Mahama to end #ChangingLives tour in Volta Region

President John Dramani Mahama will end his nationwide #ChangingLives tour with a two day visit to the Volta Region beginning today [Wednesday].

The tour which started last month, was to give the President an opportunity to visit and meet businesses and other stakeholders in all ten regions, to discuss government policies and programmes as well commission projects under his transformation agenda.

Ho Central NDC Accuse Chairman of Fraud

Some NDC supporters in the Ho central constituency of the Volta region are accusing their Chairman Divine Feg Afedo of engaging in fraudulent acts and creating disaffection for the party in the constituency.

In a petition addressed to the Regional chairman of the party, two members of the party, Mohammed Isaka and Joseph Attor, accused Mr Afedo of embezzling funds meant for party activities and defrauding unsuspecting citizens, promising them nonexistent jobs at the Ghana Education Service.

Avedzi warns his Contenders of an eminent Defeat

The incumbent Mp for Ketu North Constituency Dr James Klutse Avedzi has warned his contenders of an eminent defeat in the upcoming parliamentary race on November 21.

Making reference to the biblical story of Moses and the promised land of Canaan, the MP says although his contenders have the opportunity of contesting him, their chances of entering Ghana’s parliament are very slim.

James Avedzi cleared for NDC primaries

The incumbent Mp for Ketu North Constituency Hon Dr James Klutse Avedzi has finally been cleared to join the parliamentary race of the ruling NDC on the November 7^th following his long absence from the country on official assignment.

Vetting of two sitting MPs in the Volta region, Hon Dr James Klutse Avedzi,Mp for Ketu North and Hon Fifi Kwetey of Ketu South were deferred following their absence from the country on official grounds.  

VERDICT ON NDC VOLTA PARLAIMENTARY VETTING

A joint vetting committee of selected Party Executives from the Constituency, Regional and National levels chaired by Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the National Vice Chairman of the NDC, have given the green light to 86 candidates in the Volta region to run the parliamentary race of the party on 7^th November.

This followed a two day vetting conducted for parliamentary aspirants in the region. Out of the 96 parliamentary aspirants drawn from the 25 constituencies in the Volta region, 86 aspirants including 12 females from 24 constituencies have been cleared to contest the primaries on the ticket of the NDC.

Clearance for five aspirants from the Nkwanta South has been put on hold for further consultations. The clearance of two aspirants from Ketu South, Hon Albert Zigah and Mr Jim Morti as well as that of Mr Christopher Eleblu from North Tongu has been referred to National for redress of some legal issues surrounding their candidature. Meanwhile speculations are that Hon Albert Zigah may suffer similar fate as Ahmed Muniru the aspirant from the Akan constituency who was disqualified for going independent in 2012 after losing the primaries.

An aspirant from the Nkwanta North Constituency, Solomon Kwame Bachabori who crossed carpet from the opposition New Patriotic Party have also failed to meet the four-year membership requirement to contest as an MP. The third unsuccessful aspirant, Anthony Selorm Morrison who was eyeing the Kpando seat have been disqualified for misrepresenting his academic qualifications. Prior to the vetting, two aspirants, Isaac Agyane from Krachi Nchumuru and Harry Adjololo of Biakoye Constituency withdrew from the race at 11th hour.

Two sitting MPs, Hon Dr James Klutse Avedzi,Mp for Ketu North and Hon Fifi Kwetey could not appear before the vetting committee because they were outside the country on official duties. Their vetting according the Volta regional secretary of the party Mr Simon Amegashie Viglo would be conducted on their return.

However two sitting Members of Parliament, Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, MP for Krachi West, also the Volta Regional Minister, and the MP for Ho Central, Mr Benjamin Kpodo, are going unopposed.

I WOULD WIN PRIMARIES SCIENTIFICALLY- JAMES AVEDZI

 

James Avedzi

The Member of Parliament for Ketu North Constituency and an aspirant of the impending NDC Parliamentary primaries of the James Klutse Avedzi said his recent sms campaign is aimed at winning the primaries scientifically.

Days after picking his nomination form to seek reelection as the MP for the area, Hon James Klutse Avedzi resorted to sending greetings and pleasantries through bulk sms messages to his constituents. But the electorates see his sudden checks on them through the virtual platform as unusual and a political gimmick.  

However in an exclusive interview with KingNobert's Diaries to respond to his critics, the Member of Parliament said mobile phones have rapidly become the most powerful way to interact with people and that his decision to go virtual wouldn’t have come at a better time than this.

“We are in a political season and so I have to let them know that I am in the game. Very soon they would start hearing my voice and I would send more text messages”.

James Avedzi is in the race with a young democrat and a Real Estate Developer, Don Emmanuel Agbanyo and two others. He is however certain to win the primaries with a landslide victory.

A YOUNG DEMOCRAT PROMISES TO SLAY “NDC GIANTS” OF KETU NORTH IN THE UPCOMING PRIMARIES

A young Entrepreneur and the Convener of a pro-NDC group; Young Democrats, has promised to slay “NDC Giants” in Ketu North constituency to grasp the seat as the next Member of Parliament for the area.  

Don Emmanuel Agbanyo admitted that although in a race with the incumbent Mp James Klutse Avedzi, Prof Stephen Ahiawordor; a Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Mr Koku Tsreve; a Businessman, he is not perturbed.  

Speaking to the press whiles submitting his nomination form at the constituency office in Dzodze to contest in upcoming parliamentary primaries of the ruling NDC, the Young Democrat has promised a landslide victory to unseat the incumbent Mp James Klutse Avedzi.

The Real Estate Developer who was born and bred in the area said he was motivated by requests from the constituents to restore hopes and re-brand the constituency. When elected as the Mp, he promised to set up a business incubator to nurture business modules and provide jobs of the unemployed youth in the area.

“Today as I submit my nomination form; full of zeal with tenacity of purpose, focused on the vision of transforming Ketu North, touching lives is my focus”.

 He added that Ketu North constituency needs young proactive and innovative leaders to bring developments to the area.  

“And on this reason I call on all the chiefs and stakeholders of Ketu North who are well meaning and want the progress of Ketu North to know that their son Don Emmanuel Agbanyo is about to take over Ketu North as the member of Parliament”.

TENSION BREWS IN NDC AGORTIME-ZIOPE CONSTITUENCY

A seeming tension brews in the Agotime-Ziope constituency of the NDC; part of the former Ho East Constituency, as a traditional area accuses the fellow of violating a rotational convention of political power in the area.

Before the Adaklu constituency became autonomous, founders and members of NDC from the two other traditional areas; Agotime and Ziope that formed the former Ho East Constituency, passed a convention to rotate core political positions among themselves.

The convention which has already been enjoyed by members of the party in the Adaklu and Agotime according to Mr Francis Kwaku, the First Constituency Treasurer of Agotime-Ziope has gotten to the term of the people of Ziope.  The positions to be alternated include that of the Member of Parliament and District Chief Executive where candidates presented by the beneficiary traditional area must be supported by the other two traditional areas.

But elders and youth of Ziope at a press conference on Friday alleged that two prospective candidates from Agortime have filed nominations to contest the parliamentary primary violating the convention. This according the party members is a betrayal from their colleagues in Agortime and might not build goodwill among them.

“Just as Ziope candidates were organizing themselves for the primaries, names of four Agotime citizens came up as aspirants to contest for the position of the NDC Parliamentary candidate. All attempts to explain the convention to them proved futile” he said.

They are therefore calling on party executives to intervene for peace to prevail.

“In order for the existing peace and unity to continue in the constituency, we are appealing to the constituency, Regional and National executives to prevail on the Agotime aspirants to step down for Ziope to have their fair share of the cake” he appealed.

NEWLY ELECTED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS GET STREETLIGHTS

Newly elected Assembly Members in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region have been presented with streets lights for onward installation in their electoral areas to provide adequate security to residents.

The District Chief Executive Hon James Gunu hosted aspirants of the recently held Assembly elections, officials of the electoral commission and security agencies in the district at his residence to congratulate them for a successful election and to fraternize with them.

“It is just fair and good for me as the DCE to invite all these people particularly elected and unelected aspirants to congratulate them for at least availing themselves to choose from” he said.

He donated five boxes of street lights each to the twelve winners to assist them in providing adequate security to residents in their electoral areas.

“It is the right time to give these to them, later the assembly would send certified electricians to the electoral areas so that they can fix them and maintain those that are faulty” he said.

The chief executive also used the opportunity to brief the new members on activities and projects being undertaken in the district. Ahead of the official inauguration of the assembly the DCE advised the assembly members to use the grace period to familiarize with their constituents and identify their challenges and prospects.

He also encouraged them to discharge their duties creditably to justify the confidence reposed in them.

DR BAWUMIA'S COMMENTS ON VOTERS' REGISTER COULD TRIGGER DIPLOMATIC CONFLICTS- GHANAIANS IN TOGO WARNED

Some Ghanaians living in Togo have warned that claims by the New Patriotic Party that Ghana’s voter register is dilated with Togolese registered voters who could trigger diplomatic conflict between the two nations.

The Vice Presidential Candidate of New Patriotic Party Dr Mahamadu Bawumia in a power point presentation made few weeks ago in attempts to justify the party’s call for a new voters’ register claimed Ghana’s register is bloated with non-nationals who throng the country to vote during elections. But in a strong rebuttal at a press conference in Lomé the leader of the Ghanaian communities in Togo Mr. Joseph Brown Hammond said his claims were unfounded and could create enmity among the citizens of the two nations.

“It is totally false! No Ghanaian has packed any Togolese to Ghana to vote. Look I have stayed here for 32years. I am at liberty to come to Ghana, I come from Ghana; Accra Osu” he said.

Mr. Joseph Brown Hammond also questioned the credibility of a register which the NPP claimed to be that of the Togolese particularly when the Togolese Electoral Commissioner categorically denied ever divulging such a confidential information to any individual or organization.

“75196, I don’t know who gave him that figure. The Togo Electoral Commissioner Prof Kpacha Korsi has categorically denied and it is true that nobody has approached him to obtain any document. Even the Togolese political parties have no access to it, much more somebody from Ghana” he said.

The actions by the New Patriotic Party according to the Ghanaians in Togo would not only disenfranchise eligible Ghanaians during elections but might also trigger diplomatic conflict between the two nations.

“We are advising Dr Bawumia to apologize to the people of Togo for accusing them. Because he is tarnishing their reputation and he is tarnishing the reputation of Ghanaians in Togo. This would only bring enmity between the two countries and we don’t want that. We are part of the ECOWAS and we want to live in peace with our neighbors”

NANA ADDO RECEIVED A ROUSING WELCOME IN ANLOGA

The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic party Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate Dr Mahamadu Bawumia received a rousing welcome in the Anlo constituency as they begin a nationwide “Rise and Build” tour in the Volta region.

Hundreds of party supporters clad in party colours and paraphernalia mobbed the presidential candidate and his entourage in excitement. Nana Akufo- Addo on his arrival paid a courtesy call on the Awomefia of Anlo State Togbui Sri III who also gave him a warm reception.

The Paramount Chief advised him not to see the area as a stronghold of the ruling NDC and for that matter loath to visit or organize activities there. He explained that as a custodian of the land he would remain neutral and support all political activities in the area irrespective of the political party involved.  

The “Rise and Build” tour is aimed at providing a platform for Nana Akufo-Addo to meet up with regional executives, constituency executives and aspirants in the NPP Parliamentary primaries (both winners and losers) in the regions he visits. The Volta region is the first point of call.

The residents of Anlo who could not hide their joy seeing Nana Addo said electing him as the President of Ghana in the upcoming general election would help restore their lost hopes and rescue them from the current economic crises under the NDC government.