Election 2008

Akufo-Addo concedes victory to Mills

kosivh — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:54:00 GMT

Accra, Jan. 4, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday conceded victory to President-elect Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying, "I acknowledge the Electoral Commission's declaration and congratulate Prof. Mills".

He, however, reiterated concerns raised by the NPP on the conduct of the elections particularly in the Volta Region, where it claimed its party agents were barred from parts of that area during the elections because of violence meted to them by NDC supporters, questioning the impression created by the Electoral Commission in announcing the poll's results.

"By stating that there is criminal conduct in some constituencies of the Volta Region and yet announcing the results, the Electoral Commission has given the unfortunate impression that it does not matter how votes are being obtained as long as they are duly recorded", he told reporters in Accra.

"The use of violence for electoral advantage is unacceptable in all circumstances" he said, adding that, the courts would have to resolve the "illegalities".

Whilst appealing to his supporters to show restraint in the face of provocations by NDC supporters, Nana Akufo-Addo urged Prof. Mills to condemn publicly, acts of violence and intimidation by his sympathisers and to take concrete steps to restrain them in order not to undermine the peace and stability of the nation.

He also called on President J.A. Kufuor, the security forces and the law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of the party's supporters, because "I am concerned that if positive steps are not taken to protect and to reassure them, they will be compelled to defend themselves.

"This is a divided country and these times call for leadership, from all of us so that we can both continue to build this country. "Both Prof. Mills and I have an obligation to foster conciliation and consensus and I pledge to do my part.Our nation is at the crossroads and we must work together, to build it peacefully", he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo urged all members of the party to "remain steadfast, united and ready to confront the new challenges that we face in our efforts to build Ghana as a democracy, where human rights and the rule of law are respected", adding, "I believe in Ghana, and God willing, we shall be back".

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan on Saturday declared Prof. Mills, candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the winner of the Presidential Election Runoff held on December 28 2008 and January 3, 2009.

Prof. Mills polled 4,521,032 votes or 50.23 per cent while Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had 4,480,446 votes or 49.77 per cent.

Total valid vote cast was 9,001,478; rejected ballots were 92,886; and total vote cast was 9,094,364 with a voter turnout of 72.91 per cent.

Source: GNA

Why Nana Akufo-Addo Should Be elected President.

kosivh — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:31:00 GMT

On 28 December 2008, Ghanaians will be discharging perhaps the noblest civic duty of all – i.e. to elect the nation’s leader for the next four years. It is a heavy burden that we must bear with great pride and responsibility, for other nations have resorted to war and bloodshed to settle the question of who leads them.

Both Nana Akufo Addo and Prof. Mills, the presidential candidates for the highest office of the land, are devoted citizens who clearly love their country and genuinely desire to see it flourish among the community of nations. They have both served their nation in various roles and to the best of their ability, and I believe they have great respect for each other despite their political differences. But we can only elect one of them as president.

If there is one clear indication of what the governing of Ghana in the post-Kufuor era will be like, it is the fact that neither the NPP nor the NDC will have a ‘working majority in parliament, as a party will need at least 116 seats in order to push or reject a bill through the House. Of course there is always the risk of a hung parliament in such circumstances, thereby frustrating and slowing down legitimate and genuine programmes simply on cheap political point scoring lines rather than looking at issues from the national interest perspective. However, this scenario can be avoided if we have a president who is a skilled consensus builder, as well as a man who knows how to reach out and build effective coalitions from disparate groups with different philosophies and aims. The makeup of parliament therefore makes this quality an even more compelling one.

Nana Akufo-Addo began his active political life in the 1970s, as Secretary General of the People’s Movement of Freedom and Justice (PMFJ). This group was set up during the Acheampong regime to oppose the concept of Union Government that General Acheampong seemed intent on forcing on Ghanaians. Notably, the PMFJ was an all-embracing political entity that drew support and membership from across the political divide. PMFJ was not Nkrumahist or Busiaist- its common denominator was that members were Ghanaians who resented Acheampong’s plans for the country and yearned for freedom, and Nana was at the forefront of this courageous fight for democracy and human dignity - at such an early stage of his life.

In the late 1990s, Nana was the founder and first Chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples Rights, which was set up during the PNDC military dictatorship to protect the civil liberties of Ghanaians. In 1995, he was one of the architects of the ground breaking "Kume Preko" demonstrations of the Alliance for Change (AFC), an alliance of various groups in the country whose shared common interest was that of resisting aspects of NDC policies through protests.

Again, in the 2000 election runoff that finally dislodged the NDC from power, Nana was instrumental in bringing together all the opposition parties to lend their support to the NPP’s vision of effecting real change in Ghanaian politics. It did not matter what political family the parties belonged to- what was at stake was the interest of the nation, the common, yearning desire to usher in a new era of peace, stability, freedom and development. At the moment, The DFP, including some factions of the CPP and the PNC have declared their support for Nana Akufo-Addo, which clearly sends the signal that, all the opposition parties message of ‘Change’ was not sung from the same hymn book.

In addition it is important to note that according to the Life Patron of the DFP – Dr. Orbed Yao Asamoah (a man who Lectured Prof. Atta Mills), he believes that Nana Akufo-Addo would provide a ‘better’ leadership than Prof. Atta Mills – I want to ask him why? He also stated at the National Executive meeting (see chronicle on 16th Dec 2008) held recently by the DFP that, under the NPP, Ghanaians have benefited from macro-economic gains, stability of foreign exchange and freedom which had allowed development without any interference unlike the NDC era – I want to ask him why?.

He indicated that under the human rights record under the NPP were far better than that of the NDC, and that there were attempts by elements in the NDC to destroy citizens hard earned property, citing the destruction of Alhaji Yusuf’s hotel as an example – I want to ask him why?. He the stated that, economically, Ghanaians would be better off under the NPP than the NDC. – I want to ask him why?

I want to ask why because, Dr Asamoah is the longest serving Minister of Justice under the NDC. He was a former Foreign Minister/Secretary, and member of the PNDC (in fact one of the only individuals to survive from the PNDC era till the NDC lost in 2000), a very good friend of the Rawlings’, Atta Mills’ and the rest of the P/NDC fraternity, and worked with Prof. Atta Mills when the latter was Vice-President. Are these not statements from a man who knows the P/NDC personalities and government more than almost any Ghanaian and if I may politely say Prof. Atta Mills himself? Should Ghanaians listen to his candid opinions? I leave the rest for the readers’ imagination and sober reflection.

In 2002, after drafting and championing the National Reconciliation Act (Act 611), which established the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), he guided the Commission to push forward significantly the process of healing the wounds of victims of human rights abuses in Ghana. The aim of the setting up of the commission was to reach out to those who had suffered under the various governments and to bring about a healing process in order to move this nation as one people with a common destiny, forward. He was proud to be a part of a government that included men of different political traditions, in particular Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom.

Looking over the years at Nana’s involvement in public life, a clear fact emerges. Here is a man who never hesitates to reach across and bring together people and ideas for a higher ideal- the ideal being what is in the best interests of Ghana and her people. It is for nothing that the clear theme of his campaign has been ‘BIG’- ‘I Believe In Ghana’. That is the common vision he seeks to share with those he hopes to work with, political differences notwithstanding.

He understands that Ghana is a broad tent, with talent strewn across the political, ethnic, religious, gender and social spectra, and as his record shows, he will not hesitate to reach across these and seek the best men and women to build an effective team to help him lead Ghana.

Nana has occupied the role as the nation’s top diplomat by serving as President Kufuor’s Foreign Minister. This role has endowed him with the skill of building consensus, a vital tool in international diplomacy. As president, he would have to address Africa’s two major international issues, the crises in Sudan’s Darfur region as well as Zimbabwe’s political stalemate. On both these difficult issues, there is no common African position. This means that as one of Africa’s respected nations, Ghana will have to lead the way, together with other nations, in sorting this out, and Nana Akufo-Addo who understands the intricate skill of consensus building and diplomacy will be an asset to the standing of Ghana and the image of Africa if elected president.

As the 2008 parliamentary elections and the first round of the presidential elections have shown, no political party or tradition holds the title deeds to the nation as if by divine right. No government, in these circumstances, can afford to go it alone- it will need the other side of the political divide to work with in the common interest of this nation.

In conclusion, Nana Akufo-Addo is well-poised, by dint of his clear and exemplary record of his public life as chronicled above, to lead this country to a stable, prosperous nation. Let us kindly join him on this journey by voting for him as Ghana’s next president on 28 December 2008, irrespective our differences. There is only one qualification, however- you must BELIEVE IN GHANA.

By Mike Oquaye Jnr.

Is the NDC ready for prime time?

kosivh — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:58:00 GMT

NDC’s Selective Amnesia

Do Ghanaians have a short memory? With the electioneering campaign on its last throes and with the impending run-off looming large on the horizon, the NDC is again telling Ghanaians to vote it into power. NDC was technically in power for twenty plus years. Its formative years were spent as a military dictatorship. The atrocities that occurred during its twenty year watch-imprisonment without trial, confiscation of assets without compensation, politically motivated killings and disappearances etc. are all etched in our collective memory. So we thought!!

The NDC should accept and acknowledge the fact that during its twenty year rule, Ghana was a termite-infested Potemkin village- a façade of so-called political stability concealing a core morass of economic decay. The NDC with its cadre of soi-disant revolutionaries and egalitarians mostly turned out to be ideological phonies and self-serving politicians with an eye for a quick buck. I see no difference between the PNDC and its so-called democratic offshoot, the NDC.

Ghana at the Sunset of 2nd Rawlings Administration

While the NPP believes in governmental minimalism that allows market forces to inflict its rigors in the marketplace when a correction is needed, the NDC is still crazy about big government. The debate is about the role of government in the economy. It’s about time the NDC learnt that government has no business doing business. When the NNP took over from the NDC in 2001 the economy was in shambles.

This is what the “Economist” wrote about Ghana on July 22, 2000 just before Mr. Rawlings and his NDC handed over power to the NPP in January 2001: “the cedi is in a free fall, which means that living standards and economic growth in Ghana, one of Africa's rare economic successes, are both threatened.

In January 2000, 3,530 cedis were needed to buy a dollar. Six months on, the rate has nearly doubled to 6,400. That is, if dollars can be got at all from the banks. Most people have to hunt for them on the black market, where the rate
is now closer to 7,000. The re-emergence of a busy black market, ten years after foreign exchange was liberalized, is an indication of how bad things are. All sectors of the economy are suffering. Ghanaian industry is heavily dependent on imported machinery, so profit margins are being shaved. Prices of some consumer goods are now below the dollar cost of their purchase. Some merchants brazenly quote their wares in dollars, defying the central bank's 1998 ban on doing this. In June, members of the Union of Traders shut their
shops for a week in protest against the cedi's depreciation. The real value of workers' pay falls weekly as consumer prices rise. "My monthly pay packet was Dollars 1,000 in 1999, it is now worth Dollars 515. I cannot save any money,"
complained a worker in one of the country's banks. And he is one of the best-paid workers in the country. Civil servants, such as teachers, earn less than Dollars 100 a month at current exchange rates. The government blames the country's misfortunes on "external shocks", a catch-phrase that encompasses the double anguish of falling prices for cocoa, one of Ghana's main exports, and the rising cost of imported oil. Critics of the government make the all too obvious point that it has allowed the economy to remain over-dependent on primary commodities. Foreign aid is drying up. And corruption, too, plays its part. Last March, the World Bank
withdrew a loan facility of Dollars 100m when a water-management contract was dubiously awarded. Britain may withdraw money for a similar project. Reserves have dropped dangerously low. The political and social consequences of the currency collapse have so far been mild: the traders' week-long strike has been the most disruptive event.
But things could get much worse: the prospect looms of workers' strikes, of foreign investors leaving the country, rising unemployment and falling national income. Already the painful 17-year economic adjustment program under IMF guidance has been derailed. Many skilled workers and professional people are trying to emigrate. The government has applied a few bandages to the currency hemorrhage. It has managed to stabilize the exchange rate by borrowing money from abroad and raising interest rates. To the anger of the IMF's representative, the finance minister also tried, unsuccessfully, to restrict the repatriation of foreign
exchange. The long-term answer has to be to reduce Ghana's dependency on gold and cocoa. This, in fact, has been the declared aim of the regime, led by Jerry Rawlings, ever since it took over in 1983. Next December, President Rawlings is at last due to step down. But the election that month means that political uncertainty is added to Ghana's other tribulations.”

Fellow Ghanaians, this is what Rawlings bequeathed to the NPP in 2001. Need I say more? Why on earth will Ghanaians want to send the NDC back to the Castle? Never Again, Never Again.

The NDC can never be trusted

During the first round of the election on December 8, while the votes were being tallied, the NDC issued a rather bizarre statement saying that it had won the elections. The statement from the Office of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, presidential candidate said it was aware of attempts by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig Election 2008 and warned of dire consequences. The statement signed by Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications of the Mills Campaign, said: "We know we have won the elections and no amount of underhand acts by the NPP and its surrogates as well as paid agents shall we allow the mistake of 2004 to be repeated."

What happened when all the votes were tallied? Not only did Nana Akufo-Addo garner more votes than Prof. Atta Mills, but there was no evidence of post election shenanigans on the part of the NPP. The NDC is a party of conspirators. It is a party borne out of the murderous adventure of a phalanx of misguided ideologues who took up arms to overthrow the legitimate constitutional government. We are still waiting for the Mea Culpa from the NDC for the atrocities unleashed on Ghanaians during the heady days of the PNDC rule. And they want to come back to power? They are at their game again issuing threats and threat of violence to win power.

Ghanaians should exercise wise judgment and vote the Nana Akufo Addo to power. Ghanaians are sick and tired of the unfounded allegations, treasonable diatribe and ethnic-bashing coming from the NDC propaganda machine. Prof. Atta Mills, rather denouncing the vituperative rhetoric of the likes of Rawlings, Aidoo and Nketia, is embracing it hook, line and sinker. After eight years as president, Rawlings is still unable to discipline his urge to bloviate. Rawlings’ actions post-presidency, provide the lightening rod for current political discourse in Ghana. Rawlings’ incessant use of demagoguery, tribal incitements and other cheap stratagems to stay in the limelight should be denounced by all freedom-loving Ghanaians.

Political Corruption

Political corruption is a global issue- it’s all around us but the African has shown an uncanny susceptibility to corrupt influences. From the head of state to the low-level civil servant, you’ll find bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft and embezzlement within the corridors of power. Even the highest form political corruption- kleptocracy, still holds sway in Africa. If you listen to the NDC propaganda machine, you would think that NPP was the poster boy of corrupt government in Africa.

The NDC was a nakedly corrupt outfit. During the era of NDC’s crony capitalism, it turned a noble program of privatization into a gargantuan scheme to reward its supporters with government contracts, grants, loans and other items of state-issued largesse. Who were the beneficiaries? They were party officials, supporters, their families and friends, who, notwithstanding their inability to perform or deliver still had their bread well buttered. Crony Capitalism in Ghana reached its apogee during the P(NDC) era. Just take a look at what they bequeathed to the NPP.

In an expose in 2005, the Statesman, revealed that at least $882 million of “government-guaranteed loans lent to institutions and companies, many of whom with close ties to the PNDC and NDC, are yet to be recovered by the State. With some dating as far back as 1987, several of the arrears are considered today as doubtful debts.”

The paper wrote at that time that “at least another ¢328 billion of loan facilities to the private sector guaranteed by the Rawlings administration has been totally written off by the Kufuor administration as “non-recoverable loans” – bad debts.”

Does the NDC have selective and convenient amnesia when it comes to its own corruption and graft? Has the NDC forgotten about the $100 million loan facility that was contracted and was never sent to Parliament for approval?

Here is the drum roll of NDC cronyism according to the Statesman’s expose:

Frandesco & Partners, a construction company owned by one of the biggest bankrollers of the NDC at the time, Francis Doe, is among the biggest defaulters. Between 1992 and 1996, a total loan package of £27.2 million (¢430.6 billion) and DM17.1 million (equivalent to ¢184 billion), under the ECGD facility, were guaranteed by Government to five companies allegedly headed by or allied to Francis Doe. The companies were Frandesco & Partners (£4 million), Frandesco (West Africa) (£12.5 million), Fruit & Flavours (£2.8 million), Goi-Kposem Mining (£8.2 million). The DM17.1 million went to another allied company, Franmar JV.
£25.6 million (¢102.7 billion) of the ECGD facility advanced to 15 companies under the NDC, is still outstanding.
Kamara Ltd, owned by Baba Kamara, still owes Government about ¢19 billion from the ECGD facility.
Pentrexx Ltd, a company that the former NDC Chairman, Obed Asamoah, allegedly refused to prosecute over the construction of the Keta Sea Defense System, has an outstanding debt of about ¢18.4 billion owed to the State.
J Stanley Owusu & Company, a firm owned by a staunch NDC sympathiser at the time, still has to make loan repayment of £3.3 million (¢57 billion) to the State.
Apart from the £25.6 million, there is an additional ‘disputed’ balance of £80.6 million of the ECGD facility owed by 7 other companies, including Danielli Mabey, owned by the late Danny Ofori Atta of EGLE Party and a leading member of the Wahala demonstrations.
An additional ¢5.7 billion of a Japanese non-project type grant is still owed by beneficiary companies of the PNDC and NDC regimes of Jerry John Rawlings. Much of the Japanese grants given between 1987 and 1994 went to companies with very close links to Mr Rawlings or his administration. Typical of these are Mark Cofie Engineering, which received ¢8.4 million in 1989 value. Mr Rawlings had a well-known friendship with a daughter of the late Mark Cofie and indeed stayed in their house for a while in the past. The Tema-based Brenya Distribution, which still owes ¢59.6 million dating as far back as 1991 from the same Japanese grant facility, was owned by a leading member of the NDC.

The Statesman wrote; “In the case of Frandesco, a situation not unusual with several of the others, the company did not even make payments to cover the contractual 15% down payment of the total value of the funds borrowed. The 15% down payments, arrangement fees and other charges were also paid by the central bank and recovered from Government. Moreover, matured repayments relevant to the 85% were not made as scheduled by the five allied companies and had to be recovered from the Controller and Accountant-General’s account at the Bank of Ghana. This is because funds were not made ready in advance, as agreed, by the beneficiary companies to meet the maturing installments.”
Ironically, Frandesco sued the Government for breach of contract involving some construction works. Have we forgotten about the CP Construction’s illegal transfer of DM117 million into its Liechtenstein account?

It is axiomatic: Some people want public office in order to do something, others in order to be something. Rawlings was the latter sort. Which is why he never seriously considered dealing with Ghana’s most serious policy problems while in office, and why he was an unserious president. Now out of office, he uses these gimmicks to get the attention he fondly craves and he is waging a desperate battle to come back to power using Atta Mills as his proxy. Never Again, Never Again.

Mills & Mahama-Don’t get it

The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Mahama speaking at an energy forum organized for presidential aspirants by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said: “an NDC government will produce low cost electricity and meet the energy needs of industry.” If you believe that, then I want to sell you the George Washington Monument in Washington DC.

Mr. Atta-Mills also revealed his lack of understanding of financial policies when he said in Koforidua that low interest rate means nothing to the ordinary man. Mr. Mills please note that when capital is cheap, businesses borrow to expand, when businesses expand, they hire more people. Do you get it Mr. Mills? So how are you going to create jobs? Please we don’t want to return to the era of big government- when the NDC bloated government budget with quasi-state institutions that did no productive work.

Ghana’s Destiny –The Survival of Democracy in Ghana

The NPP has within eight years created the framework for the survival of democracy in Ghana. The press is now free and even the pro-NDC press can publish freely without the threat of the use of night soil as a weapon of mass intimidation. The NPP stands for democracy, the NDC believes in revolutions and violence. The NPP’s belief in democracy has allowed the NDC to thrive as a political party in spite of its incessant appeal to violence. Is there a middle ground between the NDC’s obsession with violence and an intelligent commitment to democracy in Ghana? Why will a party that professes a commitment to democracy and rule of law dissipate its time, money and energy to instigate violence in Ghana?

I still believe that the destiny of Ghana should be determined not through the barrel of a gun but through the sanctity of the ballot box. The NPP offers Ghana’s best hope for the survival of democracy. If democracy and the rule of law are to thrive in Ghana, then let us give the NPP another eight years.

Credit: Baffour Ennin, Washington, DC.

No time for blame game -Nana tells NPP supporters

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:54:00 GMT

The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the weekend urged all party activists to avoid trading accusations, and concentrate on their campaign activities to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the December 28 run-off presidential election

He noted that even though some acts of commissions and omissions on the part of some party activists who had some crucial roles to play in respect of the conduct of the December 7 elections had been brought to the fore, it was important that the party concentrated on the presidential run-off and deal with those issues afterwards.

"Let's put the past behind us, remain focused and united, and harness all efforts to ensure that we win the run-off to continue with our development agenda for the nation.

A lot of things happened in the December 7 elections, but this is not the time for blame game. Let"s win the elections and later deal with those issues,” he stated.

Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking in an interview on BIYAC FM, an Akyem-Oda based radio station, as part of activities marking his campaign visit to the Eastern Region.

The Presidential Candidate had earlier visited Nkawkaw where he addressed stakeholders’ meeting attended by polling station and constituency executives from the five constituencies in the Kwahu area.

They are Abetifi, Mpraeso, Nkawkaw as well as Afram Plains North and South constituencies.

The meeting was preceded by a radio interview on Obuoba FM, a station based at Nkawkaw.

From Nkawkaw, Nana Akufo-Addo and his team, which included Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Amoabeng Gyekye, Eastern Regional NPP Chairman, took their campaign to Koforidua, where the Presidential Candidate addressed another stakeholders’ meeting. That was also preceded by an interview on Eastern FM, a Koforidua-based radio station.

The NPP Presidential Candidate expressed his deep-seated appreciation to the electorate in the Eastern Region for the massive support they gave him and the NPP in the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.

He however, regretted the fact that many of the party supporters did not turn up to vote, adding that the refusal of those people to vote contributed to the party’s inability to secure 'one-touch’ victory.

He called on all supporters and sympathisers of the NPP not to be dispirited by his inability to secure a resounding victory in the last presidential election, adding that the fact that he secured more of the valid votes cast than his main contender, John Atta Mills, showed that the incumbent party remained the choice of majority of the electorate.

Nana Akufo-Addo encouraged them to remain firm in their support for the NPP, and turn up in their numbers to vote massively for him during the run-off presidential election to ensure a resounding victory.

The NPP standard bearer observed that the nation’s struggle for democracy was not yet over, and that there are tremendous challenges ahead as the nation seeks to consolidate the gains made in the current democratic dispensation.

He has, therefore, urged the electorate not to make the mistake of voting to return the opposition National Democratic Congress to the corridors of power because in his view, “the return of the party founded and controlled by former President Rawlings will pose a serious threat to the consolidation of our democracy.”

Nana Akufo-Addo ended his campaign tour of the Eastern Region at Nsawam, where the people expressed their determination to come out in their numbers to vote for him on December 28.

Source: The Statesman

Supporters Excited As DFP Joins Akufo-Addo’s Convoy

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:50:00 GMT

The sight of Democratic Freedom Party's vehicle in the convoy of the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, excited many supporters in the Akyem Oda Constituency.

The DFP last week officially declared its support for Nana Akufo-Addo in the presidential run-off.

The sight of vehicles painted in the colours of the DFP with the pictures of Nana Akufo Addo posted on them excited the crowd. The DFP joined Nana Akufo-Addo’s convoy for the two-day Eastern Regional tour.

From Akyem Oda, Nana Akufo-Addo addressed mini rallies and party stakeholders at Kade, Boadua, Asamankese and Nsawam, and at all those places, he was given a rousing welcome by a large number of party supporters.

He told them not to take next Sunday's election for a joke and so they must go out in their numbers to vote for him and retain the NPP in power.

Barely a week to the presidential run-off, Nana Akufo-Addo called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to amend its procedure of voting in order to reduce the number of rejected ballot papers.

He suggested that instead of making voters dip their small fingers into an indelible ink before casting their ballot, they should be made to do so after voting.

In an interview last saturday on Biyac FM, a radio station based in Akyem Oda, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the procedure adopted by the EC in the December 7 polls resulted in the high number of rejected ballot papers.

That was because many voters mistakenly used their small fingers marked with the indelible ink to print on the ballot papers, thereby leaving many of the ballots blank in the process.

Nana Akufo-Addo said December 28, 2008, was a "day of destiny" and a "day of history" in Ghana and so the EC and, indeed, all Ghanaians must take steps to ensure that the election was held in a free and fair manner.

The EC is reported to have indicated that it would keep to the procedure it adopted in the December 7 elections for the presidential run-off, but the NPP flag bearer said his party was not comfortable with that and so it would take the matter to the table at a crucial Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting scheduled for today for discussion.

More than 200,000 ballot papers were rejected at the last polls and according to Nana Akufo-Addo, if all those votes had not been rejected, "the true voice of the people would have been known" and perhaps, there would not have been the need for a second round.

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He said while calling for a change in the procedure, the NPP was educating its supporters on the voting process to enable them to do the right thing, come Sunday.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the NPP was the best party to take the country's development aspiration forward, adding that the results of the first round elections clearly underlined the confidence most Ghanaians still had in the party.

He said as a strong advocate of human rights and the rule of law, he would ensure that the rights and freedoms of Ghanaians were never curtailed. Ghanaians must, therefore, give him their mandate so that the nation did not slip into the hands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose human rights records were anything but clean.

Nana Akufo-Addo denied allegations that he and some leading members of the NPP had huge sums of money in their accounts at the Prudential Bank, describing it as "an outright lie".

He condemned the activities of some individuals who allegedly went round the strongholds of the NPP to misinform the people not to vote for him (Akufo-Addo) because they did so in the first round and that the second round was meant for those who would vote for Prof. Mills.

Nana Akufo-Addo also dismissed claims by the NDC that it had won majority seats in Parliament, pointing out that with the support of the four independent candidates who won their seats and other parties with representation in the House, the NPP was more likely to form the majority in Parliament.

"As far as the presidential contest is concerned, I'm much nearer the tape than Mills," he added.

After the radio interview, the NPP flag bearer, accompanied by the Members of Parliament for Akyem Oda and New Juaben North, Messrs Yaw Osafo-Maafo and Hackman Owusu-Agyeman respectively, drove through the principal streets of Akyem Oda, drawing a large number of people clad in NPP T-shirts and party paraphernalia to line up the streets to cheer him.

Story by Kofi Yeboah

Former Clerk to Parliament cautions against wrong information

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:43:00 GMT

A former Clerk to Parliament has said it would be premature now to single out which of the two major political parties would control the next parliament in terms of who became the Majority Leader to run government business.

"We cannot create a mathematical problem and endorse any group as having the majority now with two parliamentary seats still undeclared. We need to see our way clearly to enable us come out with the right information," Mr Rex Owusu-Ansah said during interactions the Editorial Staff of the Ghana News Agency (GNA ) in Accra.

Mr Owusu-Ansah, also Board Chairman of the GNA, who touched on some nagging challenges of the next parliament, said the journalists had to make sure they fed the public with the right electoral information to avoid chaos.

He said the next parliament was likely to face some challenges such as which party had the numbers to elect the next Speaker and Majority Leader.

The former Clerk said presently, as things stood, the Standing Orders of Parliament stated that a Majority Leader was a Member of Parliament designated as such by a party or parties holding the majority of seats in the House.

According to him, the two major parties could decide to go into alliances with the smaller parities to get majority of seats to elect a Majority Leader.

He said it was therefore important that staff of the GNA made an informed appraisal of the complexities of the next parliament before going public with any information to avoid misleading the public. Earlier, Mr Owusu-Ansah touched on preparations to usher in the new government and legislature.

He said there were transitional issues that both the current presidency and parliament had to deal with. He touched on whether it would be feasible to pass a transitional bill at this stage under a certificate of urgency by the current parliament or wait for the new parliament to do so to take care of the transfer of power from one government to another.

He said it may be misconstrued if this current parliament amended or revised the Standing Orders when it reconvened after the run-off. The former Clerk also had a word for the winner of the presidential elections, saying he would have to negotiate skilfully with the new legislature in a sober way because of the complexities of the incoming parliament.

"Political lobbyists and acrobats will have to step in to deal with this situation," he added.

Mr Owusu-Ansah commended the staff of GNA for handling the first round of the general elections professionally and urged them to keep the good work up.

Mr Boakye-Dankwa Boadi, Supervising Chief Editor, said staff of the Agency needed to stay on top and always sharpen their competitiveness through such interactions. 22 Dec. 08

Source: GNA

Some key PNC functionaries endorse Nana

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:42:00 GMT

Some key functionaries on the Peoples National Convention (PNC) on Monday endorsed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the December 28, run-off.

The group, made up of Parliamentary candidates, regional and constituency executives, founding members as well as foot soldiers of the PNC said their decision to support Nana Akufo-Addo was reached after abroad consultation among the rank and file of the party across the country.

Mr Sampson Asaki Awingobit, immediate past PNC Parliamentary candidate for Ashaiman and a member of the group speaking at a press conference in Accra said even though the Party had announced to remain neutral about the issue of endorsement, the overwhelming majority of PNC members made up of ordinary people like farmers, teachers, labours, artisans, market women, traders, drivers and nurses across the country cannot afford to have their future put on the neutral gear like the PNC leadership has done.

He said the nation cannot afford to leave the destiny of the millions of ordinary citizens to hang in the balance and as a group must be bold and decisive in taking the right steps that would lead to a prosperous future.

Mr. Awingobit also said the group had carefully compared the track records of the NDC and the NPP over the years as well as the contributions of the two presidential candidates in terms of their achievements in consolidating democracy, rule of law and good governance in governance in Ghana.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo has consistently demonstrated courage in the face of tyranny and dictatorship to fight for the right of the ordinary man.

He said his promise to maintain and improve the National Health Insurance Scheme; the free anti-natal and post natal medical care for women as well as the promise to introduce free high school education for all to eradicate illiteracy was consistent with the PNC manifesto. Mr Awingobit also cited the promised by Nana Akufo- Addo to establish a US$1 billion Northern Development Fund (NDF) to bridge the development gap between the northern and the southern part of the country. He said the NPP Presidential candidate had further promised to reduce unemployment, especially among the youth by creating opportunities for them to acquire skills and increase access to capital to enable them to start their enterprises.

Source: GNA

NPP to fulfil promises within first term in office

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:41:00 GMT

Wa, Dec. 22, GNA - Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, has given the assurance that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his Presidential candidate, would fulfil all his major promises within his first term in office if he won the Presidential Election runoff.

In line with this commitment, he said the major roads in the Upper West Region like the Wa - Tumu; Wa -Funsi and Nadowli - Lawra- Hamile roads would all be tarred to open up the Region for accelerated economic development through the Northern Development Authority during his first term.

Dr Bawumia was addressing Party supporters in Wa on Sunday as part of his campaign tour of the Upper West Region.

He was accompanied by Mr Haruna Bayariga, People's National Convention's Member of Parliament for Sissala West Constituency, and Mr Bede Ziedeng, General Secretary of the Democratic Freedom Party, who are all backing the NPP Presidential candidate in the Presidential runoff. Dr Bawumia noted that the NPP's record of performance in Government was unmatched and he was confident that Nana Akufo-Addo would get the people's mandate to implement his policies and vision for the nation. He urged all NPP supporters to be very vigilant from now until after voting on Sunday.

The NPP Vice-Presidential candidate and his entourage later toured the Wa Central Market to canvass for votes and to educate the market women on how to vote.

Source: GNA

Akufo-Addo condemns 'inferior tactics'

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:33:00 GMT

The flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has condemned what he described as the "inferior tactics" and "politics of lies" being employed by NPP's political opponents in their bid to win power.

He said the menace of threat by the party's opponents to secure political power would not help the nation, pointing out that "Ghanaians still have confidence in the NPP".

Nana Akufo-Addo expressed the concern when he granted two separate interviews on Obuoba FM and Eastern FM both radio stations based in Nkawkaw and Koforidua respectively, in the East Region.

The interviews formed part of his campaign tour of the region to thank the people for their support in the December 7, 2008 polls and to solicit their votes in the presidential run-off scheduled for December 28, 2008.

Traditionally, the Eastern Region has been one of the strongholds of the NPP since the advent of the Fourth Republic, a strength that was confirmed in the December 7 polls as the party swept 21 out, of the 28 parliamentary seats in the region.

In both Nkawkaw and Koforidua, as soon as the NPP flag-bearer went on air a large crowd trooped to the premises of the two radio stations to listen to and catch a glimpse of him.

Away from the premises of the stations, many drivers, traders and other individuals abandoned their engagements and gathered around radio sets to listen to the interview.

Later as Nana Akufo-Addo's convoy drove out of the radio stations at the end of the programme, the ecstatic crowd greeted him with loud cheers.

On his way from Nkawkaw to Koforidua, the NPP flag bearer was given a rousing welcome by NPP supporters at Suhyen, Jumapo, Oyoko and Asokore, all in the New Juaben North Constituency.

A large crowd from all walks of life lined up the streets to cheer him, while many others ran after the snail-moving convoy waving NPP flags, bandanas and other party paraphernalia.

In the Koforidua township itself, the arrival of Nana Akufo-Addo caused long vehicular traffic.

During the interviews, Nana Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the negative campaign being waged by the NPP's political opponents ahead of the presidential run-off.

He cited the circulation of a list of NPP activists, including himself, who were alleged to be keeping large sums of money in their accounts at the Prudential Bank, dismissing the allegation as very ridiculous.

In a press statement issued in the Daily Graphic early last week, the management of the bank also dismissed the allegation as false.

Nana Akufo-Addo further made reference to an alleged hit squad that had been engaged to kill some identified persons in the country if the NPP lost power, and the burning of a 160-acre rice farm belonging to the chief of Nanton simply because the NPP won the parliamentary seat for the area for the first time.

He again alleged that some people wearing NPP T-shirts, but unknown to the party, had been going round the party's strongholds to deceive the electorate that those who voted for him (Nana Akufo-Addo) in the first round were not eligible to vote in the second round because the run-off was meant for those who would vote for Prof. Mills.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the resort to such inferior tactics and lies was a clear indication that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was desperate for power and, as such, prepared to do anything to achieve that goal.

He said the kind of 'change' being propagated by the NDC was not something that would move the nation forward, but one that would send it backward, and urged Ghanaians to reject such a ‘change’.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the threatening language of NDC activists within the past few days should be scary enough for Ghanaians to resist a relapse of the country into the era of culture of fear, intimidation and violence, which was banished under the NPP administration.

He said the NPP would have won the December 7 polls ‘one touch' if all of its supporters had turned out in their numbers to vote, citing complacency and some internal factors as the bane of the party.

Nana Akufo-Addo, therefore, pleaded with the party faithful not to repeat the mistake of the past and vote massively in the run-off, to ensure that the NPP retained power.

He said this was not the time to blame anybody for the party's failure to secure a first round victory, although he acknowledged the need to address certain internal problems, such as the improper management of primaries, to avoid their negative consequences.

Commenting on the outcome of the December 7 polls, the NPP flag-bearer expressed concern about the large number of rejected ballot papers, numbering more than 200,000, describing it as very unusual.

He said the NPP would seek solution to the anomaly at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Monday.

Source: Daily Graphic

Veep Seeks Support For Nana

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:52:00 GMT

THE VICE President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has urged chiefs in the Upper East region to help retain the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in power, for the welfare of their people and their areas of jurisdiction.

According to him, a vote for Nana Akufo-Addo would keep the NPP government in power to continue its process of bridging the development gap between the North and South.

Vice president Mahama made the appeal at a meeting with chiefs in the Upper East region as part of efforts of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to appreciate the people of the Upper East region for increasing their support for the party.

He particularly commended the chiefs for the manner in which they conducted themselves during the December 7 elections, which has so far been described by international election observers as fair and peaceful, thereby placing Ghana at an enviable position in championing democracy in Africa.

“I urge you to remain peaceful and encourage your subjects to do same, for the sake of development and peace in the region. Most of you are my friends, while some of you, I have had contact with in the course of the discharge of my duties as the Vice President of Ghana, and you have exhibited a high level of respect for me as I have done same towards you, so I would not lie to you, the NPP has what it takes to lead Ghana and Ghanaians in general, to a brighter future.”

The NPP has increased its electoral performance in the region from 34 percent in the last election to 39.8 percent after the December 7 general elections, which the vice president attributed to the extension of numerous developmental projects to the region within the reign of the NPP.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo’s promise to extend free education from basic school to the senior high school level for every Ghanaian child was a process that would reduce poverty in the region adding that education in all fields is one sure way of developing people and their communities.

He mentioned the upgrading of selected senior high schools in the region to the status of standard schools in the southern sector as one of the processes to ensure that children from less endowed backgrounds also have access to quality secondary education in the region, without going through hassle of traveling down south to in search of ‘better’ schools.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama mentioned the introduction of the Metro Mass Transport system in the region as another means of reducing poverty and ensuring comfort in the transportation industry in the region.

The Upper East region is among the poorest regions in the country, which prompted the vice president to advise the people of the region to take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Free Maternal Health Care introduced by the NPP government.

He called on the Paga Pio, Charles Awampaga II at Paga and also commended the people of the area for voting for the NPP parliamentary candidate, Loe Kaba.

From Sheila Sackey and Ebo Bruce-Quansah

Plot To Smear Nana.One Grabbed

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:49:00 GMT

With the electoral run-off just about six days away, vigilant New Patriotic Party (NPP) activists in the Volta region have arrested a 26-year-old electrician over an Indian Hemp-laden vehicle bedecked with the posters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Mawuli Doklah was the only man arrested out of the four occupants of the Isuzu vehicle with registration number AS 5840 Q when it attracted the attention of the NPP constituency officials.
He is expected to appear in court today.

His accomplices managed to escape from the pursuing NPP elements and local community protection officials in Kpando in the North Dayi constituency of the Volta region yesterday after they smelled a rat in the Nana poster vehicle.

Although the Police have asked that the subject be devoid of political undertones, preferring to consider it as a decoy by some criminal elements to outwit them, political observers think otherwise.
Curious persons who pleaded anonymity regard it as one of the latest from the arsenal of opponents of the ruling party to muddy the political waters of the winner of the first round of elections held on December 7.

The arrest of the suspect and the impounding of the vehicle by the NPP Kpebe chairman in the constituency David Adae and his staff was at first disputed by their National Democratic Congress (NDC) counterparts who claimed to be responsible for the feat.

Both were at each others throats over which of them was responsible for the impounding of the wee-laden Isuzu vehicle.

Eventually the truth was out when the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Bernard Derry, stormed the location with other officers to undertake a preliminary investigation and to ascertain the truth.

The NDC succumbed to the truth when it was presented in the end by the Regional Commander leaving their NPP counterparts to smile for their yeoman’s job in supporting the Police and averting what could have developed into a major smear campaign against their leader.

Narrating the story to the DAILY GUIDE yesterday, the Volta Regional Police chief said that the NPP chairman of Wusuta Kpebe area in the North Dayi constituency with the assistance of a local community protection group arrested the suspect and handed him over to the Police for carrying a large quantity of Indian Hemp in a vehicle bedecked with the posters of Nana Addo.

The chairman, David Adae, became suspicious on spotting the strange Isuzu vehicle which is not known in the area, with registration number AS 5840 Q.

With the support of some local community protection officials, the chairman pursued the vehicle which had changed course and drove to the banks of the Volta River at a place called Kpebe.
The lone suspect, Mawuli Doklah, who was nabbed by the NPP executives is currently assisting the Police in their investigations.

The interceptors took possession of the vehicle and the suspect and thereupon handed them over to the Police.

DCOP Derry told DAILY GUIDE that the suspect has been handed over the Volta Regional CID so he can be arraigned today.

The Regional Commander expressed gratitude to the local NPP officials whose vigilance he said led to the arrest.

This part of the Volta region is noted for Indian Hemp trafficking.

The director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Kwesi Ofori, said the posters of the NPP presidential candidate was used as a decoy by the suspects.

The political terrain has witnessed in recent days an unprecedented incidence of allegations by some politicians against their opponents.

President John Agyekum Kufuor even though not part of the political race since he is leaving office very soon has not been spared the campaign of calumny.

He is initiating a case against the former Special Aide to Jerry John Rawlings for associating him with a phantom Kuwaiti oil deal that allegedly went bad.

The NPP presidential candidate has often pleaded with his political opponents to concentrate on issue-based campaigns as opposed to the resort to insults and unsubstantiated allegations which he said do not serve any purpose.

The incidence of unsubstantiated allegations has assumed an alarming rate in recent times.

Last week a printing press in Accra Newtown was found working on T-shirts with the impression of the NDC presidential candidate and the CPP candidate, Paa Kwesi Nduom, to mislead the electorate into believing that the two had entered into a sort of electoral alliance.

In yet another incidence of trickery some youth were seen carrying a computer arranged voice of Nana pleading with the electorate to vote for his NDC counterpart.

In the coming days before the run-off the political landscape will witness many of such acts of trickery.

Already some rural folks have been deceived that the December 28 run-off is not meant for them but for those who did not vote on December 7. NPP activists according to DAILY GUIDE sources is engaged in a massive education programme to counter these tricks.

By A.R. Gomda

Abossey Okai Tyre Dealers Jump Into The Fray In Vote Canvassing Exercises

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:47:00 GMT

The entire body of the tyre dealers association in Abossey Okai has decided to go prosyletising for more votes to ensure that, in the December 28 run off, Nana Akufo- Addo wins by a decisive margin. The Tyre Dealers Association, based at Abossey Okai in Accra, has a membership of over 1,000 persons and offers employment to many others.

According to their Chairman, William Kwadwo Antwi, they voted for Nana in their numbers during the first round.

This time round, however, they are going to go beyond voting in their numbers to actively campaigning for the man they see as best prepared to lead Ghana at this point in her history.

According to him, "Nana Akufo- Addo is a man whose democratic credentials are not in doubt." Secondly Nana Akufo Addo is a seasoned politician who has the experience and expertise to lead in moving this country forward. There is no better person to take over the helm of affairs from President Kufuor than him, he reiterated.

Reports received by NPP News indicated that the executives and some members of the association went to visit Nana on Sunday to assure him of their unflinching support in the run-off.

In their interaction , the NPP Presidential candidate, Nana was thankful and grateful to them for their show of solidarity.

"I am grateful for all your help so far, and thankful that you take time off your busy schedules to come and reassure us and offer advise as to the strategies to apply in the second round."

The traders in their interaction with Nana expressed concern about the recent infiltration of their market by foreigners. Their worry was in the light of the fact that their area of operation is by law reserved for Ghanaians. They expressed the hope that upon assumption of office as President, Nana Akufo- Addo would lawfully do all in his power to ensure that any offenders are dealt, with according to the law.

Responding to this, Nana said such matters are matters for appropriate agencies of the Government, and that when he becomes President he would see to it that the law is applied.

Source: The Campaign

Kwesi Pratt: ‘prof Mills is every inch like Mr Rawlings’

kosivh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:46:00 GMT

"This Professor is not our friend and he stands for no good. He is every inch like Mr. Rawlings and must be fought with all the venom we can find,” the immortal words of the Managing Editor of the Insight, Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

"The emergence of Professor John Atta Mills as the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress will not change anything in the party… Four years of Professor Mills as Vice President of Ghana have left us in no doubt that he has nothing new to offer,” this has been the editorial view of the Insight, edited by Mr Pratt.

Pratt went on to say, “Those who claim that Professor Mills will offer us anything different from what we have had from Rawlings… can only be lying.”

Touching on Prof Mills' leadership character and integrity, Mr Pratt pointed out, “Professor Mills was around in the days of fire and brimstone when innocent Ghanaians were extra-judicially murdered and thousands of people were thrown into detention without charge or trial.”

He continued: “The Professor looked on gleefully as many more thousands Ghanaians were driven out of their homes into exile.

Source: The Campaign

He did not lift a finger and no sounds broke out of his mouth when at least 300,000 workers were retrenched in the days of the PNDC.”

The editorial warned Ghanaians that, “Essentially, the NDC will remain a neo-colonial apparatus designed solely for the perpetuation of foreign domination of the national economy and misrule through a cult of bootlickers.”

In the words of Mr Pratt, “Four years of Professor Mills as Vice President of Ghana has left us in no doubt that he has nothing new to offer.”

Adding his voice to the untiring perception that Prof Mills can never be his own man, the Editorial noted about the NDC presidential candidate, “He has faithfully done the bidding of Mr. Jerry John Rawlings and sheepishly followed the instructions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.”

The Insight went on, “The sale of State enterprises for

Those who claim that Professor Mills will offer us anything different from what we have had from Rawlings for the last 18 years, can only be lying.”

Contrasting Prof Mills" contribution to freeing Ghana from the shackles of oppression to that of brave men like Messrs Pratt, Baako, Akufo-Addo and co, Mr Pratt wrote, “There can be no doubt that Professor Mills knew that Ghana was being crushed under the jackboots of dictatorship, but he did not hesitate for a moment when he was offered the chance to join those who were busily destroying all that we have cherished.”

He added, “Professor Mills will not be allowed to deceive the people of Ghana. We shall fight him all the way and make sure that he does not get anywhere near the seat of government.”

In concluding, the Insight sent a clarion call to the majority of Ghanaian voters, “Stop Professor Mills from becoming the President of Ghana. Mills or no Mills, we must fight.”

The Editorial was carried in the Weekly Insight of Wednesday, April 19 - April 25, 2000. Has anything changed in the last 8 years to warrant a revolutionary change of heart, if not mind?

NDC's assassination plan Frances Assiam is first target, says Dzidzor Tay

kosivh — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:48:00 GMT

Key elements within the opposition NDC have been devising all crooked methods to cower prominent figures in the governing NPP as well as people sympathetic to the cause of the party (NPP) into submission.

One of the devices is threatening of NPP members with death through text messages; and the next person allegedly earmarked to join the "hit list” is Frances Ewurabena Assiam, former National Women's Organiser of the NDC who has now pitched camp with the NPP.

According to Madam Assiam, a text message was sent to her on November 24 this year which was a threat on her life.

The message, which The Statesman chanced upon, read: "You can let e police protect u or run 2 e radio stations I don"t care. Let e coffee shop mafias protect u, I dont give a f. Watch out.”

She told this paper via telephone yesterday that when she received the shocking message she reported it to ACP Timbillah at the Police Headquarters, who advised her to lodge a complaint with the Police Criminal Investigations Department.

Frances Assiam disclosed the name of the sender of the message as Dzidzor Tay, an NDC activist, social commentator and serial caller to radio programmes. Called on Asempa FM, a local FM station in Accra, Ms Tay confirmed that she sent the text, insulted Ms Assiam and other members of the NPP, and dared her to take any action she deemed fit.

Asked how she got to know that the author was Dzidzor, the former NDC Women Organizer said she had her (Dzidzor's) cellular phone number, and that the one that was used to send the text was the same number that she had stored on her (Assiam"s) mobile phone. The number she quoted is being withheld for now.

On the next step she intended taking, Frances Assiam simply replied, “The law will take its course in due time.”

When this reporter contacted Ms Dzidzor Tay on the same number that Frances had quoted earlier, the former picked the call. Asked to deny or confirm the claim, she sounded furious and said, “If she wants to use me because you are losing, tell her I don’t have time for her, I’m sorry bye, bye.”

People believed to be NDC operatives have been issuing similar threats to individuals they perceive as “enemies” and thorns in their flesh.

A couple of months ago, a text message was sent to the son of Freddie and Gina Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Managing Editor of the Daily Guide newspaper respectively, threatening his (son’s) life.

There have also been reports about a “hit list” -compiled names of some very prominent Ghanaians purportedly sent as an e-mail by ex-President Jerry John Rawlings to be assassinated - in a section of the media this week.

The list is made up of key politicians, including the sitting President John Agyekum Kufuor, Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP Presidential candidate, Ministers, MPs, the clergy, social commentators, journalists, among others.

A political analyst and human rights activist (who spoke on condition of anonymity), alarmed by the diabolical plan of the NDC, posited, “If even in opposition the NDC are behaving this way, what will happen to Ghanaians if these people come to power?”

He charged the electorate not to vote for Atta Mills, flagbearer of the NDC, in the December 28 presidential run-off.

Source: Statesman

Students Go House -To- House

kosivh — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:46:00 GMT

A GROUP of enthusiastic students from Mataheko in the Ablekuma Central constituency in the Greater Accra region has decided to do a house-to-house campaign for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for him to clinch a resounding victory in the presidential run-off.

The group, which is made of students from tertiary institutions and senior high schools, announced this at a short ceremony at Mataheko Wednesday evening amid high hopes of an NPP victory on Sunday December 28.

According to them, they see Nana Akufo-Addo as the man who can best serve the interest of the youth and the future of this country with his clear-cut policies of transformational change including value addition to Ghana’s raw materials, free secondary education, affordable healthcare and job creation.

Describing themselves as ‘ambassadors without borders’, one of the leaders of the group, Kweku Boakye of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) told the DAILY GUIDE that they were moving from house-to-house and shop-to-shop to spread the good message of Nana Akufo-Addo to the people and the need for them to vote massively for the NPP presidential candidate in the presidential run-off.

Their mission, according to Kweku Boakye was to inspire the electorate including those who did not vote for the NPP in the first round on December 7 to come out in their numbers to give a clear and decisive mandate to the ruling NPP to further transform the economy of Ghana.

The ceremony was graced among others by Yoofi Grant, the campaign manager of NPP’s presidential running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Lawyer Ebenezer Essilfie, a Legal Research Consultant; Dr. Alex Glover Quartey, former Head of Civil Service; Gyau David, a former Deputy Minister of Communication and Asofoatse Mankata, the NPP candidate in the Odododiodioo parliamentary by-election in 2005.

Mr. Yoofi Grant recounted to the youth the dark days of the Provisional National Defence Council and the National Democratic Congress (P)NDC, urging them to go all out to ensure that the NDC does not come back to power with its vindictive politics.

“The future of the youth is at stake in this election. A lot of the youth do not know why Ghanaians sacked the NDC in the year 2000 and put the NPP in power”, Mr. Grant stated, emphasizing that it was because of the bad management of the Ghanaian economy and the intimidation of the masses that motivated the people to retain the NPP in power.

According to him, the NPP administration had laid a solid foundation for economic take-off and prosperity of the people and that it was only the NPP under Nana Akufo-Addo that could effectively build on the foundation of the current government to improve the living conditions of all Ghanaians.

“Go out in your numbers and spread the message of prosperity for all by Akufo-Addo because this election is about the future of the youth which Nana promises to take care of”, Mr. Yoofi Grant urged the Ghanaian youth to campaign for Akufo-Addo to secure their own future.

Earlier, Lawyer Ebenezer Essilfie compared the two political parties in the presidential run-off, noting that the NPP and the NDC stand for the good and bad respectively.

He appealed to Ghanaians not to make the mistake of bringing the NDC back to power as the main opposition party had nothing good to offer people except vendetta and attack on successful businessmen.

By Awudu Mahama