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Okudzeto Ablakwa to pay Salaries of over 500 Private School teachers in his Constituency

Ellis Ferdinand
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Okudzeto Ablakwa to pay Salaries of over 500 Private School teachers in his Constituency

The Member of parliament of the North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa in his fight against the covid -19 has come out to pledge support to 45 private basic school teachers in his constituency after they have been deprived of their livelihood due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

He made this submission on his official Facebook page.

He said “I have been in touch with the leadership of the 45 private basic schools in my beloved constituency to find out how they are coping with the exigencies of the times and to express my solidarity.

 Sad to hear that unlike their counterparts in the public sector, teaching and non-teaching staff have not received salaries since March, thanks to COVID-19. In the unfortunate circumstances, I have notified the leadership of private schools of a new MP’s initiative to offer a cash compensation package to all 570 teaching and non-teaching staff at the end of this month (May). I am particularly delighted that I have also secured assurances that no teacher would be laid off in these difficult times. We are all in this together. We defeat COVID-19 together and we rise from the ashes together.”

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  #NorthTonguRising

NDC’s Otukonor backs twerking nurse in viral video, says it’s therapeutic

Ellis Ferdinand
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NDC’s Otukonor backs twerking nurse in viral video, says it’s therapeutic

Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otukonor has mounted a spirited defence for the ‘twerking nurse’ in a viral video amidst threats of punishment from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwifery Council (GRNMC).

Peter Otukonor has described the nurse’s actions as therapeutic and something just to create happiness.

The viral video captures a nurse in her uniform twerking her butt off while her friends cheer her on to do more.

The video although appreciated by social media users has been condemned by the Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The council has since directed its Disciplinary Committee to look for the Nurse in question and sanction her to serve as a deterrent to other nurses and health officials.

But reacting to the video in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Perter Otukonor said the country is in trying times and some of these videos are therapeutic and good for people to de-stress.

“In this period when we are not in normal times there are apps on social media where doctors, lawyers, teachers, and even policemen and women are producing videos just to create some form of happiness so I don’t see anything wrong with the twerking nurse’s video, I agree that it is therapeutic,” he told Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie.

Source: My News GH

It’s no fault of NPP that NDC chose a man who gave us the worst economy – Mac Manu

Ellis Ferdinand
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It’s no fault of NPP that NDC chose a man who gave us the worst economy – Mac Manu

The campaign manager for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Peter Mac Manu has slammed former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) saying it is no fault of theirs that they have chosen the candidate who presented to Ghanaians the worst economic performance.

Mr. Mac Manu in an address at a press briefing stated it is also no fault of the NPP or any Ghanaian that the party was handed their massive defeat in 2016.

He said: ”It is that record of a rigged leadership under John Dramani Mahama that the NDC must be afraid of bringing back to face the Ghanaian people for their votes and not any fake conspiracy to rig the elections against them.

NDC must be reminded that the NPP, as an opposition party, beat the NDC in 2020 ––and by the largest margin ever in Ghana’s history against an incumbent president in Ghana’s history.”

”It is not the fault of any Ghanaian that the NDC chose to bring back as their presidential candidate for 2020 the very man on whose hands the NDC suffered their biggest defeat in their history. It is not the fault of NPP that the NDC chose to bring back as their 2020 presidential candidate the very same man who gave Ghana the worst economic growth performance since 1994. It is not the fault of President Akufo-Addo that the NDC has very little confidence in their own chosen Candidate for 2020, John Mahama,” he added.

He was reacting to allegations by NDC that the government was conniving with the EC to rig the 2020 polls in their favour.

”We do not need the EC to rig an election in our favour. A government that has put some 1.3 million children to school, (who if NDC was in power would be on the streets) does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. A government that has restored industry and is creating jobs for the people does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. A government that has put 100,000 unemployed graduates to work does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. A government that puts the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian first, whether it is in protecting the money of millions of depositors, or absolving the cost of electricity and water of 30 million Ghanaians, to ease the sufferings of the people when there is a crisis, such a government does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. The President continues to show leadership and commitment to the welfare of ordinary Ghanaians and it is this which gives us confidence that the Ghanaian people will recognize his leadership and performance and allow the party that knows how to deliver to continue,” he said.

The focus of the NPP he noted is to justify the confidence that the Ghanaian people reposed in us by fixing the economy that the NDC rigged and with Akufo-Addo giving the people the caring and decisive leadership which John Mahama is not capable of delivering.

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

We cannot continue to use ‘ECOWAS’ register for elections in Ghana – NPP Communicator

Ellis Ferdinand
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We cannot continue to use ‘ECOWAS’ register for elections in Ghana – NPP Communicator

National Deputy Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Jennifer Queen has backed the request by the Electoral Commission to compile a new voter’s register for the 2020 elections.

Jennifer Queen wondered why the opposition party has consistently kicked against the decision by the election management body to compile a new Voters’ register.

“Sometimes you begin to wonder NDC is so desperate. There is something fishy about NDC decision against the compilation of the new register which Ghanaians don’t know”, she told Kwame Tutu on ‘Anopa Nkomo’ on Accra based Kingdom FM 107.7

NPP’s National Deputy Communications Director therefore, described the current biometric voter’s register as an ‘ECOWAS’ register, stressing that “we cannot continue to use ‘ECOWAS’ register for elections in Ghana”

“The EC just want to change the ECOWAS register to Ghana register, and so must this cause a civil war?” she quizzed.

She emphatically stated that, “Even if it becomes possible for the EC to compile a new register 24 hours to the general elections, we will still compile a new register”.

She however commended the Electoral Commission over its managerial style for its consistent decision to compile a new voter’s register for election 2020.

“We want a new register because we want the right thing to be done”, she said.

Jennifer Queen further assured Ghanaians that the Electoral Commission is on course done preparation, hence proceed with its intended decision to compile a new voter’s register for the general elections.

Source: kingdomfmonline

Mahama needs a rigging machine, we don’t – NPP

Ellis Ferdinand
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Mahama needs a rigging machine, we don’t – NPP

The 2020 Campaign Manager for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Peter Mac Manu, has stated emphatically that the NPP is not and cannot be part of any conspiracy whatsoever to rig the 2020 elections, as alleged by the NDC.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra today, May 14, 2020, Mr. Mac Manu said, “a fake conspiracy does not become a credible conspiracy just because an opposition that is afraid of losing a free and fair contest says so.”

According to him, it is that record of a rigged leadership under John Dramani Mahama that the NDC must be afraid of bringing back to face the Ghanaian people for their votes and not any fake conspiracy to rig the elections against them.

Mr. Mac Manu reminded the NDC of how the NPP, as an opposition party, beat the NDC in 2016 ––and by the largest margin ever in Ghana’s history against an incumbent president in Ghana’s history.

“It is not the fault of any Ghanaian that the NDC chose to bring back as their presidential candidate for 2020 the very man on whose hands the NDC suffered their biggest defeat in their history. It is not the fault of NPP that the NDC chose to bring back as their 2020 presidential candidate the very same man who gave Ghana the worst economic growth performance since 1994. It is not the fault of President Akufo-Addo that the NDC has very little confidence in their own chosen Candidate for 2020, John Mahama.”

Mr. Mac Manu said, the party intend to fight and win in December based on our performance.

“We do not need the EC to rig an election in our favour. A government that has put some 1.3 million children to school, (who if NDC was in power would be on the streets) does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. A government that has restored industry and is creating jobs for the people does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. A government that has put 100,000 unemployed graduates to work does not need an election to be rigged in its favour. A government that puts the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian first, whether it is in protecting the money of millions of depositors, or absolving the cost of electricity and water of 30 million Ghanaians, to ease the sufferings of the people when there is a crisis, such a government does not need an election to be rigged in its favour,” he stated.

Source: Daily Mail

EC conniving with NIA to suppress votes in NDC strongholds – Ofosu Ampofo

Ellis Ferdinand
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EC conniving with NIA to suppress votes in NDC strongholds – Ofosu Ampofo

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the Electoral Commission (EC) and National Identification Authority are conspiring to suppress votes in the strongholds of the party.

Addressing a news conference Thursday afternoon, National Chairman of the party Samuel Ofosu Ampofo alleged that the decision of the Electoral Commission to push for the Ghana Card, birth certificate and Passport as the primary documents required to register during the voters’ registration exercise is part of a grand scheme to rig the 2020 elections in favour of the governing NPP.

According to Mr Ampofo, the decision by the NIA to increase the number of registration centres in the Ashanti region but keep few in the strongholds of the NDC is part of the voter suppression agenda.

“The President seeing defeat staring glaringly at him, he is in conjunction with the Jean Mensa led EC and the Ken Attafuah led NIA desperately scheming to rig the 2020 elections and hold on to power at all cost.

“Not even the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in which requires that we pull together for our collective survival as a nation are enough to deter the actors of this plot from their ungodly act.”

Mr Ampofo also wondered why the EC would like to ignore the voter ID which he said is the most credible document of identity in the county and rather go for birth certificates which are easily obtainable.

Source: Starr FM

John Mahama fingered in British newspaper over Airbus scandal

Ellis Ferdinand
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John Mahama fingered in British newspaper over Airbus scandal

Former President John Dramani Mahama has been reported by the British media as being complicit in the £5million Airbus bribery scandal.

The Sun newspaper, in its latest edition on Tuesday, also reports that an international arrest warrant has been issued by Ghanaian authorities for the arrest of four people, including John Mahama’s brother for questioning.

The four British nationals, including former President Mahama’s brother, are wanted by Ghanaian authorities for questioning for their roles in allegedly bribing Ghanaian government officials to the tune of £5million.

The four, allegedly led by the former President’s brother, played the role of middlemen to facilitate the £50 million sale of three Airbus C-295 military planes to Ghana.

The Sun reported that former President Mahama allegedly had links with the middlemen who facilitated the payments of bribes to key government officials when he was Vice President.

“Former Ghana president John Dramani Mahama is accused of having links to a corrupt network which received kickbacks during the contract process,” reported the Sun.

Part of the wanted four alongside the former President’s brother is former British actor Phil Middlemiss, who is alleged to be a key member the corrupt network.

Middlemiss, a close friend of John Mahama’s brother, is said to have temporarily relocated to Ghana to play his middleman role with his team for the sale of the military aircraft.

Background

A collaborative investigation by the UK, USA and France revealed that aeroplane manufactures Airbus, used middlemen to kickbacks bribes to Ghanaian government officials for the sale of the over £50million.

Following the exposure of the scandal, Airbus agreed to pay a £3 billion fine for the use of middlemen to sell planes.

Following the naming and involvement of former high-ranking former Ghanaian officials in the scandal, Ghana’s Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu launched further investigations into the matter in February.




The Special Prosecutor recently announced he had summoned four people for questioning.

He released their passport details online to aid the international arrest warrant.

The British media has taken a special interest in the high-profile, international bribery scandal following the involvement of Middlemiss.

The sudden opulent life of Middlemiss, who filed for bankruptcy in 2012, has raised eyebrows and the Sun report subtly linked his post-bankruptcy opulent status to the scandal.

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com

‘Angel’ Obinim hospitalized as police storm church to arrest him

Ellis Ferdinand
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‘Angel’ Obinim hospitalized as police storm church to arrest him

Founder and leader of the International God’s Way Church, Angel Bishop Daniel Obinim has reportedly been rushed to the hospital, following an ”arrest warrant” for the man of God.

The ‘Angel’ is said to have been hospitalized after Police stormed his church to invite him for interrogation for being complicit in an issue before the Police.

Narrating the incident, Peace FM’s News Anchor and Presenter, Nana Yaw Kesseh said on Peace 6 pm News that ‘Angel Obinim’ was conducting counselling sessions in his church when the Police arrived and was asked to follow them to the police station.

According to an eyewitness report, he asked to be excused for a moment in his office and on returning he suddenly fell sick and couldn’t walk again so had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

The Police personnel are, however, “policing” him at the hospital till he recovers for interrogation.

NCA trial: Freeze assets of Baffoe Bonnie; two others – Court to Attorney General

Ellis Ferdinand
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NCA trial: Freeze assets of Baffoe Bonnie; two others – Court to Attorney General

An Accra High Court has ordered the Attorney General to seize assets of a former board chair of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and two others who have, on Tuesday May 12, been sentenced to sixteen years imprisonment.

The assets convicts amount to the tune of three million dollars.

The Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, convicted three of the five accused persons who have been on trial in the case of “The Republic versus Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and four others”.

The case has been in court since December 2017.

The trial of the five accused persons, Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, the former Board Chair of the National Communication Authority (NCA); William Tetteh Tevie, former Director-General of the NCA; Nana Owusu Ensaw, a former board member; Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator, and a businessman, George Derek Oppong, begun on the 16th of January 2018 when the state called its first prosecution witness, the Director of Legal Administration at the National Communications Authority (NCA), Abena Awarkoa Asafo Adjei, and ended on the 10th of March 2020 after the state, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, (DPP) Yvonne Atakora Obuabisa, concluded her cross-examination of the 5th accused person in the case, George Derek Oppong.

Prosecution Witnesses

The state in all, called six (6) prosecution witnesses. They are the Director of Legal Administration at the National Communications Authority (NCA), Abena Awarkoa Asafo Adjei; Dr. Isaac Yaw Ani, Deputy Director General in charge of Management and Operations at the National Communications Authority (NCA); Henry Kanor, Deputy Director General in charge of Technical Operations at the National Communications Authority (NCA); Colonel Michael Kwadwo Poku, Director of Operations at the National Security; Deputy National Security Coordinator, Duncan Opare, and Detective Chief Inspector Michael Nkrumah, investigator of the case.

Defence of Accused Persons

All the accused persons when they took turns to open their defence testified on their own and none called any defence witnesses in support of their cases.

In Court

Justice Eric Kyei Baffour’s court in its judgement indicated that the State has established a strong case of causing financial loss to the State against the accused persons. The accused persons the Court said were in a conspiratorial drill to cause financial loss to the State. The first accused who essentially was the architect of the entire deal used his public office for private benefit to the tune of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00). The Court found A1 (Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie) Guilty of Count 1,2,5,10,11, 12, and 17. A2 (Matthew Tetteh Tevie) was found Guilty of Count 1,2,10,11, and 17. A3 (Dr. Nana Owusu Ensaw) was not mentioned at all in the judgement because he had already been acquitted and discharged by the Court of Appeal on the 25rh of March 2020. A4 (Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman) was found Guilty on Count 1,2,10,11, and 17. A5 (George Derek Oppong) was Acquitted and Discharged forthwith.

Lawyer for the accused persons, particularly, for the second accused person, Godwin Tamakloe, in their sentencing mitigation plea, prayed the Court for a non custodial sentence for their clients and more importantly for the second accused person (Matthew Tetteh Tevie) due to his ill health.

Justice Eric Kyei Baffour sentenced the accused persons as follows, A1, is sentence to six years in prison, A2 to five years and A4 to five years in Prison with had labour.

Background

According to the facts of the case as presented by the Attorney General, Baffoe-Bonnie, Tetteh Tevie, Nana Owusu Ensaw and Alhaji Osman were allegedly aided by George Derek Oppong to engage in the criminal act. The brief facts state that the previous administration had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply a listening equipment at a cost of $6 million to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities. A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, charged $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million. The facts further explained that the National Security did not have the money to fund the transaction and for that reason the NCA, which had supervisory jurisdiction over the use of such equipment, was asked to fund the project.

It said $4 million was withdrawn from the NCA’s account, while $1 million out of the withdrawn amount was deposited into the account of the Israeli company. The A-G explained that the remaining $3 million was lodged in the account of Oppong, who acted as a representative of the local agents, Infraloks Development Ltd.

The State closed its case against the accused persons on the 18th of April 2019, following which the accused persons chose to exercise their rights under section 173 of Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act (Act 30) to file ‘Submissions of No Case.

Source: laudbusiness.com

Coronavirus has enhanced Akufo-Addo’s 2020 chances – Carlos Ahenkorah

Ellis Ferdinand
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Coronavirus has enhanced Akufo-Addo’s 2020 chances – Carlos Ahenkorah

Deputy Minister for Trade, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, has stated that the Coronavirus pandemic, has enhanced the re-election chances of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

“Every great leader is remembered by the crisis of his presidency and President Akufo-Addo will surely be remembered for the Coronavirus pandemic. The way he has handled it has already made him a legend. What this means is that, opponents have become even more unappealing. Whatever chances they had before the coronavirus are now gone,” Mr. Ahenkorah said.

Mr. Ahenkorah, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on the steps government had so far taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic said the virus brought the best out of President Akufo-Addo and as a result, taken more shine from his opponents.

The Deputy Trade Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tema West said apart from his performance in the Coronavirus pandemic, the implementation of certain social intervention programmes such as Free Senior High School programme, Planting for food and jobs would enhance his chances.
“Even the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the UK, predicted that President Akufo-Addo will be elected again in 2020, just like they similarly predicted a win for Akufo-Addo from opposition in 2016.

Mr Ahenkorah said, before the coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo’s winning card was Free SHS. “I mean there were other things like 1V1D, 1D1F, Planting for Food and Jobs, etc, but the Free SHS was really the most popular with the people. Even this one was going to floor opponents, but at least there was a little wiggle room for them to do a little propaganda.

“However, all those slim opportunities have now fizzled out of the window.

“Now when we go to the polls, Ghanaians are going to have their minds filled with how well President Akufo-Addo passed the test of his Presidency – coronavirus. How he acted quickly to close down the country to prevent more infections, and the provisions he made to cushion the poor from its impact. These make others unattractive so much.”

“Coronavirus has really enhanced the chances of President Akufo-Addo who has become the ‘darling boy’ in the political realm and it would, therefore, take a miracle for his opponents to come closer to him in the 2020 polls.

Source: GNA

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