Rawlings relieved of NDC leadership title
Obed Asamoah’s reconciliation task
NDC amends criteria for selection of parliamentary, presidential
candidates
NDC MPs call on all fractions to unite
Review membership of National Reconciliation Commission - NDC
Local rice re-packaged and sold as imported produce
Over 2000 suspected criminals arrested in Accra swoop
Avoid imposing careers on children --Religious Minister
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 – After a marathon congress which lasted for
almost 30 hours, Dr Obed Yoa Asamoah, former Attorney General and Minister of
Justice polled 334 votes as against 332 by Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, former
Defence Minister to win the much talked about Chairmanship of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC).
Mr Kwadwo
Sarfo Kantanka, Deputy Chairman Operations of the Electoral Commission,
announced the results amidst initial protest from agents of Alhaji Mahama, in
the early hours of Sunday, making Dr Asamoah the first sole chairman of the
10-year-old party.
Mr Joseph
H. Owusu-Acheampong, former Parliamentary Leader and Minister of Agriculture,
the third contender, withdrew before the election and pledged to support any of
the two leading candidates who would win the race.
Other
elected officers at the 5th National Delegate Congress, which for the first
time in the Party’s history was keenly contested are Vice-Chairman: Alhaji
Huudu Yahaya, 513 votes, Nii Okaija Adamafio, 455, Hilda Salifu, 454, Lee
Ocran, 414, E. T. Mensah, 434 votes and Kwaku Baah 395 votes.
Dr Nii
Armah Josiah-Aryeh polled 380 votes as against Alhaji Abubakari Sumani who had
288 votes for the position of General Secretary while Baba Jamal and Bede
Ziedeng were elected unopposed for the Deputy General Secretary post.
Margaret
Clarke-Kwessie was elected unopposed as the National Treasurer while Salas
Mensah beat Akolbire Opam, 535 votes to 117 votes, for the position of Deputy
National Treasurer.
Mr Samuel
Ofosu Ampofo polled 367 votes to beat Alhaji Collins Dauda who had 301 votes
for the post of National Organiser while the two deputies are Mr William Aggrey
and Alhaji Awudu Ariff with 489 votes and 488 votes respectively.
Alhaji Dr
Farouk Briamah, Former Deputy Minister of Environment Science and Technology
polled 347 votes as against 317 votes by Mr FiiFi Kwatey for the position of
National Propaganda Secretary.
Akua
Dansua and Alhaji Issa Boateng were elected with 560 and 376 votes respectively
for Deputy Propaganda Secretary.
Five
candidates were elected out of 12 who contested for membership of the National
Executive Committee; they are Sherry Ayittey 413 votes, Professor Kofi Awonoor
403 votes, Dan Abodakpi 337 votes, Barbara Fynn-Williams, 322 votes and Dr Tony
Aidoo, 309 votes.
The NDC on
early Sunday amended its constitution and voted for a single chairmanship for
the party. At a keenly contested referendum conducted by the Electoral
Commission, 343 delegates voted for single chairmanship while 331 opted for
co-chairmanship out of a total 678 who cast their votes.
Mr Henry
Okyne, EC Director of Public Affairs declaring the results said four ballot
papers were rejected. The issue of whether the party should have one chairman
or co-chairmen had thrown the party down the line.
Two
factions had emerged, one supporting Dr Asamoah, who wanted a single chairman
and the other behind former President
Jerry John Rawlings, who opted for co-chairmanship.
Meanwhile
the party has abolished the post of Press Secretary and adopted a National
Communication Secretariat with responsibilities to promote party media
relations, publicity, public education, information dissemination, opinion
research and advertising.
It is also
to co-ordinate the communication strategies of the party at all levels and
develop communication programmes for party activities. Mr Ken Dzirasah, Second
Deputy Speaker and a leading member of the party explained that the rationale
was to restructure the party's communication unit and to strengthen publicity
wings.
The party
also separated the position of leader and founder, which was occupied by former
President Rawlings who retained the latter position.
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Rawlings
relieved of NDC leadership title
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on
Saturday relieved the former President Jerry John Rawlings of his leadership
position in the party but maintained him as the Founder of the party.
The party
at its Fifth National Delegates Congress in Accra amended article five of its
Constitution, which conferred on the former President the titles of leader and
founder.
Mr Ken
Dzirasah, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a leading member of the party
who read a draft proposal, which was accepted by the over 700 delegates
explained that "it is necessary at this stage to decouple the position of
Founder from that of Leader."
He said
the development would enable whoever emerges as the flagbearer of the party to
take up the role as leader to spearhead the party to victory. "The party,
however, acknowledges the invaluable role that ex-President Rawlings played as
Leader and Founder and would continue to play that role for a very long time to
come."
Mr
Dzirasah said the NDC now sees itself as a Social Democratic Party that
believes in egalitarianism. It therefore, behoved the party to relate with
people in the social, cultural, educational, political, religious and economic
dimensions in a multi-party environment, he said.
Mr
Dzirasah explained that the development would enable the party to have a clear
philosophical and ideological direction, adding that the party would identify
with like-minded political parties and to share experiences with them.
The
congress also amended Articles 6 of the constitution, which now seek to
strengthen economic, political, and cultural co-operation with African
countries especially those in the ECOWAS.
The party
would also establish ties with parties and organisations, particularly those
with identical political beliefs and commitment throughout the world. He said
the amendments were to encourage the party to develop a broader international
focus and to seek partnership and alliances with like-minded political parties
and similar organisations worldwide.
The party
also adopted a new clause on the functional executive committee of the National
Executive Committee and replaced the Consultative Committee with Council of
Elders, which would be composed of 17 members with not less than four women.
The
Council of Elders would include eminent, experienced and senior members who
have served the party with distinction and who could put at the disposal of the
NDC their vast knowledge in the management of party. It would be chaired by the
Founding Father. The amendments were in line with the party's constitution,
which mandates the National Delegates' Congress, to do so.
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Obed
Asamoah’s reconciliation task
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - The new Chairman of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC) for the next two years, Dr. Obed Asamoah has assured party
members that he would reconcile them describing his success as victory for
democracy, which would ensure progress in the coming years.
Speaking
at the closing ceremony of the fifth national delegate congress of the party at
the Trade Fair site, Accra, he also gave the assurance that the new executive
committee would co-operate with Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama who lost to him by two
votes since the party needed people like him for its development.
"We
need to forget the past and look forward to consolidate our strength to wrestle
power in the 2004 elections," he said. Dr. Asamoah stressed the need for
unity and co-operation during the presentation of his manifesto and urged the
delegates to abandon tribalism and to forge ahead with a common purpose.
The party
he said "need's to devise new measures to increase our membership capacity
of Asantes in this party since the number has decreased from 33 percent to
below 22 percent since the last elections".
Dr.
Asamoah also stressed the need for national unity to enhance and promote the
democratic dispensation of the country since division among the membership
would only help "in the destruction of the party than reforming it".
"We
need to hold on to our strongholds in the country and not loosen our grips over
them to serve as an example worthy of emulation to all other members in the
various regions," he said.
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NDC
amends criteria for selection of parliamentary, presidential candidates
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on
Saturday amended the party's constitution on the selection of parliamentary and
presidential candidates at its fifth national delegates congress.
By the
amendment, "the national committee shall notify all constituency executive
committees as to the time of the opening of nominations for contest of primaries
for the parliamentary seat." It also states that; "the executive
committee shall within seven days upon the receipt of such notice circulate the
notice to all polling divisions inviting nominations from prospective
candidates."
The
amendment said all prospective candidates would be invited to a Constituency
Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to select prospective candidates that meet
the party's eligibility criteria at a date determined by the CEC but guided by
the party's calendar.
The
national executive committee shall issue guidelines regarding the election of
parliamentary candidates based on the provisions of the new article. The new
amendment, which also makes provision for the election of presidential
candidates states that if at the close of nomination only one person files
nomination as the party's presidential candidate he shall be subject to a vote.
The
candidate must, however, obtain fifty percent plus one of the votes cast. Where
two persons file nominations, the person who obtains the greater number of
votes shall be declared elected as the party's presidential candidate.
It states
that where at any ballot between two candidates, the votes are equal, another
shall be held. The amendment also made it clear that at any ballot where more
than two persons contested and at the end of voting no one received such
majority, the name of the candidate who received the least would be withdrawn.
This would
be followed by a run-off election between the first two contestants and the
candidate with a simple majority would be declared the party's presidential
candidate. The run-off would be repeated in the case of a tie between the two
contestants until one of them obtained a simple majority.
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NDC
MPs call on all fractions to unite
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC)
parliamentary caucus on Saturday called on all "factions" within the
party to bury their differences and unite to move the NDC forward. Mr. Alban
Bagbin, Minority Leader, addressing the fifth national delegates' congress of
the party in Accra, said the out come of the congress would be the foundation
for the party's victory in the 2004 elections.
He said
though some sceptics predicted the collapse of the NDC in the midst of
problems, it continued to grow from strength to strength. The Minority Leader
said that the NDC had a new vision and direction, which could ensure unity and
enable the party to respond to the needs of Ghanaians.
Mr. Bagbin
said the minority parties had performed creditably in parliament and could have
done better but for the intimidation by the government. Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi,
former Minister for Local Government reminded Ghanaians of the success the NDC
chalked when it was in power.
He said
the NPP government was not under criticism despite its mistakes because of its
media friendliness. "The silence of the media on issues such as the
nomination of the new Chief Justice, importation of the 50 cars from Nigeria,
and the refusal of the government to use the presidential jet bought by NDC are
issues which the media should discuss," Mr. Ahwoi noted. He urged members
of the NDC to co-operate with the leadership to enable the party win the 2004
elections.
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Review
membership of National Reconciliation Commission - NDC
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on
Sunday urged the government to review its decision to nominate members of the
National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) without reference to parliament. "We
also call on the President to review the nine-member Commission to be chaired
by Mr Justice K. E. Amuah-Sekyi, a retired Supreme Court Judge."
In a
resolution adopted at the end of the Fifth National Delegates Congress of the
party in Accra attended by over 700 delegates, the delegates also deplored the
recent callous and brutal murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, and the massacre of
about 40 others and reiterated its call on the Committee of Enquiry appointed
by the government to thoroughly investigate the events of Yendi.
The
outgoing National co-chairmen, Mr Issifu Ali and Mr A. A. Munufie and General
Secretary Alhaji Huudu Yahaya jointly signed the 16-point resolution. Ex-President
Jerry John Rawlings, former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills and other
leading members of the party were in attendance.
The other
members of the commission appointed by the government were: Bishop Charles
Palmer-Buckle, Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Maulvi Wahab Adam,
Ameer and Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Ghana, Professor Abena Dolphyne,
Former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon and Professor (Mrs)
Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon.
The rest
were: Dr Sylvia Boye, formerly of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC),
Mr Christian Appiah Agyei, former General Secretary of the Trades Union
Congress (TUC), General Emmanuel A. Erskine, former Commander of UNIFIL and
Uborr Dalafu Labal II, Paramount Chief of Sangule.
The
Committee should not allow itself to be used to cover up any individual or
group of individuals suspected and found to have been involved in the
despicable acts the resolution said.
The party
further deplored the general state of insecurity in the country as evidence by
the increase in armed robbery and the use of mob violence to demonstrate
disagreements and urged the government to live up to its constitutional mandate
of ensuring that law abiding citizens were secured.
The
delegates urged the government to re-appraise its policies to restore education
to the desired level and ensure that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)
was utilised for its purpose.
On the
party's efforts to win political power in 2004, the delegates pledged to
promote and strengthen the unity and cohesion by encouraging inner party
democracy and dialogue. It would also promote the resolution of disputes in the
party by recourse to internal conflict resolution mechanisms and discouraged
the use of media exchanges by rivals.
It resolve
to enforce party discipline and ensure proper conduct and behaviour by all
members from the highest executive body to the lowest branch and to work
towards improving relations between the party and the media to protect its
positive image, insisting on objectivity and fairness on the part of the media.
The
delegates further pledged to embark on sustained membership drive to increase
its support base, focusing particularly on the areas of weak membership and
pursue a programme of sustained public education of the electorate on the
prevailing political, economic, and social situation in the country to provide
better understanding of the realities of our time.
"To
defend the principles of probity, transparency and accountability in national
life and to ensure through legal and legitimate means the adherence to legal
and constitutional rules and procedures by the government."
The
delegates rededicated their course for the under privileged and vulnerable in
society, but would resist through all legitimate means, policies by government
which would worsen the standard of living and quality of life of the ordinary
Ghanaian "as a result of increases in taxes, duties, fees, rates utility
tariffs especially water and electricity," the resolution said.
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Local
rice re-packaged and sold as imported produce
Wa (Upper
West) 29 April 2002 - The inability of Ghanaians to tell the differences in
taste between the various brands of rice has created a golden opportunity for
some agro-processors in the country to deceive consumers by re-packaging
locally produced rice and label them as imported ones.
Dr Haroun
Majeed, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in-charge of crops made this
observation when a group of farmers in Wa called on him at the residency on
Saturday.
Dr Majeed
deplored the taste of most Ghanaians for foreign produce pointing out that
locally produced rice was not only comparable to imported ones but tasted
better. Ghanaians he noted only eat rice but do not know the differences in
taste between the various brands. The attitude of Ghanaian workers towards
state owned enterprises had resulted in the collapse of all the thirteen rice
mills in the Northern Region, he said.
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Over
2000 suspected criminals arrested in Accra swoop
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - A combined team of about 600 military and
police personnel on Sunday dawn carried out a "Cordon and Search"
operation at Agbogbloshie, a "shanty town" in the Accra metropolis,
and arrested over 2000 suspected criminals. The operation code-named
"Operation Recovery", was aimed specifically at arresting and
flushing out armed robbery suspects, criminals as well social miscreants.
As early
as 0530 hours, military personnel from the 5th Battalion of Infantry (5BN) of
the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Southern command and their police counterparts had
converged at the Police headquarters where they were briefed and dispatched to
the operation area at Agbogbloshie.
Before
0600 hours, Agbogbloshie and its surroundings- Sodom and Gomorra, and Korle
Lagoon, had been completely surrounded by the combined team of security
personnel.
Inhabitants
of the area, who dwell mostly in wooden structures surrounded by filth from the
Odaw River, were taken by surprise by the team as most of them were either up
or had just returned from
"operations", as one soldier put it.
A number
of weapons, including a locally manufactured pistol, machetes, knives and
ammunitions were collected from the dwellings of some of the suspects. Military
uniforms were also recovered from some of them.
A quantity
of narcotic drugs was also collected from the suspects some of whom are known
criminals. After the arrest, the suspects were transported to the regional
police headquarters for screening. There were a number of women among the
suspects.
Brigadier
Joseph Danquah, the General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the GAF
told newsmen that the operation followed the recent programme launched by the
Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor to fight the menace of armed
robbery.
He said
the operation was carried out as a result of intelligence gathered by security
operatives, which showed that some criminals in the capital use the area as a
hideout because of the labyrinth of structures that made the arrest of
criminals virtually impossible.
Brig.
Danquah said: "we have been chasing the armed robbers and they have gone
underground, so now we are chasing them out of their hiding places."
Chief
Superintendent Kofi Boakye, who headed the police team, noted that violent
crimes call for collaboration between the security agencies to give meaning to
crime combat.
"We
are not only going in for armed robbers alone but also those who shelter and
collaborate with them because without collaboration, armed robbers cannot
operate."
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Avoid
imposing careers on children --Religious Minister
Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 29 April 2002 - A Reverend Minister has advised parents not to
impose careers on their children because those careers were lucrative and
enviable. Very Reverend J.E. Acquah, Superintendent Minister in-charge of the
New Tafo Circuit of the Methodist Church, explained that such a practice had
the potential of jeopardising the future of children since parents do the
selection with no regard to their capabilities.
He gave
the advice at a farewell get-together organised by the Blessing International
School for students who had just completed junior secondary school in Kumasi on
Friday. Rev Acquah stated that the role of parents and teachers in the
selection of careers for children and pupils is confined to counselling and
guidance to enable them to make the right choices.
Mr Owusu
Boadi Achaw, Proprietor drew the attention of the students to the fact that
completion of their basic education does not make them full-fledged adults. He urged
them to use their time profitably as they wait for their Basic Education
Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Mr Achaw
said "it is only when you are helpful and obedient to your parents at this
crucial moment that they will be in the best of positions to financially assist
you through to your next stage of studies on the arrival of your BECE
results".
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