National Democratic Congress Archives - Page 13 of 31

‘I am appalled at the growing criminalization of speech and journalism in Ghana–John Mahama to Akufo-Addo

Former President John Dramani Mahama has written to inform President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that he is shocked following the growing criminalization of speech and journalism under his watch in this 21st century. Kindly read the full letter below: Dear President Nana Akufo-Addo, I am appalled at the growing criminalization of speech and journalism in Ghana, under your watch, in this 21st century. An investigative journalist was murdered, under very troubling circumstances. Yet, while the Ghanaian people and the international community have demanded justice, Government’s inability or unwillingness to act is obvious to all. The police have virtually shelved the investigations into this brutal murder. There have also been several disturbing incidents of harassment of journalists in the line of duty; we have witnessed media establishments closed down on your instructions, despite many appeals to you. Now, in a space of less than two weeks, four people have suffered police action, criminalizing their right to free speech. As Attorney General, at the time, who led the repeal of the criminal libel law, in order that citizens could freely express their views, it is unconscionable to be suppressing the rights and criminalizing the speech of citizens and journalists. It is even more worrying when the power of the state is used as a pliant tool in this intimidating endeavor. Radio and TV presenter Captain Smart was dragged from court, and although he had been granted bail, sent into detention. Another radio presenter, Oheneba Boamah Bennie has been incarcerated for statements he allegedly made. A civil society activist was arrested, detained, sent to court on criminal charges, granted bail and yet detained again for making a statement against you, President Akufo-Addo. As if to suggest insincerity behind the serious decriminalization of speech that you led, another radio presenter, Bobie Ansah, has been arrested, detained and charged– criminalized for speaking and making allegations against your wife. Again, last week, security personnel linked to your party brutalized a radio presenter and producer in the city of Takoradi. Such lawless attacks have today become common occurrences in our country. President Akufo-Addo, you cannot continue to oppress the people, criminalize speech when these matters are essentially civil in nature, if you feel offended by them. It is even more sad that the Journalists Association and its senior members, many of our clergy and other moral leaders, scared because of the oppressive and dictatorial regime you are running, have remained quiet in the face of this disturbing development in our maturing democracy. This is a dangerous blueprint you are fashioning for our dear nation and it must not be encouraged. Your actions as President have totally discredited your self-acquired accolade as a human rights lawyer and activist. Ghana has long emerged from the unfortunate past where journalists were cowed by incarceration and brutalization. I fear that if you do not take immediate action to arrest this unfortunate trend, when you exit the high office of President in January 2025, freedom of speech and a free media will certainly not be counted as part of the legacy you leave behind. Your brother, John Dramani Mahama Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion, Politics

Yentua Demo: NDC Communication Officer blames Akufo-Addo for poor turn out

The Deputy National Communication Officer of the Opposition National Democratic Congress Godwin Ako Gunn has blamed the poor turn up at the ‘Yentua Demonstration’ on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to the Deputy Communication Officer during his engagement with the media he said, people fear coming out for the ‘Yentua’ demonstration as expected because they know what the President can do. “People who skeptical know Nana Akufo-Addo, they know what he can do to media people, those who have lost their lives, those who have to run away that is people are scared sometimes to even come and join demonstration”. He stressed He added: But some of us are prepared to die on the street for Ghana. So, the people of Ghana will come out in their numbers and we complete it. However, he was hopeful that the number will see an increase before they start with the demonstration. “The number might not be my issue now but am telling you, there will be more than 20,000 people before we leave here. Just watch us in the next hour, this place will be flooded with people”. The opposition NDC and its representatives in Parliament have vowed to kick against the 1.75 percent levy which they said will affect electronic transactions and the poor masses. Meanwhile, the government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy. As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GHS500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared with GHS78 billion in 2016. However, the government says the e-Levy proceeds will be used to support development in the country such as entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure and among other things. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

We can’t go back to IMF because we have a positive relationship with them—Yaw Buaben Asamoah

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has revealed that the Akufo-Addo government is already implementing the measures that the IMF is likely to bring forward if the country decides to seek for an intervention. Apexnewsgh.com report According to former President John Dramani Mahama, the Akufo-Addo government should organize a national economic forum as an antecedent to returning to the IMF. Meanwhile, responding at a Press Conference organized in Accra on Wednesday, 9 February 2022, the Communications Director of the governing NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoah condemned Mr. Mahama’s pronouncement. According to Mr. Asamoah, the former President John Dramani is castigating the government for not having a plan for fiscal consolidation that development partners will buy into, “but he says this without realizing that the development community have accepted the cost-cutting measures of 20percent in expenditure and E-Levy as the building block of our recovery”. “So, where is the lack of plan that he is mentioning, usually his focus is three things, increasing revenue internally, cutting waste and managing debt, these are the three prescriptions the IMF proposes,” Mr. Buaben Asamoa pointed. “So, at this stage for the former president to insist that we should go to a Senchi-like event where we will then march off to the IMF for relief, it doesn’t really work, we are already implementing the measures that the IMF is likely to bring forward.” “Having gone to the IMF and we are now struggling to fund roads including in the cities, we can’t go back to that and we will not go back to that because we have a positive relationship with the IMF already in terms of Article 4 consultation that we do annually, in our last Article 4 consultation the IMF stated clearly how we have dealt with COVID.” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen

Opinion, Politics

‘Akufo-Addo’s government has refused to accounts for its stewardship’—Dr. Apaak

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has said, the government of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has refused to account for its stewardship to Ghanaians. Apexnewsgh.com report Responding to a question on why members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) still maintained they won’t support the e-levy agenda, Dr. Apaak told Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, that, “Government has refused to account for its stewardship, and we have given examples; refusing to account for the feeding of Ghanaians during the lockdown, no one knows how much was spent, COVID accountability, they gave us free water, free electricity and they never told us the full cost, only to say that Ghanaians should pay for water and electricity after the election”. He added: “We have pointed to the luxurious lifestyle of the President and his Ministers, including the use of a private jet luxurious jet, they have refused to tell us how it cost”. “We have asked them to cut down on expenditure, they say this is the time to be buying private jets” “We have also raised the issue of heavy leakages at the port where a colossal amount of monies are lost. And if the government were to tighten the loopholes even Ghc10 billion a year from the port is a small change”. He stressed He said a citizen has filed a case to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against a sitting member of the council of state because of tax exemption. “And also the issue of tax exemptions were tax exemption were given to companies, friends, families and cronies who don’t deserve tax exemption and actually we loosed not less than Ghc 5billion through tax exemption”. According to Dr. Apaak, when the government refused to account, they are allowing tax weavers, they are not taking action with regards to the Auditor’s General report which says that the country lost Ghc 12 billion to not be accounted for in 2020. “And you are still flying high, living luxuriously” he stated Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion, Politics

“I don’t think the opposition should determine taxes a sitting government should collect or not—Dr. Stephen Amoah

The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah, says, there is no historical record that shows Ghanaians are excited when government in power decides to pass taxes. Speaking to Apexnewsgh.com in an exclusive interview, Mr. Amoah said, the ongoing hullabaloos about the E-levy:“…is a way of the opposition trying to champion a propaganda course and is catching up with our people”. He asked: “When in our history as a country that we have passed a bill whether the NDC-NPP government that the people of Ghana are happy about? Nobody wants to pay, let’s be honest. So, this issue about the people of Ghana are not happy with the tax, to me is a way of the opposition trying to champion a propaganda course and is catching up with our people. “If there can be any evidence that last year, last four years, there is a historical record that we were passing taxes and Ghanaians were so happy in paying taxes” “I don’t think the opposition should determine taxes a sitting government should collect or not. That is very unfortunate because the opposition wants to come to power. I respect their views, they have the right to express their opinion on some of these government policies”. He said But I also think the opposition is not ready to cooperate with this government to move this country forward. “They said, that the E-levy is unpopular among the people, that when we passed the bill the probability this government is going to lose power in 2024 is so high and you think the opposition wants the NPP to continue in power? No. So, why are they opposing it? And is not even the first time a party in government is passing a bill and we haven’t seen the opposition even leaving the house for it to be passed by the government in power. When we were passing National Health Insurance, the opposition boycotted the house” He pointed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion, Politics

E-Levy: ‘We want it fixed at 1%, we fear for double taxation–Minority Leader

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has said they in the minority will be ready to accept a reduction of the proposed E-levy to 1% than the initial proposed 1.75%. The Minority leader made the pronouncement during the 10th-anniversary launch of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications in Accra on Thursday, December 2, 2021, According to him, “…a week ago, we said no, we won’t accept e-levy but having listened to officials in government, including the Minister of Finance, I am convinced to accept a departure from my original no to accepting a one percent E-levy,” he stated. “Pegging the E-levy at 1% was a great contribution to fiscal consolidation and would ensure the economy did not collapse going forward”, he stressed. He Added: The digital economy was doing well and had facilitated a revolution in financial inclusion, hence it was unwise to overburden the telecommunications sector. “We are not against it, but we want it fixed at one percent. We fear for double taxation because we already have the communication services tax,” he said. Mr. Iddrisu initially disagreed with the deduction fee for business transactions not exceeding the GH¢100.00 threshold a day and called for it to be pegged at GH¢500.00. But in a similar vein, he suggested that the money be pegged at GH¢300.00 after revising his notes. The Minority leader said, Ghanaians needed to pay taxes to help develop the country, but not one that would further overburden their tight purse. However, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications alluded to the responsibility of paying tax for development considering the budget deficits and debts. He said the way taxes were introduced to generate revenue must be looked at, so it did not become inimical to the government’s digitalization drive and financial inclusion. The government’s push for entrepreneurship amongst the youth for job creation in the face of a 1.75% e-levy was a matter of concern, Dr. Ashigbey said, and that the Chamber was engaging government to see the best way out. On the issue of widening the tax net, he said merchant payments should be exempted completely from the e-levy. “The Chamber believes that artisans including masons, dressmakers, and painters get paid after work done and do not pay tax. They need to be part of the merchant ecosystem, and to do so there must be no levy on merchant payment,” he said. “Once their wallet is taxed, they will venture into the merchant ecosystem, it gives government visibility of revenues they make. The government then charges corporate income taxes at the end of the year if they file their expenditures.” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion, Politics

‘NDC has no legal authority and power to use violence to overturn the standing orders—Yaw Buaben

The National Communication Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Yaw Buaben Asamoah has pointed, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has no legal authority and power to use violence to overturn the standing orders of Parliament. Mr. Asamoah made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Apexnews-Ghana on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Responding to opposition critics on President Akufo-Addo’s comment on the controversial E-levy Mr. Asamoah said, “Is important we appreciate the context within which the debate on the E-levy is happening. Particularly when you said ‘passed’, it refers to the parliamentary process and what the parliamentary process is basically, that the minority once there is a difference of one person, we have a minority and majority”. “The traditional role of a minority is to ensure that its voice is heard on matters that it doesn’t believe to be passed. So, their duty is to make their voice seriously heard and once their voice is heard, they do not have any power beyond that or to stop a vote physically”. He said He added: “What you are seeing in parliament is a poor reflection of how parliament is conducting themselves, is not good enough. They are not supposed to use physical force to stop any activity in parliament from going on, but they are supposed to make their voice heard”. “Now their dispute in Parliament is about Deputy Speaker’s voting, Yes, Deputy Speaker has a status that is different from a speaker himself. Deputy Speakers are sent there as Members of Parliament and part of their privileges is that, they are entitled to vote and therefore, when one is presiding as a Speaker, one has the opportunity to rise at any time under order 13:1. So, when a Deputy Speaker is Presiding, at any time during the debate including the decision time, voting time, as he is sitting in the chair he has no vote. But he can get up from the chair, signal the second Deputy Speaker and then he can go and vote as an MP. Is his right, is the right of the constituency who sent him there”. He Explained “So, as long as Hon. Joe Owusu is in the chair in the event Speaker Bagbin isn’t there, he can always leave the chair under order 13: 1 of the parliamentary orders and go and vote while the Hon. Andrews Asiama who is the second Deputy Chair takes his place”. The NDC has no legal authority and power to use violence to overturn the standing orders. So, if the President said the E-levy will be passed, what it means is that, in the context of what parliament does, the E-levy yes should pass and will pass because, in parliament their duty, their authority is to make their point and after that, they should allow the voting rules to continue and if the voting rules continues, the two Deputy Speakers will have a vote. Mr. Asamoah stressed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion, Politics

Trust NDC Minority Caucus, we will continue to vote against the E-levy–Navrongo MP to Ghanaians

NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Navrongo Central Constituency Mr. Sampson Tangombu Chiragia has called on the Ghanaians to trust the NDC Minority Caucus in Parliament as far as voting against the E-levy is concerned. Apexnewsgh report The Member of Parliament made the call on Thursday, February 3, 2022, when speaking to Apexnewsgh.com Mr. Chiragia said: “We are saying that we are against E-levy. He is the President of Ghana, the people went to the polls and voted for him as the person they think he can manage for now. But what we are saying, is we the NDC minority are against the E-levy because the effect is directly on the poor and we as a social democratic party. They don’t think we should endorse what will have a direct effect on the poor and for that matter, we are against”. “And now, as long as they bring the bill to parliament and as long as we are there and they put it before us, we will only vote against the E-levy period”. He stressed “Now we don’t want to comment because we have told the people and now the people now know what the E-levy will do to them more than us. But, they are saying they will do it. So, the NDC minority caucus will continue to vote against the E-Levy. He maintained Meanwhile, he believes they in the NDC are not to be blamed but the government and President Akufo-Addo should because they were not able to mobilize 138 majorities as they claim. “Nana Addo should go and mobilized his 138 parliamentarians and come and pass E-levy, apart from that, is 137-137 nothing more nothing less. If Akufo-Addo is able to mobilize his 138, we will go by the constitution and passed the E-levy. We will continue to stand by the masses”. Mr. Chiragia was responding to President Pronouncement on E-levy when addressing traditional leaders from Dzodze in the Volta region on Tuesday, 1st February 2022. According to President Akufo-Addo, “Revenues during 2020/2021 went down considerably because of the slowing down of the economic activities that came from the COVID-19. At the same time, government, in order to keep the country going, did incur some expenditures on the free water, the free electricity. These were the unavoidable expenses that government had to make,”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

Minority shun 1.5% E-levy reduction by government

The government proposal to reduce the rate of the proposed Electronic Transactions Levy from 1.75% to 1.5 percent has been rejected by the Minority in Parliament. The reduction according to government, is informed by the concession from Telecommunications to cut down their 1% charge on transactions by 0.25%. The e-levy was introduced by the government through the Finance Minister during the 2022 Budget on basic transactions related to digital payments and electronic platform transactions. Per the Finance Minister, the E-levy will apply to electronic transactions that are more than GHS 100 on a daily basis. This is different from the 1% telecommunications charge on transactions. According to the budget, up to 0.25 percentage points of the 1.5 percent e-transaction levy or 16.7 percent of the yield from the levy, should be used to support road infrastructure development. Ten percent of the 0.25 percentage points, i.e. 1.67% of the yield from the levy, would be dedicated to the improvement in public transportation, including the purchase of buses. However, the levy since it announcement by the Finance Minister has received some level of criticism especially from the opposition NDC, because of its impact on mobile money transactions and poor Ghanaians that use it. The minority said they will not support the E-levy passage in Parliament. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

JUST IN: Date for NPP internal elections announced, check and see other important info

The Governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced dates for its internal elections to elect party officers. The party intends to elect party officers who will take over the administration of the party and steer affairs to ensure that the party is retained in the 2024 election. According to the timelines provided, the elections will begin with the polling station elections which has been scheduled for 19th February -5th March. Electoral Area Elections has been scheduled for 18th – 20th March whiles Constituency Elections will be held from 22nd -24th April. Regional Elections is scheduled to take place from 20th -22nd May whiles National Elections will take place from 14th -16th July. Read Statement Below The National Council of the NPP has set down timelines for the conduct of its internal elections to elect officers right from the polling stations to the National. TIME TABLE FOR 2022 NPP INTERNAL ELECTIONS Polling Stations Elections 19th February -5th March Electoral Area Elections 18th – 20th March Constituency Elections 22nd -24th April Regional Elections 20th -22nd May National Elections 14th -16th July So we have the following officers taken charge of the album and the elections at the polling station: Chairman Secretary Research and Election MP”s Rep Regional Rep NPP INTERNAL ELECTIONS UPDATE Polling Station* 19th Feb – 5th Mar Nomination form gh10.00 Electoral Area Coordinator* 18th – 20th Mar Nomination form gh50.00 Constituecy* 22nd – 24th April Filling fee: Chairman gh500.00 Others gh200.00 Region* 20th- 22nd May Filling fee: chairman gh5,000.00 Others gh2,000.00 National* 14th – 16th July Filling fee: chairman gh20,000.00 Vice gh15,000.00 Secretary gh 10,000.00 Others gh8,000.00 Wings gh 6,000.00 Source: MyNewsGh.com Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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‘I am appalled at the growing criminalization of speech and journalism in Ghana–John Mahama to Akufo-Addo

Yentua Demo: NDC Communication Officer blames Akufo-Addo for poor turn out

We can’t go back to IMF because we have a positive relationship with them—Yaw Buaben Asamoah

‘Akufo-Addo’s government has refused to accounts for its stewardship’—Dr. Apaak

“I don’t think the opposition should determine taxes a sitting government should collect or not—Dr. Stephen Amoah

E-Levy: ‘We want it fixed at 1%, we fear for double taxation–Minority Leader

‘NDC has no legal authority and power to use violence to overturn the standing orders—Yaw Buaben

Trust NDC Minority Caucus, we will continue to vote against the E-levy–Navrongo MP to Ghanaians

Minority shun 1.5% E-levy reduction by government

JUST IN: Date for NPP internal elections announced, check and see other important info

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