Mahama unhappy with VR over NPP’s growing popularity

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August 14, 2024
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Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the Volta Region’s designation as the “world bank” of the NDC is not merely about the number of votes the party receives in general elections.

According to him, this tag is derived from the consistently high percentage of votes the NDC secures in the region during every election cycle.

He made these remarks while addressing the people, party members and chiefs of North Tongu at Juapong during a community engagement as part of his four-day tour of the Volta Region.

He expressed concern that during the tenure of the late President Jerry John Rawlings, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) barely made any inroads in the region, yet in 2020 managed to secure 14 percent of the vote.

This, according to Mr Mahama, suggests that the NPP is gradually gaining ground in the region, and the NDC must pay attention to this trend.

Mr. Mahama attributed the NPP’s growing presence in the region to propaganda efforts. He highlighted that the Volta Region consistently delivered the highest percentage of votes for the NDC, but noted that the 84 percent achieved in the 2020 elections was insufficient.

He claimed that the NPP was spreading messages that questioned what the Volta Region had gained by consistently voting for the NDC and urging voters to consider change.

However, he countered this narrative by pointing out that most of the development in the Volta Region had historically occurred under NDC administrations, claiming that progress had often stalled under the NPP.

He cited examples of stalled projects such as the Juapong-Adidome road, which was approximately 80 percent completed under the NDC but saw little progress under the NPP.

He further claimed that other projects, including the Juapong-Kpordoe-Abutia road and the Juapong Textile Factory, had also faced delays. Mr. Mahama added that essential amenities in the Volta Region, from infrastructure to social services, had largely been delivered by the NDC.

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, reinforced the party’s commitment to the region by announcing the launch of “Operation 94 Percent Votes” ahead of the December elections.

He noted that the constituency achieved a 90 percent vote share for the NDC in 2020, and aimed to surpass this figure in the upcoming elections to secure a resounding victory.

The MP also revealed that awards would be given to polling station executives who achieve the highest vote percentages in the 2024 elections, with the goal of surpassing the 2020 success of winning all 154 polling stations in the constituency.

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Politics

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September 10, 2024
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2 minutes Read

Ghana’s democratic evolution ushers in new dawn of development — President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the significant improvement in the country’s democratic dispensation, particularly under the Fourth Republican Constitution, has ushered in a new dawn of participatory governance.

“The voices of women, youth, and marginalised groups, which were often silenced during the years of military rule, are now heard loud and clear,” he noted.

Addressing the Ghana Bar Association’s (GBA) annual conference in Kumasi, the President said that the inclusive political landscape had brought all identifiable groups on board, with Parliament becoming more representative and civil society more engaged than ever before.

Ghana has witnessed one of the longest periods of democratic rule under the Fourth Republic, after the First, Second and Third Republican Constitutions were torpedoed in military coups in 1966, 1972 and 1981, respectively.

Since 1992, the country has emerged as the beacon of democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, upholding the rule of law to the letter to enhance political stability and sustainable growth.

The country’s democratic credentials are at stake as Ghana goes to the polls on December 07, this year, in an election described by political pundits as one of the most keenly contested General Elections.

The polls come at a time when the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, is reeling from a fractured union and declining democratic tenets, following the spread of violent extremism and military coups, especially in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.

In the run up to the elections, President Akufo-Addo has assured the populace of a peaceful, fair, and transparent exercise.

“Elections are not merely a democratic ritual; they are the very lifeblood of our political system. They are the mechanism through which the people exercise their sovereign will, choose their leaders, and hold them accountable,” he stated.

The President was optimistic the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) would retain power, elaborating the successes chalked in various sectors of the economy over the last seven years.

“The NPP’s path to victory is through a robust defense of its exceptional, proven track record in office and the continuing modernisation of Ghana’s future, championed by our excellent presidential candidate and his dynamic running mate,” he remarked.

Source: GNA

Politics

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September 10, 2024
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3 minutes Read

We are committed to peaceful, fair elections – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring peaceful and fair elections in the upcoming December polls, stressing that its reputation is on the line.

At the launch of Citi FM and Channel One TV’s 2024 General Elections coverage in Accra on Tuesday, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, assured the public of the commission’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of electoral integrity.

Dr. Asare emphasized that the EC and its officials are under scrutiny from both the country and the international community, and that failure is not an option.

“The commission is fully committed. Our reputation is on the line. We know many people. Mr Avle and I used to be in the LPU together. He used to be my Sunday school teacher. We’ve known each other for many, many years. So, I will find it very, very strange for him to hear that I got an opportunity to do something for my country and I didn’t do it right. Our reputations are on the line. We have family members; we have friends like everyone else.

“When I used to be at Legon, every year I’m teaching over 2000 students. So I know many people and I think all these people will be counting on me that the great work I did, I was teaching at the University of Ghana, I should be able to replicate that and the commission is fully committed and we, the noise we hear, we know that we’ll do a good thing and we know the good Lord out there will also ensure that he blesses the work of our hands.”

“So, we know, come December 7, the processes I outlined, we only need the parties to have their agents at the polling stations and when the counting is done, everything will be done clearly. So, the commission will make sure that we deliver another successful election,” Dr Bossman Asare underscored.

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) also called on the police to take stringent action against individuals who commit electoral offences during the upcoming 2024 General Elections.

National Coordinator of CODEO, Albert Arhin emphasised the need for accountability and strict enforcement of electoral laws to ensure a free, fair, and credible election process.

Mr Arhin highlighted the detrimental impact of electoral offences on the democratic process and urged the EC to punish offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Impunity is so much that is why wrongdoing is still ongoing…When people are apprehended, they should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others,” he stated.

Source: citinewsroom.com