All
set for big race
NPP
reacts - to DPP's threat to sue Kufuor
Govt
policies are yielding results - Veep
We
are broke
Hawa
Yakubu goes solo?
'I
will deliver Kwahu to PNC'
Manhyia
Palace warns encroachers
Rally
behind Alliance - Veranda Club
All
set for big race
The
Daily Graphic says all the seven political parties vying for the December 7
Presidential election had by 5 pm on Wednesday filed their nominations at the
headquarters of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra.
The
Flagbearers and running mates of four parties, the Convention People's Party
(CPP), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), People's National Convention
(PNC) and the National Reform Party (NRP) were reportedly, duly registered for
this year's presidential elections by EC when their respective leadership
processed their papers.
The
National Democratic Congress (NDC), the United Ghana Movement (UGM) and the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) are said to have done so on Monday.
Professor
George Hagan, Presidential candidate of the CPP, during his registration, is
reported to have appealed to Electoral body to consider partial funding of
political parties by government since the capital outlay in funding activities,
especially election campaigns, is huge and outrageous.
He
expressed concern also about the winner-takes-all situation in the country's
democratic process, pointing out that the party subscribes to proportional system
of representation.
EC
chairman, Dr K. Afari-Gyan according to Graphic, advised the CPP to take up the
matter with the appropriate authorities for examination, a possible
consideration and implementation.
In
a related story, Graphic says the smooth and orderly processing of nominations
was nearly marred when Mr. Thomas Ward-Brew, who has been restrained by a High
Court from holding himself out as leader, chairman and founder of the
Democratic People's Party (DPP), attempted to file papers to contest the
presidential poll on the party's ticket.
Mr.
Afari-Gyan reportedly, declined to process Mr. Ward-Brew's documents, stressing
that until the courts determined the various cases pending before them, his
outfit could not do so.
A
submission by Mr. Ward-Brew that he has filed a suit at the Supreme Court for a
stay of execution of the High Court restraint was said to have refused by the
EC boss, who they could only do so on being duly informed.
GRi…/
NPP
reacts - to DPP's threat to sue Kufuor
The
Ghanaian Times reports in a banner story that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on
Wednesday parried the threat by the Democratic People's Party (DPP) to sue its
flagbearer, Mr. J.A. Kufuor, saying that it would not be detracted by it.
"We
will not be distracted and waste our time on a group that is not even a
political party, but a pressure group of the National Democratic Congress
(NDC)," Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP was quoted as saying
in a reaction to threats by the DPP on to sue Mr. Kufuor if he does not prove
his allegation that the NDC dipped into state funds to purchase campaign
vehicles.
DPP
is said to have given the NPP two weeks to substantiate the allegation.
Times
carries that Mr. Botwe in dismissing the threat described the DPP as "a
party that is desperately trying to draw undue attention to itself, adding,
"It is not a serious party for the NPP to waste its time on and be
distracted from its campaign to win this year's election."
More…/
Govt
policies are yielding results - Veep
The
Vice-President, Professor J.E.A. Mills on Tuesday, maintained that despite the
acute pressures, which the nation was facing and the hardships being caused,
there were signs that the steps which government had taken are showing results.
Times said in another front-page capture.
He
said foreign exchange inflows are picking up and the cedi has begun to firm up,
and "if we all work together we can emerge from the difficult situation
and move forward to a brighter future."
Prof.
Mills who was speaking at the 6th Quadrennial Delegates Congress for
the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana at Kumasi said it is the wish of
governments to see workers productively employed in secure jobs which provide
decent living.
He
is however quoted as conceding to the fact that wages and salaries, especially
of persons in the public sector were inadequate, and said he would be delighted
if the present circumstances would allow for the satisfaction of the very real
needs of workers.
GRi…/
We
are broke
Two
independent presidential aspirants in the December 7, election have stated that
they are cash strapped and could not file their nominations before closing time
on Tuesday. The Evening News said.
"They
have therefore appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to extend the deadline
to enable them to mobilise funds to file their nominations," adds the
News.
Mr.
Emmanuel Ofosu Doku-Adusu, an Accounts Clerk with the University of Ghana
Medical School and Dr Sylvester Kwadwo Ankama, former Ghana Ambassador to
India, are allegedly requesting for the extension since the EC was able to do
so in other earlier agitation by groups and individuals.
They
said, "if the Electoral Commission can change the date of the election
because of appeals by Muslims and agitation from individuals, it should also
consider us to extend the time for filing of nominations".
Mr.
Doku Adusu is reported to have hinted that Dr Ankama would become his
vice-presidential candidate.
He
stated that Ghanaians were fed up with political parties and the present system
of winner takes all and promised a government that will tap the best brains in
Ghana no matter their political background to turn the economy round.
GRi…/
Hawa
Yakubu goes solo?
The
Crusading Guide says information reaching it from the political grapevine
indicate that the charismatic Madam Hawa Yakubu may have opted to run as an
independent candidate in the coming December 7 elections.
According
to the lead story of the paper, sources intimated that the dynamic articulate
woman politician has been compelled by a combination of 'local (constituency)
dynamics' to opt for an independent political platform as the surest way of
winning the Bawku Central seat.
Hawa's
appeal is said to cut across the political divide in the Constituency and her
run on independent ticket predictably, will draw many from the CPP, NRP and NDC
sectors, as well as significant portions of the NPP.
The
incumbent Fati Seidu of the NDC, according to the paper, is presently
considered a liability.
The
Crusading Guide's story however contained that in a chat with Mr. Dan Botwe,
General Secretary of the NPP on Tuesday, he however intimated that as far as he
was aware, Madam Hawa Yakubu was still contesting the Bawku Central seat on the
ticket of the Party.
GRi…/
'I
will deliver Kwahu to PNC'
The
Independent, in a back-page story, reports that the Presidential running-mate
for Mr. Edward Mahama on the PNC ticket, Mr. Bannerman Baah Ntim, has said his
selection as the first Kwahu indigene to such an office is enough motivation
for the people of the area to vote massively for the party.
Mr.
Baah reportedly told the paper in Accra on Wednesday that even though the area
has in the two previous elections voted overwhelmingly for the NPP, the story
would be different now that they have their man at the helm of Ghanaian
politics.
According
to him, he also enjoys enormous goodwill among Kwahu businessmen, which would
be an added push.
Independent
quotes him as furthering that the PNC has a comparable advantage over the other
parties with regards to the North since Dr Mahama, who hails from there has, by
his position as presidential candidate, greater strength than those with
Northern vice-presidential candidates.
PNC,
Mr. Baah had stated, has better policies that will attract the electorates to
their side. "We have very good
policies to support the poor and deprived constituencies which are about 75 per
cent of the Ghanaian population." He told the Independent.
GRi…/
Manhyia
Palace warns encroachers
The
Accra Mail reports on its third page that the office of the Asantehene has
issued a directive that seeks to restrain individuals from commercialising the
portraits and pictures of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
According
to the paper, this includes ordinary pictures of him and the chairman of Asante
Kotoko with the club's crest and slogan written on them.
The
Manhyia Palace is reported as indicating that it appreciates the love and
support that the general public, have for Otumfuo, however, it will not tolerate
the careless use of his pictures by people to enrich themselves.
"Consequently,
we are by this release requesting all those engaged in unauthorised production
and sale of portraits and pictures of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to stop
forthwith", stressed the release.
The
general public, according to the Mail, was advised to seek clearance from the
Manhyia Palace secretariat when needing Otumfuo's pictures for any purpose.
The
story furthered that in a bid to ensure maximum cordiality with the media, the
Asantehene is to establish a permanent press office to constantly feed media
houses in the metropolis with issues taking place at Manhyia, which will be at
the disposal of journalists.
GRi…/
Rally
behind Alliance - Veranda Club
A
back-page story of 'The Ghanaian Democrat' says the Veranda Boys and Girls Club
has appealed to its members and other activists of the Progressive Alliance and
its affiliate organs to put behind them the pain of the campaign for the
presidential running mate and rally behind the NDC in the forthcoming
elections.
The
club's National Executive Council (NEC) in a release in Accra after an
emergency meeting reportedly said it takes note and appreciates reasons for the
choice of Mr. Martin Amidu, Deputy Attorney-General as running mate to Prof.
J.E.A. Mills on the NDC's presidential ticket.
The
club, according to the release, indicated that Mr. Amidu's selection would not
be out of place, in perceiving him as neutral reconciler against the backdrop
of the intense pressures by different groups for the appointment of their
favourites for the job.
Veranda,
according to the release, expressed appreciation to all who canvassed for Dr
Obed Asamoah, and described as unfortunate the pronouncements by few misguided
members of the NDC who sought to misrepresent this depth of popular support for
Dr Asamoah as not being a genuine feeling on the ground.
GRi…/