him as the legitimate president of Ghana until all the issues surrounding his “flawed election” are satisfactorily resolved.

“The Akufo Addo you see occupying Flagstaff house is only doing so as a watchman of the place”, he claimed.

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

Muntaka deserves a national award for his heroism – Asiedu Nketia

Ellis Ferdinand
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Muntaka deserves a national award for his heroism – Asiedu Nketia

The NDC’s General Mosquito has called for a national prize to be given to MP for Asawase and former Minority Chief Whip in parliament, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka for what he describes as an act of heroism.

Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia explained that this would be a befitting honour on the MP for his vigilance that contributed to the nullification of attempts by Tema West MP, Carlos Ahenkorah, at snatching ballot sheets in parliament.

He was addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Accra following news of the election of Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as Speaker of Parliament.

Answering questions posed to him at the conference, Mr. Asiedu Nketia stated that instead of calling for Mubarak to also be investigated, he should rather be decorated with a national prize.

“Killing may be wrong but if you see somebody going to bomb Akosombo Dam and you kill that person, the court will set you free. So when you talk about disruptive conduct, it does not include one that stops wrongdoing,” Mr. Asiedu Nketia explained.

Mr Bagbin becomes the first Speaker elected by the House, who isn’t a member of the ruling party in the country.

Meanwhile, the NDC says it will initiate processes to have Carlos Ahenkorah investigated for what many have described as a shameful decision he made when he tried to obstruct proceedings in the House during the election of the Speaker of Parliament.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

History: NDC’s Alban Bagbin elected Speaker of Ghana’s 8th Parliament

Ellis Ferdinand
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History: NDC’s Alban Bagbin elected Speaker of Ghana’s 8th Parliament

The Parliament of Ghana has chosen the Second Deputy Speaker of the seventh Parliament Hon Alban S. K Bagbin as the Speaker of Parliament for the eighth Parliament of the fourth Republic of Ghana.

The Parliamentary council of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) directed by Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, the Clerk of Parliament took them through cycles prompting mystery casting a ballot to choose a Speaker for introduction of the eighth Parliament.

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Hon. Alban S. K Bagbin

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There were arrangement of disarrays and contradiction which distorted the election along the line prompting sending of hefty military faculty to control the choas prior in Parliament.

The voting which for very nearly 6 hours has finished around 6:30am followed by arranging and checking. Oddly in the wake of checking voting form papers of Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, a NPP MP choose for Tema West Constituency Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah grabbed the voting form papers having a place with Hon Alban S. K Bagbin and took to his heel. Luckily, he was gotten by some NDC MPs choose and security work force where the polling forms were taken from them.

 

Toward the finish of the checking, Hon Alban S. K Bagbin had a sum of 138 legitimate votes while Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye had a sum of 136 legitimate votes with one (1) dismissed voting form paper.

 

With this, Hon Alban S. K Bagbin has been appropriately chosen as the Speaker of the eighth Parliament from seventh January, 2021 to sixth January, 2025.

Screenshot 20210107 100822

Congrats, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumani Kingsford Gbagbin, Speaker of Parliament for the eighth parliament under the fourth Republic.

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