The party is disappointed it polled only 1% of the total valid votes cast in the recently held national.

Kofi Asamoah Siaw, the policy advisor of the party in a Citi News interview said, the PPP will hire an external consultant to look into the party’s performance in the December polls.

He said, they will ascertain the quality of their campaign message among other things to arrive at the cause of their loss.

“This is something the nation committee has agreed on that we need to do, and to find out our own policy propositions if they are acceptable by Ghanains and why Ghanaians decided that even though they voted for change, all of these 6 million voters decided to one side to vote for the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo, there should be a reason,” he said.

He added that, “We need to break that jinx by getting beyond 1% and getting members elected into Parliament. Maybe we have exhausted our ability to think through and find the solution. Let someone from outside see what we can do and based on his advice and recommendation, we’ll devise a strategy for 2020.”

Mr Asamoah Siaw said although the party can internally assess its performance in the elections and devise strategies to perform better in the next elections, it would prefer to use external consultants to avoid biases.

‘PPP election history’

The PPP came third in the just ended election behind the winning New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The party made it second appearance in the political race in the 2016 elections after first contesting in 2012.

Its founder, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom has been the flagbearer on both occasions but has failed to poll a significant number of votes although its 2016 performance was better than that of 2016.

It is unclear who the party will present as its presidential candidate in the 2020 elections as some have suggested that the 63-year-old leader of the party will not contest in any national election again.

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The President has been under intense pressure to apologize after it was discovered that portions of his speech were lifted from speeches by some former Presidents of the US.

Speaking to Citi News however, the Abuakwa-South MP said it will be unnecessary for the President to apologise for a development he is not responsible for.

He believes “the one who is responsible for putting together the speech should rather apologise.”

Mr. Atta Akyea’s comment comes days after the Minority in Parliament officially asked the President to withdraw his address.

Withdraw Nana Addo’s ‘plagiarized’ speech – Minority 

The group in a statement signed by the Deputy Minority Leader,  James Klutse Avedzi, asked the NPP to withdraw the “plagiarized address” and resubmit another speech which will reflect all “attributable sources.”

“Considering that this inaugural address was made before us in Parliament in compliance with the Constitution and same having been captured by the Hansard Department as part of the official records of Parliament, the Minority demands that the now infamous plagiarized inaugural address be withdrawn and expunged from Parliamentary records with liberty to resubmit another speech not tainted with fraud and reflecting all attributable sources.

“The sanctity of Parliament must be respected and preserved, and it is our expectation that the new Speaker of Parliament The Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye who thankfully is an academic of some repute, will better appreciate the full ramifications of what is before us.”

The Minority caucus in Parliament President officially withdraws the speech, which it says has caused embarrassment to the country.

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Mr. Mensah Bonsu believes though “a good number of bills” have been passed in the past four years, the alacrity involved in the passage of bills and the approval of some loans and international agreements “were not the best as it left little space for Parliament to do proper due diligence.”

He made the submission in his closing remarks ahead of the termination of sittings of Parliament, expected to take place in a few hours.

Parliament fails to pass RTI , Plant Breeders bill

The 6th Parliament of the 4th Republic has failed to pass some key bills including the Right to Information Bill, the Plant Breeders Bill and Intestate Succession Bill.

President John Dramani Mahama in his last state of the nation address, had appealed to the House to consider passing the Bill into law, while addressing the legislature on Thursday – a move the minority kicked against.

The Majority leader, Alban Bagbin, in his final address on the floor of the house before dissolution, described as “unfortunate” the house’s inability to pass the bills which he says were important.

As the House prepares to be dissolved by midnight today [Friday], it will be unable to further work on the RTI Bill until it is brought back to the new Parliament by the incoming government.

“It is important to mention that, the house unfortunately could not pass certain important bills that were submitted to the house. I say it was unfortunate because of their likely impact on the rights to freedoms of very important segments of our society and also the impact on our drive as a country to combat corruption,” Mr Bagbin said.

Other key bills the house failed to pass during its existence was the Properties rights of Spouses bill, Lotto and lotteries bill, Interception of postal packets among others.

Gratitude to Speaker 

Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah also extended his gratitude to the Speaker and his deputies, saying “Mr Speaker may I take this opportunity to extend my felicitations to you and your deputies for the manner in which the affairs of this House have been steered.”

He believes there was “consensus and even unanimity around most businesses that were transacted in the house” except for a few occasions that parliamentarians,  “disagreed.”

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As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prepares to take up the role of the Minority in Parliament, sources close to the party have revealed that there is intense lobbying for the various leadership positions in Parliament.

Some names have popped up on social media, indicating who will take up the role of Minority Leader among others.

Mr. Quashigah has however stated that the party will follow a more structured procedure in the selection of persons who will make up the Minority leadership in Parliament.

“The resort to the media by certain faceless elements in the Party to fly kites and to test public opinion among party faithful can create confusion and disorganise the incoming minority front in Parliament. I would imagine that a more matured and reasoned procedures will be followed in the selection of those who make up the minority leadership in Parliament,” a statement from Mr. Quashigah said.

“These when done should create transparency and oneness of purpose as well as generating a needed working energy among the incoming minority Members of Parliament. What is out there in the media which has taken a life of its own is very much speculative and if left the way the issue is trending, may leave in its wake wrong perceptions of imposition of some persons on the elected members making up the minority side in Parliament; leading to pre-judgements even before the selection process starts as well as possible resentments at a time when members are expected to be a cohesive force with oneness of purpose in holding the government of the day in check.”

The statement from Richard Quashigah is below 

NDC MINORITY LEADERSHIP FOR THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT BROUHAHA

The outcome of the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is one of shock and disbelief for key political watchers and analysts.

The nature of the defeat leaves the most ardent activists of the party and sympathisers alike scratching their heads in search of answers if not the solution to this mind-boggling puzzle. For those of us who were living witnesses to the party’s defeat in the year 2000, we are in a very unique position to proffer some pieces of advice particularly as it relates to the future of this great political machine called the NDC.

Therefore, as the NDC embarks on soul searching and introspection, one of its largest political fortune in galvanizing support in waging a comeback in 2020, rests heavily on how its parliamentarians perform in the 7th parliament of the Fourth Republic.

The NDC has a blend of talent with the required intellectual and technical quality among the newly elected Members of Parliament. However, for the NDC minority in parliament to glitter and hit the parapet, will require a strong sense of unity of purpose and the striking of the required chemistry among all the segments. The only way to attain this unity and cohesion in order to hold the feet of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the fire demands high levels of transparency, collective consultation among the leadership of the Party and the Members of Parliament.

To this end, a very astute, sharp, and meticulous minority leadership acceptable to both the generality of the Party and more importantly the elected Members of Parliament should be a key driver. A well balanced and thoughtful selection is what the NDC in parliament needs in order to inspire in them the needed confidence, energy and strength to play forth the noble but critical role against incipient abuse of NPP majoritarian intolerance and its likely consequences of constitutional despotism.

Even before the Seventh Parliament swings into action come January 7th next year, it appears there is jostling for who makes it to the leadership of the NDC minority in Parliament in the media; creating discomfiture in and among the elected members. Sources of information by the media are not clearly defined except for allusions being made to the Party leadership.

The resort to the media by certain faceless elements in the Party to fly kites and to test public opinion among party faithful can create confusion and disorganise the incoming minority front in Parliament. I would imagine that a more matured and reasoned procedures will be followed in the selection of those who make up the minority leadership in Parliament.

It will be apt, therefore for the views of the following categories of persons to be sought going forward.
• The outgoing President and leader of the NDC.
• The views of the Council of Elders, most importantly the founder or founding father of the Party depending on which terminology suits ones’ ear.
• The out-going NDC MPs.
• Regional leaderships of the Party should be asked to interface with their elected MPs before submitting proposed names to national leadership for further deliberation.
• Above all a dialogue with all elected MPs on the subject matter is crucially important.

These when done should create transparency and oneness of purpose as well as generating a needed working energy among the incoming minority Members of Parliament. What is out there in the media which has taken a life of its own is very much speculative and if left the way the issue is trending, may leave in its wake wrong perceptions of imposition of some persons on the elected members making up the minority side in Parliament; leading to pre-judgements even before the selection process starts as well as possible resentments at a time when members are expected to be a cohesive force with oneness of purpose in holding the government of the day in check.

Should the NDC stakeholders discharge this function of selecting leadership for its minority side in Parliament efficiently, it would give confidence assurance to the rank and file of the NDC that election 2020 would be exciting and eventful. We must be mindful that situations when in government are very different from when in opposition and so certain actions before they are taken must follow intense reflection and deliberation.
The coming year will be politically eventful so we must hold and bond together.

LONG LIVE THE NDC!
RICHARD QUASHIGAH
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
KETA CONSTITUENCY.

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 The Council believes the party’s resolve to fight corruption among other juicy campaign promises, convinced the electorate to overwhelmingly vote for Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP at the December 7 polls.

This was contained in a congratulatory statement signed by Chairman of the NPP Northern Regional Council of Elders, Alhaji Mumuni Musah (MIMA).

 Alhaji Mima at a news conference in Tamale, urged party loyalists especially the youth to remain law abiding.

 He further implored Ghanaians to zealously pray for the incoming Nana Akufo Addo led NPP administration to succeed.

 Below is the full statement:

 STATEMENT READ AT A PRESS CONFERENCE BY ALHAJI MUMUNI MUSAH (MIMA) CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTHERN REGION COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY – NPP ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 30 2016

My colleague members of the Northern Regional Council of Elders, Distinguished members of the press, Fellow members of our great party present, we have invited you here this morning to give our thanks and praises to Allah the Almighty for granting us His Mercies to win this year’s general elections. We wish to extend our congratulations to the President elect of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo and his Vice, Alhaji Doctor Mahamudu Bawumiah and the leadership and members of our great party for the convincing victory chalked in this year’s elections.

We the Elders of the party in this region also wish to commend the leadership of our party in the region led by our dynamic chairman Abdul-Fatawu Bugri Naabu and his team, Constituency and Polling Station Executives and all the Parliamentary candidates and Parliamentarians elect for their resilience and hard work that brought glory to our party. To all those who lost in the elections, we urge them not to relent but cooperate and fully support our President and members of Parliament to fulfill the promises made to Ghanaians.

Distinguish members of the press; we further wish to thank the President elect Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr. Bawumiah and the National and Regional campaign teams for the vigorous campaign they undertook at all levels to win power for our great party. We say kudus to all of them.

We members of the Northern Regional Council of Elders also wish to express our profound gratitude and loving thanks to members of the various structures of our party for exhibiting the sense of unity of purpose during the electioneering campaign and the effective collaboration, monitoring and the high level of surveillance mounted by Party Agents and foot soldiers on the elections day.

The strategic plans adapted for the vigorous campaign by the National and Regional campaign teams to market the Party’s enviable manifesto to Ghanaians was a clear manifestation that the New Patriotic Party was adequately prepared to win power to better develop Ghana.

As the regions advisory body of the party, we are very optimistic that the Nana Addo led government will truly bring socio-economic transformation to Ghana.

We are very confident that the implementation of the one village one dam and the one district one factory policies will not only create numerous jobs for the youth but also improve the living standards of majority of people in the Northern region who are predominantly farmers. We are also confident that the new government’s intention to restructure the Savannah Accelerated Development Project (SADA) to Northern Development Authority (N.D.A.),

The restoration of the teachers and trainee nurses allowances, the restructuring of the Non-Formal Education sector, and the allowances for Arabic instructors are a demonstration of Nana Akuffo Addo’s commitment to accelerate the socio-economic development of northern Ghana.

We therefore wish to add our voice to the numerous calls by well meaning Ghanaians to the youth in the region, to continue to exercise maximum restraint and sustain the prevailing peace in the region to enable the new government to implement its good policies for the benefit of all.

We further wish to remind all of us that the elections are over and it is time we put the past behind us, to collaborate with the government to succeed in the implementation of its policies as enshrined in its manifesto.

Our last and most important advice to His Excellency the President elect is that he should fight corruption in the Ghanaian society. All Government officials who are found to be corrupt either in the outgoing regime or in the NPP government should be made to face the law.

We wish all Ghanaians Merry Christmas and a prosperous and productive new year.

Thank you all for coming,    

………………………………………..

ALHAJI MUMUNI MUSAH – MIMA

CHAIRMAN REGIONAL COUNCIL OF ELDERS

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He is however confident of the party’s chances in future elections.

The PPP came third in the presidential elections with just 1% of the total valid votes cast, having contested the election for the second time since it was established.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Nduom said he is only saddened by the loss of some of his very hard working parliamentary candidates.

“There were so many people who worked very hard to spread the PPP message of change all over the country and my greatest sorrow and sadness has to do with those parliamentary candidates who could not win their seats even though they worked very hard….For the election I have really no regrets because I believe that we as a party did what we needed to do.”

“We got our message across, people worked hard, some volunteered money, time and effort and so there is nothing there as sadness in terms of our efforts, it is just the results that did not go they way we wanted. There are so many people who made me feel very confident about the future of this party,”he said.

PPP will be rewarded with victory in the future – Nduom

Dr. Nduom, a few days after the party’s loss, expressed optimism that Ghanaians will reward the party with victory in the country’s subsequent general elections.

He said although the party did not win the elections, it had demonstrated to Ghanaians that it was a peace-loving, disciplined and respectful party with great ideas and solutions for the country’s challenges.

Dr. Nduom noted that, the PPP will remain united and grow stronger ahead of the next general elections in 2020.

In a Facebook post, he said ” We will continue to be advocates for our unique non-negotiable policies because without them, the standard of living of our people, our quality of life and development will not improve significantly.”

Dr. Nduom who has made three attempts at the presidency, had said the 2016 elections would be his last attempt.

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The congress is also expected to allow the executives devise strategies towards the 2020 elections, after its massive defeat in the 2016 elections.

Addressing the press on Thursday, the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Aseidu Nketia, explained that the party’s constitution mandates it to conduct a congress within twenty four months when it is in opposition.

“An early congress is provided for by our constitution. When we are in government, there is a time frame for our elections to be held. When we are out of power there is a time frame within which the elections should be held. We begin our elections with branch elections then we proceed to constituency elections and then we go to regional elections.”

He continued, “By the time we finish with regional elections, then we prepare and do the three other national elections. The youth congress, the women’s congress and the main party congress then after that we will then decide to do another event to select a Flagbearer. When we are in power, we are allowed to hold the congress and select our leadership one year before the elections, when we are out of power, we do it within two years. That is why we call it early congress,”he explained.

Article 21 of the NDC constitution states that “There shall be a Congress of the Party to be held once every four years as the National Congress which shall be the highest decision making body of the Party.”

“The National Congress shall be convened by the General Secretary acting on the direction of the National Executive Committee stating the date and venue.”

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According to the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the sheer disregard of the house in relation to handover notes in the ongoing transition process as a guide to business in the house and the tabling of new loans are unfortunate.

“… As I speak to you now handover notes have not been submitted to Parliament. Parliament has not been presented with handover notes from the Administrator General covering the activities of the presidency, neither has Parliament been given any report relating to the projections of developments that government envisages.

“…Parliament cannot say that it is on its own and decide on which business to transact including the approval of new loans. In the absence of such accurate handover notes and reports to Parliament, one would expect that in the spirit of consensus building, the current administration would clear any undertakings especially new engagements with the presidential transition team. The President John Dramani Mahama administration has elected not to avail itself of this vehicle. In the circumstance, we the NPP minority caucus wants to register our deepest disgust at unilateral decisions being taken to have Parliament approve of loans, suppliers credit agreements and project implementation agreements. The latter of which process is unknown to the rules of procedure, that is our standing orders in this Parliament,” he said.

The Majority caucus yesterday [Wednesday] also accused the Minority of stalling the consideration of the remaining amendments left to be worked on before passage of the longstanding Right to Information (RTI) bill.

According to the majority, many MPs on the minority side, since Tuesday, have been leaving the chamber in droves when the matter of the RTI bill comes up, denying the house the needed quorum to transact business matter.

But speaking to Citi News today [Thursday], the Deputy Minority Leader, Dominic Nitiwul, reiterated his soon-to-be majority caucus’ commitment to passing the RTI Bill.

Meanwhile, Parliament has begun the consideration of emoluments for some Article 71 office holders.

In a closed sitting which lasted for about 40 minutes yesterday, Members of Parliament deliberated on the report of the Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 office holders. It is unclear if approval was given to the recommendations of the report at yesterday’s closed sitting.

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There has been reported cases of  post-election violence allegedly being perpetrated by supporters of the NPP.

There have been reports of NPP supporters arbitrarily taking over public installations across the country, reminiscent of scenes in the aftermath of the 2008 polls won by the NDC, which witnessed some of the triumphant party’s supporters take over the running of public toilets, toll booths and community centres.

Also in Kumasi, some NPP supporters stormed some public toilets seizing the keys to the facilities and assaulting some persons in the process.

The most recent disturbances were on Monday morning when some NPP youth illegally took over the Tema Motorway toll booth.

Speaking at the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) thanksgiving service held at the Accra Sports Staduim, Nana Addo condemned these acts, saying “ I do recognize that there have been some instances of misconduct and altercation that should not have happened. Such behaviour is unbecoming of us.”

He further called on Ghanaians to act with kindness and forgive each other.

“I call on all Ghanaians to act with kindness, generosity and magnanimity towards one another, and to forgive anybody who has wronged or hurt you.”

Nana Addo also extended his gratitude to Ghanaians whose hard work ensured the party’s victory.

He believes the commitment by various stakeholders including party supporters and the media, inspired the party to forge ahead.

Let’s focus on the task ahead – Nana Addo 

Nana Addo was however quick to remind the teeming supporters of the daunting task ahead, saying “even as we praise God for his immense kindness and grace towards our county, we also know we have a lot of work ahead of us. It is a task that we can and will perform with your support and with your hard work, and with your increasing prayers and blessings of the Almighty God.”

“Let us then renew our faith and strength and be ready for the work ahead. I have no doubt at all that we shall succeed. This is the appointed time and I have no doubt at all that the battle is still the Lord’s,” he added.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, such actions do not resonate with the country’s aspiration to build a nation based on trust, respect for human rights and tolerance.

In a statement issued on Thursday, December 15, 2016, on the developments on Ghana’s political landscape following the December 7 general elections, Mr Quashigah said the perpetrators of such acts must depart from the unhealthy tendencies.

“For those who think that when a political party to which they belong wins an election, then members of the vanquished party must be attacked, cowed and subdued to feel insecure should understand that it is a display of infantile and immature behaviour. We need to build a nation that is based on trust, respect for human rights and tolerance. Political actions and behaviours must be informed by the tenets that guide its practice and not acts of beastiality and criminality”

He said, following the elections, the country can be touted as one of the few countries in Africa with the most matured democracies.

He however expressed concern that the in spite of the positive stride, the country is yet to build very effective institutions devoid of political interference.

“With some degree of certainty, one could aptly say we have joined the league of matured and stable democracies of the world.” What perhaps is missing is the effective functioning of our institutions devoid of political interference and absence of apolitical personnel manning these institutions. This is a palpable minus for our glowing and admirable constitutional development which we all count as a pride.”

He said this situation has led to some youth of the NPP in the wake of their victory over the governing NDC in the recently held presidential elections, resort to “rampaging and illegally taking-over public establishments because those running these establishments are perceived wrongly as necessarily members of the vanquished political party even at a time when the vanquished political party is still in charge of government business.”

He further expressed shock over what he describes as lackadaisical attitude of the Ghana Police Service in dealing with the “criminality.”

“What was most surprising was the lackadaisical attitude of the Ghana Police Service to act against what was an obvious criminality; a clear manifestation of systemic and institutional failure.”

Addressing an accusation by former Minister of State, in the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Yaw Osarfo Marfo that the NDC government was recruiting new personnel and selling state property few month of exiting office, Mr Quashigah said the NDC government cannot afford to halt regular national administration activities because the country was in a transition period.

“Does those pronouncements and misgivings by Mr Osafo Marfo to suggest that government machinery must grind to a halt within the transition period? We must admit that the recruitment exercise started months before the general elections that was won by Nana Addo. Should it be truncated simply because a new government has won political power and is expected to assume the reins of government in some three weeks to come? That lends itself to the lack of trust in our own institutions,” he quizzed.

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