Election 2020: Bugri Naabu predicts 75% victory for Akufo-Addo
A former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bugri Naabu has predicted a 75 per cent victory margin for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the December 7 elections. This prediction, according to him, is based on the remarkable performance of Mr Akufo-Addo with regards to the kind of transformational policies and programmes including the free senior high school (SHS) programme he has introduced in his first term in office. He further indicated that the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will poll 25 per cent in the elections. “President Akufo-Addo will win by 75 per cent margin and John Mahama will get 25 per cent,” Bugri Naabu told TV3 on Thursday, November 26. “This is based on the peace that we are enjoying in the country, and programme such as the free Senior High school programme,” he added. He further stated that it will be “premature to change the NPP government in the elections this year.” Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana ahead of the December 7 polls has revealed that 51.7 per cent of Ghanaians will vote for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo if the elections were held today. The survey also noted that some 40.4 per cent will vote for the opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama. A further 1.4 per cent of voters, according to the survey, will vote for the Ghana Union Movement’s Rev. Christian Andrews, also known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom. The survey, which sampled nearly 12,000 registered voters in 100 swing constituencies across the 16 regions of Ghana, also revealed corruption is not a key determinant for voters in the December 7 elections. Presenting findings of the survey, Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department Kaakyire Frempong said many of the voters maintain campaign messages will form the basis for their vote. He pointed out that 51 per cent of voters think incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs will retain their seats in Parliament while 35 per cent of seats are up for grabs. Some 13 per cent of the voters say MPs are likely to be changed, he said. “It can be argued that this election is solely contested on policy-based issues. In this election, the economic issues have been framed around tangible and implementable policies. For the Ghanaian voter, their choice is for the candidate who has the capacity to carry through with transformational policies. Therefore, it did not come as a surprise when 62.2 per cent of voters said the Free Senior High School programme offers hope to their future aspirations. “It is interesting from voters’ respondents captured in Table 5 that the banking restructuring exercise that was greeted with cynicism and lamentations by the affected customers and business owners would have no effect on voters’ choices at the polls (0.7%). The voters have confirmed the policy-driven voting paradigm in contemporary elections. “A majority of Ghanaian voters said they believe in the policies and programs being implemented by the incumbent government ( 61.7%). Only a minority 26.8% expressed lack of faith in the incumbent’s policies and 11.5% declined to make a response,” he said. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
NPP supporter reportedly pulls gun on Upper Manya MP
A resident of Ternguanya, a farming community near Klo-Agogo in the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency of the Eastern Region is wanted by the Police for pulling a gun at the Member of Parliament for the area. The incident occurred Wednesday, November 25, 2020 when the NPP MP Joseph Tetteh and his entourage including Engineers went to the Ternguanya community to fix streetlights. The suspect Felix Teye alleged to be sympathizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party accused the NPP MP of only visiting the community for votes. While fixing the streetlights, the suspect who was reportedly sitting on a motorbike together with a pillion rider in a tirade of accusations threatened the MP and his entourage to leave the community accusing him of deceiving them for votes. He reportedly went ahead to incite the residents to sack the MP and his entourage. The MP, according to eyewitnesses, asked his bodyguard and his entourage not to react to the actions of the suspect to avoid tension. While the MP and his entourage were leaving the community at about 3:30 pm, the suspect was spotted at Sonwer, a nearby community holding locally manufactured single barrel gun which upon seeing the MP’s Vehicle allegedly pointed the gun at it. The bodyguard of the MP, identified as John Ampofo, according to reports, tactically got down from the vehicle, overpowered the suspect and seized the gun with registration number ASAT 449989 which was empty. The Assembly Member for the Terguanya electoral area David Terkpetey told Starr News, the suspect was beaten mercilessly by some members of the MP’s entourage till he fell unconscious. He, however, said the suspect regained consciousness later and has been sent to Odumase Krobo to seek healthcare. Meanwhile, Starr News has gathered that the senior Military officer and the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency 1st Vice Chairman of the NPP subsequently went to the Police Station to plead on behalf of the suspect wanted by Police. However, the Asesewa District Police Commander John Yeboah asked that they produce the suspect to Police to sign a bond of good behaviour before, during and after the elections to help maintain peace in the Constituency. Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
2020 Special Voting: 5,947 to vote in Upper East Region
Out of 660,181 registered voters in the Upper East Region, a total of 5,947 voters will take part in the 2020 Special Voting on Tuesday, December 1. They include the election officers, security agencies and the media practitioners who would be working on December 7. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Bolgatanga, Mr Worlanyo Mensah Tegah, the Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) disclosed that the special voting would take place in all the 15 district offices of the Commission, however, Bolgatanga Central would be divided into two making the total voting centres for the special voting 16. Breaking the statistics down, the Deputy Regional Director noted that Bolgatanga Central, which would have two polling stations for the special voting had 416 and 415 voters respectively while Navrongo Central had 622. A total of 739 would be voting in Bongo, 529 in Bawku Central, 157 in Binduri, 105 in Bolgatanga East, 393 in Builsa North, 156 in Builsa South, and 543 in Chiana-Paga. The rest include: 106 in Garu, 565 in Zebilla, 167 in Tempane, 533 in Pusiga, 465 in Talensi and 36 in Nabdam. Mr Tegah disclosed that 1,496 polling stations would be used on December 7, for the elections and the directorate had received all the election materials and added that the Commission was prepared to deliver on its mandate on the election days. He disclosed that some election officials had already received training while a few more were undergoing orientations. He said measures were in place to ensure that all the prescribed protocols to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease pandemic were strictly adhered to and added that COVID-19 ambassadors had also been trained in that regard. Mr Tegah, therefore, urged the public to cooperate effectively with the election officials and the security agencies on the elections to ensure a peaceful and violence-free election. He further warned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble on the Election Day and added that the law would deal with any miscreants who tried to disrupt the conduct of the elections. GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
I’ll win Dec 7 polls in spite of survey results – Mahama
John Mahama has expressed optimism that he will win the December 7 elections in spite of the findings of opinion polls being churned out lately by research organisations. He said Ghanaians are worse off under the present administration and that gives him the confidence that he will win the elections. “I am sure that all of us have lived in this country for the past four years and we have seen the NPP government and we can compare to the NDC [National Democratic Congress] government. An opinion poll was carried and more than 60 per cent of Ghanaians say that they are worse off today than they were in 2016. “But NDC I am convinced we will win the elections. As for the parliamentary elections form our calculations and the opinion [polls we have won the majority in parliament already,” he said at a campaign rally on Thursday, November 26. His comments come on the heels of a survey conducted by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana ahead of the December 7 polls which reveals that that 51.7 per cent of Ghanaians will vote for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo if the elections were held today. The survey also noted that some 40.4 per cent will vote for the opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama. A further 1.4 per cent of voters, according to the survey, will vote for the Ghana Union Movement’s Rev. Christian Andrews, also known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom. sThe survey, which sampled nearly 12,000 registered voters in 100 swing constituencies across the 16 regions of Ghana, also revealed corruption is not a key determinant for voters in the December 7 elections. Presenting findings of the survey, Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department Kaakyire Frempong said many of the voters maintain campaign messages will form the basis for their vote. He pointed out that 51 per cent of voters think incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs will retain their seats in Parliament while 35 per cent of seats are up for grabs. Some 13 per cent of the voters say MPs are likely to be changed, he said. “It can be argued that this election is solely contested on policy-based issues. In this election, the economic issues have been framed around tangible and implementable policies. For the Ghanaian voter, their choice is for the candidate who has the capacity to carry through with transformational policies. Therefore, it did not come as a surprise when 62.2 per cent of voters said the Free Senior High School programme offers hope to their future aspirations. “It is interesting from voters’ respondents captured in Table 5 that the banking restructuring exercise that was greeted with cynicism and lamentations by the affected customers and business owners would have no effect on voters’ choices at the polls (0.7%). The voters have confirmed the policy-driven voting paradigm in contemporary elections. “A majority of Ghanaian voters said they believe in the policies and programs being implemented by the incumbent government ( 61.7%). Only a minority 26.8% expressed lack of faith in the incumbent’s policies and 11.5% declined to make a response,” he said. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
Ghana has recorded the lowest cedi depreciation under Akufo-Addo – Bawumia
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said Ghana, under the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, recorded the lowest depreciation of the cedi since 1992. The former deputy governor of the Central Bank said although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected economies all over the world the Akufo-Addo government has ensured a low inflation rate thereby impacting the strength of the cedi positively. “In four years, we have stabilised the economy. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted all economies in the world, we have reduced inflation, and inflation continues to fall. We have doubled economic growth in the first three years, we reduced the exchange rate depreciation. The exchange rate depreciation has been relatively stable. Ghana has recorded the lowest rate of depreciation [of the cedi] in the last 28 years in 2020. “Notwithstanding COVID and its implications and notwithstanding that this is an election year, Ghana in 2020 has seen the lowest depreciation since 1992,” he noted. According to him, “the average depreciation of the cedi over the last four years, which is at 7.3% is the lowest for any first-term government since 1992. We significantly reduced the deficit.” He was speaking at the Nation Building Updates on Thursday, November 26, 2020. The Nation Building Updates is a weekly event organised by the Ministry of Information to provide updates on key government projects undertaken by the government. Rainbowradio Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
UG survey predicting victory for Akufo-Addo fake – ASEPA
The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has slammed the University of Ghana’s Political Science department for a recent survey which has predicted a one-touch victory for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to the University, 51.7% of Ghanaians say they will vote for Akufo-Addo. It also stated that 40.4% of Ghanaians say they will vote for John Dramani Mahama whilst 1.4% say they will vote for Ghana Union Movement (GUM). Out of over 11,000 across the country, 52% of respondents say they will retain their Members of Parliament. The researchers say 80% of the respondents said they will vote based on the campaign message. But ASEPA in its statement said the survey released is fake. “Earlier this month, a Facebook post by one Edudzi Tamakloe suggesting that the Department has conducted some polls and was shelving it was brought to the attention of the department. “The department agreed to issue a rebuttal or disclaimer which was drafted. The disclaimer was given to the Head of Department to issue on behalf of the department. The Disclaimer stated categorically that the Department has NOT conducted any polls this year. “The Head of Department failed to publish this rebuttal which had been agreed upon by the entire members of the Department and the letter drafted was on the 1st of November,2020. “Only for the same head of department who had written and signed those rebuttals to on the 24th November issue an invitation to members of the department that a survey has been conducted on the 2020 elections and they are invited to participate in the dissemination of the information.” Read the full statement by ASEPA below. Press Statement by ASEPA on the Fake University of Ghana Polls by the Political Science Department- ASEPA Calls for Disciplinary Action Against Lecturers Publishing Fake Polls in the Name of UG ASEPA EXPOSES UNIVERSITY OF GHANA ON FAKE POLLS We have called you here to demonstrate how some lecturers at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana have connived to launch fake polls clearly aimed at influencing the outcome of the 2020 Elections. First of all, we want to State Categorically that the University of Ghana, Political Science Department has NOT conducted any polls on the 2020 elections. The polls being launched today is sole handiwork of one Dr. Owusu Mensah who has been contracted to publish a fake polls to hoodwink the public. Earlier this month, a Facebook post by one Edudzi Tamakloe suggesting that the Department has conducted some polls and was shelving it was brought to the attention of the department. The department agreed to issue a rebuttal or disclaimer which was drafted. The disclaimer was given to the Head of Department to issue on behalf of the department. The Disclaimer stated categorically that the Department has NOT conducted any polls this year. The Head of Department failed to publish this rebuttal which had been agreed upon by the entire members of the Department and the letter drafted was on the 1st of November,2020. Only for the same head of department who had written and signed those rebuttals to on the 24th November issue an invitation to members of the department that a survey has been conducted on the 2020 elections and they are invited to participate in the dissemination of the information. This situation has seriously angered a lot of the lecturers of the department who feel the name of the University and for that matter, the department was being used for personal gains! It is important to bring these issues currently happening at the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana to the attention of the Media and for that matter the public because it borders on the integrity of the premier University of this country. That individual members of the university can initiate research activity in a private capacity and want to hang the results in the name of the university. Secondly, which serious academic institution would decide to publish a poll at this critical hour leading to a major election? We believe that these actions by Dr Owusu Mensah and the Head of Department of the Political Science Department cannot go unpunished for attempting to bring the name of the university into public ridicule. We demand that the University Disciplinary Committee Commences immediate investigations into this matter and sanction lecturers who may be found complicit in this brute attempt to defraud the public. We also preparing to petition the Criminal Investigations Department to launch criminal investigations into the matter since it is a classic case of Academic Fraud perpetuated by these lecturers. Raibowradio Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications