Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Facebook Twitter
Home Blog Page 30

All You Need to know about The battle of Dodowa, the Katamanso war

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0
King Osei Yaw escaped with a large number of his bodyguards through the right wing of his army

On 7 August 1826, exactly 194 years ago, the Katamanso War (The battle of Dodowa) began. The war was fought between the Asantes and the people of Accra; Dangme people of Prampram, Ningo and Ada after the people of Accra (AKRA) had been part of an alliance of local chiefs who had aided the British, Denkyira and Fantis in resisting an Asante attack on Cape Coast in July 1824.

The people of Accra had been part of an alliance of local chiefs who had aided the British, Denkyira and Fantis in resisting an Ashanti advance on Cape Coast in July 1824. The Asantehene Nana Osei Yaw Akoto amassed an army of 40,000 and vowed to punish the people of Accra in the aftermath of this defeat.

An alliance of British, along with Ga-Adangbe, Fanti, Denkyira, Akwamu and Akyems faced the Asante at Katamanso, in a battle that ended Asante suzerainty over many southern and coastal nations and contributed to the rise of British power and prestige on the coast.

Check This Out: Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC, joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

Cause of the war:

The valiant Accra people went to help the Fantes and the Denkyiras led by the Governor, in the Cape Coast Castle, to force King Osei Yaw and the Asante army to beat a retreat from their attack on the Fantes and the Cape Coast Castle, in July 1824. Settled by the role of the Accra people in scuttling his plans to capture the Cape Coast Castle, King Osei Yaw instructed his army, according to Rev. Carl Christian Reindorf in his book History of the Gold coast and Asante, based on traditions and Historical facts, from 1500 to 1860 he said “Let us. March back to Kumasi, and I will come upon them”. King Osei Yaw vowed to teach the Accra people a lesson and declared that he would pursue the “Akras” no matter the cost.

Result of the battle of Katamanso:

The battle of Dodowa between the people of Accra and the Asantes began fiercely on the 7 of August 1826 at Katamansu near Dodowa. Carl Reindorf recounts that “The combined forces of Prampram, Ningo, Ada and the riverside people just at the same time followed up the attack, and the position of the Asantes’ became critical.

King Osei Yaw, realising the danger, marched in defence with his body-guard, stood upon the royal stool, and drew the war-sword waving it between heaven and earth, as kings usually do in war, but the rebound was too strong, and he was wounded. There was a severe conflict between the king’s bodyguard and the forces under Opoku Fredefrede, in which the Asantes were beaten and greatly weakened; and on account of the defeat, the Asante General afterwards poisoned himself and died at Asafo.

Dshani Afutu and Ante from Teshi are said to have shouted the religious war cry of Awo awo awo!’ to which every warrior of the whole column responded as one man: “Awo, Agabai bereku tso!” A loud voice was heard in the enemy line. “Edom agu o!” The Battle is lost” Then all the baggage was hastily thrown on a heap as high as a mountain, and the Asante army took to flight, after fighting and holding their position for nine hours, from 6 a.m. — 3 p.m. Prisoners were made, and then the baggage and camp were taken”.

“King Osei Yaw escaped with a large number of his bodyguards through the right wing of his army, the Accra people were left victorious on the battlefield”.

Effects of the war:

Trading activities transpired smoothly on the coast with less fear of invasion as it used to be the case before the war ensued. The war also led to the unity of Ga-Adangme. The name Accra now became famous; their influence spread far and wide, and everyone looked up to them. Their former enemies, Fantes, Akyems, Akwamus, and Akuapems bowed down to them, and their prestige was acknowledged even at Asante and Dahome. They maintained lively traffic with foreign countries, and strangers came down to the Coast for commercial purposes.

Source: ghanaianmuseum.com

Fix cracks in NDC now or forget 2020 polls – Islamic Cleric warns Mahama

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

Popular Islamic Cleric, Numerologist and Philosopher, Mallam Sham-una Uztaz Jibril, has asked flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Draamani Mahama and his running mate to halt the nationwide campaign and fix the cracks in the party.

According to him, a higher percentage of his party’s executives are not happy about his return and therefore are needed to be brought to the fold in order to win victory for the NDC in the impending election 2020.

He indicated that apart from people at the party’s office, some individuals who are out of the office especially the elders are also against his ticket and therefore need to be worked on even before he thinks of going out.

Mallam Sham-una Uztaz Jibril who is credited for accurately predicting in 2015 and 2016 respectively with numbers that Trump, Akufo-Addo and Buhari will win the polls, noted that some Regional Executives are also part of the grand scheme against him and will therefore need to find time to build his party these few days before the 2020 elections.

“Former President John Dramani Mahama, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and his NDC campaign team should pause the nationwide campaign and start from NDC headquarters’ door to door or office to office campaign for they are not decided as the nation decides. Some top regional executives of the NDC nationwide are no exception,” he said.

He added “Only 25% out of 100% members of the office want Mahama back. However, the worst of all are the NDC top gurus outside the office. Only 20% of them wants him back. As for the youth, the grassroots and the neutral people of the country, there is no problem. The situation is extremely beyond serious. This is a gift, but not an advise. Allah knows best”.

Source: My News GH

Voters registration saga: Akufo-Addo to probe alleged military brutalities of ‘Voltarians’, others

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he will institute a committee to investigate the alleged military brutalities on Ghanaians during the recently held voters registration exercise.

The president at a speech at Anlo in the Volta region Thursday said he took this decision after a meeting with some chiefs of the region who visited him.

“The lingering anxiety about the deployment led to a delegation of Chiefs from the Volta Regional House of Chiefs led by its president, coming to see me at Jubilee House on what I believed was termed ‘the military invasion of the Volta Region.

“We had what I considered, to be frank, and mutually respectful discussions and after two and half hours, I suggested to them that I will set up a committee composed of members from both sides to interrogate further, the matters they had brought so we can have a satisfactory resolution.”

He added, “In other words, these confidential discussions were not completed and as I waited to get the names of the three nominees from the eminent Chiefs, some members of the delegation started making public statements about what they said had taken place at the meeting.”

Check This Out: Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC, joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

He stressed: “It serves as a purpose at this stage to offer a different account of what took place. So, the first thing to say, I am going to go ahead, if the Chiefs are still prepared to submit the names of their three nominees as was agreed to constitute this committee to resolve quickly all the issues and reassure everybody. Hopefully, this would allow us to deal with the matter of the border post at Leklebi Kame which provoked such controversies and the incident in the town of Honuta which gave birth to the allegations of military harassment; corrective measures if called for will be instituted”.

The President also stated that “there are currently 1,000 military personnel deployed along the country’s borders, of which 163 are deployed along the Volta Region border,” while adding that the deployment could not have been an invasion as Volta region remains an integral part of the country.”

Source: 3 News

2020 elections: Five controversial promises by Mahama so far

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

Come Monday, August 31, 2020, the John Mahama-led NDC will unveil its manifesto for the upcoming elections.

Like their compatriot NPP, the manifesto will provide the blueprint for how the party will run the country for the next four years should they beat Akufo-Addo and his party at the polls.

But even before they unveil their governmental plans, flagbearer John Mahama has been making some promises.

At various mini-rallies and visits to institutions and persons, the former President has offered sneak peeks into how Ghana will look like should he be given another chance to rule the country again.

The promises are quite a lot but a few have caused stirs in the public space with some people describing them as populist and a desperate attempt to woo voters.

GhanaWeb today, brings you five of these promises.

Check This Out: Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC, joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

Promise to pay customers of collapsed financial institutions

The former president and his party have always held that the crisis in the financial sector was government-inflicted and avoidable.

They see it more of a witch-hunt of some personalities than a clean up of that sector.

In light of this, when given the nod, Mahama will investigate and prosecute all government officials involved in this carefully orchestrated plan.

He also plans to pay every client who lost his or her funds in the collapse of the financial institutions.

Menzgold customers are not exempted from this ‘father Christmas’ offer from Mahama.

“I weep for the many who have lost their jobs, the many who have lost their businesses, the many who have lost their livelihood among others. I pledge on behalf of the NDC that we shall pay within one year all who have funds locked up with the collapsed financial institutions. Within one year. I promise,” he said.

Legalize Okada

The okada business is one that divides opinions in this country. Over the years many debates have been held over whether it should be legalized or the laws against it should be enforced.

The health professionals have always maintained a zero-tolerance approach for Okada due to it being accident-prone.

Others have argued that the business has come to stay and therefore should be legalized and regularized and Mahama belongs to this school of thought.

Addressing people during his tour of Kpando in the Volta Region, he stated that “our law says okada is illegal, but it is a reality it has come to stay and you can’t stop it. So, I say when we come into office, we will legalise it but we will regulate it.”

Return mining concessions

In the fight against the galamsey menace, some concessions were ceased by the government because the owners supposedly didn’t have the document that permits them to own those concessions.

The anti-galamsey fight has not been without the politicization of things in the country with some people claiming that their concessions were taken because they are on the other side of the political divide.

Mahama says when elected, every licensed operator who lost his or her concession will get it back.

“The other time, I was speaking about small scale mining business. People paid money to acquire concessions legally from the Mineral Commission. When there was a change of government, those concessions, have been taken away from those people and given to those they want to give it to. We’re all one people in Ghana, everyone must benefit from our country, regardless of where you come from. Whether an Ashanti, Akyem, Ga, Ewe or Dagomba, we’re all Ghanaians,” Mr Mahama said.

He stressed: “Lately it looks like we’re being selective, if you don’t belong to a certain party, they take away your concession. They have taken away people’s excavators to give to party members to work.

“The NDC is, however, saying that, we stand for social justice, so God willing when we come back into power, we’ll correct all these mistakes, we’ll retrieve the concessions and give them back to the rightful owners. We’ll make laws such that the country will benefit from the mining without destroying our lands and water bodies.”

Fight corruption head on

Subah, SADA, GYEEDA and the flying ‘akonfems’ are just a few of many corruption scandals that rocked Mahama when he was in office as president.

It has been said these scandals caused the downfall of John Mahama four years ago but he is back and he is promising that should he beat Akufo-Addo in the 2020 elections corruption won’t be tolerated in his government.

“I pledge to the people of Ghana that we will listen to them and whatever concerns that they have, if God gives me a second term in office, we will see a more transparent government. We will deal more with the issue of corruption in terms of strengthening the institutions that deal with corruption.”

Free Healthcare After enjoying free education from basic school to high school, Ghanaians could enjoy free healthcare if they opt for Mahama.

John Mahama says that, in line with NDC’s social democratic principles, his government will make healthcare free in the country.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as a social democratic party, we seek to harness the best qualities in all our people to transform the destiny of our nation”.

“In that direction, and as the fulcrum around which our health policy will evolve, we will before the end of 2021, introduce and begin the implementation of a Free Primary Health Care Plan”, he announced. He explained: “This will make the provision of primary health care to all Ghanaians, young and elderly, free”.

Oti Region will get a university, regional and district hospitals – Mahama promises

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

Former President John Dramani Mahama has promised to construct a new regional hospital and a university in the Oti Region when re-elected as president.

The candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Chiefs of Kwamekrom in the Oti Region declared, not only would he construct a new hospital and university but district hospitals.

According to him, all districts in the region will get district hospitals and polyclinics including Kwamekrom.

Check This Out: Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC, joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

Mr. Mahama further promised to repair all deplorable roads in the region if re-elected, adding the NDC is the only party with an unprecedented record of infrastructure.

He told the chiefs and a large crowd that the majority of electrification projects, hospitals and other projects across the country were all initiated under the NDC.

He appealed to the residents to come out in their numbers and participate in the upcoming voter exhibition exercise so they can vote massively for the NDC come December 7, 2020.

He described as encouraging the number of persons who participated in the mass registration exercise.

“I am appealing to you to participate in the upcoming voter exhibition exercise. Just as you participated in the mass registration exercise, I would like to encourage you to also participate in the exhibition exercise so you can vote on December 7. It would pain me to see people with their voter cards on voting day but unable to vote due to their inability to participate in the exhibition exercise. The upcoming election is a crucial one that will decide the future of our children.’’

He added that the NDC would emerge victorious should the general polls be organized in a transparent, credible, free and fair manner.

Meanwhile, he has admonished voters not to allow the NPP to influence them with money and other material things to retain them in power.

Another four years for the NPP he suggested would mean more economic hardship, corruption, mismanagement and incompetence.

“When they come to you with money, take it and spend it but on the day of the election, apply some wisdom and think about the future of your children. When you do that, there is no other party you will vote for aside from the NDC,’’ he stated.

 

Student develops App to assist the blind detect currency

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

A final year student at Bluecrest University College has developed an App that can help the blind detect currency in Ghana.

According to the student, Daniel David Lezu, he sees the need to help the society especially the physically challenged with the knowledge he has acquired in the university.

“Although we are moving into a cashless society, physical money will still be comprehensively used for standard trades and businesses but how will the visually impaired people do money transactions smoothly”? he quizzed.

As part of the Students final year project work, Lezu came about with the currency detector App for the visually impaired to help them learn and detect all set of Ghanaian currencies.

The application uses speech-to-text methodology. It pronounces the detected currency audible to the users. The App has a feature which can be used to make a call. The visually impaired can give a command by a speech by mentioning the contacts he/ she want to call. The interface of the App is very simple and it interacts with the user via audio.

This is a first-ever currency detector App for the visually impaired in Ghana and it will go a long way in shaping our society by developing more inclusive projects for the physically challenged people.

Eye health problems are high among the priority health needs of the people living in Ghana.

According to a recent Blindness and Visual Impairment Study, the prevalence of blindness in Ghana is 0.74% and 1.07% of the population has a severe visual impairment. A large proportion of those with low vision (88.9%) and blindness (67.7%) are due to avoidable causes. The SRC started supporting eye care services in Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ghana Health Services (GHS) and Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) in 1991 expanding these services to the Upper West, the Brong-Ahafo and the Northern Region. It has offered outpatient department and community outreach attendance, school screenings and surgical operations and made a significant impact on the eye health of the ordinary citizen of the Northern part of Ghana, considered as one of the poorest.

The Application which is yet to be launched on Google Play Store has yielded a lot of accolades from some visually impaired people who have got the privilege to use the App in its testing period.

Daniel David Lezu, the student who developed the App wishes to add more features in the app. He lamented on the need for the App to sum up the detected currency and also detected counterfeit money. All these ideas are the future scope of the project which can be possible if he gets grants and supports from the Governments and other stakeholders in the country.

Professor Edmund Akpor Mensah, the supervisor of the App, urged students to be innovative in their respective fields and think outside the box.

He said the currency detector App is just what the blind community needed.

In his view, they have been neglected for far too long and it was about time innovative minds develop contents to make their living much easier.

GNAT demands independent investigation into leaked WASSCE papers

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has called for an independent committee to investigate the leaked WASSCE papers, instead of its cancellation.

Speaking on GBC’s ‘Behind the News’, General Secretary of the Association, Thomas Musah said WAEC has lost its credibility and supports calls for a new body to break the monopoly of WAEC.

“First, there is an issue, the issue must first and foremost be investigated and then the outcome of the investigations will bring the matter to finality. If you have an independent body to investigate this thing, the subsequent recommendation will tell us the way to go. But when you have different bodies proffering solutions, it will be very difficult as people to find a solution to the problem, which is leakage of the exam.”

Check This Out:Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC, joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

On Sunday, August 16, the Core Mathematics paper scheduled for Monday, August 17, was seen circulating on social media with worked-out answers.

Although some people thought it was fake, it turned out to be genuine as the very questions were contained in the paper written on Monday.

SourceGBCGHANAONLINE

You’re going too far, enough! – Tracey Boakye turns heat on Captain Smart over ‘papa no’ video

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

Actress and movie producer Tracey Boakye is displeased about some comments Captain Smart made on his radio show and has asked the Angel FM morning show host to refrain from tarnishing her image or face her wrath.

Captain Smart had claimed he has a copy of the video clip Kennedy Agyapong threatened to broadcast if Tracey Boakye refuses to stop blackmailing former president John Dramani Mahama.

“Ken has a video of what transpired at East Legon because I have it. Ken also has a video of what transpired in a car. That video was shot by the driver of one of the men,” said Captain Smart.

Check This Out: Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC,joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

“The driver knew a lady was about to enter the car so he strategically placed his phone in the car before stepping out. So it was the driver who first leaked the video; he leaked it to senior slay queen A.A.”

Captain Smart further said the man at the centre of the controversy is not a politician hence, cannot be the former president.

Check This Out:  I’ll deliver all my road promises to Ghanaians – Akufo-Addo

“JM is not too dark,” the radio presenter said. “‘Papa no’ is too dark. There are several men involved and this is traced to a fight that ensued at East Legon. Everything happened at a spot.”

According to Captain Smart, Tracey Boakye is part of a group of ladies who planned to have houses before they clock certain ages.

Chronicling what he claims sparked the friction, Captain Smart said: “One of them was able to achieve this [referring to the house task]; Tracey was next to have a house. Another started building hers but was hit with a challenge so the work stalled. That was how the confusion started. It was more like ‘let me look for Nana Yaa Brefo’s boyfriend and snatch him’. That is the beginning of the conflict. Kennedy Agyapong knows everything.”

In a sharp rebuttal, an infuriated Tracey Boakye sent a word of caution to the broadcaster. With a red headgear and a straight dress, the actress, seated in the confines of her room asked Captain Smart to not spread falsehood about her.

She denied ever being a member of a group of ladies as trumpeted by the radio personality.

“I beg you, I’m not part of any group of ladies. Don’t play with the minds of Ghanaians,” she unequivocally retorted. “There is no such video; I’ve dared whoever has any video of a supposed encounter to release it. Why do you lie about me. I beg you, keep my name out of your mouth.”

“Wouldn’t you have had a topic to discuss on your show if this brouhaha hadn’t emerged? I’ve been watching your commentaries but you went a bit far this morning. I have dared you; if you have any video release it. I’m tired… Stop it! If you offend me, I’ll clap back at you,” a visibly angry Tracey Boakye remarked.

Tracey Boakye, an actress cum film producer, launched a verbal attack on musician Mzbel over their relationship with an unknown married man, which the former has allegedly benefited from.

Check This Out: Mahama assures Ghanaians of free primary healthcare

Speculations were rife that the ‘Papa No’, Akan meaning “the man” at the centre of the controversy was a former president but Mzbel in an interview over the weekend stated that her preference cannot be the same as Tracey’s.

“Honestly, I have no idea the kind of man Tracey Boakye is talking about,” Mzbel said in an interview with Graphic Showbiz. “The men I date are not her type and I wonder why she would say she has snatched my boyfriend from me.”

“My man likes slim ladies and she is not slim. If she claims she has taken over my boyfriend who provides everything for her why is she still not okay but is saying things that I have no idea about?” a puzzled Mzbel asked.

Recently, Kennedy Agyapong, a Member of Parliament alleged that Mr Mahama, bought for Tracey Boakye her East Legon house worth $450,000.

He further claimed that Tracey has sent some naked videos of the former president to a journalist who himself isn’t clean. He threatened to expose the journalist should the latter decide to broadcast the videos sent to him.

Allotey Jacobs ‘betrays’ NDC,joins Nana Addo at the commissioning of Ekumfi Fruits Factory

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
3

Embattled former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Allotey Jacobs was on Friday, August 21, 2020, spotted at the commissioning Eku Juice factory.

On Friday, 21st August 2020, the President commissioned the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Factory, an initiative of Government’s 1-District-1-Factory programme.

The $15 million factory is the first factory ever to be established in Ekumfi and has created some 1,550 direct and indirect jobs.

The Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Factory has been well-planned and well-thought-through, with the raw materials needed for the successful operation of this project already present, and an out-grower scheme in place.

At the event to Commission the much-touted Ekumfi Juice Factory, the embattled Allotey Jacobs was seen in a pose with the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Allotey Jacobs is currently suspended by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for engaging in what the party says is against its constitution but was spotted at the event which has left many tongues wagging.

Many NDC members have described him as a traitor who prior to his suspension was mortgaging the fortunes of the party for a pittance from the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP)

Check This Out:  I’ll deliver all my road promises to Ghanaians – Akufo-Addo

The John Evans Atta Mills proponent has said that he will actively join the NDC in 2021 when the founder has taken over his political party but for now, prefers to be a social commentator

General Election: EC can’t implement ROPAA in 2020

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
0

THE Electoral Commission (EC) says it cannot implement the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA), 2006 (Act 699) for this year’s general election.

Following the passage of the law, Ghanaians in the Diaspora had eagerly been waiting to, for the first time, vote in a general election in their places of residence, but for now, all their hopes have been dashed.

According to the EC, Parliament was yet to act on the Constitutional Instrument (CI) that will spell out the modalities and guidelines to implement ROPAA which the EC submitted in June this year.

The Deputy Commissioner of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, explained to the Daily Graphic in an interview yesterday that the CI would provide the framework and modalities on how Ghanaians abroad could register as voters and also vote.

He said the EC had done its part by submitting the CI to Parliament and that the onus was on the legislative body to act.

Check This Out:  I’ll deliver all my road promises to Ghanaians – Akufo-Addo

COVID-19

However, sources at the EC have told the Daily Graphic that considering the challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it was not feasible to implement ROPAA for the 2020 general election.

Sources in some political parties have also informed the Daily Graphic that the EC had been engaging them on the implementation of ROPAA and that the parties have also voiced out their concerns about its implementation this year.

ROPAA

Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution states: “Every citizen of Ghana of 18 years of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda.”

However, the Representation of the People Law, 1992 (PNDCL 284), the law that operationalised the constitutional provision as stipulated in Article 42, did not allow Ghanaians living abroad to register and also vote from their locations, even though Article 42 does not state that only Ghanaians in Ghana could enjoy that right.

Parliament, in 2006, therefore, passed ROPAA (Act 699) as an amendment to PNDCL 284 to cure that defect.

However, its implementation was not carried through by the EC.

Check This Out: Mahama assures Ghanaians of free primary healthcare

Suit

In 2017, five Ghanaians domiciled in the United States of America (USA) dragged the EC to court with a case that the electoral management body had “gone to sleep” and refused to implement Act 699, 11 years after it was passed.

Dr Kofi A. Boateng, Ms Nellie Kemevor, Mr Obed Danquah, Mr Christiana Sillim and Mr Agyenim Boateng, therefore, urged the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court to order the EC to implement ROPAA, as the refusal of the EC to implement it was a violation of their constitutional rights to vote, as stipulated under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution.

On December 17, 2017, the court, presided over by Justice Anthony Yeboah, upheld the case of the five Ghanaians and gave the EC a one-year ultimatum to operationalise ROPAA.

In the event that the EC had any justifiable reason(s) and was “unable to comply with the order”, the court ordered the commission to publish the justifiable reason(s) 30 days before the expiration of the deadline and also appear before the court to explain the reason(s).

Failure by the EC to implement ROPAA, the court held, was a violation of the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians in the Diaspora, whose right to vote had been guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution, which was made effective by ROPAA.

It was the view of the court that the EC was deliberately dragging its feet and had made its mind not to implement Act 699 any time soon.

Contempt

Two years after the landmark judgement, the five Ghanaians went back to court, this time around seeking to have the commissioners of the EC committed for contempt on the basis that the EC had still refused to implement ROPAA even after being ordered by the court.

According to the five applicants, the only way to ensure that the EC complied with the court’s orders was for the commissioners to be “committed to prison for contempt”.

The Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, however, refuted claims by the five applicants that she and the EC had acted contemptuously.

In her affidavit in opposition, she contended that she was not the Chairperson of the EC at the time the court gave the order in December 2017, and that since her appointment, she had taken steps to implement the orders of the court.

The EC also filed an application for extension of time to enable it to implement ROPAA.

In May last year, the court, presided over by Justice Nicholas Abodakpi, granted the application and gave the EC one more year to implement ROPAA.

The court held that despite evidence showing that the EC had failed in the past to prioritise the implementation of the law, there appeared to be renewed commitment on the part of the new commissioners.

ROPAA engagement

After the ruling by the court, the EC embarked on a series of engagements with stakeholders on how to effectively implement ROPAA.

As part of the engagements, a delegation, led by Dr Asare, travelled to the USA and other countries to interact with Ghanaians in the Diaspora on how best to implement ROPAA,

The EC also held discussions with political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

It was after those engagements that the EC submitted the CI on ROPAA to Parliament.

 

1...293031...83Page 30 of 83

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© PoliticsGhana.com: Powered By Ellis Multimedia. All Rights Reserved 2020.Contact: +233 506 440 219
Tel: +233 206 361 048
Email: Politics.ghana@yahoo.com
Contact Ellis Ferdinand on +233 206 361 048 or via Email: Ellisferdinand@ymail.com