Category Archives: News

News, Politics

Next NDC government will support housing scheme for teachers, other salaried workers – John Mahama

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Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his promise to build affordable houses for salaries workers.

The former President who was in a two-day tour of the Western North region said teacher and other pubic servants are assured of his commitment to bridge the housing deficit gap to eliminate the phenomenon of sleepless nights over how to house families after retirement.

Speaking at Debiso in the Bia-West constituency as part of his Building Ghana tour, John Mahama said ” by the time you will retire at age 60, government would have helped you build at least a two bed room apartment at a place of your choice”

He added, “the deduction will be done from your salary so it does not put undue financial burden on you”.

On his usual humorous way of explaining things, Mr. Mahama said “you won’t go back to your family house and be litigating with cousins and nieces over family facilities and or where to lay your head after years of serving the nation and time to have a peaceful mind to reflect’.

According to the latest data by the Ghana Statistical Service, about six (6) million out of the 33 million Ghanaians need housing.

The 2021 Population and Housing Census data on structures, housing conditions and facilities as presented by the GSS puts Ghana’s housing deficit to 1.8m.

 

 

 

By:Wisdom Hededzorme/myxyzonline.com/Ghana

Busines, News, Topstory

Lithium deal: GOC President Nunoo Mensah owns 4.4% shares in Barari DV Ghana Ltd

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President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC),  Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, is a beneficiary owner of the 4.4 per cent shareholding in Barari DV Ghana Ltd, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited expected to mine lithium in the Mfantseman Municipality.

Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources,  who confirmed this on Friday said Mr Nunoo Mensah’s stake in the company dated back to 2012 and that no member of the Akufo-Addo-led Government owned shares in Barari DV Ghana, as being speculated.

The Minister’s response followed a challenge thrown by Mr Sammy Gyamfi, the Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Government to disclose the identity of the one holding 4.4 per cent stake in Barari DV Ghana Ltd.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement with civil society organisations in Accra on the Lithium deal, Mr Jinapor said the Government had nothing to hide regarding the Lithium Lease Agreement and would continue to engage relevant bodies to ensure that Ghanaians became the ultimate beneficiaries of the country’s resources.

Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources

“As the debate is ongoing regarding the Lithium Lease Agreement involving the academia, civil society organisations and so forth, the platform is open to talk to each other, jawjaw and brainstorm on the management of our natural resources to bring progess,” he said.

“And I believe with our collective wisdom, we can have positive wayforward.”

However, the Minister said it was important to segregate opinions and emotions from the real facts and data.

The Government knew the issues regarding mining in Ghana, spanning over a century, therefore, it went through a laborious process to ensure that Ghana’s green minerals, which Lithium is part, benefitted the people, he noted.

In that regard the President insisted that a policy framework was developed for the green minerals before any negotiations commenced. Hence, the policy framework developed required a minimum of seven per cent royalty rate, higher than the five per cent accepted in other minerals.

Mr Jinapor, for instance, said in the Lithium Lease Agreement signed with Barari DV Ghana Limited, the parties agreed that the State would have 19 per cent Free Carried Interest with an option of scaling up to a minimum of 30 per cent.

“There is a 13 per cent royalties, higher than the 10 per cent in the previous agreement, 35 per cent corporate income tax, while one per cent of the Company’s revenues would go to Community Development Fund.”

“There is also a requirement to establish a refinery to process Lithium locally before export.”

“The State also has 3% shares in the local company (Barari DV Ghana Ltd) and 6% in Atlanta Lithium global.”

“More so, the Lease Agreement must go through Parliament for consideration and ratification before it can be validated.”

On refining the lithium ore locally, the Minister said either Barari DV Ltd could establish a refinery to process it or give to a third party to do so. That, he believed, would enable the nation to benefit fully from the entire value chain of lithium exploitation.

Madam Nafi Chinery, Africa Director, Natural Resource Governance Institute, in her opening remarks, said the engagement with the CSOs would allow government to receive actionable recommendations and inputs to guide Parliamentary debates on the proposed Lithium Agreement.

It would also foster understanding of the content of the Agreement and provide accurate information and data on the potential quality, value and revenue expected from the mineral’s exploitation to guide public discourse.

Some participants called for amendments to the country’s mining and mineral laws to be in sync with the terms agreed in the Lithium Agreement.

 

Source: Graphic

Busines, News

Road tolls likely to be back in 2024 – Roads Ministry

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The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has hinted that road tolls are likely to be reintroduced in 2024.

He made the revelation during the consideration of the 2024 budget statement and economic policy in Parliament today, December 15,2023.

Government canceled road toll collections in 2021 after introducing the e-levy which has failed to live up to its promise.

The ministry also says there must be a national dialogue on financing road construction, reports Joy News.

Kwasi Amoako-Attah, Minister of Roads and Highways.

Reacting to the minister’s comment, Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza noted that the reintroduction of the tolls and the minister’s call for national dialogue on road financing was welcome news.

“I think the minister has done the right thing. I will maintain that the suspension was in a haste. By the time we suspended it we were getting 78 million. Mr. Speaker 78 million can pay SMCs, small medium contractors who were weeding the roadside because today we can’t pay them. So I welcome the bold decision by the minister to reintroduce the debate on road tolls as well.

“The minister is proposing for a national dialogue on road financing. Mr. Speaker I think that is the appropriate thing to do. Let us all have a conversation on how we fund our roads. We can never have enough loans from World Bank or free money from anywhere, so let’s have a debate on how we fund our roads internally,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says the decision to reintroduce the road tolls are in the right direction.

He however stressed that when the tolls are reintroduced they should come in a digitalised form to avoid losses to the state.

“Mr. Speaker, at the time we were receiving almost about, just a little over 70 million. That over 70% of tolls collected ended up in wrong hands. I hold the view that this reintroduction of the road tolls… should come with a digitalised solution to sustain it so that the human interface will be minimized if not to be eradicated,” he said.

Parliament has approved ₵4.6 billion for the ministry’s services for next year.

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

News, Politics, Topstory

Ghanaians yearning for Mahama’s return due to Akufo-Addo’s despotism – B.O.T

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Chartered economist, Bernard Oduro Takyi says the collapse of the economy through reckless borrowing and dubious deals cut by the Akufo-Addo government has shifted the attention of Ghanaian electorates to the 2024 flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama.

The youth activist who was speaking on the Gumbe Show on TV XYZ Thursday evening noted the Akufo-Addo government was led by “ponzy scheme managers” who have swindled Ghanaians after bragging that they could alleviate poverty and transform the economy upon the assumption of power.

The NDC member who is also known as ‘B.O.T’ told host Piesie Okrah that there has come a time that “nobody should compare the achievement of the NPP to the NDC” due to how the economy has collapsed under Akufo-Addo resulting in the reeling of all sectors of the government architecture.

He was reacting to the 2-day tour of the NDC flagbearer, John Mahama, to the Western North Region to interact with party executives and the chiefs of the area.

Yearn for Change

During the tour, the Omanhene (paramount Chief) of Bodi, Nana Kwasi Ofori Ababio decried the poor state of roads in his traditional area.

He described as unfortunate what he described as total neglect, particularly the suspension of cocoa roads which would have been completed by now to enhance the movement of goods and services to improve the lives of people, mostly farmers who feed the nation.

According to him the unfortunate development has forced commercial drivers to ply other routes resulting in the unfortunate death of many pregnant women, who have had difficulty commuting to major health facilities for care and treatment.

The development comes after the Akufo-Addo government halted all ‘cocoa road projects’ which were sanctioned under the erstwhile Mahama administration to rehabilitate roads leading to the rich cocoa-growing areas in Sefwi.

Earlier, the Sefwi Wiawso Manhene Okatakyie Kwasi Bumangama II  slammed government for giving them false hope during engagements before the creation of new regions.

According to him, the impression about massive development once Western North is hoved out of Western region is lacking.

“Akuffo Addo said he has given us region but the region is incomplete” – Okatakyie Kwasi Bumangama II lamented during his interaction with former President John Mahama who paid a courtesy call on him and his subjects on Day One of his two-day tour of the region.

Analysing the rousing welcome Mahama received in the area coupled with goodwill messages to him, B.O.T said the reactions from the chiefs indicated that they were fed up with the Akufo-Addo government that has been promising them for the past 7 years without any concrete developmental projects in these areas replete with rich natural resources the nation feeds on.

John Mahama, NDC 2024 flagbearer

“I have always said that the NPP kept lying to Ghanaians and now they have been caught up in their own lies,” he said in Akan while pointing that the NPP is a ruthless capitalist party that focuses on “property owning democracy.”

“I was in the NPP and had to cross to join the NDC at a point so I know what I am talking about. When I was with them, I kicked against that philosophy,” he said. “When the NPP is in power, they don’t care about the poor people; all they think about is what they can amass using the power the people gave them.”

He said the huge amounts of borrowing under the NPP went into consumption, thereby pushing Ghana’s economy to a junk status and the government had to run to the IMF for a bailout.

“The NPP government has shown that the NDC is far better than them because all their policies have failed and the result – the hardship being felt is just as the famine witnessed in 1983 where people could not find food to eat. Today, there is food but people cannot buy due the bad policies…It has never happened in this country, not even under Rawlings’ military regime, that people have to protest for the dividends of their own investments. And this is because Akufo-Addo had messed up the economy miserably,” he emphasized.

To him, the deception that has been exposed by the economic mess has shifted Ghanaians’ attention to Mr Mahama who has governed the country before.

“Most Ghanaians saw what John Mahama did in 4 years. The amount borrowed wasn’t much but they were pumped into prudent projects which are benefitting the country. talk of Accra Digital centre, the KIA terminal 3, good roads and the likes. So i feel the NDC and the NPP aren’t the same.

“Whoever says these two parties are the same is a disappointed NPP supporter. The NDC is a social democratic party and the NPP builds up wealth for its leaders alone instead of working for the people,” he averred.

 

News, Politics

Kissi Agyebeng is suffering for going after Cecilia Dapaah – Citizen Eye Ghana

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The Executive Director of pressure group, Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG), has listed some cases that the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, pursued that have come back to haunt him in office.

Alexander Kwaku Tetteh reveals that ones of such high profile cases costing Mr Agyebeng is going after former Minister for Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, over corruption related issues.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is  already prosecuting six individuals for alleged corruption-related offenses since August 2021.

The OSP presented these persons for criminal trials in court across the nation for corruption and corruption-related offenses.

They include MCE nominee for Juaben, Alexander Kwabena; former Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority, Sumaila Abdul Rahman, his two deputies, and a private contractor; former Chief Executive of Public Procurement Authority, Adjenim Boateng, and former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

Alex Tetteh believes among the persons being prosecuted under the OSP, it is the stash that was found in Cecilia Dapaah’s residence that he decided to pursue.

The former sanitation minister is being investigated by the OSP after her house helps were arrested for allegedly stealing huge sums of dollars and cedis from her Abelenkpe residence.

Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah has refused to declare property and income as demanded by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Reacting to these issues, Alex Tetteh alleged on Battle Ground programme on Power 97.9 FM that some powerful elements in the NPP government he knows are hindering the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor through clandestine ways because of Cecilia Dapaah.

Tetteh accused President Nana Akufo-Addo and some senior government officials in the current government of frustrating the efforts of the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, towards the fight against corruption.

Although appointed by President Akufo-Addo to augment government’s fight against graft, Agyebeng has expressed frustrations about dispensing his duties especially involving powerful persons closer to the NPP government.

Alex Kwaku Tetteh believes the NPP administration is not happy with the operations of the Special Prosecutor following his action against former Minister for Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah.

Tetteh told host King Nicholas that “Our people [the NPP leadership] are worried about the works of Kissi Agyebeng, especially when he took over the Cecilia Dapaah case.”

It is for this reason that Tetteh mentioned popular legal practitioner and a nephew to President Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, and some powerful people in the NPP as having the blessings of the president to frustrate the OSP for coming after some key people in the government.

“Kissi Agyebeng is a learned person who is doing his work well but because of how intelligent he is, our people don’t like him. They are putting hurdles his way because he is pursuing powerful people,” Tetteh said in Akan and called for Ghanaians to have faith in him to fight corruption in higher offices in the country.

Frustrations

Rcently,  Kissi Agyebeng lamented the increasing trend of dismissive rulings against his office whenever he tackled cases involving some powerful persons in government.

The immediate case was when a High Court in Accra quashed a report by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) that found wrongdoing by two individuals, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah, a former Commissioner of the Customs Division at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and Joseph Adu Kyei, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Division, in the popular Labianca case.

The court also awarded costs of GHC 10,000 against the OSP.

The report alleged that the two officials had used their positions to grant favourable tax treatment to Labianca Company, a frozen foods company owned by Council of State member Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh.

Kissi Agyebeng, after his concerns, have been advised by some key persons in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

News, Politics

It’s early days yet – NDC on EC’s proposal to end polls at 3pm

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reiterated calls for the electoral management body, the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure that the 2024 general elections are devoid of rigging.

Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), warned that they will resist any attempts by the EC to rig the election in favour of another political party.

Commenting on the EC’s proposed 3 pm closing time for the 2024 polls, Mustapha Gbande stated that it’s early days yet for the party to make commentary on the EC’s position.

“For us, we welcome a response that will give Ghanaians a feeling that there’s a credible, transparent general election at the end of the day. We have resolved as a party that we are going into 2024 with full force, we are going to an election to win. Rigging that election is a great impossibility and will be resisted with all force, so it behoves on the EC to assure all political parties of a transparent election.”

He added, “That will be a big relief for this country. It’s early days yet; we will see as the conversation unfolds what our technical directors will advise the party to do, what the NPP will come up with, and what other parties will come up with.”

He said the NDC is ready to return to IPAC if the EC engages in consensus-building and does not turn it into a debate forum.

“Then at the end of the day, what we are advocating for again comes back to the table that EC must make IPAC a consensus-building forum, and not a debate forum. If we can cross that bridge, I believe there’s hope for this country. We have a condition that must be fulfilled, and that condition is that if only the EC can make IPAC a consensus-building body, then we will come, if not, we won’t, then there’s no point coming there,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said the party will rejoin IPAC.

The Electoral Commission has justified the decision to shift the closing time of voting from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm during the upcoming 2024 general elections.

The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, emphasized that this adjustment aims to facilitate the transparent and orderly collation of votes by electoral officers in broad daylight.

 

Source: Citi News

News, Politics

Reviewed lithium deal could help us get better roads – NDC’s JJ Sukah

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The Communication Officer for the opposition NDC in the Oforikrom Constituency in the Ashanti Region has backed advocates who have urged the government to renegotiate the agreement to mine lithium in the Mfantseman Municipality in the Central Region.

Jerry James Sukah, who is against the existing mining laws, argued on Dwaboase on TV XYZ that the country has not benefitted from the minerals royalties over the past several decades.

His comment follows a public debate over the controversial Ghana-Barari DV lithium agreement which has taken over media discussions in the past couple of weeks. The government has said the deal is transparent, fair and ultimate benefit to the Ghanaian people.

However, some experts and political analysts have condemned Minister for lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, over the agreement that is yet to be sent to parliament for ratification.

Urging the Akufo-Addo government to review the agreement and engage local communities and stakeholders before signing the deal, Sukah emphasized the need for mining towns to be elevated.

“We have been mining in this country for so many years but we have benefitted very little from the minerals and it is disheartening. Look at Obusai and other mining communities and you would realise that we need to change the laws governing the exploitation of of the country’s mineral resources,” he told host Prince Minkah.

To him, the NDC has backed experts’ call for the lithium agreement to be reviewed to give Ghana a deserving stake.

“look at how the roads at Obuasi and its environs are. We have not had anything meaningful over these years that we have been mining,” he stated. “We in the Ashanti Region will ensure that the right thing is done so the country gets its fair share of the resources to develop the the country. There are many bad roads in this country that can be fixed when this deal is reviewed to the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”

He said his constituency has many bad roads such that urban dwellers have to fix their vehicles frequently at their own cost yet the government doesn’t see the need to get a good deal from expatriates who show interest in the country’s mineral resources.

NDC’s Position

A press release signed by the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, has cast doubts on the deal’s transparency.

This lack of openness, the NDC says breeds suspicion and fuels concerns about potential backroom deals and hidden agendas.

” The NDC holds the view, that the green minerals of the country, should not be exploited based on the existing mining laws and policies, which are predominantly tailored for gold mining and have not benefited the nation over the years,” Sammy Gyamfi stated.

“We are of the firm opinion, that it is about time the existing colonial model of mining lease concession agreements, was reviewed. New models for the exploitation of our mineral resources such as Joint Ventures and Service Agreements, that provide for equitable benefit sharing, enhanced local participation and value addition, should be considered as part of the review of the laws and policies governing our extractive sector.”

The NDC Spokesman said “country urgently needs a reviewed mining regime, that provides for the sustainable funding and strengthening of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, to engage in reconnaissance and prospecting, particularly in relation to green minerals. We believe that this, if supported by the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) under the right policy framework, will enhance the bargaining power of the state in the exploitation of our mineral resources.”

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

 

News

Intense harmattan coming this December – Ghana Meteo warns

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The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) says Ghanaians should brace themselves for an intense Harmattan season throughout December 2023.

The Agency attributed the development to the arrival of a dry continental wind.

Presently, Ghana is encountering dry and dusty winds; characteristic of the Harmattan season.

Frederick Cudjoe, a Senior Meteorologist at the Agency, emphasised in an interview with Citi News on Thursday, December 14, the need for Ghanaians to take necessary precautions to avoid accidents during this season.

“We advise that when visibility becomes very poor especially early in the morning and then at dawn, motorists should take necessary precautions, especially by using their fog lights and also driving within the speed limit.

Also, people who go to farms, we advise that they take the necessary precautions to prevent any fire outbreak,” he said.

“Again, since we will be having particles in the atmosphere, we advise that maybe we can put on our nose masks during this period to avoid taking in a lot of those particle into our respiratory systems.

“This is because we are realising that we have the dry continental wind invading our country, and we expect this condition to last, especially for the entire period of December right from now to the end of the month.

“This means that we are going to be getting a lot of this dryness coming from the Sahara and the Sahel regions into our country.

“And then also the dust conditions will be accompanied by winds which are coming from the northern part of the continent into our country,” he said.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com

News, Politics

John Mahama begins ‘Building Ghana tour’ in Western region tomorrow

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The Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will begin a two day tour of the Western region on Saturday, 16th of December, 2023.

The former President, who just ended a similar visit to the Western North region is expected to begin from the Jomorro and Elllebele districts where he will engage party foot soldiers and various groups within the Nzema belt of the region, as well as courtesy calls on traditional leaders.

A communique issued by the Western regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Richard Kirk-Mensah, his entourage will kick start the tour in Jaway Wharf, where he will interact with market women, drivers, transport unions and other identifiable groups.

He is also expected to pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council at Atuabo and then meet artizans, dressmakers, hairdressers, traders etc in Atuabo.
Later in the morning on day one of his visit, he meet the student body of the Eziama Nursing school will Still in the Ellembelle constituency.

The former President, accompanied by some top party officials, NDC MPs in the region and former appointees, will end the 1st day of the tour in Evalue Ajomoro Gwira constituency, where he will pay a courtesy call on Paramount chief of Nsein tradition Council and the paramount chief of Lower Axim in Nsein and Axim respectfully.

The communique said, in the evening on Saturday, the former President will interact with fisherfolks in Axim.

On Sunday, 17th December, John Mahama is expected to join congregants at the Roman Catholic Church at Apowa in the morning and follow up with a community engagement in Apowa.

The team will proceed to Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, where there will be a town hall meeting where His Excellency John Dramani Mahama will use the platform to throw more light on the much talked about 24-hour Economy.

“There will be a student connect program at the Holy Child Training school where the next president will interact with the student body.” – the statement signed by Richard Kirk-Mensah noted.

According to his itinerary, the Mr Mahama will end his 2-day tour of the region in the Shama constituency, where he is expected to engage the fishing community in Anlo Beach.

 

By: Afia Owusu/myxyzonline.com//Ghana

News

GES to reinstate all 11 interdicted headteachers

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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revised its decision and will reinstate all the interdicted heads of Senior High Schools.

This follows pleas at a closed-door meeting between the GES leadership, representatives from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Conference of Assisted Heads of Senior High Schools (CHASS) in Accra.

General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, who was present at the meeting, expressed appreciation for the GES’s responsiveness to calls for the reinstatement of the affected heads.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Musah said.. “This development suggests a positive outcome from the discussions, signaling the imminent reinstatement of the interdicted Senior High School heads,”
The education authorities were compelled to sanction the school heads for charging what it described as unapproved fees.

Letters announcing their interdiction referred to charges and sale of school branded items including cloths, track suits, vests, Students Representative Council, SRC, House and PTA dues, books, calculators, admission process fees, and charges for printing slips, files, and hymn books to first-year SHS students.
The eleven interdicted headteachers are Mrs. Selina Anane Afoakwa, Headmistress of Kumasi Girls SHS; Mr. Nathaniel Asamoah, Headmaster of Asanteman SHS; Mr. Andrews Boateng, Headmaster of Kumasi Senior High Technical School; and Mr. Kwadwo Obeng-Appiah, Headmaster of Manso-Edubia SHS.

The others include Mr. Daniel Boamah Duku, Headmaster of Agric Nzema Community SHS; Ms. Gladys Sarfowah, Headmistress of Nkawie Senior High Technical School; and Mr. Ampong Ahmed Omar, Headmaster of Collins SHS.

News, Politics

EC to display scanned pink sheets showing results from all polling stations on dedicated portal in Election 2024

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The Electoral Commission (EC) intends to display results from the various polling stations on a dedicated online portable as part of efforts to enhance transparency in the 2024 General Election.
The Commission said it would display scanned signed pink sheets on the portal, which the public can access in real time.

Mrs Jane Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, disclosed this at a stakeholder meeting to take stock of events after the 2020 General Election as part of preparations towards the 2024 General Election.

The meeting, organised by the National Peace Council, was held at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Thursday.

Mrs Mensa said the decision to publish polling station results would promote inclusion and involve citizens throughout the election process.

“We intend to display the results from the polling station on a dedicated portal. This proposal aligns with the EU Observer Mission recommendation. For the first time in our history, we posted results from the 16 Regions and 275 Constituencies in real time.

“This time around, we plan to display the scanned signed pink sheets on a dedicated portal. We are confident that this arrangement will promote transparency and engender further trust and confidence in our electoral processes,” she said.

EC to close polls at 3pm

The EC also proposed to close polls at 15:00 hours to ensure that counting was done in broad daylight to enhance transparency.

The Commission said the experience from the 2020 Election indicated that by 13:00 hours, about 70 per cent of polling centres were empty of voters due to the creation of multiple polling centres that sped the process.

Mrs Mensa said the EC intended to create many polling centres and ensure that each polling centre had not more than 500 voters to limit voting time.
She said in the last election, voters spent not more than five minutes in casting their voting because of the creation of more voting centres.

“We are convinced that closing the polls at 3pm will enable counting and collating to take place in broad daylight and promote the needed transparency and orderliness we so desire.

“We trust that our Parliament will support this drive to ensure greater transparency and orderliness in our electoral process,” Mrs Mensa said.

The Commission also proposed an all-year-round exhibition exercise, which would enable citizens check their registration details on their smartphones and other mobile devices.

Mrs Mensa said she was hopeful that Parliament would pass the new Constitutional Instrument that recommended a continuous voters registration exercise and sought to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document to establish an applicant’s citizenship.

She said the proposal would help to phase out the guarantor system, which had been fraught with challenges and undermined the credibility of the voters register.

Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman, National Peace Council, said the Council would continuously dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure peaceful election in 2024.

He appealed to the National Democratic Congress to return to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to foster consensus building.

“If we all commit to peace Ghana will have one of the best elections in Africa,” he said.
Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said the 2024 Election was peculiar in the wake of political instability in the West Africa Sub-region.

“We are more vulnerable than before. We must work with each other and assure each other so that we can arrive at the elections and beyond the elections in peace

 

 

 

Source: GNA

News, Politics, Topstory

NDC returns to IPAC meetings after National Peace Council’s intervention

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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejoined the Inter Party Advisory Commitee (IPAC) meetings with the Electoral Commission.

The decision follows an intervention by the National Peace Council, NPC at a meeting held at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Thursday, December 14.
The stock-taking conference, attended by other stakeholders, was to assess institutional progress towards building the required resilience for credible, transparent, and peaceful general elections in 2024.

Myxyzonline has learnt NDC’s return was based on condition that IPAC maintains its consensus status whereby decisions twill be influenced by the consideration of all parties in the interest of Ghana.
Prior to the official announcement by the NDC, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, made an appeal to the NDC to rejoin IPAC.

She admitted that the party’s contribution was invaluable to the democratic process of the country.
“I would like to use this opportunity to invite the leadership of the National Democratic Congress to our IPAC meetings. We do realise that since 2021, NDC has not been present at our IPAC meetings. We miss them, we miss their fire. I extend an olive branch and in the interest of peace of our country. We invite them to IPAC,” she said.

In response, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia expressed his party’s commitment towards efforts at shaping the country’s democratic and electoral processes.
He however emphasized the need for the C must ensure that IPAC assumes its original “consensus building” status towards the implementation of electoral reforms.

“On behalf of the Party, we accept the appeal from the National Peace Council that we should consider returning to IPAC, but we want to return to IPAC and not any other forum”. – he explained
Mr Nketia added. “The other side is for us to work to make sure that IPAC returns to its consensus building days…the issues that blocked our return should be dealt with before our next IPAC meeting,”
He also expressed concern with the EC’s efforts towards making the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the Commission’s proposed continuous voter registration exercise.
The NDC argued that the move had the potential to disenfranchise about one million voters, a position the EC had debunked.

“We will support it if everyone had the Ghana Card,” Mr Nketia said.

Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Kathleen Addy, in a brief remark, said the 2024 Election was peculiar in the wake of political instability in the West Africa Sub-region.

“We are more vulnerable than before. We must work with each other and assure each other so that we can arrive at the elections and beyond the elections in peace and intact,” she said.

The NDC had boycotted IPAC meetings since March 2020 after the party expressed displeasure about the posture of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The Party had accused the Commission of failing to take into consideration decisions at IPAC meetings as part of its electoral reforms.

Myxyzonline