Thursday, November 8, 2012
Rama Brew attacks Ghana movie industry
Ace actress and once jazz music icon, Rama Brew, has advised players in the movie industry to work hard to enhance the quality of movies produced in the country.
Assessing the standard of the Ghana movie industry, Rama Brew said much seriousness is needed to boost the movie sector and advised the various actors to ward off any lackadaisical attitudes in order to make strides.
She made these remarks on Hitz FM on Thursday.
Speaking to the show host, Bola Ray, she however believed young actors in the industry have exhibited signs of hard work but added there should be a change of character in order to improve the sector.
“Everyone is walking around with their nose in the air and doesn’t want to take any kind of criticism because they think they know it all,” she posited.
She said “they [actors] should get more into the characters they play and better scripts should be written in regards to what happens in everybody’s life or everyday life instead of glamorizing things all the time.”
The Home Sweet Home actress noted that most movie producers in the country do not add a fly-on-the-wall touch to the movies and therefore do not relate to the everyday life of Ghanaians.
She therefore urged the censorship board to enforce its regulations and ensure that the movies meet the required standards. She expressed her disapproval over the explicit sex scenes in some movies and charged the board to be stern in the actions.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Melcom tragedy is a national disaster – Veep declares
Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has declared the collapse of the Melcom ultra-modern shopping edifice as a national disaster.
He said this during his visit to the accident scene at Achimota in Accra. Currently, 22 victims have been rescued with 3 persons perished in the rubble of the shopping complex.
Several people are reported to be trapped in the collapsed building.
A strong team of security personnel and rescue forces have besieged the venue to save lives and retrieve properties.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur further said the outpour of onlookers at the site threatens the work of the rescuers and therefore appealed to the mass people to distance themselves to facilitate the work of the team.
Meanwhile, a delegation from government including the Accra Mayor, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuye , have been at the venue to witness the incident. President John Mahama has however enjoined the Interior Minister, William Kwesi Aboah and the Vice President to coordinate all rescue operations.
The Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the party’s Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, are also at the scene to get first-hand information.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
He said this during his visit to the accident scene at Achimota in Accra. Currently, 22 victims have been rescued with 3 persons perished in the rubble of the shopping complex.
Several people are reported to be trapped in the collapsed building.
A strong team of security personnel and rescue forces have besieged the venue to save lives and retrieve properties.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur further said the outpour of onlookers at the site threatens the work of the rescuers and therefore appealed to the mass people to distance themselves to facilitate the work of the team.
Meanwhile, a delegation from government including the Accra Mayor, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuye , have been at the venue to witness the incident. President John Mahama has however enjoined the Interior Minister, William Kwesi Aboah and the Vice President to coordinate all rescue operations.
The Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the party’s Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, are also at the scene to get first-hand information.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
Kumasi, Sunyani Airports Up For Rehabilitation
Transport Minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has revealed two major airports in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions will soon undergo a massive rehabilitation process in order to equip them.
He said the government under the auspices of the Transport Ministry has secured the essential funding and procurement approvals for work to commence on the Kumasi and Sunyani airports.
According to the Minister, the works include installation of runway lights at the Sunyani airport to allow for night aviation, expansion and construction of a new terminal at the Kumasi airport and rehabilitation of the runways.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, who is also a Member of Parliament for Asutifi South made this disclosure on Adom FM on Wednesday. He further stated that an air-conditioned tent has been raised at the Kumasi airport as a temporary measure to accommodate the rising number of domestic fliers.
He also said his Ministry is liaising with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority to construct an office complex to accommodate the airline operators to facilitate their operations.
He however discounted accusations by Antrak Air officials that the operations of an airline operator, Starbow, have adverse effects on the runways of the Kumasi and Tamale airports. The officials claim Starbow has been using heavy aircraft which deteriorate the airports but the Transport Minister says it is rather a reflection of the frequency of flights.
He argued the officials have also acquired heavy aircraft. “Antrak operates 6 flights a day to Kumasi while Starbow operates three, so if it is the weight that is spoiling the runway, then you (Antrak) are part of it.
When Starbow came with a bigger aircraft, you also brought in a big one,” he said. He revealed that officials of the Transport and Energy ministries are discussing measures to curb the high cost of aviation fuel, which affects ticket prices negatively.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
He said the government under the auspices of the Transport Ministry has secured the essential funding and procurement approvals for work to commence on the Kumasi and Sunyani airports.
According to the Minister, the works include installation of runway lights at the Sunyani airport to allow for night aviation, expansion and construction of a new terminal at the Kumasi airport and rehabilitation of the runways.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, who is also a Member of Parliament for Asutifi South made this disclosure on Adom FM on Wednesday. He further stated that an air-conditioned tent has been raised at the Kumasi airport as a temporary measure to accommodate the rising number of domestic fliers.
He also said his Ministry is liaising with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority to construct an office complex to accommodate the airline operators to facilitate their operations.
He however discounted accusations by Antrak Air officials that the operations of an airline operator, Starbow, have adverse effects on the runways of the Kumasi and Tamale airports. The officials claim Starbow has been using heavy aircraft which deteriorate the airports but the Transport Minister says it is rather a reflection of the frequency of flights.
He argued the officials have also acquired heavy aircraft. “Antrak operates 6 flights a day to Kumasi while Starbow operates three, so if it is the weight that is spoiling the runway, then you (Antrak) are part of it.
When Starbow came with a bigger aircraft, you also brought in a big one,” he said. He revealed that officials of the Transport and Energy ministries are discussing measures to curb the high cost of aviation fuel, which affects ticket prices negatively.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
76 Rescued, Others Trapped At Melcom
Nine persons have been confirmed dead after a 6-storey Melcom shopping complex at Achimota-Neoplan collapsed Wednesday morning.
The building caved in moments before it was scheduled to open for business. A combined rescue team from the Ghana Police Service and the Fire Service have so far retrieved seventy-six survivors from the rubble.
It is unclear how many people were in the building at the time of the collapse but reports say the shopping centre has about 200 staff members on duty.
The rescued persons have been rushed to the Police Hospital in Accra.
The shopping centre, opposite the Neoplan Assembly Plant, is one of the busiest among the company’s chain. The 48 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces have joined the rescue efforts. The Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, is also at the scene.
Soon after news broke of the tragedy, President John Mahama tweeted: “My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the collapsed Achimota Melcom building." Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the President, John Jinapor says all campaign activities have been suspended.
The president will make a detour by flight from the Northern Region to witness the disaster.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
The building caved in moments before it was scheduled to open for business. A combined rescue team from the Ghana Police Service and the Fire Service have so far retrieved seventy-six survivors from the rubble.
It is unclear how many people were in the building at the time of the collapse but reports say the shopping centre has about 200 staff members on duty.
The rescued persons have been rushed to the Police Hospital in Accra.
The shopping centre, opposite the Neoplan Assembly Plant, is one of the busiest among the company’s chain. The 48 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces have joined the rescue efforts. The Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, is also at the scene.
Soon after news broke of the tragedy, President John Mahama tweeted: “My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the collapsed Achimota Melcom building." Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the President, John Jinapor says all campaign activities have been suspended.
The president will make a detour by flight from the Northern Region to witness the disaster.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Rawlings joins NDC campaign team
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has hinted that he will jump on the campaign trail of the National Democratic Congress.
His decision was confirmed by his Spokesperson, Kofi Adams, who announced that the former President and founding leader of the party is getting ready to assist the NDC’s campaign for the elections on December 7.
Former President Rawlings, until this revelation by his Spokesperson, indicated during a meeting with the Presidential candidate of the opposition NPP that he would not actively participate in the ruling NDC’s campaign.
Speaking on Asempa Fm, Kofi Adams however affirmed that the former President has decided to join in the campaign after observing some changes under the John Mahama administration.
Kofi Adams announced this decision in a meeting with former National Executives and Senior members of the party on Tuesday.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
Kufuor Neglected Upper West
President John Mahama has dared the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to identify a single developmental project they executed in the Upper West Region under the erstwhile Kufuor administration.
The President did not mince words when he said former President Kufuor's leadership did not bring relief to the region but rather sought to downgrade the region.
He asserted the people of Upper West did not benefit from the national cake during the previous regime.
President Mahama made these comments when he addressed a rally in Wa on Monday.
He reminded the people of a number of interventions by the first NDC government to enhance the progress of the region and assured them of his commitment improving their lives.
He said his government will fulfil its promises to the people, which include constructing a hospital for the region.
He attributed the delay in the establishment of the regional hospital to the Arab spring but expressed optimism over its completion in order to ameliorate the health problems in the region.
He intimated that the government has enlisted the assistance of new financiers for the commencement of the project.
President John Mahama refuted claims of corruption raised against him by the major opposition party and advised Ghanaians to treat them with contempt since they are only targeted at demeaning his reputation.
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
“I Want To Be A Gospel Artiste”
Known as one of the outspoken artistes of our time, Wanlove da Kubolor, after subjecting himself to public ridicule and condemnation when he exposed his private part on national television, has revealed that he has plans of doing gospel music in the near future.
Speaking exclusively in a telephone interview with the Society & Style (S&S) last Thursday, the “Kokonsa” hit maker alleged that even though people have condemned him for some of his public actions, he is least perturbed since he has the calling of God on his life and working feverishly towards achieving that feat.
“I know that God is with me and wants me to work for him so I am planning to meet Ohemaa Mercy to give me the guidelines on how to be a successful gospel artiste”, he stated.
He asserted that even though people have always condemned him for some of his personal actions especially in the infamous “Delay” saga where he exposed his manhood to the full glare of the public. It was an action he took to confirm to the world that he walks about without pants on.
“I heard a lot of people condemning me that what I did was not African and a disgrace to all men but I want to ask, if you are to be convicted for a crime that you are not guilty of and have the available evidence to prove your innocence, will you shield it so that you will be imprisoned? I only did what was necessary at the time. Delay wanted to portray to the viewers that I was a liar by not proving that I do not have underwear. The only evidence I had at that time was that action I took and yet people are blaming me for that. What did I do wrong”, he queried.
Kubolor told S&S that he is not ashamed to reveal that he has four children with different women.
“Women after using me for their sexual satisfaction dump me for other men so I also give them presents by impregnating them and giving them children,” he told S&S.
Commenting on Sadia Sanusi’s (the Second Runner Up at the Miss Malaika 2012) decision to reform him when given the opportunity, this is what Kubolor had to say about it, “I don’t think that there is anything wrong with what the lady said in reforming me.
I am sure she said that in reference to the small size of my penis. Maybe, she wants to reform the size of my penis because it is too small, don’t you think so? The controversial artiste was at his best.
Source: S & S
Speaking exclusively in a telephone interview with the Society & Style (S&S) last Thursday, the “Kokonsa” hit maker alleged that even though people have condemned him for some of his public actions, he is least perturbed since he has the calling of God on his life and working feverishly towards achieving that feat.
“I know that God is with me and wants me to work for him so I am planning to meet Ohemaa Mercy to give me the guidelines on how to be a successful gospel artiste”, he stated.
He asserted that even though people have always condemned him for some of his personal actions especially in the infamous “Delay” saga where he exposed his manhood to the full glare of the public. It was an action he took to confirm to the world that he walks about without pants on.
“I heard a lot of people condemning me that what I did was not African and a disgrace to all men but I want to ask, if you are to be convicted for a crime that you are not guilty of and have the available evidence to prove your innocence, will you shield it so that you will be imprisoned? I only did what was necessary at the time. Delay wanted to portray to the viewers that I was a liar by not proving that I do not have underwear. The only evidence I had at that time was that action I took and yet people are blaming me for that. What did I do wrong”, he queried.
Kubolor told S&S that he is not ashamed to reveal that he has four children with different women.
“Women after using me for their sexual satisfaction dump me for other men so I also give them presents by impregnating them and giving them children,” he told S&S.
Commenting on Sadia Sanusi’s (the Second Runner Up at the Miss Malaika 2012) decision to reform him when given the opportunity, this is what Kubolor had to say about it, “I don’t think that there is anything wrong with what the lady said in reforming me.
I am sure she said that in reference to the small size of my penis. Maybe, she wants to reform the size of my penis because it is too small, don’t you think so? The controversial artiste was at his best.
Source: S & S
‘Short man’ Akufo-Addo stood on a stool at IEA debate – NDC group
A group calling itself Friends of John Dramani Mahama (FOJODRAMA) has accused the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) of giving preferential treatment to the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), by offering him a hidden raised platform at the recently held Presidential Debate at Tamale.
In a statement signed by George Tetteh-Wayoe Esq, Spokesperson of FOJODRAMA, the group said “the IEA provided the NPP candidate with a 1-foot raised platform hidden behind his podium on which he stood to tower over his much taller contestants for an obvious psychological advantage.”
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on November 6, 2012 Mr Tetteh-Wayoe insisted that the electorate deserved to know the true height of the persons seeking to lead the nation, and the IEA had not played fair by giving Nana Akufo-Addo a raised platform to hide his true height.
According to Mr Wayoe, the IEA had confirmed the presence of the raised platform.
“It is a known fact that Nana Akufo-Addo is naturally the shortest of all the nine (sic) ceryyified presidential candidates in the 2012 elections. We of FOJODRAMA believe height does not really matter in the race to the presidency. However, we find the attempt to hide the fact of Nana Akufo-Addo’s diminutive structure at such an important function where most Ghanaians were seeing their presidential candidates shoulder to shoulder on the same platform, for the first time, is to say the least, reprehensible.”
Responding to the claim on the Dwaso Nsem show, Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea said the decision to provide some elevation for his candidate was made by the producers of the programme to make filming the event easier.
“If it is offered again we will accept it,” he declared, although he was at pains to stress the party had not the request to the organizers of the debate.
Nana Akomea wondered why an incumbent government would rather focus on the height of their strongest challenger instead of concentrating on designing and implementing policies and programmes to better the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Below is the full FOJODRAMA statement
PROTEST AGAINST IEA’S PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR NANA ADDO IN TAMALE
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media,
Ahead of the IEA Vice-Presidential debate, we of FOJODRAMA wish to hereby register our utmost disapproval of a blatant act of favouritism and preferential treatmengt given to the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) during its recent Presidential Debate held at the Radach Hotel in Tamale.
At the said event, the IEA provided the NPP candidate with a 1-foot raised platform hidden behind his podium on which he stood to tower over his much taller contestants for an obvious psychological advantage. None of the other three candidates, namely President John Mahama of the NDC, Dr Abu Sakara of the CPP and Mr Hassan Ayariga of the PNC were given any such raised platforms to stand on.
It is a known fact that Nana Akufo-Addo is naturally the shortest of all the nine certified presidential candidates in the 2012 elections. We of FOJODRAMA believe height does not really matter in the race to the presidency.
However, we find the attempt to hide the fact of Nana’s diminutive stature at such an important function where most Ghanaians were seeing their presidential candidates for the first time, is to say the least, reprehensible.
This is even more so, when one considers that this was done in secrecy to the extent that the raised platform behind Nana’s podium had been covered with the same blue woolen carpet that covered the entire conference room and it was hidden behind his podium in such a way that it was imperceptible to anyone inside the hall.
It was only the press corps on the second floor upstairs as well as the three other presidential candidates who could see the raised platform on which Nana Addo stood to deliver his contribution to the debate throughout the entire duration.
If Nana Addo had any genuine reason for requesting that he should be given such a preferential treatment, and if the IEA felt such a request was genuine, they should have informed the public about it, and made everybody aware that they were watching an NPP candidate who was talking down at them from a raised platform.
At such an event as the IEA forum, where Ghanaian voters get to see their candidates shoulder-to-shoulder for the very first time, they deserve to be given the right to choose their leader and president by taking into consideration all the factors that they deem to be important to them.
It is the right of voters, for instance, to choose a president who would represent the nation at the UN General Assembly for instance, and would be able to reach the level of the microphone used by all other speakers without requesting for special raised platforms anywhere.
This right, we believe, is what the IEA took away from the electorate by that reprehensible act of falsifying Nana Akufo-Addo’s height to the millions of Ghanaian voters, and the several hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
It is on behalf of this multitude that we call for nothing but an unreserved apology from the IEA, in addition to the other three presidential candidates who mounted the podium that night to present themselves to the people of Ghana without any deception in whatever shape or form, believing in an equal platform and level playing field, which was literally denied them.
A further promise by IEA not to repeat this kind of deception and favouritism in future events, especially those coming up on November 6 and 20, would be most welcome.
Thank you.
Signed GEORGE TETTEH-WAYOE ESQ
(Spokesperson, FOJODRAMAMA)
Barrister At Law and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, Ghana.
In a statement signed by George Tetteh-Wayoe Esq, Spokesperson of FOJODRAMA, the group said “the IEA provided the NPP candidate with a 1-foot raised platform hidden behind his podium on which he stood to tower over his much taller contestants for an obvious psychological advantage.”
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on November 6, 2012 Mr Tetteh-Wayoe insisted that the electorate deserved to know the true height of the persons seeking to lead the nation, and the IEA had not played fair by giving Nana Akufo-Addo a raised platform to hide his true height.
According to Mr Wayoe, the IEA had confirmed the presence of the raised platform.
“It is a known fact that Nana Akufo-Addo is naturally the shortest of all the nine (sic) ceryyified presidential candidates in the 2012 elections. We of FOJODRAMA believe height does not really matter in the race to the presidency. However, we find the attempt to hide the fact of Nana Akufo-Addo’s diminutive structure at such an important function where most Ghanaians were seeing their presidential candidates shoulder to shoulder on the same platform, for the first time, is to say the least, reprehensible.”
Responding to the claim on the Dwaso Nsem show, Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea said the decision to provide some elevation for his candidate was made by the producers of the programme to make filming the event easier.
“If it is offered again we will accept it,” he declared, although he was at pains to stress the party had not the request to the organizers of the debate.
Nana Akomea wondered why an incumbent government would rather focus on the height of their strongest challenger instead of concentrating on designing and implementing policies and programmes to better the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Below is the full FOJODRAMA statement
PROTEST AGAINST IEA’S PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR NANA ADDO IN TAMALE
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media,
Ahead of the IEA Vice-Presidential debate, we of FOJODRAMA wish to hereby register our utmost disapproval of a blatant act of favouritism and preferential treatmengt given to the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) during its recent Presidential Debate held at the Radach Hotel in Tamale.
At the said event, the IEA provided the NPP candidate with a 1-foot raised platform hidden behind his podium on which he stood to tower over his much taller contestants for an obvious psychological advantage. None of the other three candidates, namely President John Mahama of the NDC, Dr Abu Sakara of the CPP and Mr Hassan Ayariga of the PNC were given any such raised platforms to stand on.
It is a known fact that Nana Akufo-Addo is naturally the shortest of all the nine certified presidential candidates in the 2012 elections. We of FOJODRAMA believe height does not really matter in the race to the presidency.
However, we find the attempt to hide the fact of Nana’s diminutive stature at such an important function where most Ghanaians were seeing their presidential candidates for the first time, is to say the least, reprehensible.
This is even more so, when one considers that this was done in secrecy to the extent that the raised platform behind Nana’s podium had been covered with the same blue woolen carpet that covered the entire conference room and it was hidden behind his podium in such a way that it was imperceptible to anyone inside the hall.
It was only the press corps on the second floor upstairs as well as the three other presidential candidates who could see the raised platform on which Nana Addo stood to deliver his contribution to the debate throughout the entire duration.
If Nana Addo had any genuine reason for requesting that he should be given such a preferential treatment, and if the IEA felt such a request was genuine, they should have informed the public about it, and made everybody aware that they were watching an NPP candidate who was talking down at them from a raised platform.
At such an event as the IEA forum, where Ghanaian voters get to see their candidates shoulder-to-shoulder for the very first time, they deserve to be given the right to choose their leader and president by taking into consideration all the factors that they deem to be important to them.
It is the right of voters, for instance, to choose a president who would represent the nation at the UN General Assembly for instance, and would be able to reach the level of the microphone used by all other speakers without requesting for special raised platforms anywhere.
This right, we believe, is what the IEA took away from the electorate by that reprehensible act of falsifying Nana Akufo-Addo’s height to the millions of Ghanaian voters, and the several hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
It is on behalf of this multitude that we call for nothing but an unreserved apology from the IEA, in addition to the other three presidential candidates who mounted the podium that night to present themselves to the people of Ghana without any deception in whatever shape or form, believing in an equal platform and level playing field, which was literally denied them.
A further promise by IEA not to repeat this kind of deception and favouritism in future events, especially those coming up on November 6 and 20, would be most welcome.
Thank you.
Signed GEORGE TETTEH-WAYOE ESQ
(Spokesperson, FOJODRAMAMA)
Barrister At Law and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, Ghana.
Obama and Romney push to the finish
US presidential rivals Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have spent the day before the election visiting key swing states and making final pitches to voters.
Mr Romney went to Florida, where polls suggest he has the edge, and then to Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio.
Mr Obama appeared in Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio, joined at rallies by Bruce Springsteen and rapper Jay-Z. The election will be decided in just a handful of states, with Ohio in particular seen as crucial to victory. President Obama closed his re-election campaign in Des Moines, Iowa - the city where his bid for the presidency began in early 2007.
At a late-night rally, he told the crowd that Iowa had started "a movement that spread across the country". Mr Romney, meanwhile, was due to end his campaign with a late-night rally in New Hampshire but made the surprise announcement that he would extend campaigning into election day itself - visiting Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Mr Obama and Mr Romney are running almost neck-and-neck in national polls, in a campaign that has cost more than $2bn (£1.2bn). But surveys of the nine or so battleground states that will determine the election show Mr Obama narrowly ahead.
On the stroke of midnight, the first votes were cast and quickly counted in the tiny village of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire. They resulted in a tie with five votes each for Mr Obama and Mr Romney. The race has been most intense in Ohio - no Republican has ever made it to the White House without winning there.
Mr Romney would become the first Mormon president of the US if he wins on Tuesday. In Fairfax, Virginia just outside Washington DC, the former Massachusetts governor said the president had failed to make good on the promise of his 2008 campaign and it was time for a new direction.
"Look at the record," he exhorted supporters.
"Talk is cheap, but a record is real and it's earned with effort. When the president promised change, you can look and see what happened. Four years ago then-candidate Obama promised to do so very much but he's done so very little."
He summed up his pitch to voters: "Do you want four more years like the last four years? Or do you want real change?" In Ohio, Bruce Springsteen and rapper Jay-Z helped warm up a crowd for Mr Obama before the president appeared.
"I've got a lot of fight left in me and I hope you do," Mr Obama told the rally, his voice hoarse from nearly non-stop campaigning.
"The folks at the very top in Washington don't need another champion. They'll always have a seat at the table. The people who need a champion are the people whose letters I read every day.
"We've come too far to turn back now. We've come too far to let our hearts grow faint." Thirty million Americans have already cast their ballot through early voting across 34 states. In the 2008 presidential election, 130 million people voted.
With the election expected to be decided by a razor-thin margin, both sides are readying teams of lawyers for legal fights. Democrats in Florida have filed a legal case demanding an extension of time available for early voting, citing unprecedented demand after voters reportedly queued up for hours on Sunday, In Ohio, Republican election officials will go to court on Monday to defend an 11th-hour directive to local election officials that tightens requirements needed for provisional ballots to be counted.
Source: BBC
Mr Romney went to Florida, where polls suggest he has the edge, and then to Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio.
Mr Obama appeared in Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio, joined at rallies by Bruce Springsteen and rapper Jay-Z. The election will be decided in just a handful of states, with Ohio in particular seen as crucial to victory. President Obama closed his re-election campaign in Des Moines, Iowa - the city where his bid for the presidency began in early 2007.
At a late-night rally, he told the crowd that Iowa had started "a movement that spread across the country". Mr Romney, meanwhile, was due to end his campaign with a late-night rally in New Hampshire but made the surprise announcement that he would extend campaigning into election day itself - visiting Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Mr Obama and Mr Romney are running almost neck-and-neck in national polls, in a campaign that has cost more than $2bn (£1.2bn). But surveys of the nine or so battleground states that will determine the election show Mr Obama narrowly ahead.
On the stroke of midnight, the first votes were cast and quickly counted in the tiny village of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire. They resulted in a tie with five votes each for Mr Obama and Mr Romney. The race has been most intense in Ohio - no Republican has ever made it to the White House without winning there.
Mr Romney would become the first Mormon president of the US if he wins on Tuesday. In Fairfax, Virginia just outside Washington DC, the former Massachusetts governor said the president had failed to make good on the promise of his 2008 campaign and it was time for a new direction.
"Look at the record," he exhorted supporters.
"Talk is cheap, but a record is real and it's earned with effort. When the president promised change, you can look and see what happened. Four years ago then-candidate Obama promised to do so very much but he's done so very little."
He summed up his pitch to voters: "Do you want four more years like the last four years? Or do you want real change?" In Ohio, Bruce Springsteen and rapper Jay-Z helped warm up a crowd for Mr Obama before the president appeared.
"I've got a lot of fight left in me and I hope you do," Mr Obama told the rally, his voice hoarse from nearly non-stop campaigning.
"The folks at the very top in Washington don't need another champion. They'll always have a seat at the table. The people who need a champion are the people whose letters I read every day.
"We've come too far to turn back now. We've come too far to let our hearts grow faint." Thirty million Americans have already cast their ballot through early voting across 34 states. In the 2008 presidential election, 130 million people voted.
With the election expected to be decided by a razor-thin margin, both sides are readying teams of lawyers for legal fights. Democrats in Florida have filed a legal case demanding an extension of time available for early voting, citing unprecedented demand after voters reportedly queued up for hours on Sunday, In Ohio, Republican election officials will go to court on Monday to defend an 11th-hour directive to local election officials that tightens requirements needed for provisional ballots to be counted.
Source: BBC
Free SHS Promise Will Destroy Education
The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has described the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) free senior high school (SHS) promise as a subtle way of the party destroying the quality of the education system and allow its cronies to establish private SHSs for monetary gains.
He said since the party believed in property owning, its real intention could not be far from “this cheap political rhetoric to make money for themselves and their assigns.”
The Vice-President stated this when he inspected classroom and library projects constructed by the government at the Kade Senior High Technical in the Eastern Region as part of his tour of the Eastern Region.
He said the NDC government placed value on education hence it had begun massive infrastructural work in many educational facilities across the length and breadth of the country, saying “all projects began under our administration would be completed.
He said the government’s commitment to make quality education progressively available for all children of schoolage was not in dispute, adding that “ our resolve to make education available is there for all see.
Mr Amissah-Arthur therefore called on the students to wean themselves of what he described as earthly pleasures now and concentrate fully on their studies since that would secure their future.
“Our commitment is to provide you the facilities and your side of the bargain is to devote all your time and energy to study hard,” he stated.
In a related development, Mr Amissah-Arthur addressed a durbar of chiefs and people in the newly created Dechembuor Constituency in Akwatia, and urged the people to vote massively for President John Mahama and his Members of Parliament (MPs) to enable them to continue to execute the Better Ghana agenda.
Throughout his round of five regional tours, the refrain from the people was to retain the NDC in power to continue with the good work began by the late Professor John Atta Mills. “Brothers and sisters, let me assure you that the government would not deviate from its agenda to make life bearable for majority of its people”he said.
The parliamentary candidate of the NDC for the area, Alhaji Baba Jamal, who was introduced by the Vice-President, said the NDC Better Ghana had affected the people of Akwatia positively, and urged the people to vote wisely for President Mahama.
He mentioned some of the development projects brought to the area over the last four years such as water and the construction of classroom blocks. Alhaji Jamal further called on the people, particularly the youth, not to allow themselves to be manipulated to cause trouble, now, during and after the elections.
The Chief of the area, Berima Kofi Boateng, stressed the need for a peaceful election, saying “since Ghana is the only country we have, there is the need to protect it. The Vice-President toured Akroso, Akim Oda, Achiase and paid courtesy calls on the Akrosohene, Achiasehene, Akwatiahene.
Source: Daily Graphic
He said since the party believed in property owning, its real intention could not be far from “this cheap political rhetoric to make money for themselves and their assigns.”
The Vice-President stated this when he inspected classroom and library projects constructed by the government at the Kade Senior High Technical in the Eastern Region as part of his tour of the Eastern Region.
He said the NDC government placed value on education hence it had begun massive infrastructural work in many educational facilities across the length and breadth of the country, saying “all projects began under our administration would be completed.
He said the government’s commitment to make quality education progressively available for all children of schoolage was not in dispute, adding that “ our resolve to make education available is there for all see.
Mr Amissah-Arthur therefore called on the students to wean themselves of what he described as earthly pleasures now and concentrate fully on their studies since that would secure their future.
“Our commitment is to provide you the facilities and your side of the bargain is to devote all your time and energy to study hard,” he stated.
In a related development, Mr Amissah-Arthur addressed a durbar of chiefs and people in the newly created Dechembuor Constituency in Akwatia, and urged the people to vote massively for President John Mahama and his Members of Parliament (MPs) to enable them to continue to execute the Better Ghana agenda.
Throughout his round of five regional tours, the refrain from the people was to retain the NDC in power to continue with the good work began by the late Professor John Atta Mills. “Brothers and sisters, let me assure you that the government would not deviate from its agenda to make life bearable for majority of its people”he said.
The parliamentary candidate of the NDC for the area, Alhaji Baba Jamal, who was introduced by the Vice-President, said the NDC Better Ghana had affected the people of Akwatia positively, and urged the people to vote wisely for President Mahama.
He mentioned some of the development projects brought to the area over the last four years such as water and the construction of classroom blocks. Alhaji Jamal further called on the people, particularly the youth, not to allow themselves to be manipulated to cause trouble, now, during and after the elections.
The Chief of the area, Berima Kofi Boateng, stressed the need for a peaceful election, saying “since Ghana is the only country we have, there is the need to protect it. The Vice-President toured Akroso, Akim Oda, Achiase and paid courtesy calls on the Akrosohene, Achiasehene, Akwatiahene.
Source: Daily Graphic
Friday, November 2, 2012
DR. PAA KWESI NDUOM
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, originally named Joseph Hubster Yorke Jr., was born on Sunday, February 15, 1953 in Elmina. His parents are Mr. Joseph Hubster Yorke and Mrs Monica Yorke.
He is married to Mrs. Yvonne Nduom who was also born in Elmina. She schooled at the OLA Catholic Girls and then attended the Archbishop Porter’s Secondary School in Takoradi, in the Western Region.
She later moved to St. Louis Secondary School where she had her sixth form education. Mrs. Nduom has BA in English from the University of Cape Coast and holds a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin.
Mrs. Nduom is a proficient Management Specialist and has held management positions with TRS Hobbies in Wisconsin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and the National Rural Energy Cooperative Association (NRECA) of Washington, DC.
She is the founder of Sterlin Management Services; a Management, Training and Development company. She has rendered Management Training Services to companies such as Unilever, Standard Charted Bank, Merchant Bank, Nestle and Ghana Airways. Currently, she is the Executive Chairperson of Coconut Grove Hotels.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom and his wife have four children; Nana Kweku, Edjah, Papa Wassa and Nana Aba. His grandfather, Mr. Samuel Yorke, played a vital role in the establishment of St. Augustine's College at Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.
Dr. Nduom attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Boys School in Elmina and in 1966, furthered to St. Augustine’s Practice School in Cape Coast. Four years later, he was awarded an American Field Service scholarship and spent one year with an American family in Cokato, Minnesota where he attained a high school diploma from Cokato High School.
From 1971 to 1973, he returned to St. Augustine’s College to complete his sixth form education. During this time, he was adjudged the best student in St Augustereo Economics. Dr. Nduom returned to USA in August, 1973.
He moved to the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Marquette University and University of Wisconsin where he obtained a BA degree in Economics in December, 1975. He attained an MS in Management from the School of Business and also has Ph.D. in Service Delivery Systems (USI Program) all from the University of Wisconsin.
He owns a number of companies including First National Savings and Loans Bank, Gold Coast Securities and Coconut Grove Hotels.
Though, not a member of the New Patriotic Party, he however held ministerial positions in the Kufour administration (John Agyekum Kufour was President of the fourth republic of Ghana and leader of NPP).
As a CPP stalwart, Dr. Nduom was elected a Presidential candidate of the party in 2004 and 2008 where he polled 1.3% of electoral votes in the general elections. He subsequently withdrew from the Convention People’s Party and currently is the Presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party.
He is married to Mrs. Yvonne Nduom who was also born in Elmina. She schooled at the OLA Catholic Girls and then attended the Archbishop Porter’s Secondary School in Takoradi, in the Western Region.
She later moved to St. Louis Secondary School where she had her sixth form education. Mrs. Nduom has BA in English from the University of Cape Coast and holds a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin.
Mrs. Nduom is a proficient Management Specialist and has held management positions with TRS Hobbies in Wisconsin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and the National Rural Energy Cooperative Association (NRECA) of Washington, DC.
She is the founder of Sterlin Management Services; a Management, Training and Development company. She has rendered Management Training Services to companies such as Unilever, Standard Charted Bank, Merchant Bank, Nestle and Ghana Airways. Currently, she is the Executive Chairperson of Coconut Grove Hotels.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom and his wife have four children; Nana Kweku, Edjah, Papa Wassa and Nana Aba. His grandfather, Mr. Samuel Yorke, played a vital role in the establishment of St. Augustine's College at Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.
Dr. Nduom attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Boys School in Elmina and in 1966, furthered to St. Augustine’s Practice School in Cape Coast. Four years later, he was awarded an American Field Service scholarship and spent one year with an American family in Cokato, Minnesota where he attained a high school diploma from Cokato High School.
From 1971 to 1973, he returned to St. Augustine’s College to complete his sixth form education. During this time, he was adjudged the best student in St Augustereo Economics. Dr. Nduom returned to USA in August, 1973.
He moved to the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Marquette University and University of Wisconsin where he obtained a BA degree in Economics in December, 1975. He attained an MS in Management from the School of Business and also has Ph.D. in Service Delivery Systems (USI Program) all from the University of Wisconsin.
He owns a number of companies including First National Savings and Loans Bank, Gold Coast Securities and Coconut Grove Hotels.
Though, not a member of the New Patriotic Party, he however held ministerial positions in the Kufour administration (John Agyekum Kufour was President of the fourth republic of Ghana and leader of NPP).
As a CPP stalwart, Dr. Nduom was elected a Presidential candidate of the party in 2004 and 2008 where he polled 1.3% of electoral votes in the general elections. He subsequently withdrew from the Convention People’s Party and currently is the Presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party.
DR. MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is an economist and banker of international distinction and repute. His political pedigree in the Danquah-Busia tradition goes back to the very foundations of the United Party from which the New Patriotic Party draws inspiration.
He was born on October 7, 1963 in Tamale to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, former Chairman of the Council of State (1992-2000) and Hajia Mariama Bawumia.
He was the twelfth of his father’s 18 children and the second of his mother’s five. After graduating from Tamale Secondary School, Mahamudu proceeded to the United Kingdom where he obtained the Chartered Institute of Bankers Diploma (ACIB).
He then undertook undergraduate study at Buckingham University, obtaining a First Class Honours Degree in Economics in 1987; a Masters Degree in Economics at Oxford University in 1988; and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1995 at the Simon Fraser University in Canada. His areas of specialization include Macroeconomics, International Economics, Development Economics and Monetary Policy.
Between 1998 and 2000, Dr. Bawumia worked as a lecturer in Monetary Economics, and International Finance at the Emile Woolf College of Accountancy in London and also served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Baylor University, Texas, USA.
He also served as an economist at the Research Department of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, USA. Dr. Bawumia returned to Ghana in 2000 to work as an economist at the Bank of Ghana.
He rose through the ranks from Senior Economist to Head of Department, and subsequently as Special Assistant to the Governor of the Bank. President J.A. Kufuor appointed Dr. Bawumia as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana in June 2006, aged 42.
As the Deputy Governor in charge of financial stability, he successfully maintained oversight over the soundness of the banking sector.
He was instrumental in the opening up of the banking sector to competition, resulting in the increase in the availability of credit to the private sector from 12.5% of GDP in 2001 to 28.5% of GDP in 2008.
Dr Bawumia also led Bank of Ghana’s technical negotiation team with the World Bank and IMF that successfully ended Ghana’s dependence on IMF assistance, allowing Ghana to pursue more independent policies.
Dr Bawumia was responsible for drafting the financial sector component of the Millennium Challenge Account Compact which resulted in $547 million worth of projects for Ghana. He was also responsible for the strategy for accessing the international capital markets with a debut $750 million dollars, which was four times oversubscribed.
He was part of the team that designed and implemented the successful redenomination of the cedi which has been hailed globally, and played a key role in the design and implementation of the e-zwich common platform for all banks, savings and loans companies and rural banks.
More recently, with the African Development Bank, he has played a leading role in helping Zimbabwe to re-engage with the international community. He is married to Samira and they have three children.
Source: akufoaddo2012.com
He was born on October 7, 1963 in Tamale to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, former Chairman of the Council of State (1992-2000) and Hajia Mariama Bawumia.
He was the twelfth of his father’s 18 children and the second of his mother’s five. After graduating from Tamale Secondary School, Mahamudu proceeded to the United Kingdom where he obtained the Chartered Institute of Bankers Diploma (ACIB).
He then undertook undergraduate study at Buckingham University, obtaining a First Class Honours Degree in Economics in 1987; a Masters Degree in Economics at Oxford University in 1988; and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1995 at the Simon Fraser University in Canada. His areas of specialization include Macroeconomics, International Economics, Development Economics and Monetary Policy.
Between 1998 and 2000, Dr. Bawumia worked as a lecturer in Monetary Economics, and International Finance at the Emile Woolf College of Accountancy in London and also served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Baylor University, Texas, USA.
He also served as an economist at the Research Department of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, USA. Dr. Bawumia returned to Ghana in 2000 to work as an economist at the Bank of Ghana.
He rose through the ranks from Senior Economist to Head of Department, and subsequently as Special Assistant to the Governor of the Bank. President J.A. Kufuor appointed Dr. Bawumia as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana in June 2006, aged 42.
As the Deputy Governor in charge of financial stability, he successfully maintained oversight over the soundness of the banking sector.
He was instrumental in the opening up of the banking sector to competition, resulting in the increase in the availability of credit to the private sector from 12.5% of GDP in 2001 to 28.5% of GDP in 2008.
Dr Bawumia also led Bank of Ghana’s technical negotiation team with the World Bank and IMF that successfully ended Ghana’s dependence on IMF assistance, allowing Ghana to pursue more independent policies.
Dr Bawumia was responsible for drafting the financial sector component of the Millennium Challenge Account Compact which resulted in $547 million worth of projects for Ghana. He was also responsible for the strategy for accessing the international capital markets with a debut $750 million dollars, which was four times oversubscribed.
He was part of the team that designed and implemented the successful redenomination of the cedi which has been hailed globally, and played a key role in the design and implementation of the e-zwich common platform for all banks, savings and loans companies and rural banks.
More recently, with the African Development Bank, he has played a leading role in helping Zimbabwe to re-engage with the international community. He is married to Samira and they have three children.
Source: akufoaddo2012.com
NANA AKUFO ADDO
Nana Akufo Addo was born on March 29, 1944, in Swalaba, Accra. He was raised in Ga Maami (Accra Central) and in the Nima area of Accra.
His father's residence, Betty House at Korle Wokon in Accra, was effectively the headquarters of the country's first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), after it was formed at Saltpond on August 4, 1947.
Three of the Big Six (founding fathers of Ghana) were Nana's blood relatives: J.B Danquah (grand uncle), William Ofori Atta (uncle) and Edward Akufo-Addo, who became the third Chief Justice of Ghana and later ceremonial President of the Republic from 1969-72, was his father.
Nana had his primary education at the Government Boys School and later Rowe Road School (now Kinbu) both in Accra Central. Nana went on to England to study for his O- Level and A- Level examinations. He returned to Ghana in 1962 to teach at the Accra Academy before going to the University of Ghana in 1964 to read Economics.
After graduating as an Economist, he went on to read Law in the UK and was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971 and the Ghana Bar in 1975. Legal and Business Career After his call to the English Bar, he went to work in Paris, France as a lawyer with a renowned international US law firm, Coudert Freres, for a period of five years.
Apart from the welcome exposure to the dynamics of international corporate transactions, his stay in France also made him fluent in French, attributes which have stood him in good stead. In 1975, he returned home to Accra to continue with his legal career.
He joined the chambers of U.V Campbell from 1975-1979 and in 1979, co-founded the law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co, which has become one of the most prominent law firms in Ghana. He is acknowledged as one of the most brilliant advocates of his day, if not in the history of the Ghanaian Bar.
Some Ghanaian lawyers who passed through his law firm are among the most outstanding lawyers at the Ghanaian Bar today. They include Sophia Akuffo, Justice of the Supreme Court, Joyce Darko, Daniel Afari Yeboah, Philip Addison, Joe Ghartey, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Alex Quaynor, Frank Davies, Ursula Owusu, Atta Akyea, Nana’s successor as MP for Abuakwa South Constituency, Akoto Ampaw, Yoni Kulendi, Kwame Akuffo and Godfrey Dame.
Nana Akufo-Addo has served on the boards and committees of a number of political, legal and social organizations in the country.
He was the first Chairperson of DHL, Ghana Limited; Chairperson, Kinesec Communications Company Limited, publishers of the Statesman and the first Chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples Rights. Political Career Like the “Doyen of Gold Coast politics”, J.B Danquah, and others before him, Nana used his law practice to champion the cause of human rights, rule of law, justice, freedom and democracy.
He was well-known for giving free legal assistance to the poor and fought for the rights and liberties of the Ghanaian people. Indeed, many of the important constitutional cases of the modern era, which, inter alia, protected the independence of the judiciary and the right of the citizen to demonstrate without police permit, were undertaken by him.
He is acknowledged as one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement in Ghana, through whose courageous efforts Ghana has come to embrace democracy in a manner which has made her a beacon of democratic governance in Africa.
At age 33, Nana became the General Secretary of the broad-based People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), which was composed of political stalwarts such as Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, William Ofori-Atta, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Adu Boahen, Sam Okudzeto, Obed Asamoah, Godfrey Agama, K.S.P. Jantuah, Jones Ofori-Atta, Johnny Hanson and Nii Amaah Amartefio (Mr. No).
This group led the "NO" campaign in the UNIGOV referendum of 1978, ultimately bringing about the downfall of the Acheampong military government on 5th July, 1978, and the restoration of multi-party democratic rule to the country in 1979. Nana had to go briefly into exile after the referendum, when his life was in danger.
But, from Europe, he could be heard constantly on BBC World Service, fighting against the military rulers back in Ghana and calling for a return to democracy.
In 1991, Akufo-Addo was the chairman of the Organising Committee of the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club, a club dedicated to the preservation of the memory and ideals of the two great advocates of Ghanaian democracy, J. B Danquah and K. A Busia, Prime Minister of the Progress Party government of the 2nd Republic of Ghana.
He took the risk and travelled the length and breadth of Ghana to establish branches of the Club all over the country in the grassroots style for which he is known.
These branches eventually transformed into local organs of the NPP after the ban on party politics was lifted, prior to the elections of 1992. In 1992, he became the first national organiser of the NPP and, later that year, campaign manager of the party's first presidential candidate, Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, the man of courage who broke the “culture of silence” in Ghana.
In 1992, he set up and financed “The Statesman” newspaper, which has become the unofficial mouthpiece of the NPP. In 1995, Nana led the famous “Kume Preko” demonstrations of the Alliance For Change (AFC), a broad-based political pressure group, which mobilised more than a million people onto the streets of Ghana to protest the harsh political and economic conditions of the Rawlings era.
It is well established that those demonstrations helped create the environment for the victory of the NPP in the 2000 elections. Akufo-Addo was elected three times between 1996 and 2004 as Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South constituency in the Eastern region of Ghana.
From 2001 to 2007, as Cabinet Minister, first as Attorney General and Minister for Justice and later as Foreign Minister for five years, Nana served President Kufuor with brilliance and distinction. As Attorney General, he was responsible for the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, a law that had hitherto been used to intimidate the media and criminalise free speech.
The repeal has enabled the Ghanaian media become one of the most vibrant and freest in Africa. Under his chairmanship of the Legal Sector Reform Committee, the implementation of the court automation programme was initiated.
As Foreign Minister, he was fully involved in the successful ECOWAS peace efforts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau, and was chairman of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in 2003. In 2004, Ghana was elected one of the 15 pioneer members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, a mandate which was renewed at the AU Summit in Khartoum in January 2006.
Nana Akufo-Addo was chosen by his peers on the AU Executive Council to chair the Ministerial Committee of 15 that fashioned the “Ezulwini Consensus” which defined Africa’s common position on UN Reforms.
He negotiated for the 2007 AU Summit to be held in Accra as part of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, and chaired the AU Executive Council in 2007. Ghana was elected by her peers to take the non-permanent West African seat on the UN Security Council for 2006-2007.
In August 2006, Nana Akufo-Addo chaired the meeting of the Security Council which took the decision that halted Israel’s massive incursions into Lebanon. Again, Ghana was elected to the new UN body, the Human Rights Council, with the highest number of votes – 183 out of 191 - of any country, and as a pioneer member of another UN body, the Peace Building Commission.
Nana resigned from the Kufuor government in July 2007 to contest for the position of presidential candidate and flagbearer of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the then ruling party of Ghana, for the 2008 elections.
Competing against 16 others, Nana won 48% of the votes in the first round of that election, but was given a unanimous endorsement in the second round, making him the party’s candidate for the 2008 presidential election.
In the Dec 7, 2008 presidential race, Nana beat Prof Mills, the eventual winner, who was contesting for the third time, with 102,805 votes in the first round. Nana got 4,159,439 representing 49.13% of the total votes cast, placing him first but fell 74,000 votes short of the more than 50% needed for an outright victory.
It was the best ever performance for a first time presidential candidate in the Fourth Republic. The eventual winner of the elections, Prof Mills obtained 4,056,634 representing 47.92% in the first round and 4,521,032 votes, representing 50.23% in the run-off elections.
Nana, who received 4,480,446 votes in the Dec 28 run-off, lost to Candidate Mills by a margin of 40,586 votes, representing 0.46% - the smallest margin of defeat ever in Africa’s political history and yet Nana accepted the results without calling even for a recount, thereby helping to preserve the peace, freedom and stability of Ghana.
On August 7, 2010 Nana was re-elected presidential candidate of the NPP for the 2012 general elections, with 106,590 valid votes from delegates in that election as a result of the party expanding its electoral college from the previous number of 2300 delegates.
Nana obtained 84,100 of the votes in that election, representing 79%, the biggest endorsement given any leader in Ghana’s political history by his party. The electoral college was also the largest any political party has ever convened in Ghana or in any African state.
Akufo-Addo is a keen sportsman, who still trains regularly on the treadmill. His stamina for campaigning is legendary, campaigning sometimes from 8am to 2am. He was, in his youth, an excellent footballer and played for the famous Ghanaian club of the time, Real Republikans, with well-known Ghanaian stars like Jones Attuquayefio, Anue Cofie, Edward Boateng and others.
He was Ghana’s squash champion for a period in the 1970s. He is an avid reader, particularly of political biographies, history books and novels. He loves highlife, jazz and classical music and is a big fan of movies. Nana Akufo-Addo is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo (nee Griffiths-Randolph).
They have five daughters and two grandchildren.
Source: akufoaddo2012.com
His father's residence, Betty House at Korle Wokon in Accra, was effectively the headquarters of the country's first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), after it was formed at Saltpond on August 4, 1947.
Three of the Big Six (founding fathers of Ghana) were Nana's blood relatives: J.B Danquah (grand uncle), William Ofori Atta (uncle) and Edward Akufo-Addo, who became the third Chief Justice of Ghana and later ceremonial President of the Republic from 1969-72, was his father.
Nana had his primary education at the Government Boys School and later Rowe Road School (now Kinbu) both in Accra Central. Nana went on to England to study for his O- Level and A- Level examinations. He returned to Ghana in 1962 to teach at the Accra Academy before going to the University of Ghana in 1964 to read Economics.
After graduating as an Economist, he went on to read Law in the UK and was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971 and the Ghana Bar in 1975. Legal and Business Career After his call to the English Bar, he went to work in Paris, France as a lawyer with a renowned international US law firm, Coudert Freres, for a period of five years.
Apart from the welcome exposure to the dynamics of international corporate transactions, his stay in France also made him fluent in French, attributes which have stood him in good stead. In 1975, he returned home to Accra to continue with his legal career.
He joined the chambers of U.V Campbell from 1975-1979 and in 1979, co-founded the law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co, which has become one of the most prominent law firms in Ghana. He is acknowledged as one of the most brilliant advocates of his day, if not in the history of the Ghanaian Bar.
Some Ghanaian lawyers who passed through his law firm are among the most outstanding lawyers at the Ghanaian Bar today. They include Sophia Akuffo, Justice of the Supreme Court, Joyce Darko, Daniel Afari Yeboah, Philip Addison, Joe Ghartey, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Alex Quaynor, Frank Davies, Ursula Owusu, Atta Akyea, Nana’s successor as MP for Abuakwa South Constituency, Akoto Ampaw, Yoni Kulendi, Kwame Akuffo and Godfrey Dame.
Nana Akufo-Addo has served on the boards and committees of a number of political, legal and social organizations in the country.
He was the first Chairperson of DHL, Ghana Limited; Chairperson, Kinesec Communications Company Limited, publishers of the Statesman and the first Chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples Rights. Political Career Like the “Doyen of Gold Coast politics”, J.B Danquah, and others before him, Nana used his law practice to champion the cause of human rights, rule of law, justice, freedom and democracy.
He was well-known for giving free legal assistance to the poor and fought for the rights and liberties of the Ghanaian people. Indeed, many of the important constitutional cases of the modern era, which, inter alia, protected the independence of the judiciary and the right of the citizen to demonstrate without police permit, were undertaken by him.
He is acknowledged as one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement in Ghana, through whose courageous efforts Ghana has come to embrace democracy in a manner which has made her a beacon of democratic governance in Africa.
At age 33, Nana became the General Secretary of the broad-based People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), which was composed of political stalwarts such as Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, William Ofori-Atta, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Adu Boahen, Sam Okudzeto, Obed Asamoah, Godfrey Agama, K.S.P. Jantuah, Jones Ofori-Atta, Johnny Hanson and Nii Amaah Amartefio (Mr. No).
This group led the "NO" campaign in the UNIGOV referendum of 1978, ultimately bringing about the downfall of the Acheampong military government on 5th July, 1978, and the restoration of multi-party democratic rule to the country in 1979. Nana had to go briefly into exile after the referendum, when his life was in danger.
But, from Europe, he could be heard constantly on BBC World Service, fighting against the military rulers back in Ghana and calling for a return to democracy.
In 1991, Akufo-Addo was the chairman of the Organising Committee of the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club, a club dedicated to the preservation of the memory and ideals of the two great advocates of Ghanaian democracy, J. B Danquah and K. A Busia, Prime Minister of the Progress Party government of the 2nd Republic of Ghana.
He took the risk and travelled the length and breadth of Ghana to establish branches of the Club all over the country in the grassroots style for which he is known.
These branches eventually transformed into local organs of the NPP after the ban on party politics was lifted, prior to the elections of 1992. In 1992, he became the first national organiser of the NPP and, later that year, campaign manager of the party's first presidential candidate, Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, the man of courage who broke the “culture of silence” in Ghana.
In 1992, he set up and financed “The Statesman” newspaper, which has become the unofficial mouthpiece of the NPP. In 1995, Nana led the famous “Kume Preko” demonstrations of the Alliance For Change (AFC), a broad-based political pressure group, which mobilised more than a million people onto the streets of Ghana to protest the harsh political and economic conditions of the Rawlings era.
It is well established that those demonstrations helped create the environment for the victory of the NPP in the 2000 elections. Akufo-Addo was elected three times between 1996 and 2004 as Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South constituency in the Eastern region of Ghana.
From 2001 to 2007, as Cabinet Minister, first as Attorney General and Minister for Justice and later as Foreign Minister for five years, Nana served President Kufuor with brilliance and distinction. As Attorney General, he was responsible for the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, a law that had hitherto been used to intimidate the media and criminalise free speech.
The repeal has enabled the Ghanaian media become one of the most vibrant and freest in Africa. Under his chairmanship of the Legal Sector Reform Committee, the implementation of the court automation programme was initiated.
As Foreign Minister, he was fully involved in the successful ECOWAS peace efforts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau, and was chairman of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in 2003. In 2004, Ghana was elected one of the 15 pioneer members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, a mandate which was renewed at the AU Summit in Khartoum in January 2006.
Nana Akufo-Addo was chosen by his peers on the AU Executive Council to chair the Ministerial Committee of 15 that fashioned the “Ezulwini Consensus” which defined Africa’s common position on UN Reforms.
He negotiated for the 2007 AU Summit to be held in Accra as part of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, and chaired the AU Executive Council in 2007. Ghana was elected by her peers to take the non-permanent West African seat on the UN Security Council for 2006-2007.
In August 2006, Nana Akufo-Addo chaired the meeting of the Security Council which took the decision that halted Israel’s massive incursions into Lebanon. Again, Ghana was elected to the new UN body, the Human Rights Council, with the highest number of votes – 183 out of 191 - of any country, and as a pioneer member of another UN body, the Peace Building Commission.
Nana resigned from the Kufuor government in July 2007 to contest for the position of presidential candidate and flagbearer of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the then ruling party of Ghana, for the 2008 elections.
Competing against 16 others, Nana won 48% of the votes in the first round of that election, but was given a unanimous endorsement in the second round, making him the party’s candidate for the 2008 presidential election.
In the Dec 7, 2008 presidential race, Nana beat Prof Mills, the eventual winner, who was contesting for the third time, with 102,805 votes in the first round. Nana got 4,159,439 representing 49.13% of the total votes cast, placing him first but fell 74,000 votes short of the more than 50% needed for an outright victory.
It was the best ever performance for a first time presidential candidate in the Fourth Republic. The eventual winner of the elections, Prof Mills obtained 4,056,634 representing 47.92% in the first round and 4,521,032 votes, representing 50.23% in the run-off elections.
Nana, who received 4,480,446 votes in the Dec 28 run-off, lost to Candidate Mills by a margin of 40,586 votes, representing 0.46% - the smallest margin of defeat ever in Africa’s political history and yet Nana accepted the results without calling even for a recount, thereby helping to preserve the peace, freedom and stability of Ghana.
On August 7, 2010 Nana was re-elected presidential candidate of the NPP for the 2012 general elections, with 106,590 valid votes from delegates in that election as a result of the party expanding its electoral college from the previous number of 2300 delegates.
Nana obtained 84,100 of the votes in that election, representing 79%, the biggest endorsement given any leader in Ghana’s political history by his party. The electoral college was also the largest any political party has ever convened in Ghana or in any African state.
Akufo-Addo is a keen sportsman, who still trains regularly on the treadmill. His stamina for campaigning is legendary, campaigning sometimes from 8am to 2am. He was, in his youth, an excellent footballer and played for the famous Ghanaian club of the time, Real Republikans, with well-known Ghanaian stars like Jones Attuquayefio, Anue Cofie, Edward Boateng and others.
He was Ghana’s squash champion for a period in the 1970s. He is an avid reader, particularly of political biographies, history books and novels. He loves highlife, jazz and classical music and is a big fan of movies. Nana Akufo-Addo is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo (nee Griffiths-Randolph).
They have five daughters and two grandchildren.
Source: akufoaddo2012.com
HASSAN AYARIGA
Hassan Ayariga, 2012 Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), has over the years displayed a resilient leadership and commitment to service.
Born on September, 4, 1971, Hassan Ayariga was raised in Bawku and later settled in Nigeria with his parents after the overthrow of Dr. Hilla Limann, erstwhile President of the republic of Ghana and leader of the People’s National Party.
Hassan Ayariga is married to Anita Ayariga and has five children. He was born to Frank Abdulai Ayariga and Anatu Ayariga.
His parents’ role in politics and business impacted his life. His father, Frank Abdulai Ayariga, was a member of parliament for Bawku constituency in the Limann administration and mother was a businesswoman who played an influential role in child development in the Northern sector of the economy.
He attended Ghana Secondary School for his secondary education and furthered to Barewa College in Zaria, Nigeria. Afterward, he went to the London School of Accountancy.
He is an Accountant and holds an ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certificate. He also became a Quality Control Manager at the Peter Huppertz Ford motors in Germany for ten years and an Accountant with WaffenSchimdt GmBH in Germany.
He later became an entrepreneur with businesses both in Ghana and abroad. He opened Hallo Pizza, a restaurant chain in Ghana and recently initiated Clean Us Ghana, a waste management company.
He currently owns Hassan Ayariga & Co. Haulage Company as Chairman and C.E.O respectively. Inheriting the Nkrumah-Egala-Limann tradition, Hassan Ayariga joined PNC in 2002. The People’s National Convention was formed by Dr. Hilla Limann in 1992 after the lifting of the ban on party politics. He exhibited good leadership skills and worked as the Chairman of the Germany (Koln) Chapter.
In 2004, he contested for the vice chairmanship of PNC but later withdrew from the contest and supported Hon. John Ndebugri. Hassan Ayariga will go down in the annals of Ghana as the youngest Presidential candidate.
At age 40, he was elected a Presidential aspirant and flagbearer of the party in October 18, 2012. He polled 483 votes to beat Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama, the 2008 presidential candidate of the party, who obtained 426 votes.
He has earnestly contributed and worked at strengthening the pillars of the party. As a result, he has established party offices in Bawku, Garu, Zebila, Pusiga, Kulungu, Baribari and Tisongo, all in the Upper East Region, and also in Tamale, Kpong Tamale and Savlugu in the Northern sector of Ghana.
He has also set up Hassan Ayariga Foundation to support the youth and women across the country. He envisions to revamp the economy and empower the youth as well create jobs for them in order to reduce the high unemployment rate.
Born on September, 4, 1971, Hassan Ayariga was raised in Bawku and later settled in Nigeria with his parents after the overthrow of Dr. Hilla Limann, erstwhile President of the republic of Ghana and leader of the People’s National Party.
Hassan Ayariga is married to Anita Ayariga and has five children. He was born to Frank Abdulai Ayariga and Anatu Ayariga.
His parents’ role in politics and business impacted his life. His father, Frank Abdulai Ayariga, was a member of parliament for Bawku constituency in the Limann administration and mother was a businesswoman who played an influential role in child development in the Northern sector of the economy.
He attended Ghana Secondary School for his secondary education and furthered to Barewa College in Zaria, Nigeria. Afterward, he went to the London School of Accountancy.
He is an Accountant and holds an ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certificate. He also became a Quality Control Manager at the Peter Huppertz Ford motors in Germany for ten years and an Accountant with WaffenSchimdt GmBH in Germany.
He later became an entrepreneur with businesses both in Ghana and abroad. He opened Hallo Pizza, a restaurant chain in Ghana and recently initiated Clean Us Ghana, a waste management company.
He currently owns Hassan Ayariga & Co. Haulage Company as Chairman and C.E.O respectively. Inheriting the Nkrumah-Egala-Limann tradition, Hassan Ayariga joined PNC in 2002. The People’s National Convention was formed by Dr. Hilla Limann in 1992 after the lifting of the ban on party politics. He exhibited good leadership skills and worked as the Chairman of the Germany (Koln) Chapter.
In 2004, he contested for the vice chairmanship of PNC but later withdrew from the contest and supported Hon. John Ndebugri. Hassan Ayariga will go down in the annals of Ghana as the youngest Presidential candidate.
At age 40, he was elected a Presidential aspirant and flagbearer of the party in October 18, 2012. He polled 483 votes to beat Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama, the 2008 presidential candidate of the party, who obtained 426 votes.
He has earnestly contributed and worked at strengthening the pillars of the party. As a result, he has established party offices in Bawku, Garu, Zebila, Pusiga, Kulungu, Baribari and Tisongo, all in the Upper East Region, and also in Tamale, Kpong Tamale and Savlugu in the Northern sector of Ghana.
He has also set up Hassan Ayariga Foundation to support the youth and women across the country. He envisions to revamp the economy and empower the youth as well create jobs for them in order to reduce the high unemployment rate.
JOHN MAHAMA
John Dramani Mahama is the President of the Republic of Ghana and the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2012 elections.
The Party gave him an overwhelming endorsement of 99.5% of the votes cast at the Special Congress held on August 30th in Kumasi paving the way for him to stand as the Flag-bearer of the NDC in the upcoming elections.
John Mahama ascended to the Office of President after the untimely demise of the late President - His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills on the 24th of July 2012. President Mahama had previously served as the Vice President, and on the passing of President Mills took over the reins of Government and led the country to bid a befitting farewell to a leader who was much loved, respected and can be described as a Ghanaian icon.
The Ghanaian Constitution of 1992 provides in Article 60 (6) that, "Whenever the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall assume office as President for the unexpired term of office of the President with effect from the date of the death, resignation or removal of the President".
President Mahama therefore assumed the role of Head of State, Head of Government and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana from the time of the passing of the late President.
He was sworn into office on the same day by the Chief Justice, and Ghana accomplished a peaceful transition that demonstrated the strength and robustness of the country's democratic institutions.
President Mahama was born in Damongo, in what is now the Damongo-Daboya Constituency of Ghana on the 21st of November 1958. His Father was the Late Emmanuel Adama Mahama who was the first Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency, and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region under President Kwame Nkrumah.
The young John Dramani Mahama attended primary school at the Achimota School in Accra, and on completion moved to the Northern Region to attend the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale where he studied for his Ordinary and Advanced level GCE Certificates.
Thereafter he attended the University of Ghana, Legon where he read History, and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1981. He furthered his education by doing Post Graduate Studies in Communication also in the University of Ghana, in the School of Communication Studies, which he completed in 1986.
He has always had a thirst for knowledge, and this made him take advantage of the opportunity to study for a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow. John Mahama is an avid reader, author and historian. Over the course of his career he has written for several newspapers and other publications, and recently published his first book, a memoir entitled "My First Coup D'etat and other true stories from the lost decades of Africa".
He considers the combination of the study of history, communications and social psychology as having had a tremendous impact on shaping his views, his thoughts and his understanding and have contributed significantly to making him the person he is today. Early Career After he completed his post graduate diploma studies in Moscow, John Mahama returned to Ghana and in 1991 become the Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra.
The President credits this period of his life for having inculcated in him the Japanese work ethic, after seeing first hand the efforts that they put into their work. The President had never been afraid of hard work himself, but the experience reinforced in his mind the importance of focus and commitment and reflects in his actions, effort and the dynamism that he brings to bear on the Office of the President.
After working at the Embassy of Japan for a few years, he moved on to become the International Relations, Sponsorship, Communication and Grants Manager at the Ghana Office of PLAN International, an International Development Charity that has committed itself to alleviating child poverty and improving the lives of Children all over the world. Political Life The President contested to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency in 1996, and won on the ticket of the NDC.
He was re-elected to Parliament two more times in the year 2000, and 2004 prior to becoming the Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Party in 2008. During his first term of Office as an MP he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Communications, and subsequently appointed substantive Minister.
He was the first Chairman of the National Communications Authority and in that capacity played a key role in shaping Ghana's telecommunication's sector after deregulation.
During the NDC Administration of 1996 -2000 he was also a member of the economic management team, and played a key role in the publicity committee for the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT). When the NDC Government left office in January 2001 he served as the Minority Spokesman for Communications in Parliament from 2001 to 2004, the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2008, and as a Member of the Pan African Parliament.
He was also the Director of Communications of the NDC and played a key role in giving voice to the party's positions on matters of governance and social significance when the party was in opposition. Family Life & Interests President Mahama has been married for over twenty years to Mrs. Lordina Mahama who he describes as his anchor and support. They have eight (8) children.
He is a Christian but comes from a multi-faith family with both Christian and Moslem brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. When he takes a break from the work of Government he loves to spend time in the company of his family, especially their two youngest children Jesse and Farida.
Apart from his love of reading and acquiring knowledge, President Mahama also has a keen interest in Technology and Agriculture being a Farmer himself. He is particularly interested in finding the most effective ways to improve agricultural productivity and works to encourage more young people to see farming as a viable business and not a subsistence activity.
This has translated into his passion to see the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (which is referred to by the acronym SADA) create new opportunities for people living in the Savanna areas of the country, which includes the three Northern Regions, and the Northern parts of the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions.
Even on official assignments outside of the country, the President likes to take advantage of opportunities to visit agricultural establishments and update himself on current trends and developments.
He also takes keen interest in the opportunities for simplifying and making tasks easier with the use of information and communications technology, and considers the ICT industry one of the sectors that can play a significant role in economic transformation and job creation.
During his tenure as Minister for Communication the first company (ACS) that started business process outsourcing operations was established in Ghana.
The President is a keen football enthusiast and when he has the time loves to watch soccer in the company of his family and friends. President John Dramani Mahama is a man of many talents and accomplishments, and has committed himself to fulfilling the vision of creating a Better Ghana by focusing on Jobs, Stability, Development, and has also committed himself to ‘WORKING FOR YOU’.
Source: johnmahama.org
The Party gave him an overwhelming endorsement of 99.5% of the votes cast at the Special Congress held on August 30th in Kumasi paving the way for him to stand as the Flag-bearer of the NDC in the upcoming elections.
John Mahama ascended to the Office of President after the untimely demise of the late President - His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills on the 24th of July 2012. President Mahama had previously served as the Vice President, and on the passing of President Mills took over the reins of Government and led the country to bid a befitting farewell to a leader who was much loved, respected and can be described as a Ghanaian icon.
The Ghanaian Constitution of 1992 provides in Article 60 (6) that, "Whenever the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall assume office as President for the unexpired term of office of the President with effect from the date of the death, resignation or removal of the President".
President Mahama therefore assumed the role of Head of State, Head of Government and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana from the time of the passing of the late President.
He was sworn into office on the same day by the Chief Justice, and Ghana accomplished a peaceful transition that demonstrated the strength and robustness of the country's democratic institutions.
President Mahama was born in Damongo, in what is now the Damongo-Daboya Constituency of Ghana on the 21st of November 1958. His Father was the Late Emmanuel Adama Mahama who was the first Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency, and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region under President Kwame Nkrumah.
The young John Dramani Mahama attended primary school at the Achimota School in Accra, and on completion moved to the Northern Region to attend the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale where he studied for his Ordinary and Advanced level GCE Certificates.
Thereafter he attended the University of Ghana, Legon where he read History, and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1981. He furthered his education by doing Post Graduate Studies in Communication also in the University of Ghana, in the School of Communication Studies, which he completed in 1986.
He has always had a thirst for knowledge, and this made him take advantage of the opportunity to study for a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow. John Mahama is an avid reader, author and historian. Over the course of his career he has written for several newspapers and other publications, and recently published his first book, a memoir entitled "My First Coup D'etat and other true stories from the lost decades of Africa".
He considers the combination of the study of history, communications and social psychology as having had a tremendous impact on shaping his views, his thoughts and his understanding and have contributed significantly to making him the person he is today. Early Career After he completed his post graduate diploma studies in Moscow, John Mahama returned to Ghana and in 1991 become the Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra.
The President credits this period of his life for having inculcated in him the Japanese work ethic, after seeing first hand the efforts that they put into their work. The President had never been afraid of hard work himself, but the experience reinforced in his mind the importance of focus and commitment and reflects in his actions, effort and the dynamism that he brings to bear on the Office of the President.
After working at the Embassy of Japan for a few years, he moved on to become the International Relations, Sponsorship, Communication and Grants Manager at the Ghana Office of PLAN International, an International Development Charity that has committed itself to alleviating child poverty and improving the lives of Children all over the world. Political Life The President contested to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency in 1996, and won on the ticket of the NDC.
He was re-elected to Parliament two more times in the year 2000, and 2004 prior to becoming the Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Party in 2008. During his first term of Office as an MP he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Communications, and subsequently appointed substantive Minister.
He was the first Chairman of the National Communications Authority and in that capacity played a key role in shaping Ghana's telecommunication's sector after deregulation.
During the NDC Administration of 1996 -2000 he was also a member of the economic management team, and played a key role in the publicity committee for the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT). When the NDC Government left office in January 2001 he served as the Minority Spokesman for Communications in Parliament from 2001 to 2004, the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2008, and as a Member of the Pan African Parliament.
He was also the Director of Communications of the NDC and played a key role in giving voice to the party's positions on matters of governance and social significance when the party was in opposition. Family Life & Interests President Mahama has been married for over twenty years to Mrs. Lordina Mahama who he describes as his anchor and support. They have eight (8) children.
He is a Christian but comes from a multi-faith family with both Christian and Moslem brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. When he takes a break from the work of Government he loves to spend time in the company of his family, especially their two youngest children Jesse and Farida.
Apart from his love of reading and acquiring knowledge, President Mahama also has a keen interest in Technology and Agriculture being a Farmer himself. He is particularly interested in finding the most effective ways to improve agricultural productivity and works to encourage more young people to see farming as a viable business and not a subsistence activity.
This has translated into his passion to see the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (which is referred to by the acronym SADA) create new opportunities for people living in the Savanna areas of the country, which includes the three Northern Regions, and the Northern parts of the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions.
Even on official assignments outside of the country, the President likes to take advantage of opportunities to visit agricultural establishments and update himself on current trends and developments.
He also takes keen interest in the opportunities for simplifying and making tasks easier with the use of information and communications technology, and considers the ICT industry one of the sectors that can play a significant role in economic transformation and job creation.
During his tenure as Minister for Communication the first company (ACS) that started business process outsourcing operations was established in Ghana.
The President is a keen football enthusiast and when he has the time loves to watch soccer in the company of his family and friends. President John Dramani Mahama is a man of many talents and accomplishments, and has committed himself to fulfilling the vision of creating a Better Ghana by focusing on Jobs, Stability, Development, and has also committed himself to ‘WORKING FOR YOU’.
Source: johnmahama.org
DR. PAA KWESI NDUOM
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, originally named Joseph Hubster Yorke Jr., was born on Sunday, February 15, 1953 in Elmina. His parents are Mr. Joseph Hubster Yorke and Mrs Monica Yorke.
He is married to Mrs. Yvonne Nduom who was also born in Elmina. She schooled at the OLA Catholic Girls and then attended the Archbishop Porter’s Secondary School in Takoradi, in the Western Region. She later moved to St. Louis Secondary School where she had her sixth form education. Mrs. Nduom has BA in English from the University of Cape Coast and holds a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin.
Mrs. Nduom is a proficient Management Specialist and has held management positions with TRS Hobbies in Wisconsin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and the National Rural Energy Cooperative Association (NRECA) of Washington, DC.
She is the founder of Sterlin Management Services; a Management, Training and Development company. She has rendered Management Training Services to companies such as Unilever, Standard Charted Bank, Merchant Bank, Nestle and Ghana Airways. Currently, she is the Executive Chairperson of Coconut Grove Hotels.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom and his wife have four children; Nana Kweku, Edjah, Papa Wassa and Nana Aba. His grandfather, Mr. Samuel Yorke, played a vital role in the establishment of St. Augustine's College at Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.
Dr. Nduom attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Boys School in Elmina and in 1966, furthered to St. Augustine’s Practice School in Cape Coast. Four years later, he was awarded an American Field Service scholarship and spent one year with an American family in Cokato, Minnesota where he attained a high school diploma from Cokato High School.
From 1971 to 1973, he returned to St. Augustine’s College to complete his sixth form education. During this time, he was adjudged the best student in St Augustereo Economics.
Dr. Nduom returned to USA in August, 1973. He moved to the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Marquette University and University of Wisconsin where he obtained a BA degree in Economics in December, 1975. He attained an MS in Management from the School of Business and also has Ph.D. in Service Delivery Systems (USI Program) all from the University of Wisconsin.
He owns a number of companies including First National Savings and Loans Bank, Gold Coast Securities and Coconut Grove Hotels.
Though, not a member of the New Patriotic Party, he however held ministerial positions in the Kufour administration (John Agyekum Kufour was President of the fourth republic of Ghana and leader of NPP).
As a CPP stalwart, Dr. Nduom was elected a Presidential candidate of the party in 2004 and 2008 where he polled 1.3% of electoral votes in the general elections. He subsequently withdrew from the Convention People’s Party and currently is the Presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party.
ABU SAKARA
Fifty-four year old Dr. Michael Abu Sakara Foster is a Specialist in Agriculture and Rural Development (Development Agronomist). He hails from Damongo in the Northern Region and is married to Mary-Lily Kafela (MBA), an Economist and Business Administrator. They have four Children.
Their eldest daughter, Miama Weppia (MSc), is an Economist and works in a bank in Ghana. Seidu Sakara (MSc), their only son, holds an M.Sc. in Information Technology and Business at the London School of Economics and works in an Oil and Gas company in the country. Their third child, Yomba Biba (BSc.), has also completed a degree in Biology and Business at the University of London, Queen Marys’ College and lastly, Alexia-Michelle studied at the London School of Arts.
He speaks six languages mainly Gonja, Hausa, Swahili, Twi, English and Spanish. He belongs to the Guan and Gonja family in the Northern region. His paternal roots are in the Kekulasi clan from Bole. Kekulasi is linked to the seat of the Yabungwura (King of Gonja) as Chief Councillor and Custodian of the secrets of kingdom.
Dr. Abu Sakara was born to a teacher and politician, Mr. S. S. Sakara, son of Keulasi Wura Bamatu Borkma I and mother, Hajiah Abiba Isaah, who hails from Eastern Gonja. His late father was a District Commissioner and Member of Parliament for Damongo-Daboya Consitutency and a Regional Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) for Northern region.
At age six years, Dr. Sakara began education in Kpembe Primary school, East Gonja and furthered to Sawla Primary school. After the 1966 coup, he advanced to Yendi Secondary school as a pioneer in 1972 and later studied in the United Kingdom where he obtained his first degree in Soil Science from the University of Reading.
Dr. Sakara trained for a year as a research Scholar at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria. He also worked as an Associate Scientist at the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement in Mexico. He completed his PhD at age 27 and took up appointments in Southern, Eastern, Central and West Africa consecutively.
He is an Executive Director of an international consulting firm in Rural and Agricultural Development. He also operates a real estate.
Pursuing his political career, he became a running mate of the 2008 Presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, now a Presidential aspirant of the People’s Progressive Party. After, 2008, he was elected flagbearer and Presidential candidate of the party respectively and currently is contesting the Presidential race in the 2012 elections.
He has pledged his commitment to transforming CPP to provide Ghanaians an alternative choice to the two dominant parties, specifically the National Democratic Party and the New Patriotic Party. He hopes to emancipate the country from the antagonism that has characterized the two major parties.
Dr. Abu Sakara believes that the country's democracy will be beneficial to Ghanaians when the political landscape is depolarized to produce a formidable opposition that becomes a third force to reckon with in Government.
Dr Sakara has supported parliamentarians in four constituencies in northern Ghana since 1996 and participated in two election campaigns. Dr. Sakara contested in the 2007 congress and won a position as the first National Vice Chairman of the CPP.
Eddie Nartey stabbed by Nigerian Girlfriend
Peacefmonline.com is reliably informed that Ghanaian actor Eddy Nartey has been stabbed by his girlfriend at his residence in Accra.
According to a close source, Eddy Nartey who was present with the said girlfriend at the premiere of the his new movie “Testing the Waters” at Silver bird cinema on Friday, October 26, 2012, had some misunderstanding with his lover during the movie premiere leading to both going their separate ways after the premiere.
The source told Peacefmonline.com that actor Eddy went home with another lady to spend the night with her, but his girlfriend somehow got wind of that.
Nartey's girlfriend, who is believed to be a Nigerian, allegedly went to the boyfriend’s house unannounced in the early hours of Saturday.
Peacefmonline.com is reliably informed that the Nigerian lady on reaching Eddy's place of residence did not knock and stealthily entered the room through the window by removing the louvre blades.
Lo and behold, her worst fears were confirmed when she chanced upon Eddy in bed with another woman, obviously warming him.
Love knows no fury like a woman betrayed and Eddy's girlfriend is said to have destroyed virtually every valuable item in the room including his shoes, a 42 inch Television set and a Home Theater. She is also reported to have ripped apart all clothes belonging to the Ghanaian actor she could laid her hands on.
The source disclosed to peacefmonline that the anger of Eddy's girlfriend knew no bounds as she allegedly picked up a piece of the broken louvre blade and stabbed the budding Ghanaian actor who bled profusely whiles being rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
The case has since been reported to the Mamprobi Police who have placed the Nigerian lady under custody.
Eddy, according to sources, is still hospitalized.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Rawlings reiterates his desire for peaceful polls
Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has reiterated his desire to see a successful presidential and parliamentary election in Ghana next month.
The former President said in a meeting with former Zambian President, Rupiah Banda on Thursday, that: “Sincerely I hope we find a solution to the complex issues and hope and pray it will be free, fair and peaceful.”
The two former leaders discussed the situation in Mali, with President Rawlings hopeful of a political solution. He called on African leaders to collaborate to ensure a political rather than military solution.
President Banda commended the former Ghanaian leader for his continued participation in the political future of Ghana insisting he still had a role to play in campaigning for social and political justice. “It requires so much courage, but of course you are Mr. Courage,” Mr. Banda said.
Mr. Banda who left Accra late Thursday was in the country at the instance of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the African Presidential Center in Boston, United States, to deliver a lecture on ‘Democracy and Good Governance in Africa’ at the Great Hall of the university.
Prior to their discussions President Rawlings had joined the family and the military leadership to paytheir respects at the burial of the late Air Vice Marshall John Odaate-Barnor a former Chief of Defence Staff and diplomat, at the Military Cemetery in Accra.
From: Office of Former President J.J Rawlings
Lemuel Kwashie Martey is 2012 National Best Farmer
Thirty-Eight (38) year old Lemuel Kwashie Martey of Mannah Farms Limited in Accra, was on Friday adjudged the 2012 National Best Farmer.
For his prize, he will have a three-bedroom fully furnished house and a pick-up vehicle.
The 28th edition of the Farmers' Day celebrations took place on Friday 2nd November, 2012, at Abokobi in the Ga East District of Accra.
The theme for this year’s Farmers Day was: “Grow more food: strengthening farmer based organizations for market place bargaining power”.
In all, 74 farmers and fishers were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the economy.
The 1st runner up went to 51-year-old Enoch Elder Tei from the Greater Accra region, while Ellen Attiah, a 28 year-old from the Upper East region was adjudged the 2nd Runner up.
Kwamina Oboh from the central region was the National Best Fisherman. Mr. Oboh would be provided with a double cabin truck For provided by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
Earlier, President John Dramani Mahama pledged the next NDC administration would prioritize agricultural modernization, which he believes holds the key to transforming the country’s economy and the pillar to Ghana’s development.
The president also promised the commitment of his administration, if re-elected, to sustain the achievements chalked by the NDC administration since it took over power in 2009.
“In the second term of our administration ... our economic transformation would be hinged on agricultural modernization as a major pillar for economic advancement.”
He said the policy would be propelled by two main strategies, thus the implementation of Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEP) and the corresponding investment plan as detailed in government’s Medium-Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP).
The president further stated that the key element in the above strategies would include the transformation of the agricultural sector from a resource based to a technology based industry with emphasis on irrigation agriculture, provision of subsidies for improved seed, breeders, stocks, pesticides , fertilizers machinery and other farm inputs.
He also talked about the promotion of selected crops, as well as equitable distribution of resources. Support for farmer based organizations would also be encouraged, he said.
President Mahama promised that the government would construct storage facilities, provide modern markets at strategic locations to minimize post harvest loses.
The president maintained that agriculture holds the key to reducing rural poverty and increasing development in the country and Africa as a whole.
He said studies and empirical evidence have shown that increase in agricultural production by 1 percent leads to a corresponding 0.72 percent reduction in rural poverty as compared to 0.04 in other sectors of the economy.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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