Dr. Afriyie Akoto suggest NPP not in good shape to retain power Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Politics

Dr. Afriyie Akoto suggest NPP not in good shape to retain power

During his tour in Kumasi, Mr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the former Minister of Agriculture and flagbearer aspirant, has expressed his belief that the chances of the governing New Patriotic Party winning the 2024 general elections are slim. Addressing the media, he highlighted the low morale within the party and the unfulfilled expectations of activists across the country. Mr. Akoto emphasized the need to address these issues seriously and urged party delegates to choose a leader who genuinely cares about the welfare of party members. Drawing from his own experience as a Member of Parliament in Kwadaso, he stated that he fully understands the concerns expressed by grassroots activists. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062

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Dr Afriyie Akoto discloses presidential ambition to top-notch NPP power brokers in Ashanti Minister of Food and Agriculture-designate Owusu Akoto Afriyie
Opinion

Dr Afriyie Akoto discloses presidential ambition to top-notch NPP power brokers in Ashanti

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto who has been nurturing a presidential ambition on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken his moves to a new level. During the weekend, he initiated a private meeting with some top-notch power brokers of the New Patriotic party (NPP) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. At the said meeting, he made his presidential ambition known to those who gathered, which included some constituency chairmen in the Ashanti Region, Graphic Online has been told by some sources. Dr Afriyie Akoto, a close pal of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and a son of the late Baffour Osei Akoto, who was a chief linguist of the Manhyia Palace, and a prominent member of the pre-independence National Liberation Movement (NLM) has been interested in becoming president for sometime but kept it to himself with the exception of close associates who knew about it. The weekend’s meeting in Kumasi where he disclosed his intention to the top-notch party members was reportedly held at his house at Danyame, near the Parks and Gardens. He is said to have explained at the meeting that there has been incessant calls on him to enter the presidential race to replace President Akufo-Addo in 2024. Political career Dr Afriyie Akoto served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for two terms representing the people of the Kwadaso constituency in Kumasi from January 7, 2009 to January 6, 2017. He made his first move towards Parliament in the year 2000 at the then Bantama constituency challenging Dr Richard Anane who was seeking re-election after his first term. When Dr Akoto was unsuccessful at the primary to run on the ticket of the NPP, he went independent and lost the Parliamentary election at Bantama to Dr Anane. In 2004, the then Bantama constituency (which was popularly referred to then as Florida) was divided into three – Nhyiaeso, Kwadaso and Bantama and Dr Akoto attempted the bid at Kwadaso but lost to new entrant Hilda Josephine Addo at the NPP primary. He relaunched his campaign in 2008 and defeated Hilda Addo who failed the re-election bid. In 2015 however, the new entrant and young lecturer, Dr Kwadwo Nuamah defeated him at the NPP primary. For the two terms that Dr Akoto was in Parliament – 2009 to 2013 and 2013 to 2017, he served as the Minority Spokesperson on Agriculture. The 71-year-old Dr Akoto is a farmer himself with plantations at Manso Nkwanta in Ashanti and owner of Plantation Resources Company Limited and holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Cambridge University, UK. classfmonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Vetting: Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson finally approved
Politics

Vetting: Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson finally approved

 The Appointments Committee of Parliament has finally approved and recommended to the house for approval, the nomination of Madam Hawa Koomson, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto as sector ministers by majority decision. Initial reports by various credible media platforms have it that the ministers-designate of Information; Fisheries and Aqua Culture; and Food and Agriculture, respectively, was rejected by the minority members on the committee due to some few reasons. Meanwhile, the report of the committee says that, the three were recommended for approval by majority decision of Appointment Committee. Others, including the Minister-designate of National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah; Minister-designate for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Derry and Minister-Designate of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, have also been recommended for approval by consensus. Below are the reasons from the Minority MPs on the committee for rejecting some of the nominees who have been approved by majority decision: REJECT LIST 1) Hawa Koomson (MP) a) The Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development could not provide convincing grounds for the shooting incident during the Voter Registration Exercise in Kasoa on 20th July 2020 even though we acknowledge her belated apology for her recklessly dangerous conduct. b) Furthermore, claims of an ongoing investigation by the Police did not come across as credible considering that there has been no update from the police more than 8 months after the unfortunate incident. Our checks also point to the fact that she has not provided any statement to the police as of yet. c) The nominee confirmed the identity of close associates who have unleashed a reign of terror on helpless political opponents in the pursuit of their narrow political ends. d) The Minister-designate displayed an alarmingly abysmal lack of knowledge on the sector she was nominated for, making her unfit for the portfolio and therefore untenable to secure the approval of members of the NDC caucus. 2) Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto a) The Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture was untruthful under oath to the Committee on the circumstances leading to the abrogation of the Fruit and Export Terminal Contract of 2015 by GPHA on his express instructions as contained in a letter dated 11th January 2021. b) He was untruthful under oath about his directive ordering GPHA to issue a license to Fruit Terminal Company Ltd and how his actions could lead to a US$50million judgement debt. c) The nominee was grossly insincere with the Appointments Committee on his special relationship with the Director of AMG Company Limited, Mr Ernest Appiah and the latter’s control of fertilizer contracts awarded by the Ministry. d) The Minister-designate was particularly discourteous, downright condescending and offensively arrogant in his appearance at the committee which is not the kind of attitude expected of public servants. 3) Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (MP) a) The Minister-designate for Information was not the least candid with the committee on the multiple infractions of the law leading to the Bank of Ghana’s revocation of the license of Oval Microfinance – a company in which he was 83% majority shareholder. b) He failed to admit ethical liability for the related party lending between Oval Microfinance and West Brownstone which also belongs to him. He also denied outstanding obligations to Oval Microfinance despite the BoG’s examination report establishing the contrary. c) He peddled untruths under oath about the circumstances leading to investigative journalist Manasseh Azure relocating to South Africa with the assistance of the Media Foundation for West Africa when the journalist faced threats to his life. d) The nominee was quite evasive on his association with MX24 TV which is owned and managed by his wife with other family members such as Kwabena Oppong Nkrumah serving as shareholder/Trustee for the parent company of MX24 TV known as Black Volta Publications Limited incorporated recently on the 4th of April, 2017 when the nominee was serving as Deputy Minister for Information. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Ministerial list: Names coming and their possible positions Potential Ministers
Business

Ministerial list: Names coming and their possible positions

Considering the general order of things, the poorly-performing ministers are more likely to be dropped as some other new personality likely to replace them. Already, some names have pop up as potential ministers under the newly formed Akufo-Addo-led administration, some of these include maintained ministers who may be moved to other ministries, some who may be maintained in their ministries and others who may be the freshers in the team. Reshuffled ministers: According to a Dailyguide newspaper report, former Education Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) may be taking on John Peter Amewu’s former job as Energy Minister whilst Mr Amewu who is now the Hohoe MP moves to the Railways Ministry as substantive Minister. This will leave Mr Opoku Prempeh’s position for his former Deputy, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum who was quite cooperative with the administration of his duties in his previous capacity. Dan Botwe who was iconic with the reorganization and establishment of the 6 new regions as Regional Reorganisation and Development Minister is likely, per DailyGuide’s report, to be moved to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development which was previously occupied by Hajia Alima Mahama. Samuel Atta Akyea who was Works and Housing Minister may be moved to the Environment Ministry as its Minister. Retained Ministers: For those who particularly left distinctive marks after their first term, they have been projected to retain their various ministerial appointments. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, Roads Minister who spearheaded the Year of Roads project, Kwasi Amoako Atta has also been named, Communications and Information Ministers, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah respectively, have been mentioned for this category. Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Food and Agriculture minister who spearheaded the Planting for Food and Jobs Policy, Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, and Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey also have their names emerging for retaining. Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, Ambrose Dery, Interior Minister, Gender Minister, Cynthia Morrison and Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah also made the speculated list as reported by DailyGuide. It is still unknown, however, what the fate of Attorney General, Gloria Afua Akuffo will be moving forward; whether or not she will be maintained or if there even is any possibility of her being replaced by her deputy Godfred Dame who has become more popular in recent times. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.

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