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NDP will win this year’s elections hands down- Josiah Ayeh

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:44:36 +0100

The National Democratic Party (NDP) has said information gathered through its polls and research, is clear evidence that the party will not only make a showing at this year’s elections, but will win with an incredible margin to silent those who doubt that the party has come to stay.

Speaking on Multi TV’s current affairs program pm:EXPRESS, National Chairman, Dr. Nii Armah Josiah Ayeh said the NDP is well prepared to contest the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections, and have the time, money and organisational capability necessary to mount a credible campaign.

He said the party, which received its final certification from the Electoral Commission on Friday September 15, plans to offer voters a clear alternative to the more established political parties.

“The two political parties (NDC and NPP) have both had their innings, and they both preformed badly. What we've had before hasn't worked very well', he said.

The party has been linked severally to the former first couple, Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. Although the Deputy National Chairman Dr. Joseph Manboa-Rockson has indicated that the party’s National Executive Committee has agreed to name former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, as its flag-bearer for the 2012 elections, his chairman, Dr. Josiah Ayeh would not be drawn into what he calls speculations of who becomes the leader of the party.

When pushed further on the role of the former first couple, Dr. Ayeh was quick to say; “a leader will be decided by a democratic electoral process of the party’s internal mechanism”. However, Dr. Ayeh did not rule out a possible run for the position of Flag-bearer by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, saying, “let’s wait and see. You never say never in politics”.

Analysts have played around a number of reasons for the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP) which rhymes with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), from which the NDP broke away, following disagreements with some of its members, particularly the Rawlingses. Others feel, the NDP is the baby of the former first lady, after she failed to win the Presidential Candidature of the NDC, a party of which her husband Jerry John Rawlings is founding father.

However, Dr. Aryeh categorically denies that members of the Rawlings family are behind the establishment of the NDP. He admitted though, that there have been many disgruntled former members of the NDC that are behind the formation of the NDP, saying that “there have been a lot of 'turbulence' within the NDC, and it was time for him and the others to move in a 'new direction”.

Dr. Aryeh also took pains to expressly state that the party does not exist mainly to drain support from the NDC or to block NDC’s electoral fortunes. “We are not after the NDC at all”, Dr. Aryeh said. “All our sayings and our deeds do not suggest that that is our objective.'

Dr Nii Armah Josiah Ayeh, a former General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was suspended from the party in the run up to the December 2004 elections over an alleged bribery saga and his flirtation with the new patriotic party (NPP). He was alleged to have met some NPP members, led by Mr Stephen Ntim, the fist vice chairman of the NPP at the time, in the house of Nii Owoo at East Legon in Accra.

Here, he is said to have complained about happenings in the NDC and expressed the desire to defect. Dr. Aryeh said when he went to Mr Owoo's house; he discussed his problems with him because he was someone he was familiar with. It is alleged that Dr. Aryeh gave some conditions to defect after which Mr Ntim gave him $3,000 to address certain personal financial difficulties. Dr. Josiah Ayeh has consistently denied all these allegations, and while talking about that incidence on pm:EXPRESS said, the way the NDC handled that issue at the time, denied him Justice, which was the corner stone of the party’s ideologies.

He said several other members who felt disgruntled about how they’ve been treated by the party decided to break away to form a new party whose objectives will hinge on Social Justice and Accountability, while addressing the country’s transportation challenges, Education and Health will form the core of its policy directions.

Dr. Aryeh was thin on details when asked for specifics about what the objectives of his new party are. However he hinted that the NDP will have 'Green' credentials in the way of European Green parties but that doesn't plant the party on the left or right of the political spectrum.

“We are a hybrid, and... we are not settling into a paradigm”, he told host Stephen Anti. Dr. Aryeh did however stress the need for a progressive social policy in terms of health education and employment.

The party's ultimate success may depend on its ability to compete with the financial clout of existing political parties, especially the two leading parties, NDC and NPP. He estimates that it will take $100,000 (an estimated 190,000 GHS) to finance a credible campaign. “We are prepared for this” he insisted, “It’s one of the first things we looked at”

The NDP has strategic fundraising plans in place to fund itself through the elections, according to the chairman. In the past few weeks, the party has been able to put in a number of structures, conducted regional elections and acquired offices and vehicles, obviously ready for the campaign.

Its new National Headquarters located at Sardisco Traffic light near JOYFM and MULTITV, is ready for the launch of the party after receiving its final certification from the EC on Friday, September 15. The party will launch a 2 month’s election campaign which Dr. Aryeh insists is enough time. Still, many will be looking ahead further, at the election of a party leader.

Whether or not, it will be Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, we wait to see.

Statement: Presby PRO must be applauded for dealing with Asiedu-Nketia - CPP

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:30:57 +0100

Statements attributed to the PRO of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Emmanuel Osei Akyeampong for reportedly describing derogatory comments from Mr. Aseidu Nketia, NDC General Secretary as having been made most likely under the influence of alcohol must be applauded.

The Presbyterian church's contribution in establishing over 100 SHS, a fully-accredited University, conducting health, social campaigns on common yet vital national concerns ought to humble public officials like the NDC General Secretary whose reported contribution to national development is a block factory supplying building materials to the Bui dam project of which he is board chairman.

Yet for times without number, certain violent verbal sections of the NDC have shown no regard for these national legacies, subjecting them to disgraceful verbal abuse.

Victims to date include, Pastor Mensah Otabil of the International Central Gospel Church, Archbishop Dag Heward-Mills of Lighthouse Chapel International for simply having a public political opinion as is the case of the PRO explaining that the timing for the creation of the constituencies is wrong and could mar the beauty of the upcoming election.

As a country, we appear to be living under the erroneous impression that Christian faith is exclusively a faith of soft-talking, humble-looking and tongues-speaking. If this is all that it offers then our faith is ineffective and incomplete.

There is also a time for tough talk and this is the time. Our religious leaders, Islamic, charismatic, orthodox have been far too dormant for far too long. They have too often preferred platitudes when they have power to rebuke, to discipline and to forcefully correct.

The PRO's comments ought to sober Mr. Aseidu Nketsia. Indeed the best explanation for the embattled NDC General Secretary's comments is actually that he spoke under the influence of the bottle, because if he did not, if he was fully functional at the time of his speaking, then the implications of his statements is far worse.

He risks turning the NDC into an anti-religion party in his recent utterances and must be reminded about the involvement of the Church in the liberation struggle across Africa including Ghana and the involvement of persons such as Rev Damoah in the PNDC.

...Signed...

Nii Armah Akomfrah

Director of Communication

www.conventionpeoplesparty.org

I am fit to campaign for Nana Addo but…

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:13:30 +0100

Ex-President John Kufuor has said he is strong enough to embark on the campaign to get the New Patriotic back into power but he will however be cautious in doing so.

The former president, 73, has been walking with the aid of a stick after he underwent an operation early this year.

Concerns have been raised about whether the former president, who remains key in the NPP’s strategy to return to power is fit enough to be part of the mentally draining and energy sapping campaign trail.

But the ex-president allayed any such fears but was quick to add he will proceed on the campaign with caution.

“I think I am okay, but doctors have advised that to get to full recovery, I have to proceed on the part of caution to carry this, because there could be a relapse,” he told Joy News' Elton John Brobbey who asked if he is fit for the campaign.

“But I am okay. I think I am quite well,” he added.

The ex-president also waded into the controversial policy of free SHS which he described as absolute necessity.

He said Nana Addo is not dreaming about the policy, but has put in place concrete plans to have the policy executed if elected into power.

Mr Kufuor said the country is sitting on a time bomb, if the current practice of allowing wholesale drop-out of students at the JHS level is allowed to continue.

Martin Amidu contests imposition of Mahama on NDC

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:58:30 +0100

Former Attorney General, Martin Amidu is raising national constitutional and NDC constitutional issues on the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC to “impose” President Mahama as the flag-bearer of the ruling party in the 2012 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday, he cautioned: “Does the NDC have to court destructive internal conflict and disunity by handling the transition to the election of a new flag bearer to represent the Party at the 2012 Election in a manner that may raise disaffection and dissatisfaction in some members as experience has shown?”

He further stated: “Firstly, just a day after the unfortunate demise of former President Mills, the General Secretary of the NDC (in what I consider to be an indecent haste in the midst of the mourning atmosphere that had engulfed the nation,) issued a statement allegedly on behalf of the NEC informing members [I suppose all members of the NDC] that the “His Excellency John Dramani Mahama becomes the leader of the Party under Article 26(1) of the NDC Constitution which states that, ‘the president of the Republic who is a member of the Party is the leader of the Party when in government.’” What this statement suppressed is the fact that when Article 26(1) of the NDC Constitution is read within both the context of that Article and the NDC Constitution as whole, the statement of the NEC issued by the General Secretary could be inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the NDC Constitution. It could also be inconsistent with and in contravention of Article 55(5) of the 1992 Constitution."

Below is the full statement

16-08-12

CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES ON THE DEMISE OF THE PRESIDENT OF GHANA AND POLITICAL IMPUNITY: BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

Political parties under the 1992 Constitution are constitutional and public institutions deriving their power and authority from and under the Constitution. This is amply captured by the letter and spirit of Article 55 of the Constitution. It is because political parties are public and not private institutions under the Constitution that the Constitution guarantees participation in political party activities to all citizens of voting age (18 years and above) and enjoins that every such citizen has the right to participate in political party activity intended to influence the composition and policies of the Government (see Article 55(2) and (10)). As a bulwark against tyranny and oppression the Constitution further guarantees in clause (5) of Article 55 that: “(5) The internal organization of a political party shall conform to democratic principles and its actions and purposes shall not contravene or be inconsistent with this Constitution or any other law.”

The sitting Vice President on 24th July 2012 naturally and properly succeeded the deceased President as mandated by the Constitution for the balance of the remaining term of the President. The sudden demise of the President as the NDC’s Presidential candidate who had been duly elected at a properly convened and contested Congress at Sunyani in July 2010 has, however, left and raised national Constitutional and NDC Constitutional issues as to the succession to the Presidential flag bearer candidacy of the NDC for the 2012 elections.

Firstly, just a day after the unfortunate demise of former President Mills, the General Secretary of the NDC (in what I consider to be an indecent haste in the midst of the mourning atmosphere that had engulfed the nation,) issued a statement allegedly on behalf of the NEC informing members [I suppose all members of the NDC] that the “His Excellency John Dramani Mahama becomes the leader of the Party under Article 26(1) of the NDC Constitution which states that, ‘the president of the Republic who is a member of the Party is the leader of the Party when in government.’” What this statement suppressed is the fact that when Article 26(1) of the NDC Constitution is read within both the context of that Article and the NDC Constitution as whole, the statement of the NEC issued by the General Secretary could be inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the NDC Constitution. It could also be inconsistent with and in contravention of Article 55(5) of the 1992 Constitution.

Does Article 26(1) of the NDC Constitution standing and read alone apply to a sitting Vice-President who was never elected at the previous National Congress as the flag bearer that contested the elections that brought the government referred to in the sub-clause (1) to power but assumes office by virtue of the inevitable death of the sitting President under Article 60(6) of the 1992 Constitution? Does Article 26(2) of the NDC Constitution which states that: “Where the President of the Republic is not elected a flag bearer, a person elected as flag bearer of the party at any time prior to the election is the leader of the party” not reinforce the fact that the President referred to in Article 26(1) is a President who had been elected a flag bearer as Professor Mills had been at the NDC Congress of 2006, for the 2008 Presidential Elections, and in July 2011 for the 2012 Presidential Elections?

Will the NEC not be accused of unconstitutional acts and conduct in equating the right of the sitting Vice-President to assume office as the President of the Republic for the unexpired term of the office of the deceased President with effect from the date of his death with a right to assume the leadership of the Party without any previous endorsement by the National Congress at its previous meeting? Does the selective and out of context interpretation of Article 26(1) of the NDC Constitution not send signals of arbitrariness and impunity when the NEC takes such an important decision and imposes it on the generality of the citizens of Ghana who have a right of expectation under the 1992 Constitution and the NDC Constitution that, in running the affairs of the Party, the NEC will observe internal democratic principles?

Are there any lessons to be learnt from the consequences of the Swedru Declaration and the subsequent fracture of the NDC in the 2000 Presidential Elections leading to the formation of the National Reform Party? Are there further lessons to be learnt from the rapture from the Korforidua NDC Congress which also led to the formation of the Democratic Freedom Party? Does the NDC have to court destructive internal conflict and disunity by handling the transition to the election of a new flag bearer to represent the Party at the 2012 Election in a manner that may raise disaffection and dissatisfaction in some members as experience has shown?

It would appear that those in control of the NDC, for the time being, were bent on excluding other bona fide members of the Party who may wish to lay democratic claims to who becomes the next flag bearer of the Party by excluding them even before the mortal remains of the demised President were interred. It is also symptomatic of how political party elites in Ghana and Africa worm their way into the confidences of persons perceived as likely to ascend to power positions for purposes of eventual personal economic gain at the expense of the generality of the mass of Party members and the Nation which every President swears to serve under the Constitution.

It is with the lense of this attitude of the self serving political elite, as distinguished from the nationalistic and democratic political elite, that I see the attempts by those persons falling over themselves to ignore the letter and the spirit of the NDC Constitution to give the transitional President the impression that it is right to anoint him as leader and flag bearer pending acclamation by the National Congress. Like the Congress of the former Communist States, the NDC National Congress is being called now on 31st August 2012 just to endorse the candidature of one person who has ascended to the balance of President Mills’ term as President because of a force majeure. Yet we are being told that for others the demise of the late President is not a very welcome and prayed for blessing to be exploited for personal power and glory.

Secondly, the Constitution of the NDC provides for the Election of a Presidential candidate in Article 44 thereof. Article 44(a) appears to have envisaged the immortality of the NDC Presidential candidate once elected by the Congress as the highest decision making body of the Party. Consequently, it provides for the election of the Presidential candidate at least 12 months before a national election date in the case where the party is in power, and at least 24 months in the case where the party is outside government. The rest of Article 44 governing the election of the Presidential candidate of the NDC envisages the democratic nomination of candidates, balloting, and run-offs as the only legitimate procedure for the choice of a Presidential candidate and remain in full force and effect. But Article 44(a) only governs the power of the NEC to decide the date and venue for the election of the Presidential candidate and requires that they do this within the periods stipulated. It does not prohibit an abridgement of the period in exceptional circumstances such as the death of a flag bearer before General Elections!

But as a result of the death of the sitting President and the mandatory assumption of that office by the Vice President, the NEC decided that there was no provision in the NDC Constitution which deals with the election of a Presidential candidate following the death of one elected within the periods stipulated in Article 44(a). They made a decision to endorse the new President as the leader of the Party, and the flag bearer in waiting allegedly pursuant to Article 50 of the NDC Constitution on the residual powers of the NEC to make regulations only.

The requirement that political parties be governed by internal democratic principles necessarily requires that the regulations to be made by the NEC will be published for discussion by the various branches and organs of the party before they are enacted and published as valid and binding regulations. The right of citizens to join and participate in political party activities would be set at naught if the NEC could just meet in a room, enact constitutional regulations altering stipulations in the Constitution without due process and publication of same to its members. Indeed the spirit of the 1992 Constitution requires political parties to furnish to the Electoral Commission copies of such constitutional regulations just as they furnish the Electoral Commission with a copy of their Constitution and amendments thereto.

The letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution, particularly Article 55(5) thereof and the NDC Constitution, Article 44(a), require that democratic elections be held to nominate the Presidential candidate of the NDC for Election 2012. The fact that the elected Presidential candidate died before those elections does not change the spirit in which the National Congress enacted such a democratic constitutional provision. In any case wherein lies the power of the NEC to amend Article 44(b) to (g) of the NDC Constitution and impose in advance a Presidential candidate on the Party, however styled or called in the interim?

We are just a few days to the new date of 31st August 2012 when the NDC National Congress will be convened in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, at great Party and public expense to endorse the transitional President as the only choice of the strongest political elite, for the time being, in control of the NDC as the Party’s flag bearer for the 2012 Elections. I am not aware of any constitutional regulations pursuant to Article 50 the NEC has enacted to take care of whatever omissions or perceived gaps there are in the NDC Constitution.

The letter and the spirit of the 1992 Constitution and the NDC Constitution are both binding on the NDC and demand that citizens who are members of the Party are treated by the strongest political elite in control of the Party, for the meantime, with utmost respect by making requisite information available to them within a reasonable time before the National Congress. Any political party that does not allow its members access to critical information and rules that will affect the exercise of their democratic right of choice of a flag bearer in a democratic and transparent manner in accordance with Article 55(5) of the Constitution will be acting in a manner inconsistent with and in contravention of the 1992 Constitution, and the Party Constitution.

I speak out now so that I may not be counted among what self serving elite politicians take the mass of the national population for – a herd that unquestionably swallows what ever is put out there in the name of the Party and be led by the nose. Reasoned argumentation is the only way by which group dynamics can be sustained in any political party respecting the rights of its members, the rule of law, democracy and liquidating the impunity of what Marx Webber calls the controlling political elite.

I have had my say by writing this statement. I pray that even those who may disagree with what I have written will respect my right as a citizen of Ghana to articulate my perceptions on such matters of fundamental national and public importance and interest in the market place of political discourse to aid fellow citizens in making informed choices in defending the 1992 Constitution as mandated by Article 3 thereof. I welcome clearly written and convincing opposing views to my perspective to enable informed choices to be made by the citizen. Personal attacks on radio or in writing will constitute a clear diversionary tactic and a demonstration of the lack of an ability to engage in reasoned debate on matters of public and constitutional importance. No democrat should welcome such primitivity in the politics of today’s Ghana.

Source: Martin A. B. K. Amidu

Eurozone economy shrinks by 0.2%

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:24 +0100

The economy of the eurozone shrank 0.2% in the three months from April to June compared with the previous quarter.

The figures from Eurostat covering the 17 countries that use the euro followed zero growth in the previous quarter.

Europe's biggest economy, Germany, grew by 0.3% in the second quarter, helped by exports and domestic consumption.

France announced its economy had recorded zero growth in the period, which was better than had been expected.

The French economy had also posted zero growth in the previous two quarters.

GDP measures the total amount of goods and services produced by an economy.

"Germany has asserted itself thanks to growing exports to countries outside the eurozone," said Christian Schulz at Berenberg Bank.

"It's hardly a surprise that consumption has increased due to low unemployment, rising wages and a low rate of inflation."

London 2012 was 'biggest ever US TV event'

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:32:52 +0100

NBC's coverage of London 2012 was the "most-watched television event in US history", the TV network has announced.

Citing Nielsen ratings figures, NBC said more than 219 million viewers watched the Games on its networks, compared to the 215 million who tuned in for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The network broadcast some 5,535 hours of Olympic coverage on TV and online.

But it drew criticism for delaying the broadcast of popular events until primetime hours.

Viewers also complained of problems with online streaming and edited versions of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Sunday's closing ceremony - which was cut down by almost an hour and omitted such acts as Muse and Ray Davies - drew an audience of 31 million people.

Yet NBC enraged some viewers by leaving the ceremony at 23:00 local time to air a new sitcom, Animal Practice, and then half an hour of local news.

At midnight, the network returned to the ceremony to screen the eight-minute finale by The Who.

NBC was previously criticised for cutting a tribute to victims of the 7 July London bombings out of its opening ceremony coverage.

NBC paid $1.18bn (£751.3m) for the exclusive US broadcast rights to the Games.

Meanwhile, the BBC said its coverage of the Olympics was watched by 90% of the UK's population and that 51.9 million people had watched at least 15 minutes of coverage.

BBC One controller Danny Cohen said the Games had been seen by the "largest TV audiences since the pre-digital age".

Special One Mourinho wants to be known as the "Only One"

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:28:25 +0100

Jose Mourinho believes he should be labelled the “Only one” instead of the “Special One”, after becoming the only coach to win the so-called top-three European Leagues.

Speaking to Portuguese television channel SIC on Monday, Mourinho explained that as his managerial career has progressed, he has become less selfish and less focused on individual goals.

"Things have been going well for me, thank God,| he told the station. "I am focused on others much more these days. The pleasure of winning with Inter Milan was seeing a club, which had not won for 50 years, winning again.

"That is what entices me more and more, instead of pursuing individual goals."

Mourinho won La Liga last season with current club Real Madrid, he won Serie A twice with Inter, the Premier League twice with Chelsea and the Portuguese Liga twice with Porto. On top of all that, he also won the Champions League with both Porto and Inter.

"Like me or not, I am the only one who won the world's three most important leagues. So, maybe instead of the 'Special One', people should start calling me the 'Only One'," Mourinho said in the interview that aired on Monday.

The Real Madrid boss was nicknamed “The Special One” during his time in England after calling himself just that during a press conference following his switch from Porto to the Blues in 2004.

Real Madrid kicks off the new campaign with a clash with arch rival Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on Aug. 25.

Special One Mourinho wants to be known as the "Only One"

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:26:27 +0100

Jose Mourinho believes he should be labelled the “Only one” instead of the “Special One”, after becoming the only coach to win the so-called top-three European Leagues.

Speaking to Portuguese television channel SIC on Monday, Mourinho explained that as his managerial career has progressed, he has become less selfish and less focused on individual goals.

"That is what entices me more and more, instead of pursuing individual goals."

The Real Madrid boss was nicknamed “The Special One” during his time in England after calling himself just that during a press conference following his switch from Porto to the Blues in 2004.

Real Madrid kicks off the new campaign with a clash with arch rival Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on Aug. 25.

Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee insists CI 73 must be withdrawn

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:20:20 +0100

Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee responsible for deliberating on the constitutional instrument creating forty-five new constituencies wants the Electoral Commission to withdraw the document so it can correct some significant errors it identified.

The latest move comes after the EC is said to have attempted to correct the errors in a memorandum submitted to the committee at a meeting last night.

Joy News has learnt the committee is insisting the EC will have to go through due process to correct the errors and has directed that it approaches Parliament formally.

The EC is yet to respond.

Meanwhile Parliament is set to accept or reject the CI today.

The subsidiary legislation committee rejected the CI because of recent Supreme Court rulings and serious errors such as the omission or in other instances swapping of over a hundred electoral areas.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo & Andres Iniesta up for Uefa award.

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:14:16 +0100

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will go up against each other again for Uefa's Best Player in Europe award.

Last year's winner Messi is joined in the final three by Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta, while Real Madrid's Ronaldo makes it two years in a row on the shortlist.

The winner will be announced on 30 August in Monaco on the same day as the Champions League group stage draw.

Bangor City's Les Davies did not make the final round.

The 27-year-old winger was a surprise inclusion on the original 32-man list.

A single nomination, believed to be from a Welsh journalist, was enough to earn Davies's place on the 32-man list, but he did not make the final cut.

Juventus' Andrea Pirlo and Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez, who came second last year, just missed out.

Messi, current Fifa Ballon d'Or holder for the world's best player of 2011, was the clear winner of the European award last season with 39 votes. Xavi was second with 11, while Ronaldo managed just three.