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Resetting Ghana - 2024 NDC Manifesto

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - August 24, 2024

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) successfully launched its 2024 manifesto at the University of Education, Winneba, on Saturday, August 24. Flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, bemoaned the economic hardships that Ghanaians are experiencing and pledged, among other things, to scrap nuisance taxes, improve education, implement an audacious $10 billion infrastructure investment to cater for public housing projects, etc. He also pledged to thoroughly investigate scandals that occurred during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) government. PREVIEW and DOWNLOAD below "

2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto Highlights

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - August 19, 2024

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, New Patriotic Party flagbearer on Sunday, August 18, in Takoradi, Western Region, presented the party’s 2024 Manifesto, ahead of the December polls. In attendance at the launch were party supporters, executives, MPs, parliamentary candidates, and Ministers of State amongst others.

Full judgement: No arm of government including Parliament is a law unto itself – Supreme Court

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - March 11, 2022

The Supreme Court says no arm of government is a law unto itself. This is one of many legal arguments the Apex Court marshalled in support of its decision that cleared a Deputy Speaker of Parliament to vote and be counted as part of a quorum for decision making. Read full judgement below:

Dela Coffie's thought on the grim reality of NDC agenda 2024

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - October 25, 2021

It’s quite tricky to capture the correlations of the 2019 NDC presidential primaries, and the forthcoming race ahead of election 2024. But here’s two school of thought within the NDC over the direction of the party and who will face either Dr Bawumia or Alan Kyeremanten in 2024; The first school of thought says, Mahama ought to be given the opportunity to go for his second term unopposed. This group believes that he has what it takes to win power for the party in 2024. On the other hand, others believes giving Mahama another shot at the nomination means automatic relegation of the NDC to the political abyss for a very long time to come. This group is of the view that Mahama can't win against any NPP candidate and that his nomination by the NDC will signal perpetual opposition for the party. That brings me to the other grim reality of NDC 2024 politics, Mahama is certainly going to run on the legacy of the four years he served as President while a fresh face is g...

Is President Mahama not undermining democracy?

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 26, 2021

Forget Do or Die! The issues are much bigger than that. Why has ex-President Mahama turned his supposed Thank You Tour into a subversive mission of the democracy we have built since 1992? Pay attention to what he has been saying on the tour: “The elections were clearly rigged.” “There was overstuffing of ballot papers in several constituencies.” “Soldiers were deployed purposely to kill people and suppress the will to vote”. These are but a few of the things President Mahama has been saying on his tour.Do or Die caught the attention of everyone because it sounded macabre. However, pay attention to the fine print and you will discover a sinister ploy to reduce the confidence of the people in the democracy we are running. John Mahama certainly has the right to hold his views no matter how jaundiced they may be. However, when he systematically maligns the institutions of state that anchor our democracy, then he has his knives out to fatally wound that system of governance...

Why Kwame Nkrumah’s face was embossed on Guinean currency

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 21, 2021

Did you know Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was once embossed on the currency of Guinea? Dr Kwame Nkrumah who fought for the independence of Ghana was a very close friend of Guinea President, Seim Toure to the extent that when he was overthrown in 1966, he went into exile in Guinea. Nkrumah was received by Toure who made him honorary co-president of the country. The Ghanaian liberator fought hard for countries to win their independence and his good friend, Seim Toure, chose to honour him even after hi death. Toure had the Bank of the Republic of Guinea emboss Dr Nkrumah's iconic picture on th country's five sylis. The syli was the currency of Guinea between 1971 and 1985. The word syli means 'elephant. Nkrumah's face was placed not only on the five sylis banknotes but also on the five sylis coin. Nkrumah never returned to Ghana until his death while in exile in Guinea. He was first buried in Conakry-Guinea in May 1972 but former president Jerry John Raw...

Government set to begin "Okada for Car' initiative

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 20, 2021

The Government says it has acquired mini vehicles to be used for the promised 'Okada for Car' initiative. The governing New Patriotic Party promised to offer commercial motorbike operators, popularly called 'Okada' riders a better and safer alternative should it win a second term. The initiative was announced by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the build up to the 2020 elections. In the ensuing 'Okada' debate, the opposition National Democratic Congress promised to train and legalise the operations of Okada if elected back to power. The NPP however, announced its plans to provide the Okada riders with what it called "a better and safer alternative," by providing them opportunities to own vehicles in a special, flexible payment plans. Government says it has now taken the big step towards fulfilling the promise by acquiring hundreds of mini vehicles to start with the first phase of the 'Okada for Car' initiative. Okada riders interested in ...

MMDCEs nominees list of 260: 38 women made it

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 20, 2021

The Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Dan Botwe, on Sunday afternoon, September 19, 2021, released the list of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) nominees by President Akufo-Addo. The list contains 260 MMDCEs to head the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the 16 political administrative regions of the country. Out of the number, 38 are women with the remaining 222 being men. The Greater Accra region topped the list of regions with the highest number of women MMDCEs. It had eight (8) women MMDCEs. It was followed by the Eastern and Ashanti regions with five (5) and four (4) respectively. Western North and Ahafo regions did not have any women on their list. Below is the breakdown Region Males Females Total Greater Accra 21 8 29 Ashanti 39 4 43 Central 19 3 22 Eastern 28 5 33 Volta 17 1 18 Oti 6 2 8 Western 12 2 14 Western North 9 0 9 Bono 11 1 12 Bono East 10 1 11 Northern 15 1 16 North E...

Full list of MMDCE nominees: Sule Salifu for TaMA, Yakubu Ahmed Mohammed for Sagnarigu

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 19, 2021

The Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, has released the full list of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executive (MMDCE) nominees at a press conference. Th New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ashanti Regional secretary, Sam Pyne, has been nominated as MCE for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) while a former Deputy Minister of Greater Accra, Elizabeth Sackey, replaces Mohammed Adjei Sowah as the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) boss. Below is the full list:

National Security On High Alert Over MMDCEs Announcement

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 19, 2021

The National Security has expressed it preparedness to curb any confusion which might come up after the announcement of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). The security apparatus has reportedly issued a security alert ahead of the announcement. This alert, captured in the form of a memo, has the subject: ‘ANTICIPATING OF POSSIBLE VIOLENCE AHEAD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MMDCEs’. It was issued on Thursday, September 16 to chairs of regional security councils (REGSECs), municipal security councils (MUSECs) and district security councils (DISECs). “There are indications of possible clashes ahead of the announcement of MMDCEs in parts of the country,” it stated. “REGSEC, MUSEC and DISEC are hereby urged to be on high alert to pre-empt breach of peace in the respective areas.” The announcement of the list is expected to be made public on Sunday, September 19 by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Daniel Botwe. Already, pockets o...

Mahama calls Bawumia to console him on loss of his mother

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 13, 2021

Late Hajia Mariama Bawumia John Dramani Mahama, the former president on Monday called the Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to console him on the passing of his mother. Hajia Mariama Bawumia died on Monday 13 September 2021 in Accra after a short illness. “I just got off the phone with my brother, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to console him and the entire family on the loss of their mother, Hajia Mariama Bawumia earlier this morning. May Allah grant her a peaceful rest,” Mahama, the 2020 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) posted on Facebook. “I just got off the phone with my brother, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to console him and the entire family on the loss of their mother, Hajia Mariama Bawumia earlier this morning. May Allah grant her a peaceful rest,” - John Dramani Mahama, Hajia Bawumia was aged 82. She had been unwell and hospitalised over the past few weeks. “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother Hajia Mariama Bawumia. “Hajia Maria...

Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia loses mother

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 13, 2021

The Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has lost his mother, Hajia Mariama Bawumia. Joy News gather the octogenarian who died two days from her 82nd birthday, had been unwell for some time and was hospitalised. Announcing the sad passing of the woman he affectionately calls Maame, Dr Bawumia said, “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother Hajia Mariama Bawumia.” “Hajia Mariama passed away peacefully this morning in Accra. Burial is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 14, 2021, in Walewale.” The Kpasenkpe native was one of the first northern female students to have gained admission to the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast in the Central Region. Bawumia celebrates octogenarian mother The Vice President described his mother “as caring and supportive” when she celebrated her 80th birthday in 2019. “Happy 80th birthday to my lovely mum, Hajia Mariama Bawumia (alias Maame). I always thank the Almighty God for giving me such a caring and suppo...

"Mahama's 'Do or Die': A funny tale of how his followers who couldn't understand unambiguous vigilance are expected to understand an idiom"

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 11, 2021

"Mahama's 'Do or Die': A funny tale of how his followers who couldn't understand unambiguous vigilance are expected to understand an idiom" On a normal day, John Mahama's Do or Die comment would have been viewed as the desperate effusions by a politician to attempt saving his name from going down in history as the only President in the 4th republic who could not win re-election. This would have been the only plausible explanation coming from someone who has been a Member of Parliament (MP), deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President and a President who was rejected at the polls because of his unmitigated disastrous economic record (courtesy President Akufo-Addo). However, the posture of Mahama and the NDC prior to and after the 2020 general elections coupled with his recent 'transical' outbursts since he started his so-called 'Thank you tour' betrays his afterthought explanation of Do or Die as vigilance. For indeed, the key word abused b...

An Open Letter to JM on his "Do or Die" Mantra

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 09, 2021

Writer : Manasseh Azure Awuni THE IDIO(ma)TIC EXPRESSION: This isn’t you, John Mahama Dear John Dramani Mahama, When I heard you declare that the 2024 presidential and parliamentary election would be “a do-or-die” affair, I was shocked. I was equally shocked that those who spent the last decade defending and justifying Akufo-Addo’s declaration of the 2012 election as an “all-die-be-die” affair are fuming and foaming at their twisted mouths in condemnation of your statement. Surprisingly, those who called Akufo-Addo a warmonger because of that statement are shamelessly defending you. You shouldn’t be happy with such support. Besides the political extremists of the NDC and NPP, there is a conscionable minority that has the nation at heart and will look at things from the right perspective. I want you to look at your words in that perspective. I heard you explain that what you said was an idiomatic expression. You’re a communicator, and I know you are well aware that the words we spe...

Good coup, bad coup

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 08, 2021

Elizabeth Ohene, the Writer I heard on the BBC World Service a Guinean commentator refer to something he called a “good coup”. He said he sympathised with ECOWAS and the African Union condemning the coup d’etat in his country because the two organisations did not know, did not realise that this was a “good coup d’etat and not a bad coup”. The commentator said the Guinean people had been left with no choice but to have a military coup d’etat to solve the problems that had beset their country. I heard another commentator, on the same radio station, offer as a reason for the coup d’etat that Guineans were fed up with the unequal distribution of wealth in the country. That sent me to listen to the coup leader, Col Mamady Doumbouya, to see what reasons he himself had given for staging the coup. Of course, I knew there was no need for me to bother to go and read up or listen to the Colonel. As far as coup d’etats are concerned, I have been there, seen it, done that, worn the T-sh...

Akufo-Addo refunds salary increment to state chest

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 08, 2021

President Akufo-Addo has returned GHC237,974, being the salary increment granted to him from January to August, this year. The funds, paid into the Pensions and Salaries Account of the Controller and Accountant – General’s Department, is in fulfilment of his pledge during this year’s May Day celebration, not to raise his salary, that of the Vice President, ministers and their deputies, and other government appointments. The measure is to minimise the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Ghana’s public finance. This was disclosed, in Accra, on Tuesday by Mr Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, at the weekly Jubilee House Press briefing Mr Arhin explained that when the President received his accrued salary for the period, he noticed that the directive to freeze increments on his pay for 2021 had not been enforced, thus, “leading by example” he wrote a check on September 2, 2021, to cover the increments on his salary to reflect the decision he took to reduce ...

2024 polls will be a ‘do or die’ affair at polling stations – Mahama

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 08, 2021

The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) 2020 Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama says his party will be more vigilant at the polls during the 2024 general elections. Speaking on Akina FM, a local radio station in Techiman, during his ‘Thank You’ tour of the Bono East Region, the former President said the NDC won the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections but was robbed of victory. “The 2020 elections were rigged for the NPP. We have however accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace. However, come 2024, the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling stations because that is where the elections are won.” “So at the polling station [in the next election], it will be do or die. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be do or die because the right thing must be done,” he said. “The 2020 elections were rigged for the NPP. We have however accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace. However, come 2024, the NDC will be extra vig...

Vote out NPP in 2024 to protect Ghana’s resources - Mahama

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - September 06, 2021

Former President John Dramani Mahama thinks a major step to save Ghana’s economy from further mismanagement by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is to vote the party out in the 2024 general elections. “When I called for a change in government in 2024 as the first step towards halting this hemorrhage of badly needed resources through corruption and holding offending officials to account, our friends in government took offense but it remains the only viable way to save the public purse in the face of abundant evidence that nothing will be done about the situation,” he explained. Former President Mahama was speaking on the state of Ghana's economy at an event organised by the the Professionals Forum in collaboration with Center for Ethical Governance and Administration (CEGA) at the University of Ghana on Monday, September 6, 2021. He said in spite of the several gains made under past governments to provide the needed footings for the running of the country by the current admi...