Following the Electoral Commission’s bent attempt to compile a new Voter’s register despite stiff opposition from the National Democratic Congress, an investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has wondered why no one is advising the EC.
The outspoken journalist took to his Facebook page to question if we had wise men and women in Ghana.
“How many Ghanaians have passport or the Ghana Card? Will the guaranters not prolong and crowd the registration process further? What are the eminent advisers at the EC doing? Why are they there? Where are the wise men and women?” he wrotE
Te General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party has confirmed that the compilation of the new voters’ register is scheduled to take off by June ending to July.
He reiterated that the Electoral Commission, other political parties agreed on using passport and Ghana card for registration adding that guarantors will be used for people who do not have the above listed.
John Baodu revealed this after an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting with political parties was held, at the Headquarters of the Electoral Commission in regards to compilation of the new voters register.
“From this meeting, they’ve said that by end of June, it is likely for us to start the registration exercise. They’ve slated it for end of June and very soon per the law 21 days to any national exercise they need to inform us. So the specific date in June will be given to us later.”
He said, safety measures were given by the EC to help contain Coronavirus during the compilation of the voters register.
“The EC has insisted that in all polling station, everybody will be required to put on a mask whether you are an agent, registrar, EC official and others. You must put on a mask and they will be running water for everyone to wash their hands, thermometer, hand sanitizers and a stand by ambulances and medical team and social distancing so ensure we all register. ” He said.
Meanwhile the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) this morning boycotted the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting at the Electoral Commission (EC).
It is believed that the boycott is over the register as well as an alleged violation of coronavirus protocols.
Minority Chief Whip Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has revealed that two Parliamentarians and 13 staff have so far tested positive for Covid-19.
According to him, the infected persons were informed of their status after Speaker of Parliament directed mass testing of all members and staff of the House last week.
Speaking to Daniel Dadzie on Prime Morning on Joy Prime, the Chief Whip explained that the infecte
The Minister for National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, has suggested that assets of private businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome, which were to be auctioned by the state to defray some money he owes the state should be surrendered to the state to “obviate the need for an auction.”
This follows the inability of the auctioneer to sell Mr Woyome’s assets due to fears by potential buyers that the properties will be restored to Mr Woyome by future governments.
The Supreme Court, in 2019, ordered the sale of properties discovered by the state to belong to the embattled businessman to defray a GHS51.2 million judgement debt paid him which the country’s apex court has ruled must be refunded.
According to the court, a claim by the now-defunct UT Bank that Mr Woyome used two of his houses at Trassaco as collateral for a loan could not be proven.
The court also ruled that Mr Woyome’s quarry was not used as collateral as he and the bank had claimed.
Apart from the two houses at Trassacco, Mr Woyome’s property at Kpehe as well as a stone quarry he owns were to be sold.
They all have a total worth of GHS20 million, according to Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
However, in a letter signed by Mr Kan Dapaah addressed to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice with reference to the order by the Supreme Court, the Minister stated that: “The auctioneer tasked with auctioning the properties has indicated his inability to successfully execute the task because potential buyers are afraid, amongst other reasons, that the properties may be restored to Mr Woyome by the state in the future.
It continued that due to this, “it has been decided that the properties be surrendered to the state to obviate the need for an auction” and called on the AG to “take the necessary steps to have the above decision affected.”
Max Chinnah, a 26-year old inventor and entrepreneur from Nigeria, is hoping to change the lives of many people around the world with his newest invention – a smokeless stove that not only cooks food but also converts heat energy into electricity to charge your phone!
Chinnah has recently patented his creation with his partner, Attigah. It is set to be produced on a very large scale through his company called Terraoak. Aside from promoting the product for camping and other outdoor recreational activities, they are also planning to hand out 1,000 of the stoves to rural Kenyan farmers.
Chinnah, who is a graduate of Computer Science, said he has always wanted to be an entrepreneur but he also loved to do something that could positively impact other people’s lives. After attending the Clinton Global Initiative conference in Miami, he was inspired to become an inventor
With his latest invention, he hopes to help make a greener environment and reduce the threat of global warming. And he also believes it should be available to every person, regardless of their class or socio-economic background.
For more information about Terraoak, visit terraoak.com
The Chief Executive Officer of Skyy FC, Adelade Amofa Arthur has made a donation to the club’s players and staff.
The generous act was done to draw the curtains down on the CEO’s 51st birthday celebrations and also presented the opportunity for players to hobnob with her.
During the exercise which took place at the Clubhouse at Daboase- with strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols – Adwoa Amofa Arthur, accompanied by her husband and Club President, Wilson Arthur presented items ranging from Skyy FC branded apparel, football slippers, Food and Drinks.
As the engagement unfolded, there were sessions where players were counselled on how to cope and remain fit during this period of inactivity due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Club President, Wilson Arthur urged players to not lose sight of the big prize and be positive that normalcy shall soon return for football to resume.
The Landlord who has been arrested for allegedly murdering his tenant with an AK47 has told the Police he was forced to shoot the deceased in self-defence.
Victor Stephen Kankam who is 38 years old was arrested by the Police for shooting his tenant with an AK47 rifle.
The incident happened at Ofankor in the Ga North Municipality on 24th May 2020 when the landlord stormed the residence to demand that the now deceased tenant hand over his keys to him.
When Benjamin Otchere, 31, who was a musician in the area came out of the Chamber and Hall room which rent was due to expire on the midnight of the said date to explain things to him, the Landlord who was armed with an AK47 shot him at close range.
In a statement to the Police, Kankam said he was forced to shoot Otchere in self-defence.
“He said he put on the bulletproof vest in self-defence and that he was forced to shoot the guy in self-defence because the deceased had threatened him once…,” Mile 7 Police Commander, ASP George Asare said.
Veteran Ghana coach Bashir Hayford has disclosed that football in Somalia is in a rotten stage as civil unrest has collapsed virtually every facet of life in the war-torn country.
According to the former Kotoko trainer, all the national teams were handed to him as soon as he agreed to become the coach of Somalia.
ISIS backed Islamist group Al-Shabaab has ravaged Somalia with incessant attacks on citizens and government officials making Somalia almost a failed state.
But strange enough Bashir Hayford took over the Somalian national team in 2019 signing a two-year contract to replace Somalian native Mohamed Abdulla Farayare.
The Ghanaian trainer left the job in February 2020 as the numerous attacks and security threats from Islamic militants Al Shabaab forced him out for his own safety.
Bashir Hayford has revealed the problems he faced in Somalia recounting players did not care about the national team, all matches are played in one venue among others.
“I met so many challenges because of the Civil War in Somalia, their football collapsed, all their National teams were handed to me. They play their matches in one venue, players refused to join National teams because they don’t value it, they don’t have any professional players”, the veteran gaffer told West FM.
Now unattached, Bashir Hayford is hoping to be handed the technical directorship role of the Ghana Football Association.
The security force of the state, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public law and order is the Police Service. They are supposed to be friends of the residents in the community where they protect life and property.
This responsibility could be carried out in a more professional manner if the period of time used to train new police personnel is extended beyond the current six months period.
It is evidently clear that the six months period used to train new recruits is woefully inadequate.
This Mr. Kwabena Frimpong, a social commentator sees as a setback on the effective Police Service the nation seeks to achieve.
On Friday 22nd May 2020, Mr Kwabena Frimpong lamented on Boss fm Morning show, hosted by Wofa Kofi Appiah, that as a result of the shorter period used in training the personnel recruited into the police service, there seems to be a rush on the training and this does not help in any way as they fail to acquire the necessary professional skills needed for effective policing. He has therefore called for a national discourse on the issue for the necessary amendments to be effected.
Mr. Frimpong in his submission posited that most of the actions taken by some police personnel expose them as not been much equipped for the needed professional skills for the job. This he said is evident from the manner in which many police personnel respond to matters when called to duty. He cited an instance of a case which he personally chanced upon a policeman compelling someone who had not put on a nose mask to buy one from the nearby seller by force. He personally wanted to give a nose mask to the person to resolve the matter amicably, but the policeman insisted on the person buying one from the seller. This behaviour of the policeman portrayed him as a businessman and not as a paece officer.
“The Police as we know are supposed to be friends of the citizenry but we see otherwise”, Mr Frimpong opined. He sorrowfully cited another scenario where a driver who has lost his way in the Kumasi city asked for direction from a policeman on duty but was blatantly refused.
He continued that the attitude put up by some policemen when they are effecting arrest of a suspect leaves much to be desired. They exhibit violent conduct that brings the name of the noble profession into disrepute.
Mr Frimpong continued that recently a driver reportedly lost control of his steering wheel and rammed his car into a stationary truck on the shoulder of the road, killing a precious and an innocent soul, all because a policeman was chasing him for not wearing a nose mask, a situation that could have been avoided if professionalism was a play.
“I do not blame the policemen, but rather the shorter period of their training’ he lamented.
He, therefore, recommended refresher courses to be held for serving officers apart from extending the period of training for new recruits. This he said will go a long way to ensure that the right personnel are employed into the service to ensure a high sense of professionalism in all their daily activities.
A Methodist Bishop, Very Reverend Bruce Solomon, superintendent minister of the old Tafo Methodist Church has called on lawmakers to review the current constitution to enable an extension of Akufo-Addo’s presidency.
Speaking with Kwame Tanko on ‘Angel in the Morning’ on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, he said the current four-year tenure did not provide ample time for a President to put in place the right structures to implement all of his government’s policies, citing COVID-19 as a hindrance to the implementation of some government projects this year.
‘We were not made for the constitution, the constitution was made for us. So if for some reasons we cannot go as stated in the constitution why can’t we amend? The country is currently battling COVID-19, that notwithstanding, we do not know our situation and way forward with this pandemic. why then do we rush to conduct an election?.’
‘All I seek to be done is for lawmakers to meet and devise a strategy to extend Akufo-Addo’s tenure of office by either a year or more. It could even be less just to make way for health officials to access the impact of the virus and way forward. We need not trade human lives for an election. Do we kill the people whom we seek to vote us into power? he queried.
He added that Ghana though a sovereign country is copying practices and electoral laws of other countries.
‘The kind of democracy we’re practising now was copied from other countries. however, we have to contextualize what these countries have done that we deem right and want to follow. We just copy blindly. See! I believe we can even make changes to the current constitution that permits elected presidents to rule for more than 4 years and that will help the country a lot, he added.
Government’s position
Information Minister, Kwadwo Oppong Nkrumah says the Akufo-Addo Government is not contemplating an extension of its first term constitutional mandate despite the seeming distortion of the political calendar by COVID-19.
The Minister, at a press briefing pointed out that the government does not see any justifiable reason to seek to extend its first term constitutional mandate using the virus as an excuse, without a safe, free and fair election.
“The government is of the view that instead of contemplating measures that are not envisaged in the constitution, our best energies, our innovation and creativity should be invested in exploring how a country like ours can have safe and free elections.”
General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu believes it is not negotiable that the 2020 general elections “must” be held on December 7 this year.
According to him, it will be chaotic if the elections are postponed.
However, founder and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Kwasi Addae has advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to postpone the 2020 elections to 2021.
According to him, the continuous rise in the infections of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country would not create an enabling environment for the organisation of a credible parliamentary and presidential election for 2020.
The National Democratic Congress is also calling on the Electoral Commission to as matter of urgency suspend compilation of the new voter register ahead of the December polls.
