The Aburi Girls Senior High School Old Girls’ Association (AOGA) has sent a congratulatory message to the Vice President-elect, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on her historic feat s Ghana’s first female Vice President.

In a statement, AOGA described Opoku-Agyemang’s achievement as a powerful symbol of progress, offering inspiration to women and girls both in Ghana and beyond.

“Mrs Opoku-Agyemang, being a member of an all-girls senior high school alumni association, we cannot overstate the profound significance of your remarkable achievement on our students and alumni,” the association remarked.

The group said her success story has become an aspiration for women of all ages, proving that their dreams are achievable.

The association expressed hope that her tenure as Vice President will be characterized by wisdom, compassion, and a lasting legacy that will empowers women and children, including access to education, healthcare, and protection against gender-based violence.
Find attached full statement

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, GPCC has assured the President -Elect John Dramani Mahama and his administration of its full support in the trying times ahead.

According to the Council, they will readily avail themselves, when needed and will not hesitate to knock on Mr Mahama’s doors on critical issues that may need his attention to move Ghana forward

Chairman of the GPCC, Apostle Eric Nyameky who doubles as Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, was speaking on Monday, December 16, 2024 during a courtesy to congratulate Mr Mahama on his overwhelming victory in the just ended Presidential and Parliamentary election.
According to the Council, their goal is to see Ghana work again.

The delegation, described the one-touch victory of John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress as divine, manifestation that needs an all-hands-on-deck involvement to build Ghana.

“We are here to assure you that the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council will continue to pray for you and we also make ourselves available to support your presidency. At the end of the day, we want Ghana to win and we Know that once he has selected you for us, He is going to use you nightly” he assured.

“He will make ourselves available, we will come to from time to time and anytime we are invited, we promise to be here and discuss the development of this nation together” he promised

The Christian body also called on H.E John Mahama to use this rare opportunity for the good for the country and it’s citizens.
“Opportunities do not easily come to people especially for somebody to have the opportunity to lead the nation twice. We want to encourage you sir, take this opportunity and take this time” he admonished

He concluded that though the President Elect has experience of leadership at the highest level, that alone will not be enough if he does not allow God to guide his thoughts and decisions.

Oh his part, Mr. Mahama assure that he will continue to call on them for both spiritual and physical guidance.

Water shortage has hit parts of the Ashanti regional capital Kumasi, amidst fears the situation may worsen following the decision by the Ghana Water Company Limited to shut down operations.

The suspension of production, according to myxyzonline.com sources is a protest against a demolition exercise by a private developer on a property belonging to the company.

Last Wednesday, December 11, 2024, the workers issued an ultimatum to the private developer and stakeholders involved in the demolition of their property in the Ridge residential area of Kumasi.

It is reported the land in dispute is among several state lands in the Ashanti region that has already been sold allegedly to cronies and business partners.

However, checks have revealed that the land was used as collateral by private developers tasked with constructing bungalows for government agencies.

The Vice Chair of the Senior Staff Association of Ghana Water Limited in Ashanti, Emmanuel Okpoti, stated that the demolition at the earmarked site could affect water distribution across the metropolis.

He explained that the company had shut down operations throughout the Ashanti Region and would only resume once they received assurances from the appropriate authorities addressing their concerns.

“What is happening now—if we give in—it means they will simply take away all of our facilities. How can we supply water when we don’t have the opportunity to expand?” he said.

Mr Okpoti added: “The redevelopment they are proposing if it increases the population density around that area, will mean we must improve the water pressure there. Now, the spaces we have that could be converted for this purpose are the very ones they are now selling.”

President- Elect, John Mahama says his overwhelming electoral victory is a clear warning to the political elite that they can no longer take Ghanaians for granted.

According to him, the humiliating defeat suffered by the Nana Akufo Addo – Bawumia government, only signifies rejection and a strong protest by the silent majority against bad governance, corruption, the high level of impunity, unfulfilled promises and neglect culminating in the suffering of the masses.

President Elect, John Mahama believes his overwhelming endorsement hinges on trust and the huge expectations ahead.

“NPP’s defeat is a signal to all political elites and I must say this new administration is probably our last chance to get it right” – the former President, who was interacting with smaller political party leaders who called on him at his office on Monday, December 16,2024, emphasized.

He explained further that there a huge demand on the National Democratic Congress to deliver, irrespective of the admission by Ghanaians that the economy is in shambles.

He made specific reference to the rising unemployment coupled with hardship and the high cost of doing business.

“Ghanaians have held the NDC to higher expectations than the NPP. We are a social democratic party and the NPP is a Property owning democracy so when they do their things, Ghanaians will say that’s them but that is not with us in the NDC”

Mr. Mahama, who has receiving delegations since his re-election describes his return to occupy the highest position of the land as a huge opportunity to leave a legacy, that will reposition Ghana as a democracy with strong institutions to promote good governance.

” This is a legacy term and I want to give our country my best so that we will reset and leave it for others to continue”

President Elect, John Mahama has since assured the public of an open, transparent and consultative government to reset and build the country together.

The office of the President – Elect, John Dramani Mahama has cautioned lobbyists and persons speculating about the potential appointees in his government to desist.

It has also described a purported list of appointments and nominations in circulation on social media as fake.

A statement signed by Special Aide to the President, Joyce Bawa Mogtari on Monday, December 16, 2024 said said list must be rejected completely.

The statement assured they the office of the President – Elect will provide the general public with the necessary information in due course.

“The office of the President -Elect wishes to categorically state that lists circulating on social media purported to be appointments and nominations made by HE John Mahama are false and unauthorized” she said

It advised that those fueling the speculation and agitation among the real and file of the part must stop the dissemination of false news

“We urge all to refrain from spreading unverified information and to rely on official communication from our office” he warned

Find before a copy of the full statement

Behind President Mahama’s historic victory are his loyalists; How Lordina Mahama, Julius Debrah & Seidu Agongo stood the test of loyalty

Politics is a numbers game, but behind every fine politician are loyal friends who have stood by him/her through thick and thin.

These loyalists are the people he/she laughs and cries with; those who take the flag publicly for him/her to stand and the few who squeeze water out of stone when there is no turning point. They are the few who are, sometimes ready to sacrifice comfort and life for the leader to live and progress.

All over the world, the political loyalists are many yet few and sometimes even nonexistent. For a politician with power, everyone is a loyalist, largely driven by the desire to profit from association.

But like love and respect, true loyalty is tested when a politician is ‘naked’ – without power and assumed not to get any soon.

Having observed President-elect, John Dramani Mahama become the only person in the Fourth Republic to have lost the presidency and regain it, I have seen how loyalty has influenced his resurgence and what it will mean for his second-term presidency if properly harnessed.

Top three loyalists

There is no doubt that party executives from the polling station up to the national level worked tirelessly across the length and breadth of the country to ensure this resounding victory for the NDC in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Beyond these broad party-structured loyalists are a few closed associates who stood by President Mahama in the sun, rain and calm, giving him the impetus to fight despite all the intimidations and frustrations placed on his path.

While the list is many, three people standout: His wife, Lordina Mahama, his former chief of staff and long-time friend, Julius Debrah and his silent friend and NDC financier, Alhaji Seidu Agongo.

Tower of loyalty
Mrs Mahama is not just a loving and dedicated wife of President Mahama; she is a strong pillar of support behind her husband, which, in no mean way boosted his morale and galvanised the needed support that ultimately brought him and the NDC to power.

Her humility and desire to support saw her support many communities and people across the country, including her children’s clinics, maternity hospitals and payment of hospital bills for the needy.

She also spent sleepless nights on the campaign trail with her husband, boosting his morale in those grueling tours.

The haunted Agongo

Another person whose loyalty to President Mahama is without question is Alhaji Agongo, the man who was haunted by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government immediately it took office.
A businessman and philanthropist par excellence, Alhaji Agongo’s association with President Mahama dates back to his Member of Parliament days and has grown and strengthened throughout the period.

His loyalty to President Mahama during and after his days in power even cost him businesses, including the one profitable and budding Heritage Bank Ghana Limited, which was collapsed in 2019 despite being solvent and not found to have breached any banking regulation.
The vindictiveness of the government against him knew no bounds as the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration believed that by destroying him, they would get at President Mahama.

Over the past eight years, he has spent almost his entire time in court, answering a court case that many see to be political than legal.

Alhaji Agongo lost all credit facilities and, therefore, could not transact any international business while the political persecution made the local business community to view his companies with suspicion.

Nevertheless, he remained steadfast and never wavered in his support for President Mahama.
He offered his every support, using his financial and media resources to support the Mahama and NDC campaign.

Despite the collapse of his businesses and the freezing of his bank accounts, Alhaji Agongo continued with his loyalty to his friend, President Mahama by embarking on philanthropy, supporting the disadvantaged in society, paying school fees on behalf of brilliant and needy students and constructing health facilities in some parts of the country.

The Debrah factor
His former Chief of Staff, Mr Debrah is one person the party cannot ignore.

He remained loyal to President Mahama, moving things behind the scene and galvanizing the youth behind the Mahama brand.

He is not your usual loud politician but a strategic close associate, humble and ever prepared to offer any assistance within his power.

The mention of his name among party faithful is often followed by testimonies of his willingness to support anything Mahama and NDC.

What next?
In a partisan country like ours, one cannot take loyalty for granted, especially at such crucial period when Ghanaians are expecting so much from the presidency of Mahama to reset the country and put it on the path of recovery.

This is the time he can count on the loyalty and commitment of his close loyalists who stood with him during the critical times in the past and who are still available to assist him make the right choices and offer the proper advice.

As President Mahama’s second presidency is about to begin, many will watch with interest what becomes of that loyalty in the eight years in the wilderness.

As an experienced politician and leader, President Mahama obviously values loyalty and knows how to separate blind loyalty, as has been the case with this trio and many others from the fair weather ones that are all over the place.

The British Ambassador to Ghana has lauded Ghana’s President-elect, John Mahama’s the 120- day social contract aimed at laying the foundation to reset Ghana for growth and prosperity for all.

Her Excellency Harriet Thompson, who paid a courtesy call on HE John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him for his electoral victory, said the UK is ever ready to support the incoming administration with the needed expertise to roll out its policy proposals.

The ambassador also reiterated Britain’s committment towards the fight against corruption.

According to her, the policies outlined by John Mahama align with that of the United Kingdom especially in areas of education, health, and decent jobs amongst others.

“Your 120 day plan highlights a number of areas where your interest and our interests coincide. Health, education, economic growth, job creation” she intimated

Ambassador Harriet Thompson added that the UK will go all out to support Ghana and John MAHAMA’S administration especially in these difficult times to succeed

“we want to offer our expertise to assist however it might be useful to you” she emphasized

H.E Harriet Thompson also used the occasion to congratulate John Mahama for his decisive victory in Saturday’s election.

John Mahama and tbe NDC won the December 2024 election comfortable with with over 1.6milliom votes gap representing 56.55% as against his opponent , Dr Mahamadu who pulled 41.61%.

The NDC also won over two-thirds of tbe Parliamentary seats.

John Mahama has promised to ease business regulations, introduce a 24-hour triple-shift work system, enact tax reforms and invest $10 billion in modernising infrastructure.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to actively participate in the 2024 general elections, stressing that “each vote counts” and highlighting the importance of ensuring a democratic and peaceful process.

After casting his ballot alongside his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, at the Rock of Ages Polling Station in Kyebi on Saturday, December 7, the President expressed his satisfaction with the smooth proceedings on Election Day.

“Today, reports from across the country suggest that the election is progressing well and peacefully. Ghanaians are demonstrating their commitment to democratic outcomes, and we must all be thankful to God for that,” the President remarked.

He encouraged those yet to vote to head to the polling stations, emphasising the importance of making their voices heard.

“What I want to say to everyone is that those of you who have not yet voted, please go out and vote. Each vote counts. Your voice matters, and we want to ensure that, by the end of the day, the majority of Ghanaians are satisfied with the results,” President Akufo-Addo added.

The Ghana Police Service has confirmed the arrest of an Electoral Commission (EC) official, Dery Joseph, at the Kintampo South Constituency in the Bono East Region for alleged electoral malpractice.

According to the police, the suspect is being investigated for issuing approximately 15 ballot papers to voters at the Ampesika-Bayere polling station, which reportedly omitted the first presidential candidate on the ballot.

This incident has sparked immediate concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the affected polling station.

Authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the credibility of the elections.

The police stated their commitment to upholding electoral laws, stating that any individual found to have acted unlawfully would face the full consequences of the law.

Meanwhile, voting activities at the polling station have continued under heightened scrutiny to maintain order and transparency.

The Ghana Police Service has urged the public to report any suspicious activities or irregularities during the electoral process, reinforcing their pledge to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.