GIMPA SRC President Decries Partisan Politics On School Campuses

A student leader at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Kadri Alhassan, has urged students in the various tertiary institutions to desist from the practice of partisan politics on campus.

He condemned institutions which offer their platforms for partisan politics, stating that such practice breeds corruption.

He said in an interview on the Big bite show on X fm that students who engage in active partisan politics become objects of influence for political parties.

“I have consistently said that I am terribly disappointed in the fact that we have allowed partisan politics to become a feature of our student politics and this is admittedly quite widespread.” he stressed.

Kadri Alhassan, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) President of GIMPA, explained that student leaders have the mandate to project the image of their schools but not serve the interest of political parties.

He argued that “once you accommodate partisanship in your student politics, you defeat the purpose of it. For instance, I have the mandate of GIMPA students and my fundamental role is to promote the interest of GIMPA students. Now, if you have that mandate and you are using that mandate to promote the interest of for instance; the NPP, the PNC, the NDC and so on, you clearly defeat the purpose of it. ”

He blamed students for allowing political parties to infiltrate politics in institutions. He further noted that politics on campus have become an expensive venture as students demand money from political parties to support their agenda.

This he decried makes the students susceptible to the parties and as a result, they carry out their duties in compliance with the directives of the parties.

He therefore advised students to wean themselves off the control of partisanship on their various campuses.

“We can make progress. We just need to begin to appreciate that our mandate does not include the mandate of political parties. And so with this type of attitude, I’m sure we will make progress.” he concluded.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana

General Mosquito- NDC needs Ex- President JJ Rawlings

NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has admitted the role of the founder Jerry John Rawlings is vital to the party’s victory in the elections this year.

According to him, ousting the founder from the party would spell doom for the National Democratic Congress and implored the leadership of the party to ensure total compliance with the party’s constitution.

Though Ex-President Rawlings has since the ascension of the ruling NDC been firing salvo at the rank and file of the party, his leadership traits cannot be underrated as General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stated that as Chairman of the Council of Elders and member of the National Executive Council of the party, Mr. Rawlings has been involved in all party functions.

He explained that “You can’t say the party does not need its founder…I am not sure that the party would at any point in time decide that we don’t need our founder because it’s a historical fact that the party was established based on the leadership foundation of Flt. Lt. Rawlings.”

He indicated that the Council of Elders chaired by former President Rawlings is tasked to resolve party conflicts.

Following the interdiction of Kofi Adams, Deputy General Secretary and Spokesperson of the founder, former President Rawlings on Tuesday condemned the decision by the National Executive Council of the party in a statement which read:

“When you find yourself in an unintended pit or hole the wise thing to do is to stop digging. It does not appear the Mills government is able to see the growing darkness around them. They have lost so much moral high ground and now one of the most truthful, forceful, logically minded personalities of integrity in the party leadership is being treated like an outcast to serve a parochial and unpatriotic interest.

“Do we need any other evidence to demonstrate that the Mills government has no intention of profiting from the truth? Ghana needs a real and true awakening. The government is fast speeding the country into an abyss and as Easter draws near, let us seek God’s guidance in honest, unpretentious prayer of supplication.”

It is obvious Ex-President Rawlings is in contention with the leadership of the party and does not support his Spokesperson’s suspension.

But the General Secretary of the party says the decision to interdict Kofi Adams does not defy the constitution of the party.

He said in an interview with Xfm 95.1 that Kofi Adams is a Spokesperson for former President Rawlings but not the founder and so, the national executives do not have to consult with Mr. Rawlings before a decision is reached.

He reiterated the party executives have revoked the membership of Kofi Adams but stressed the interdiction does not impinge on his position as the Spokesperson of former President Rawlings.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana

Kassena Nankana biometric boycott- residents finger DCE

A resident of Akurugu Dabor in the Kassena Nankana District of the Upper East region has accused the District Chief Executive (DCE), Emmanuel Andimah, of being a mastermind behind the name change of the electoral area and wreaking havoc at the district.

Residents of the area have boycotted the biometric registration exercise over agitations that the electoral area has been changed from its original name.

The residents have resented the change of name from Atu-fali – Azasi to Akurugu Dabor, currently the polling centre for the district and threaten to boycott the registration process.

They claim Atu-fali – Azasi is the original name of the area and have protested against its transition to Akurugu Dabor which has since last two years been the electoral area.

Joe Amongya, a resident, explained to Xfm 95.1 that Akurugu Dabor is an “individual household” and cannot be represented as the entire electoral area, therefore calling for a reinstatement of the initial name –Atu-fali – Azasi.

He continued the controversy over the electoral area has birthed apathy in the residents towards the registration exercise.

He said several residents have since refused to register their names.

According to him, the DCE, under whose auspices the electoral area was changed, is anxious to counter attempts by the residents to restore calm in the area.

“…but the name of the area is called Atu-fali – Azasi. But then in the Electoral Commissioner’s office, initially it was Akurugu Dabor but later on, we had to go and do the correction by bringing in the original name that was initially called Atu-fali – Azasi. Not knowing that the DCE of the area didn’t like that name –Atu-fali – Azasi. So when that thing happened, the DCE protested it vehemently…the Atu-fali – Azasi is supposed to have an Assembly member but because of that issue, the DCE has prevented that thing to take place. There is no Assembly member for that particular area as I speak to you.” he stressed.

According to him, the DCE on a certain occasion swept the residents away from the electoral area, hence, preventing them from registering their names until the electoral area is restored to Akurugu Dabor. This he added has caused mayhem in the registration process at the Kadina Nakana district.

He stated the area is the stronghold of the governing party and dreaded the National Democratic Congress might lose votes in the district during the general elections.

He therefore called on the leadership of the party and government to revoke the appointment of the DCE.

Meanwhile, District Chief Executive, Emmanuel Andimah, has denied claims that he masterminded attempts to change the name of the area and refuted ever truncating the exercise in the district.

Though he confirmed that some residents have refused to register their names, he however ascribed it to technical glitches in the Biometric equipment.

He stated emphatically that the electoral area –Akurugu Dabor- was instituted in 2010 before the appointment of the District Chief Executive and so, he could not have been the originator of the new electoral area.

He however noted he is not anxious about the residents insisting to change the name of the electoral area but implored them to restore law and order.

The District Chief Executive and stakeholders in the area are making frantic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana

Government’s MGL boycott is in the right direction but… Yamin

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress in the Ashanti Region, Joseph Yamin, has thrown his weight behind government’s decision to boycott her participation in activities on Multimedia networks in the country but admits government is pressing a dicey button.

To him, it does not auger well for the governing party to boycott Multimedia platforms considering the role of the media in this electioneering year.

He explained that the option to boycott Multimedia networks may impinge on government’s chances of having a second term in office come 2013.

“I may have to support my government’s decision because I’m a member of the government but I think that I can have some reservations, some reasons why I think that it will not be the best decision for us as a political party or a government. And so, even though I will have to abide by whatever directive that is issued by government and the party, I still think that we could put out some voices to at least indicate or put across that the view [that] is not in best interest of the party and government.” he expressed.

He further said the Multimedia’s role is integral to the progress of government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party since the networks serve as a channel of information to the electorates.

He urged government to rather utilize Multimedia avenues to project her good works to Ghanaians.

He noted “the platform on which we stand should be mounted by somebody for us to stand on and talk to the people. And you don’t expect the media houses to be somehow whether loyal or affiliated to you but what you need is for you to get the platform to speak to your people; let the people know what exactly that you are doing. So, I have said with my little experience in politics and my working relation with journalists, you don’t need a journalist friend but you need a journalist to push your agenda. And that is what we will be losing if we continue to push this position.”

Joseph Yamin was reacting to recent agitations of the ruling NDC against Multimedia Group Ltd.

The Deputy Information Minister,James Agyenim Boateng, in the stead of government has secluded all Multimedia networks from government activities and also warned to boycott their platforms.

Though Joseph Yamin calls for government to sanction Multimedia for what he describes as “unfair and unfriendly” treatment by Multimedia towards government officials, he appealed on Xfm on Thursday morning that there should be a better way to take a move against the media.

He said Multimedia will be adversely affected should they be excluded from government functions but their impact should not be underrated. The multimedia he indicated has a wide listenership and so, it is in the best interest of government to reconsider her decision.

He advised the governing party officials to sort out their differences with them (Multimedia) and ensure there is sanity in their relations.

“It could be a bargaining chip for you to get some sanity in terms of the programmes that we do there but to travel for a certain period of time, definitely will have an impact on whichever political party that is doing that…”

“…I am appealing that we soften our stance because I being part of the media for sometime know what the media is capable of doing. And as I said, you don’t need the media to be your friend; you don’t need journalists to be your friends but you need them to push your agenda and that is what we need to do now. So yes, they may not be sympathetic towards us, their platform is very [very] important for us as a political party and a government to push our message to the people.” he stated.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana