Assin North: Court grants injunction to stop NDC MP-elect from being sworn-in
A Cape Coast High Court has granted an injunction restraining the Member of Parliament-elect for Assin North, Richard Quayson, from being sworn-in into the 8th Parliament tomorrow, Thursday, January 7, 2021. The injunction was granted in a case filed by one Michael Ankomah-Nimfa of Assin Bereku who claims Mr. Quayson holds dual citizenship of Ghana and Canada. In the substantive case, Mr. Ankomah-Nimfa is seeking to annul the declaration of Mr. Quayson as the winner of the December 7 polls because of the dual citizenship claims. He based his case on Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which says “a person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.” The presiding judge, Justice Kwasi Boakye ruled that Mr. Quayson was “restrained from holding himself out as Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency within the Central Region of the Republic of Ghana and further presenting himself to be sworn in as Member of Parliament-elect as such until the final determination of the petition.” The court’s directive implies that the National Democratic Congress will present 136 MPs for the swearing-in ceremony for members of the 8th Parliament on January 7. In November 2020, a group calling itself “Concerned Citizens of Assin North” petitioned the EC in the Central Region to withdraw the candidature of Mr. Quayson because of the same dual citizenship claims. This was one of four attempted injunctions following the 2020 election after the Hohoe MP-elect, Peter Amewu; the Techiman South MP-elect, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah and the Buem MP-elect, Kofi Adams had their election victories challenged. In Mr. Amewu’s case, the petitioners were initially successful at the Ho High Court but the state challenged the case at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court subsequently declared the Ho High Court’s interim orders of injunction as null and void. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is being the injunction against Kofi Adams and says it seeking to serve him the writ following the injunction suit. The Wenchi High Court dismissed the restraining order filed by the NDC Mr. Adjei-Mensah Korsah after it challenged the validity and outcome of the parliamentary election results in the constituency. Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Liberia’s President, George Weah, others in Ghana for Akufo-Addo swearing-in
The President of Liberia, George Manneh Oppong Weah has arrived in Ghana ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of President Nana Akufo Addo on Thursday, January 7, 2021. He was received by a government delegation led by the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo at the Kotoka International Airport. He is among some thirteen African Heads of State who have confirmed their attendance for the investiture. President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló is also in Ghana to grace the event. Guinea Bissau President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló with Senior Minister of Ghana Other African President yet to be in the country include the President of Senegal, Macky Sall and the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara. The Head of the Inauguration Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at a press briefing in Accra said other countries including Nigeria, Gambia, India, and France would be represented by their Foreign Ministers at the ceremony which starts at 11 am on Thursday. Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
NPP MPs camped at Alisa Hotel for tonight’s nomination of Speaker – Ras Mubarak
Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has alleged that all 137 NPP MPs have been camped in Accra at Alisa Hotel to prevent any of them from absenting him or herself from Parliament. The 8th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana will tomorrow January 7 2021 vote for a new Speaker of Parliament in a close election to elect the Speaker of Parliament. In the next Parliament, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will have 137 and with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) represented by 137 whiles the Fomena Constituency presented an independent candidate. This will make it very difficult for the ruling NPP to have their way through as they scheme to elect Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye as the speaker. However, speaking on Kumasi-based Hello FM monitored by MyNewsGH.com, Ras Mubarak said “I know the NPP MPs have been camped at Alisa Hotel in Accra so that no one will be left out in Parliament”. According to the MP, the New Patriotic Party is doing that to prevent its Members of Parliament from travelling outside the country. He also disclosed that the party a few days ago prevented an MP from travelling abroad at the Kotoka International Airport. My News Gh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Klutse Avedzi, Afenyo Markin ‘clash’ ahead of parliament dissolution
With hours to the dissolution of the 7th parliament, the question of who is going to sit on the right or left of the Speaker of Parliament still hangs. Who forms the majority and who forms the minority, with both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with 137 seats? This is what brought up a heated conversation between selected Deputy Majority Leader for the NPP, Alexander Kwamina Afenkyo Markin and outgoing Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, after a joint presser by both parties ahead of the dissolution of the party. Whilst speaking to Joynews, the former sought to establish the fact that the NPP has an upper hand in the determination of who forms the majority, considering the declaration of the Fomena MP, Andrew Asiamah Amoako to join the NPP side in the august house. According to him, the Standing Order of parliament that says that a Majority leader in parliament means; (a member of parliament designated by a party, or parties holding majority of the seats in the house as their recognized leaders in the house). This, according to him, means that the addition, which gives the NPP 138 seats in parliament, automatically gives them an advantage as majority over the NDC. “I don’t think that the majority can ever claim that it has the majority. The gazette results are clear. As it stands, we have 137 NPP, 137 NDC. There is also an independent candidate who is coming in, the rule is clear on which group constitutes the majority and the minority. The provision clear states that the largest party with other party or parties so if a person comes to parliament not on a party ticket but as an independent candidate, that construction necessarily must be construed to mean that an independent MP or MPs will fall in the category of party or parties. “If any of those independent candidates decide to join any side having the largest number and in such a process, that group gains the numerical advantage over the other, straightaway, that group forms the majority,” The Efutu MP added. Mr. Avedzi who was listening keenly to his argument moved from his office to join the conversation. Insisting that he had to clear misconceptions being churned out by his opponent, he noted that the addition of the Fomena MP to the NPP side does not instantaneously make them majority. To argue out his point, the Ketu North MP said the constitution was clear, that the independent candidate can only decide which side of the house to join after it had clearly been determined which of the parties formed both majority and minority. “The constitution was clear, that after the determination of parties with majority, and the minority, the independent member will then decide, which side of the house to work with. First of all, we have to determine the majority and minority side, before that independent member decides to work with you or not. “He should not interpret the constitution and mislead the public. Now we do not have majority, we don’t have minority, we have a hung parliament,” he insisted. In response, Mr. Afenyo Markin cited Samia Nkrumah, former MP for Jomoro who went to parliament as an independent candidate. According to him, her choice to join the minority in parliament was a clear example to buttress his point. “My respected colleague regarding the Samia Nkrumah case is factually misleading. The speaker was clear to her that you cannot choose to be in the middle, join one side. She said she wanted to act as and when but she was told no, you need to make a decision, that is the order. She decided to join the minority side. Is he aware that some independent candidates in 2009 joined their side? And to the extent that they caucused with them, that added to their numerical strength?” he quizzed. James Avedzi who refused to go down without a fight countered his argument, noting how the Jomoro MP at the time, only made a choice as to which side of the house to join, after parliament had determined which side of the house was majority and which was minority. “The determination of the majority and minority side in parliament had been made. Determination must be made before the independent member decides to join one side. We did not use Samia’s inclusion in minority to determine our number. No. So they cannot use the independent member as part of their number to determine that they are majority, that is the point and it is very clear,” he stated. The 7th parliament of the 4th Republic will be dissolved at the stroke of midnight Wednesday January 6, 2021, to allow room for a new parliament – the 8th. After this, the transition ceremony and investiture of President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be held. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
NPP Member of Parliament-elect for New Juaben South tenders in resignation to Akufo-Addo
The Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for New Juaben South Michael Okyere has resigned from his position as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Free Zones Authority(GFZA). President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in January 2017 appointed the then Head of Sales and Marketing at Phoenix Insurance Company Limited, a private limited liability insurance company in Ghana as CEO of GFZA. Following his election as an MP after defeating the incumbent Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah at the NPP Parliamentary primaries, he officially resigned to enable him to be sworn in among the 275 lawmakers for the eighth parliaments. He has since met with Staff and Management of the Ghana Free Zones Authority paid to bid farewell and to appreciate their contribution towards successful tenure at the GFZA. Okyere Baafi has been hailed for transforming GFZA positioning it on an enviable pedestal attracting more direct foreign investments. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Corporate Strategy from the University of Ghana, and a Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree from the University of Cape Coast, and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the UK with over 10 years’ experience in insurance marketing. My News Gh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
I’m prepared and ready for my role in 8th Parliament – Lydia Seyram Alhassan
The proposed Deputy Majority Chief Whip and MP-Elect for Ayawaso West Wougon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, says she is ready to discharge her new leadership role in Parliament diligently. Madam Seyram Alhassan was nominated by the leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to serve as a Deputy Majority Chief Whip in the 8th Parliament. She is to deputize Frank Annoh Dompreh, the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP. Lydia Alhassan replaced Ophelia Hayford, the Mfantseman MP who was earlier proposed as one of the Deputy Whips. Speaking for the first time since her nomination, Madam Alhassan noted that she will succeed with the support of all. Madam Alhassan insisted that she will work hard to make all her critics proud. “Ghanaians can see what I have done within these two years. My new appointment is a learning curve and for me, I am ready and prepared for this new role. I will work hard to make my critics proud. We all need our critics to put us on our toes.” NPP’s leadership of 8th Parliament Meanwhile, the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has chosen Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye to serve as Speaker of Parliament for the second time. He has served in such capacity since January 7, 2017. The former two-term Dome-Kwabenya MP served as the Second Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament between 2009 and 2013. Prof. Oquaye was MP for Dome-Kwabenya from 2005 to 2013. From 2001 to 2004, he had served as Ghana’s High Commissioner to India. It also endorsed the change in deputy from Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Dome-Kwabenya MP, to Alex Afenyo-Markin, the Effutu MP. Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Lithur, Ampaw and Amenuvor set for election petition hearing
Lawyer Akoto Ampaw of Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co. law firm, has entered appearance for Nana Akufo-Addo in the election petition filed against the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Justin Agbeli Amenuvor of Amenuvor and associates is on the other hand, going to represent the Electoral Commission (EC). The two are expected to square up the legal battle with Tony Lithur of Lithur Brew law firm, who filed the Petition for and on behalf of the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama. With the appearances filed, the case is almost set to begin, after the exchange of the necessary documents, including the list of witnesses to be called. While this is the first time for Justin Amenuvor, Tony Lithur and Akoto Ampaw, were part of the 2013 election petition hearing filed by Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the late Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, a former National Chairman of the NPP. In the 2013 case, Mr Lithur was the lead lawyer for then President Mahama, while Mr Ampaw, was part of the Akufo-Addo’s legal team led by Lawyer Philip Addison. Mr TsatsuTsikata, was counsel for the NDC. Unlike the 2013 case which lasted eight months, the Supreme Court in this case, has allotted 42 days to tell Ghanaians, if they must vote again or recognise the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo, as the validly elected President. The Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah, is yet to announce the list of Supreme Court judges to sit on the case. Ex-President Mahama, is asking the Supreme Court to compel the EC to conduct a run-off with him and the incumbent, Nana Akufo-Addo, as candidates. He also wants an order of injunction restraining President Akufo-Addo, from holding himself out as President-elect. Mr Mahama, contends that the results declared by the EC in favour of President Akufo-Addo of the NPP were “made arbitrarily, capriciously, and with bias.” The former president, also feels “that the said declaration was made without regard to due process of law.” The EC declared the winner of the presidential election when the Techiman South Constituency results were pending. But the presidential candidate of the NDC argues that if all the votes of Techiman South Constituency were added to his votes, President Akufo-Addo’s votes, would remain at 6,730,413, now yielding 49.625 percent of the votes, while his would increase to 6,342,907, now yielding 46.768 percent. “Therefore, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa’s claim in the purported declaration on 9th December 2020 that adding all the 128,018 votes in the Techiman South Constituency to the votes standing to the name of Petitioner, would not change the results, was clearly wrong,” Mr Mahama said. The petition was filed on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, by Mr Mahama’s lawyers, following the party’s audit of the 2020 Presidential results “and extensive consultations with the National Executive Committee and Council of Elders of the party.” In a statement, the NDC said the petition details “serious violations of the 1992 Constitution by the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson and Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa in the conduct of their constitutional and legal responsibilities.” The petition seeks among others, a declaration from the Supreme Court to the effect that, “the purported declaration of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election on the 9th day of December 2020 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.” Mr Mahama’s reliefs include (a) “A declaration that Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson of [EC] and the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections held on 7`. December 2020 was in breach of Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution in the declaration she made on 9th December 2020 in respect of the Presidential Election that was held on 7th December 1020; Mr Mahama’s reliefs include (a) “A declaration that Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson of [EC] and the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections held on 7`. December 2020 was in breach of Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution in the declaration she made on 9th December 2020 in respect of the Presidential Election that was held on 7th December 1020; (b) A declaration that, based on the data contained in the declaration made by Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson of [EC] and the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections held on 7th December 2020, no candidate satisfied the requirement of Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution to be declared President-elect. (c) A declaration that the purported declaration made on 9th December 2020 of the results of the Presidential Election by Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson of Respondent and the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections held on 7? December 2020 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever; (d) An order annulling the Declaration of President-Elect Instrument, 2020 (C.1. 130) dated 9th December 2020, issued under the hand of Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson of the [EC] and the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections held 7? December 2020 and gazetted on 10th December 2020; (e) An order of injunction restraining [President Akufo-Addo] from holding himself out as President-elect; (f) An order of mandatory injunction directing the [EC] to proceed to conduct a second election with Petitioner and [Nana Akufo-Addo] as the candidates as required under Articles 63(4) and (5) of the 1992 Constitution. The Herald Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Reach out to Mahama, NDC leadership to build consensus – Minority to Akufo-Addo
The Minority Leader in parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has advised President Akufo-Addo to go beyond his rhetoric of asking both sides of the House to work together and engage with the opposition to dialogue and find compromising areas to develop the country. He said contrary to claims by the president that both sides have an almost equal number is not the case because they all have 137 seats with an independent candidate. He opines the 8th Parliament has no majority, and that is something that proves that the Ghanaian people are not happy with the polarisation, partisanship. He said Ghanaians want to see the opportunities of this country shared equally. At a joint press briefing today, Wednesday, January 6, 2021, he said compromises and consensus-building should not just be word of mouth, but the president should reach out to his opponents. “What has he done since the election to reach out to the NDC nad to reach out to His Excellency John Mahama and the leadership of the NDC in the spirit of building consensus and cooperation” It is important he does that”. He drew the attention of the president to a situation where he would have to appoint his ministers from parliament and his inability to have the numbers to work with. On his part, the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu underscored the need for the 8th Parliament to work in the interest of Ghanaians. He said the current situation presents them with an opportunity to work together, set a new standard for improving our democratic governance and indeed the operations of our own parliament. He stressed we must see ourselves as one people in one country with one destiny and thus, in everything that we do, we should be informed about the unity and stability of this country. Rainbowradionline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Bagbin faces Oquaye as MPs look for new Speaker tonight
Members of the National Democratic Congress in Parliament have nominated experienced lawmaker and current Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin as Speaker in the 8th Parliament which begins Thursday. The Nadowli Kaleo lawmaker will come against his current boss Speaker Mike Oquaye as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has settled on him. Both parties have equal numbers in the House – 137 each- with the only independent MP-elect opting to sit with the NPP. Meanwhile, the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic will be dissolved at Midnight today Wednesday 6th January 2021. The dissolution is in accordance with Article 113(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Immediately after 12 am, newly elected members of the incoming session of Parliament will convene to elect a Speaker and two deputies in accordance with Articles 95, 96 and 100(2) of the 1992 Constitution after which the elected Speaker will swear members in as lawmakers. This year’s exercise is unique as both sides of the House are claiming to be in the Majority. The NDC has insisted it will nominate a Speaker while the NPP says it is counting on the independent MP-elect to form the majority. Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
UE/R: Thousands of farmers cry over dead crops as ICOUR cuts water supply
There is unease in the air in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality after the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR) locked the canals supplying water to farmlands from one of West Africa’s largest agricultural dams— the Tono Dam. Several advocates for food security and hunger relief in the Upper East Region, where several farming communities have been affected by the closure of the canals, have described the action the ICOUR has taken as inhumane, unreasonable and a mockery of the Planting for Food and Jobs policy initiated by the Government of Ghana (GoG). The ICOUR has blocked the waterways to pave the way for a rehabilitation project to be carried out on the canals. But the food security promoters say the action rather exposes the company’s “insensitivity” towards the farmers for sealing off the waterways whilst the contractor who has been awarded the reconstruction project has not even reported at the site to commence work. The most affected are pepper farmers whose crops are wasting away on several hectares as their farmlands have been starved of water since the gates to the canals were locked on Thursday 31st December, 2020, reportedly at 24 hours’ notice. When newsmen visited Bonia, one of the settlements in the municipality, on Monday, some devastated farmers and apprehensive young men could be heard saying government should be ready to expand the Navrongo Central Prisons to accommodate more inmates because some affected farmers, who had nowhere to turn in the wake of any pre-harvest loss, might resort to some unlawful means to survive. “Our pepper is dying for lack of water. We just want the government to tell the ICOUR’s Managing Director to open the canals, allow us three months for our crops to mature for harvest and, then, the contractor can come in to do the construction work on the canals for us. If I lose what I have invested, I don’t know where I will go with my family,” Batungwo Alorenwo, displaying some withered pepper herbs for the press to see, lamented on his six-acre farm. Another grief-stricken farmer, Tummuriwo Akumbasia, hoisted a bunch of dead pepper herbs in front of news cameras, and begged: “We normally farm our pepper from August to May. See my pepper; they are dying because there is no water. We are pleading. We pleaded with the ICOUR manager to give us water up to March; he refused. We have spent a lot. We should get our money back. For weeding alone, I have spent Gh¢5,400, and have used forty-six bags of fertiliser. One bag of fertiliser is Gh¢135. And I have debts to pay.” Coping with Pre-harvest Loss Currently, large volumes of water, which some farmers say should have been running through the locked canals to irrigate the cultivated croplands, are being redirected to areas where the water is said to be least needed. The ICOUR has come under fire from some observers who say the release of the water to “where it is not wanted” is unpardonable wastage of resources that should be going to the drying farms. More than a few young crops have withered completely at different farming locations six days into the closure of the canals. In the intervening time, affected farmers whose peppers are still immature are engaging women to assist in harvesting them whilst they are still green and bag them for sale at giveaway prices. It is the only measure they are taking to cope with a rare pre-harvest loss that has beset them with a “last-minute” warning. “We are harvesters. We harvest pepper. We come here every morning in search of menial jobs. This is the only job we find at this time of the year. When we received the news that ICOUR had shut water supply, we were really disturbed because that would mean the end of our jobs. “Normally, the farmers pay each woman Gh¢15 per day and an additional Gh¢2 for food. Ever since they locked the water, the farmers are contemplating to reduce the amount of money they give us per day. We are appealing to government and ICOUR to open the canal to sustain our source of livelihood,” said Awupoli Agaah, a mother of five. Whilst a veteran farmer, Samuel Abapina, expressed fears that the closure of the canals could prompt the young people in the affected areas to migrate to the cities and end up acquiring unrewarding jobs there, another farmer, Nelson Kampeh, said the losses farm owners were bound to incur should the canals remain shut would worsen the adverse impact of the floods the farmers had already suffered with their households during the last rainy season. “They should give us just two months to harvest. After that, they can lock the canals to do the rehabilitation work for us,” the spokesperson for the farmers, Isaac Kubamuri, added his voice to the pleas. When Starr News contacted the ICOUR’s management on the issue, the company’s Operations Manager, Sebastian Bagina, said the company had given the farmers two months’ notice about the impending rehabilitation work and had told them to not engage in any cropping activities until the rehabilitation project had been executed. He said the company’s management had delivered the warning when it met with the farmers at least two times; but the farmers, according to him, did not heed the warning. He, however, gave a hint that the management might, in consultation with some other stakeholders, consider the pleas of the farmers by entreating a sub-contractor, whom he said had arrived in Accra with equipment from India to start work on January 10, 2021, to wait for a while. A main contractor and a sub-contractor are involved in the execution design for the rehabilitation project. The sub-contractor, Mechatronics, an Indian electronic firm, is to install new gates with automatic devices on all the canals within the irrigation system. The main contractor, the Top International Engineering Corporation (TIEC), a Chinese company, is to rehabilitate the canals themselves. Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Edward Adeti Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for