Party Politics

Tamale Debate Best

2008-11-15T12:30:00Z

RESIDENTS IN the Northern regional capital have praised the four presidential aspirants for advocating for peace during Wednesday’s Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) encounter in Tamale.

Many were particularly impressed about the aspirants’ commitment to strengthening peace in the north and in the build up to the December polls and urged political party supporters to lend their support to the worthy cause.

DAILY GUIDE also gathered from residents that though all the presidential aspirants did their best to answer the questions well, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP stole the show.

The four presidential aspirants, Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. Evans John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), CPP’s Paa Kwesi Nduom, and PNC’s Edward Mahama answered questions mainly on governance, social issues and security, and unanimously agreed on the need to establish a more responsive government to improve the standard of living of Ghanaians.

Sampled views from a cross-section of the audience and members of the public revealed that the latest encounter was hotter.

A section of the audience agreed with Nana Addo on his promise of launching a “clean Ghana initiative” that would make the country the cleanest within the West African sub region.

Others also said his intention to strengthen institutions like the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to fight corruption was very commendable.

Many also said they were impressed that for the first time the four declared some of their assets after they outlined their visions in curbing corruption in all sectors of the economy.

The general impression was that the event would be characterized by violence, but there was no sign of tension at the programme which was moderated by Prof. Ivan Addae Mensah, former vice chancellor of the University of Ghana and Joy FM reporter Israel Laryea.

Source: Daily Guide

Presidential candidates pledge to ensure peaceful elections

2008-11-15T12:29:00Z

The second Presidential Debate organised by the Institute of Economics Affairs (IEA) has ended in Tamale with a pledge by the four candidates to ensure that there is peace before, during and after Election 2008.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of New Patriotic Party (NPP); Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of Conventions People's Party (CPP); Professor John Evans Atta Mills of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Edward Nasigire Mahama of People's National Convention (PNC) held hands to make the pledge.

After the pledge they exchanged pleasantries with Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Nduom hugging each other while Prof Mills and Dr Mahama also did the same thing. Again, Prof Mills and Dr Nduom hugged each other, after which Prof Mills and Nana Akufo-Addo shook hands because Dr Nduom was in-between them.

The candidates put forward their positions on the amendment of certain portions of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution. They were generally agreed on the need to amend certain parts of the Constitution.

On the decentralisation of governance they also agreed on the need to carry on with the process even though they put different emphasis on how they intended to bring it about.

The four candidates agreed that there was corruption in the country but while Prof. Mills said it had become more rampant in recent years Nana Akufo-Addo was of the view that it had been around even in the past.

They were also in agreement that the declaration of assets by public officer was in the right direction and promised to do so when elected. They went further to say that they would make it public instead of just depositing it with the Auditor General's Department and requiring a court order to get access to it.

The four candidates acknowledged that there was a problem with waste disposal and management and each laid out his plans to tackle the problem.

They all appreciated the fact that the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions lagged behind the rest of the country in socio-economic development and each had plans to bridge the gap.

The candidates said they would try to instil discipline to stop the haphazard development in the urban areas.

However, all the candidates failed to address how they were going to combat erosion in some villages.

The candidates rolled out plans to make science and technology to play their proper role in the national development effort.

On oil exploration and exploitation and consequent pollution, all the candidates said they were going to strengthen the regulatory institutions to carry out their mandate more effectively.

On conflicts, they acknowledged their existence and gave various approaches to solving them. Some attributed the conflicts to poverty while others thought partisan politics also played a role.

The candidates agreed on the seriousness of the hard drug business and said they would take various measures to deal with the situation.

They all agreed on the need to develop other sporting disciplines such as athletics, hockey, basketball and table tennis. They all said they would start in the schools by reintroducing various competitions.

The candidates generally agreed on many things except that while Dr Nduom emphasised the need for the State to take active part in the economic development of the nation Nana Akufo-Addo preferred that the State played a facilitating role instead.

Source: GNA

Elect Assembly Members, DCEs Along Partisan Lines — Candidates

2008-11-15T12:28:00Z

The four leading presidential candidates in the December 7 polls were yesterday unanimous in the need to elect district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives (DMMCEs) as well as assembly members, along partisan lines.

They said the present arrangement where district elections were conducted along non-partisan lines was a mockery because political parties influence the election of assembly members and the confirmation of DMMCEs.

They also identified corruption as a major national issue against which they would wage a relentless war if elected into office.

Pitting their strengths against one another in the second edition of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) live television debate in Tamale yesterday, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC) also outlined measures to deal with the canker.

The debate, which was attended by dignitaries from the country’s political spectrum, lived up to its billing as an exercise involving guts and wits as the four candidates sold out their policies and programmes in a bid to win the minds and hearts of the electorate as they approach the home stretch in the race to the Golden Jubilee House.

The Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Studies (GILLBT) Hall in Tamale where the event was held came alive on many occasions as some of the candidates, particularly Dr Mahama, Dr Nduom and Prof Mills, made hilarious comments that made the audience break their ribs with laughter.

The questions posed by the two moderators, Prof Ivan Addae-Mensah, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, and Israel Laryea, a broadcast journalist with Joy FM, covered a wide range of issues, including constitutional reforms, the deepening of the decentralisation process, the election of district assembly members, measures to deal with corruption, asset declaration, rural transformation, waste disposal and management and addressing poverty in the three northern regions.

Responding to the issue of corruption, Prof Mills said there was the need to first admit that corruption was rife, adding that when elected President, he would lead the fight against corruption and let the law take its course.

He said he would also strengthen institutions that dealt with corruption, adding that he would lead the crusade against corruption because it had a very harmful effect on national development.

“You must be seen to be biting and not just barking,” he added.

Prof Mills said corruption was breaking the society because people were getting away with it. “We are not showing the right signals; when people are fronting with corruption, leadership must crack the whip,” he stated.

For his part, Dr Mahama said he would offer leadership by example and separate the Attorney-General’s Office from that of the Ministry of Justice.

He said corruption could be controlled and that there was the need to put in place conflict of interest laws to help check the menace.

Additionally, he said under his presidency he would he would ensure that the Whistleblower Law was passed.

Nana Akufo-Addo intimated that fighting corruption required more than just rhetoric, noting that it required strong leadership.

He said he did not have any difficulty prosecuting corrupt Ministers of State and made reference to the fact that when he was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, he had the occasion to prosecute a colleague minister on corruption charges.

He, however, admitted that much more needed to be done for the institutions mandated to deal with corruption, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

In all of that, he noted that “leaders of government must show example”.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Nduom largely agreed with the sentiments raised by his colleagues but pointed out that there was the need to deal with the perception associated with corruption.

He said there was the need to introduce efficiency in fighting corruption by utilising technology, as well as strengthening institutions, including the Police Service, to deal with the issue.

On asset declaration, Dr Mahama said he would declare his assets publicly at the beginning and the end of his term in office as President and also require his ministers to do likewise.

He said Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Dr Hilla Limann in the First and Third Republics, respectively, “did not own hotels and they went about governance demonstrating leadership by example”.

“This is what I will do if elected President,” he stated.

For his part, Nana Akufo-Addo said he did not have any difficulty in declaring his assets publicly.

He, however, said the assets declaration system Ghana was currently operating had a lot of problems and that he would ensure a legislative framework that allowed that a law for fighting corruption was passed.

Dr Nduom said the situation was not acceptable and wondered why assets declaration remained a secret.

“It should not remain a secret at the AG’s Office”, he stated, stressing that the Right to Information Bill must be passed.

He said it was a constitutional anomaly that the President did not pay tax and said under his Presidency he would reverse the trend, saying, “Leaders must be honest and let seriousness prevail.”

Prof Mills said asset declaration must be verifiable, saying that at the end of everything it should be declared and verified.

He pointed out that the exercise must be extended to surrogates and not just spouses.

On constitutional reforms, Nana Akufo-Addo said he would initiate the processes for amending the Constitution, considering the various concerns expressed on the subject.

Dr Nduom said he would also initiate a process for a constitutional amendment in the first 100 days of taking office, adding that he would pursue the separation of the Attorney-General’s Office from that of the Ministry of Justice.

Prof Mills agreed that there were areas in the Constitution that needed amendment and that there was the need to collate views so that at end of the day we would learn from our mistakes.

Dr Mahama, for his part, noted that the Constitution was not the problem but that the issue had to do with good governance.

“Tampering with the Constitution is not the problem; what matters is the effective strengthening of institutions to work effectively,” he stated.

On the deepening of decentralisation, Dr Nduom stressed the need to put power in the hands of the people and ensure the devolution of power.

By so doing, he said, we must ensure that more revenue and resources went to the local level for its rapid development.

Prof Mills said appointing DCEs had some inherent challenges. However, he agreed that there was the need to ensure that district assemblies were accountable to the people.

Dr Mahama said there was too much concentration of power in the hands of central institutions and also agreed that all DCEs must be elected.

Nana Akufo-Addo stressed the need to put in place structures to begin the process of transferring power from the centre to the districts.

Source: Daily Graphic

Don't be used as canons for political violence - Bawumia urges

2008-11-01T19:28:00Z

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has advised the young people of the northern parts of the country to not allow themselves to be used as instruments of violence in the upcoming general elections

He said, the situation where some political parties count on the support of northerners only in times when they want to use violence must not be allowed to continue. The time has come to close the development gap between the north and south and the poor and richer areas of the country.

Speaking to a large crowd of citizens who thronged Tanina, Nyowli, Logu Boli, Sing, Wa Central, all in the Upper Western Region, where he is on a five-day campaign tour, Dr Bawumia said the time has come for the people to say "enough is enough" and that they will not be used "by anybody to massage their violent purposes".

Dr Bawumia noted that the time has come for the people to proactively eradicate the stereotype that, "as for me i am a northerner, I don't understand anything so if you misbehave I will beat you notion".

He said this was an unfortunate and inaccurate stereotype that has sadly stuck in the minds of many and even influence the actions of some of the youth.

Dr Bawumia's advice to the youth is that their future prospects had never been this bright and that tghey should seize today's opportunities under the Kufuor administartion and prepare to own the opportunities that are to be created by the Akufo-Addo administration after President Kufuor to significantly enhance their lot.

He further urged them about the importance of education and why the free education concept being pushed by the NPP must be embraced, protected and used.

He inspired his Moslem and northern brothers and sisters to vote massively for the NPP because the NPP policies, including the Northern Development Fund and its programmes will create an environment of equal and enhanced opportunities for all.

He indicated that an Akufo-Addo-led government will ensure the Zongos (settler communities) are well developed like other residential areas .

According to him this year's polls is about issues and ideas and not violence. "Our party detests violence that is why I encourage you to stay away from anybody or party that preaches violence", he stressed.

Source: GNA

Samira inspires youth to dream big

2008-11-01T19:27:00Z

Samira Bawumia, wife of NPP running mate Mahamudu Bawumia, has charged the nation's youth to grab every opportunity to increase their stock of knowledge in order to actualise their plans for self development in the future.

Addressing students of the Islamic University over the weekend Mrs Bawumia assured that an Akufo-Addo presidency will build on the educational policies of the Kufuor administration to provide the skilled indigenous manpower necessary for accelerated national development.

Mrs Bawumia was one of the speakers at a symposium organised by the Tertiary Education Confederacy of the university college on the theme "The role of the youth in national development.” According to the organizers, they see Mrs. Bawumia as a role model for young Moslem women to emulate.

Hours before the programme was scheduled to start, the assembly hall of the Islamic University College was bursting at the seams with students, both TESCON and non-TESCON members. Several of the non TESCON students intimated that they were going to vote for the NPP in the coming elections because they feel that with someone close to their ages that high up in Government, the administration"s policies would be youth sensitive.

Citing illiteracy as the worst disease imaginable, she said the countries which gained independence around the same time as Ghana were far ahead in terms of development because of the concentration of their governments on education.

The more educated this country becomes the faster our development will be. “Initiative is important. The ability to think outside the box is imperative in this global village if one is to succeed.

In this light I urge you to use your education which will broaden your knowledge and sharpen your intellect to good use,” Mrs Bawumia said. She cited Prince Kofi Amoabeng of Unique Trust and Edward Boateng, creator of the CNN/African Journalist Awards as examples of people who have thought outside the box to their immense benefit.

“Your presence here today is, I believe an indication that you want to determine your future. To me investing in the political process is an investment in the future.”

She assured them Nana Akufo-Addo had pledged to make sure that the youth have a say at all levels of decision making in his government if voted into power.

This is clearly spelt in the party’s recently launched manifesto. Touching on health, Samira asked them to be conscious of their inner as well as outer health as both contribute to make an individual whole.

Ensuring this, she said, had become easer since the implementation by the Kufuor administration of the National Health Insurance Scheme. On tolerance and peace, Samira said there was every indication the NPP will win the December polls.

“The NPP has presented the best government to Ghanaians since Independence. In addition the good ideas that Nana Akufo-Addo is presenting to the electorate is what will win the day.”

She cautioned, however, “It takes two to fight so say no to violence of any form be it election time or any other time. Let us help to entrench Ghana’s democracy. The elections are not about machismo and brawn but rather about who has the proven capability and ideas to move this country forward.

I urge you all to be apostles of the NPP preaching its good word from door to door, and classroom to classroom.”

The TESCON president of the University College urged TESCON members across the country go to the grassroots to explain the policies and programmes of an Akufo-Addo presidency. Also in attendance was the MP for the area Opare Hammond, Adentan constituency chairman Kweku Obiri Yeboah and some NPP Greater Accra Regional Executives including Vida Dugbattey.

Source: The Statesman

A Show Of Substance Against Populism

2008-11-01T19:18:00Z

The verdict on the 'winners' and 'losers' of a presidential debate is never just about the candidates' performance on the night, as the media maelstrom following last evening's IEA encounter makes crystal clear.

Political commentators and operatives are only too aware that such an event is really a game of expectations rather than execution – and it is whether the candidate is seen to miss, hit or exceed these pre-conceived expectations that is at the heart of post-debate verdicts.

The CPP's presidential candidate, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, had received a good deal of praise and acclaim for his performance. He undoubtedly displayed his skill as a communicator, yet the level of commendation is in part the result of relatively low expectations – or rather more accurately a lower level of speculation and interest in his anticipated performance – heaped upon Dr Nduom prior to the debate in comparison to the candidates for the two largest parties. Against such a backdrop it is, of course, much easier to impress.

The NDC's Professor John Evans Atta Mills also benefitted from relatively low expectations – with some commentators even suggesting that his campaign would benefit just by his turning up and appearing on stage, demonstrating that he is still fit and able! It is undoubtedly much easier to exceed pre-conceived expectations when these are not very high to begin with; the fact that by general consensus Professor Mills was unable to do so even in such circumstances is quite an indictment.

Conversely Dr. Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention perhaps suffered from the fact that he was expected to perform well as a result of being the only candidate to have appeared in a presidential debate before and furthermore having delivered a good – even impressive – performance in that previous debate. This therefore set a rather higher bar for the PNC candidate than might otherwise have been the case. In the event the generally negative verdict on Mahama's performance is a reflection not just of a rather lacklustre contribution, but rather that expectations were dashed by his inability to live up to his own previous performance.

Nana Akufo-Addo's strength and experience and his impressive record as both a lawyer and politician also resulted in high expectations. Most political pundits expected a substantive and eloquent performance from the NPP's flagbearer in last night's public debate. This he undoubtedly delivered, showing a firm command of the precise state of the nation's economic, social and political situation (in comparison to clear lapses from the other candidates – for example Mills' erroneous statement that manufacturing contributes 0% to Ghana's GDP). He also delivered a clear and comprehensive outline of how his presidency would move Ghana forward in terms of jobs, healthcare and education. Yet despite this undeniably impressive performance, the acclaim from the political pundits and public was somewhat muted.

Obama comparisons are undoubtedly overused and most of the time they are both unsubstantive and unhelpful. But the recent American presidential debates do show some of the challenges facing the candidate who is expected beforehand to perform best on the night. The perceived frontrunner is held to a higher standard than his opponent. Yet whilst simply meeting this high standard is often not seen as sufficient, for them to exceed expectations is twice as hard as for their opponents who are expected to do less well. The campaign thus faces a strategic choice of whether to try to diminish expectations of their candidate or raise expectations of their opponent. It is testament to the integrity of Nana Akufo-Addo's presidential bid that the NPP did neither, instead presenting Ghanaians with the weighty, un-spun performance they deserve from a serious contender for the presidency.

It is interesting for a moment to consider what an outside observer with absolutely no preconceptions about any of the candidates would have made of last night's debate. Whilst they would have no doubt enjoyed Nduom's oratorical skills, they surely would have been left with the impression that the heavyweight contender, the man who had shown real command of the challenges facing Ghana as well as a detailed understanding of how to address them, was Nana Akufo-Addo.

Of course the NPP's flagbearer was always going to face another challenge which no other candidate is up against, not just in this debate but in the election more widely: combining a clear articulation of the achievements of the NPP government over the last eight years with a powerful enunciation of his vision and programme for the future development of Ghana.

This is vital not only because elections are as much a referendum on the incumbent government as they are a decision about the future, but also because a candidates' vision and policies are entirely meaningless without the ability to deliver them in practice. Ghanaians are only too aware of the link between the two: if you ask them to say which has the best manifesto, most will immediately reply that it is not simply a question of the best policies but of the ability to translate these policies into action.

Of course neither the CPP nor the PNC candidates can draw on any recent period in government to provide evidence of their ability to deliver, nor does the NDC choose to venture too much into a comparison of records, as John Mahama has himself admitted. But Ghanaians should and do rightly expect the candidate of the Party which is asking voters to renew its mandate, to demonstrate a record of achievements and accomplishments as testament to its ability to deliver promises and implement its bold and sweeping vision for the future.

The importance of backing up policies with capacity to deliver was illustrated a number of times by Nana Akufo-Addo in yesterday's debate. For example, when speaking to his policies on education, specifically funding the extension of free education to the Senior High School level, the NPP flagbearer was able to tell Ghanaians that in the past eight years the NPP government has doubled the amount of money spent on education, and provided free basic schooling.

Ghanaians know that December's elections aren't just about who has the best 'wish list' but who can make these dreams into reality – which is why it is proper and right that the candidates should demonstrate their credentials and those of their Party. It is in fact telling that in yesterday's debate Nana Akufo-Addo was the only one who was able to refer to a track record of success and achievement. Whilst Dr Nduom harked back to the golden days of the CPP under Nkrumah, Ghanaians cannot be persuaded to believe that today's CPP and its flagbearer can take credit for Nkrumah's accomplishments.

As a final point of speculation, last night's debate also should perhaps have also prompted us to consider what qualities it is that we really look for and value in the man to whom we are going to entrust the stewardship of our nation. Around the world there has been a worrying trend in recent times to fail to distinguish between what perhaps make a good campaigner and a what will make a good leader. Too many electorates have been swept away by catchy rhetoric and charm, persuaded to give their vote to the candidate who appears wittiest or most affable, failing to recognise that these are not the qualities that make a good leader, or make for a successful Presidency. Dr Nduom last night appeared worryingly like a man who is trying to be all things to all people and whose pronouncements and policies are based on nothing deeper than mass populist appeal. Perhaps this lack of gravitas, of firm political grounding, should come as no surprise from the man who was a Minister in a free market, centre-right government and who is now standing on the platform of a socialist, far-left party. But it nevertheless should give pause for thought, and lead Ghanaians to reflect on the substance rather than simply the showmanship displayed in a forum like last night's debate.

Annabel Charnock BA (Oxon) MSc (Oxon)

Policy Analyst

Danquah Institute

Ignore NDC falsehoods -Nana Akufo-Addo urges electorate.

2008-10-12T13:08:00Z

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, has asked the electorate to ignore the falsehoods being peddled by the opposition National Democratic Congress, as part of the party's grand scheme to paint the NPP black, and to further create the erroneous impression that the economic situation in the country was better under the party's (NDC’s) administration.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, even though the (P)NDC had the opportunity to rule the nation for 19 years, it did not utilise its mandate to the benefit of the citizenry, stressing that if the Rawlings-led regime had prudently managed the affairs of the nation, "we would have gone far on our development agenda.”

He was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Jei-Krodua in the Obom-Domeabra constituency on the second day of his first comprehensive campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region.

Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied on the tour by Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Alan Kyerematen, Mike Oquaye, all former presidential aspirants, Nana Obiri-Boahen, Minister of State at the Interior Ministry, Vicky Bright, Minister of State at the Office of the President and other high ranking party officials.

Nana Akufo-Addo described as complete falsehood a claim by the opposition NDC that the NPP is an Ashanti party, explaining that “the governing party is a national party made up of people who believe in true democracy and development in. freedom”

He debunked claims by the NDC that the NPP government had created hardships for the people because it did not care for their well-being, and stressed, “They now claim they rather care for you even though they could not demonstrate that when they had the opportunity to rule the nation for 19 years.”

Nana Akufo-Addo asked the people to make a critical comparative analysis of the NPP’s records in government as against those of the NDC and judge for themselves which of the two parties had demonstrated genuine care for the citizenry.

“Within the seven-and-a- half years of our administration, we have demonstrated with our humane and people-centred policies that we have the interest and welfare of the people at heart. That is why you don’t have to allow yourselves to be deceived into believing the lies being peddled by the opposition to create the false impression that we don’t care for you,” he stated.

Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a leading member of the Campaign team, cautioned the electorate not to make the mistake of voting into office a President who would not be able to stand on his own feet and take critical decisions to move the nation’s development agenda forward.

He described Nana Akufo-Addo as a seasoned, tried and tested politician who has acquired enough experience in his 30 years of playing active, frontline role in the nation’s politics.

“Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the man of the moment who has what it takes to build upon the solid foundation laid by President Kufuor, and that is the reason why you all have to support him to become the next President of our nation.” Mr Kyerematen posited.

Nana Akufo-Addo and members of the Campaign team also addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of Hobor, also in the Obom-Domeabra constituency, before taking their campaign to the Trobu-Amasaman constituency where he was met by thousands of enthusiastic party supporters and sympathisers.

They addressed a massive rally there as well as Mile 7, New Achimota and Tobo-Amasaman.

Nana also addressed a massive rally at Odorkor in the Ablekuma North constituency.

Kwabena Amankwah , Statesman

NPP Opens Fire On Rawlings.

2008-10-10T00:16:00Z

The Ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened more fire on the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings over his consistent allegations of corruption against government officials, including the sitting President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor.

The NPP has also delved into the manifesto of the NDC, describing it as a document that lacks original ideas and has a sense of inertia that presage how they (NDC) will approach the problems of the country if elected. Addressing a news conference in Accra, yesterday, the National Chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu accused the former President of collecting kickbacks from GHACEM- SCANCEM but failed to prove his innocence except to deny it.

“Indeed last year, a Norwegian court, the Norwegian owners of GHACEM admitted that it had a deliberate policy to corrupt African leaders and that Mr. Rawlings and his wife had for years been multibillion dollar kickback beneficiaries in the company’s bid to virtually monopolise the cement industry in Ghana. To date, in his defence, Mr. Rawlings has only managed a half-hearted statement from his lawyers, denying the charges. Let the former President at least attempt to clear his reputation in those charges before accusing others of corruption,” he charged.

Mr. Mac Manu, flanked by party gurus, including Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the National chairman of the Campaign Committee, Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, the Communications Director of the campaign team, Mad. Agnes Okudzeto, the second Vice National chairperson and a host of others, said “For a party and a leader who with impunity, issued a white paper to clear Ministers found by a constitutionally mandated body of being corrupt, Ghanaians surely are the better judges of the value of NDC’s hypocrisy.

Touching on the introduction of the former Generals by Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings at the launch of the NDC’s “A Better Ghana Manifesto” over the weekend, at Trade Fair in Accra, the NPP chairman had this to say -“As for former President Rawlings' introduction of former Generals and invocation of war images, the least said about it the better. He continued, “The former President appears to miss the days when we changed governments with bullets, not ballots.

The people of Ghana want democracy and he must help us to promote it or get out of the way. Additionally, he asserted, “From his pronouncements on the security situation with his repeated invocations of Kenya, to his meetings with former Security officials, to his insults of the people of Central Region, the former President has been intemperate, divisive and disruptive. Mr. Rawlings, like a leopard that cannot change its spots, will never change his character. The question is whether the NDC can move out of his shadows If Prof. Mills is elected, can he be his own man? Will Mr. Rawlings permit him to be his own man? Will a new NDC government pursue the people's agenda or the agenda of revenge?

Why would they investigate the deaths of the Ya-Na and Mobila without investigating the deaths of the three NPP activists decapitated at Kunbungu and those killed during the "Kumi Preko" demonstrations?” Reacting extensively to the NDC’s Manifesto, the NPP noted that it was full of inaccuracies. According to Mac Manu, the fact that the NDC was the first major political party to elect a flag-bearer nearly two years ago, and yet was the last to launch its manifesto was significant.

He said such a move suggested that the NDC either lacks original ideas or has a sense of inertia that presages how it will approach the problems of the country if they are elected. “The NDC as a party is a follower, not a leader and cannot lead in solving national problems,” he claimed. Mr. Mac Manu further argued that “The NDC Manifesto contains some inaccuracies. First, growth in 2007 was 6.3% and not 5.8% as they claim. Also, the current national debt at the end of June was GH¢7.8 billion, not 91 trillion cedis as they claimed. What is important is the size of a nation's debt as compared to the size of the economy. Under NPP, that has fallen from 189% of GDP and under the NDC to 48%.”

He maintained that the fact of the matter was that the NDC devoted so much time during the launch of their manifesto to attacking the NPP because it had little to say that was original and it has had very little planning to do in how to move Ghana forward in the last seven years in opposition, besides scheming on how acerbic they can be in spewing out insults and lies about the NPP. According to him, after Prof. Mills had said in his foreword that the best grade for the NPP would be a failing grade, the NDC ended up pledging to continue most of our major policies with modifications, and in most cases irresponsible changes that will set our nation back for years.

The NPP chairman cited that, for instance, the National Health Insurance Scheme, in their promise to introduce a one-time premium, instead of the annual premium charges normally associated with insurance schemes, would endanger the NHIS. “Either the one-time premium would be so high that most Ghanaians cannot pay and we would return to the days of "cash-and-carry" or the premiums collected would leave the Scheme cash-strapped and lead to a collapse of the scheme. Whichever way, a vote for the NDC would endanger the NHIS.”

To him, the NDC now says that they will continue the NHIS that they voted against, thinking that returning to the "cash-and-carry' system as they previously threatened, amounted to timidity and insincerity. NPP also contended that if a student did what the NDC just did with regards to their manifesto in a term or research paper, that student should be charged with plagiarism.

Accordingly, he said the NDC, without acknowledging it, has stolen the central ideas of the NPP manifesto and now naively wants the public to believe that these are original ideas. ‘They saw 11.3 million Ghanaians sign up for the NHIS and decided it was political suicide to be against it. They witnessed the popularity of the Capitation Grant and decided it was impolitic to be against it,” he said.

Source: The Chronicle

Baah-Wiredu’s Body Flown In.

2008-10-10T00:02:00Z

The Kotoka International Airport was yesterday thronged with grief-stricken government and political leaders, legislators and members of the clergy to receive the body of the late Finance Minister, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.

The former minister had left the same airport two weeks ago for medical treatment in South Africa and the arrival of his mortal remains at the same place evoked various emotions from the large crowd there.

Immediately the South African Airline carrying the casket containing the body touched down at 9:30 p.m. many people burst into tears, some wailing uncontrollably.

The casket was then carried from the VVIP lounge to the Golden Jubilee Lounge where it was received by the Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, Minority Leader, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, NPP flag bearer as well as high level security personnel, family members and friends.

The clergy from the Methodist Church led by Rt. Rev. Titus Awortwi Pratt prayed for the body. It was then conveyed to the mortuary.
Mr Baah-Wiredu passed away in South Africa after short illness on September 24, 2008.

Story by Nehemia Owusu Achiaw

NDC Lacks Original Ideas — Mac Manu

2008-10-10T00:00:00Z

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is asking Ghanaians not to risk their future by returning the NDC to power.

“The fact that the NDC was the first political party to elect its flag bearer nearly two years ago, and yet the last major political party to launch its manifesto suggests that the NDC either lacks original ideas or has a sense of inertia.

This presages how the party would approach the problems of the country if they are elected, Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the NPP, said this at a news conference in Accra.

Articulating why the NPP had the best programme for Ghana, he described the NDC as a party that could not blaze the trail in anything and therefore “cannot lead in solving national problems.”

He said instead of telling Ghanaians about their plans, the flag bearer, National Chairman and founder of the NDC, Prof J.E.A. Mills, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr J.J. Rawlings, respectively made statements inconsistent with the facts and were also insincere.

Mr Mac Manu said while in one breath the NDC was discrediting the policies of the NPP, both implemented and in the manifesto, it was at the same time promising to continue with those policies with little tinkering.

He mentioned some of the policies as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit System and the Northern Ghana Development Fund.

He said some inaccuracies in the NDC manifesto was that growth in 2007 was 6.3 per cent and not 5.8 per cent, the current national debt at the end of June was Gh¢ 7.8 billion, and not 91 trillion cedis as the NDC claims.

“What is important is the size of the nation’s debt as compared to the size of the economy. Under the NPP, that had fallen from 189 per cent of GDP under the NDC to 48 per cent”, the NPP National Chairman added.

He contended that the NDC’s pledge to introduce a one-time premium instead of the annual premium charges normally associated with insurance schemes would endanger the scheme and render it cash strapped.

“They now say they will maintain the NYEP which Mr John Mahama, the NPP running mate, has said the NDC would phase out with minor tinkering. They now say they will continue the Metro Mass Transit System, which they have repeatedly criticised, with minor modifications. Timidity and insincerity” he said.

He recalled that when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the NPP flag bearer, pledged a one billion Northern Regional Development Fund, Mr John Mahama ridiculed it and contended that the NDC had copied the concept and given it a different name, Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).

Mr Mac Manu said according to the NDC’s own projections, their plan would get Ghana to middle income status, GDP of $1,000, until 2020, while on the other hand, according to figures from the World Bank and Bank of Ghana, among others, per capita GDP which was $270 in 2000 rose to $ 677 in 2007, under the NPP and was on course to reach $1,000 in 2012.

“With the GDP now at $717 per annum, the NPP and the hardworking people of Ghana have added $447 in the last seven years. The NDC wants Ghanaians to wait for 12 more years to add $300 to our per capita income” he added.

He said the NPP’s impressive management of the economy had earned the country debt forgiveness, Millennium Challenge Account, the over-suscription of Ghana’s sovereign bond issue and the designation of Ghana as one of the best places to do business.

Mr Mac Manu debunked the claim by the NDC that there was growing inequalities and social exclusion in Ghana since 2001.

Story by Donald Ato Dapatem

NPP To Make Life Better For Women — Mrs Akufo-Addo.

2008-10-09T23:54:00Z

Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, wife of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said the NPP will continue to make the issue and welfare of the youth and women its priority when it forms the next government.

She said most of the policies of the NPP would always be geared towards making life better for women and the youth to realise their full potential in order to contribute to the advancement of the nation.

Mrs Akufo-Addo was speaking at the dedication of the refurbished old national headquarters of the party at Kokomlemle, as the headquarters of the youth and women’s wing of the NPP in Accra.

She listed some of the opportunities as the provision and expansion of educational facilities, employment opportunities, free maternal and anti-natal care, school feeding programme, free bussing of pupils and the Capitation Grant.

“Under the NPP, the fear accompanying the blessing of pregnancy had been removed with the free maternal and anti-natal care and after birth the child would also benefit from free education” she said.

Mrs Akufo-Addo added that the Kufuor Administration had witnessed an unprecedented number of women attaining their highest position of national life, adding that all these would be enhanced under Nana Akufo-Addo’s Administration.

She said aside all these achievements, some challenges remained but with the foundation established, the problem hindering the advancement of women would be surmounted under Nana Akufo-Addo.

Touching on the news media, she said the party believed that the individual and the media must be free to express their views about issues without let or hindrance, hence the unprecedented freedom that the press was enjoying.

Mrs Akufo-Addo who described the women and youth wings of the party as the main pillars that had contributed to the success story of the NPP also commended them for their zeal and steadfastness.

Ms Vicki Bright, a Minister of State at the Presidency, urged the women and youth to continue preaching the good work of the NPP administration to Ghanaians as a means to canvass votes to ensure that the party had a resounding victory.

She said the records spoke for themselves, Ghanaians could feel the good policies of the government in the form of the NHIS, School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, unfettered freedom of the individual and the press, but asked that these must be preached to prevent their opponents from diluting them.

Story by Donald Ato Dapatem

NDC stole our manifesto ideas -NPP.

2008-10-09T10:11:00Z

Mr. Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Wednesday accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of plagiarism for stealing the central ideas in the NPP manifesto without out acknowledging them.

He told journalists that even though the NDC had in the past kicked against and called for the abolition of NPP policies and programmes, the NDC had stolen those same policies and put them in their manifesto without admitting that those were NPP policy initiatives.

"Professor Mills implicitly suggested that the NPP deserved a failing grade for its performance in government, but I dare suggested that if a student did what the NDC has done with our manifesto, that student would be charged with plagiarism," he said.

Mr Mac Manu acknowledged that even though plagiarism was a second degree felony and actionable by law, the NPP was too busy with its campaign to take the NDC to court.

He noted that NDC had kicked against policies and programmes such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit System, the Capitation Grant and recently the propose Northern Development Body.

"But in their manifesto they have committed to continuing those policies and programmes with a few irresponsible modifications which threaten to derail those programmes," he said. Mr Mac Manu said the NDC should have been forthright to admit that those were NPP policies instead of creating the impression that they were NDC initiatives.

He also debunked the claim by the NDC that under the NPP there had been marked social exclusion in the country, saying that with the millions of Ghanaians benefiting from all socially oriented programme listed above, that claim could not be the fact. "Under the NPP poverty level has reduced from 39.2 per cent to 28 per cent, national debt has reduced from 189 per cent of GDP under the NDC to 48 per cent of GDP and public workers are being chased by the banks with loans for he first time in the history of the country," he said.

Mr Mac Manu also described as a lie the claim that the economic growth rate in 2007 was 5.8 per cent saying that it was 6.3 per cent and that national debt was 7.8 billion cedis and not 91 trillion cedis as the NDC claimed.

He noted that while all the economic indicators pointed to Ghana reaching the middle income status by 2012, NDC insisted that under their administration Ghanaians would have to wait for eight more years before the middle income target was achieved.

"Obviously the NDC has demonstrated its timidity and lack of ideas to move the country forward in the manner that the NPP has done and we are confident that the people of Ghana will not give them the mandate to run down an economy which is already progressing under NPP," he said. He also chastised former President Jerry John Rawlings for accusing the NPP of glorifying corruption, saying that after 19 years of being head of state, the former president himself admitted that he could not win the fight against corruption. 8 Oct. 08

Source:
GNA

Akufo-Addo tough on crime.

2008-10-09T00:00:00Z

New Patriotic Party Presidential Candidate Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged to make Ghana a safer place, should he win the race for Presidency in the December elections.

According to his recently released manifesto, Akufo-Addo intends to drive a hard line in crime prevention and punishment, taking bold measures to tackle crime and violence "head on” in order that Ghanaians should live without fear for their safety and security.

Following the successful enlargement of Ghana's police force under the Presidency of John Agyekum Kufuor, who almost doubled the number of police officers in his presidency, Akufo-Addo has pledged to increase Ghana's police force by another 100%, aiming to reach the target of 50,000 police men and women by 2014.

Using President Kufuor’s previous work as a platform, the NPP flag-bearer has also promised to further improve police training and salaries in order to ensure that Ghanaian law enforcement reaches the very highest standards. Furthermore, the police will gain access to improved resources, such as better patrol vehicles, computers and ICT facilities. Police officers will also be provided with bullet proof vests and radios.

In terms of crime prevention, Akufo-Addo has pledged to establish a Criminal Intelligence Unit, which will employ intelligence-led policing strategies. Ghana’s streets will also receive improved street lighting, with many gaining Close Circuit Television (CCTV) equipment, deterring criminal activity and allowing for easy identification of assailants.

Stiffer prison sentences will be imposed for serious offences, such as rape, child molestation, armed robbery and drug trafficking, and the maximum sentence of the trafficking of hard drugs will be increased to life imprisonment. A Cabinet level “DRUG CZAR” has also being promised, which will head a Narcotics Control Agency.

For those who are unfortunate enough to become victims of crime, Akufo-Addo has promised reforms in the current Criminal Justice System, allowing better access to victim support.

With the strength of such policies behind him, Akufo-Addo hopes to tackle the problem of crime in Ghana directly, maintaining the good work of the Kufuor Presidency and avoiding a repeat of the rising crime levels of the 1990s, under the NDC. With sufficient manpower and resources, the police force should be in a better position to function to its highest capacity, and the nation’s citizens can continue to live in knowledge that crime in Ghana will not be tolerated.

Source: Frankie Freeman , Statesman

Nana Akufo Addo takes fight to Greater Accra.

2008-10-08T23:48:00Z

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, is set to begin his first comprehensive campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region today, after a week's break in his campaign activities, meant to enable him travel to the United Kingdom to address the Conservative Party's Conference.

Political analysts are convinced that the Greater Accra Region will play a major role in determining who wins the epic December presidential election.

But, while the NPP flagbearer’s popularity continues to soar in the region, the party’s parliamentary candidates have not been as vibrant, a straw poll conducted by The Statesman has revealed.

NPP currently holds 16 of the seats in the region to the NDC’s 11.
The opposition party has in recent times concentrated on the region, which has the largest number of electoral votes, in order to tilt the balance in their favour, especially in the presidential election.

The NPP is in no mood for an electoral walloping. As part of the national campaign efforts, Presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo will today begin what is expected to be an electrifying tour of the region.

The action spots for today are the Tema West and East, Ashiaman and Kpone Katamanso constituencies where Nana and members of his campaign team are expected to be met by thousands of enthusiastic party faithful, supporters and sympathisers.

The campaign team will pay courtesy calls on some traditional leaders, meet with identifiable groups and address a number of rallies in the constituencies to explain to the people the need to vote in the December elections to retain the NPP in power.

When The Statesman visited the constituencies yesterday, many communities were awash in NPP colours, while some people were engaged in brisk business of selling the party’s paraphernalia.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s first point of call will be the Sakumono taxi rank, where he will meet and address trotro and taxi drivers, as well as the Muslim community.

He will also visit the Sakumono village and interact with fishermen and market women. A mini rally at Adjeikojo Lorry Park and a visit to the Specialist School for the Deaf and Dumb will round off the Tema West tour.

Some areas to be visited in Tema East include the Tema Fishing Harbour and the Community 1 market. Sources close to the campaign team have told The Statesman.

Mini rallies at Kpone and Mandela Park, Ashaiman, will round off the day’s activities. The campaign tour will continue tomorrow with a visit to the Obom-Domeabra constituency, where he will meet and address the people of Nsuobri and Hobor; Trobo-Amasaman where he will address a rally at Mile Seven Park, New Achimota; and the most populous constituency in the country, Weija.

In Weija, the Presidential candidate, who is also the MP for Abuakwa South, is expected to meet a gathering of chiefs, market women and party faithful at Nii Okaiman Abeka market. He will also address residents of Anyaa Fan Milk, Mallam cluster of schools, GICEL Estates, Ngleshie Amanfro, Bortianor and Kokrobite.

The campaign breaks on Friday to enable the Presidential candidate attend the funeral of the late Peter Ala Adjetey, former Speaker of Parliament/National Chairman of the NPP.

When the tour resumes Saturday, Nana Akufo-Addo and his team will visit the Okaikoi South, Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ablekuma North and Ablekuma Central constituencies.

Sunday, the Presidential Candidate will end the first phase of his first comprehensive campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region with visits to the Dome-Kwabenaya and Abokobi-Madina constituencies. A mammoth rally in the Abokobi-Madina constituency will round off the first phase of the regional campaign tour.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign tour is expected to consolidate the NPP’s support base in the Region, and also provide a further boost for his determination to succeed President Kufuor.

The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NPP, Alex Quartey, yesterday told The Statesman that the party’s regional campaign team were leaving no stone unturned in their determination to win massively in the Region.

"Our party has done well in government and the electorate who are not prepared to witness the return of the NDC to power appreciate this fact. The policies of our government, such as the National Health Insurance Scheme, Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme, Free Bussing of school children and others are making dramatic impact in the lives of the people, and I’m convinced the electorate will support us to retain power in the December elections to enable us continue with our good policies,” Mr Quartey told The Statesman.

Source:Kwabena Amankwah , Statesman

Bawumia Exposes Rawlings & Co .

2008-10-07T23:09:00Z

The Running Mate to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is gearing himself up for a campaign of his life as all indications point to the fact that, he has already been immersed in the political pool to toughen him for the job at hand.

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) uncharacteristic of him since his days at the Bank of Ghana as Deputy Governor, has now began a vigorous campaign of what can be termed as stripping naked the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its low key economic performance.

Addressing the party’s teeming supporters and activists at Nkwakaw in the Kwahu West District over the weekend, Dr Bawumia revealed that, in spite of the fact that, the NDC and its military junta, the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) ruled the country for 19 years, the reserve the two left after those long years was nothing to write home about.

According to Dr Bawumia, the NPP in its seven year rule has done far better than what former President Rawlings’ PNDC and NDC together left before leaving office.

He said, after forty three years of independence with 19years of NDC’s rule, Ghana had only three billion dollars ($3 BILLION) in its reserve, but after 7 years of NPP regime, the country can now boast of sixteen billion dollars ($16 BILLION) in its reserves.

He therefore urged the party supporters to rally behind Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to win the Presidency and Hon. Okerchiri Kwabena Adusah to win the Parliamentary slot for the Nkawkaw constituency.

He said, the NPP in government has been a savior to the ordinary Ghanaians saying its policies, like the National health Insurance Scheme, free basic education, the freedom prevailing in the country and a host of other development projects attest to that fact.

He promised that, Nana Akufo-Addo as the President of Ghana would continue the elevation of the educational programme, which would include free Senior High School education.

On his part, Ahaji Karim Grunsah, the bank roller of the King Faisal Football Club, urged all the people in the Muslim communities to rally behind the NPP for victory in 2008.
Source: The Independent