NDC MPs ‘under a lot of pressure’ to reject Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees – Samoa Addo
Politics

NDC MPs ‘under a lot of pressure’ to reject Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees – Samoa Addo

Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament are under intense pressure to vote against President Nana Akufo-Addo ministerial nominees, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, a lawyer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said. “The MPs represent constituencies and the constituents and the grassroots members and the hardcore NDC opposition members also have their grievances in the last election and, so, the MPs of the NDC are under a lot of pressure.” “You can even see some hashtags that are calling for mass rejection of all the nominees”, Mr Samoa Addo told Eugene Bawelle on Class91.3FM’s current affairs programme ‘The Watchdog’ on Saturday, 27 February 2021. “If you’ve noticed on social media, there are trending calls and, so, I can tell you that they are under pressure”, he pointed out. In his view, while the apologies rendered by some of the re-nominated ministers-designate could soften the hearts of the NDC MPs to look favourably on them, the arrogance and flippancy displayed by others, such as Agriculture Minister-designate Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, will be to his disadvantage. The Appointments Committee of Parliament has vetted about 30 nominees so far. Finance Minister-designate Ken Ofori-Atta has had his vetting delayed by a few weeks owing to ill health. He is billed to face the committee on 8 March 2021. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Mahama not being given fair hearing – Sammy Gyamfi
Opinion

Mahama not being given fair hearing – Sammy Gyamfi

National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi has said that the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing, Mr John Mahama is not being given a fair hearing by the court. Addressing the media after court proceedings on Monday February 22, Mr Gyamfi said “The bottom line is that the petitioner is worried that the court, in deciding these applications are not applying statutes that had been passed by our parliament, statutes that the court has been applying in other cases and we think that the petitioner is being denied a fair hearing and it is important to pursue these issues to the logical conclusions.” During proceedings on Monday, the Supreme Court of Ghana by a unanimous decision dismissed a review application filed by lawyers of Mr Mahama, against the court’s earlier ruling on whether or not witnesses can be compelled to testify in the court. Chief Justice Anin Yeboah in the ruling on behalf of the nine justices said the application was without merit and accordingly dismissed it. Lead counsel of the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing Tsatsu Tsikata has yet again made a case for the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling on Tuesday, February 16. The seven justices of the apex court of Ghana unanimously dismissed the application of the petitioner, John Dramani Mahama, for the case to be re-opened in order to subpoena the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC), the First Respondent, to testify in court as a “hostile witness”. On Monday, February 22, Mr Tsikata questioned the basis of the ruling, saying the justices themselves were surprised when the First Respondent closed its case without calling its witness, Jean Adukwei Mensah, to testify. Mr Tsikata said the justices may have their reasons for the decision to dismiss the application but “it is the ruling of the panel that we are here to question”. “I am not in the minds of the panel,” he stressed. He further argued that for Mrs Mensa to have filed a witness statement meant that she was committed to mount the witness box. “We have no reason to say she was not telling the truth,” he said. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. It states: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.” He concluded: “May each of the lordships decide based on your conscience and your judicial oath.” Counsels for the respondents – Justin Amenuvor for the First Respondent and Akoto Ampaw for the Second Respondent – asked the Court to set aside the review application since it does not merit its prayer. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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