The survey which sampled 480 respondents from the four constituencies,  showed that a larger percentage of voters in Ledzokuku, Krowor, Ablekuma Central preferred the NPP candidate while incumbent President Mahama led in Klottey Korle.

54.2 percent for Nana Addo, 36.5% for Mahama

The survey showed that 54.2 percent of respondents  in the constituencies were likely to vote for NPP while 36 percent said they were likely to vote for the NDC. 4.7  percent in the December 7 poll.

The data  which was collected in the second week of November, 2016 was evenly balanced between men and women, with 33 percent being between ages 25-35 and 25 percent between 36-45.

While 18 percent of the respondents were between ages 18-24, 13 percent were between 46-45.

The survey also shows that President Mahama and Akufo-Addo has equal name recognition among 23 percent each of prospective voters, while Dr. Papa Kwasi Nduom had a 19.7 percent name recognition.

The National Democratic Party’s (NDP) Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings  had a 12.7 name recognition among voters while Ivor Greenstreet had 9.6 percent.

When asked who they voted for in 2012, 48.7 of those surveyed said they had voted for the NDC while 41.6 named the NPP.

120 respondents were drawn from each of the four constituencies for the survey.

We vote for development

Majority of the respondents, 379 who may have voted in 2012 general elections said the issue of development was prominent among the reasons why they voted.

24.6 percent of them reported that they voted for a particular candidate because they believed that that the person was in the position to bring them development.

16.7 percent indicated that they voted for a candidate or party because of their allegiance to that person or party.

10.3 percent said they voted simply because they wanted to cause a change of government.

Parliamentary survey results:

Findings Korle Klottey constituency

In the Korle Klottey constituency, of the 120 respondents involved in the study, 87 percent said they knew the name of at least one of the 2016 parliamentary candidates for the constituency.

The significant finding in Korle Klottey was that Zenator Rawlings was the candidate who was most popular in that constituency with 40.7 percent recognition. She was followed by Philip Addison who polled 32.9 percent. Nii Noi Nortey ranked third with 24.8 percent.

About 13 percent also said they did not know the name of at least one of the parliamentary candidates. Of the number 73. 3 percent said either they were simply not interested in knowing who the parliamentary candidates were or they did not pay attention to news or information on the parliamentary candidates or they had forgotten their name. 20 percent of the respondents did not give any reason for not knowing the names of their parliamentary candidates. And 6.7 percent said they did not bother to know the names of at least one of the parliamentary candidates because they were poised to vote for whoever represented the political party of their choice.

Findings from Ledzokuku constituency

In the Ledzokuku constituency, 72 percent of the respondents reported knowing the names of at least one of the parliamentary candidates for the constituency.

The  name recognition was evenly split between Sena Okity  with 47.4 percent  while the NPP’s Okoe Boye had 46.2 percent.  4.6 percent of the respondents were able to name Steven Quaye as one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates of the Ledzokuku constituency.

And 0.6 percent of the respondents named Grace Ashitey as one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates.

Ablekuma Central

In the Ablekuma Central constituency, only 62 percent of the respondents said they knew the name of at least one of the parliamentary candidates for the constituency.

The outgoing Member of Parliament had a higher recognition that his party, the NDC’s candidate with 50.7 percent.  He was followed by Eben Nartey, the NPP’s candidate with 49.3 percent.

This percentage was the lowest recorded among all the four constituencies which were studied within the Greater Accra Region

Out of the 62 respondents who were confident that they could name at least one of the 2016 parliamentary candidates for the Ablekuma Central constituency, 50.7 percent named the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) while 49.3 percent named the NPP candidate, Eben Nartey.

The survey revealed that of the 38 percent of the respondents who said they did not know the name of at least one of the 2016 parliamentary candidates for the constituency, 50 percent reported that they did not know because they were either not interested in the parliamentary elections, did not pay attention to information on the parliamentary candidates or they had forgotten the names of the candidates. 21. 6 percent also said it was unnecessary to know their names since they would vote for whoever represented their preferred political party. And 13.1 percent indicated that they could not name the 2016 parliamentary candidates because the candidates were not as popular as the presidential candidates.

Findings in Krowor

58 percent as against 42 percent of the respondents said they knew the name of at least one of the parliamentary candidates for the Krowor constituency.

In Krowor, the NPP’s Elizabeth Aforley Quaye had a better name recognition of 52.8 percent, thus making the most popular of the parliamentary candidates than her NDC opponent, Agnes Naa Momo  who secured 41.6 percent.  The PPP’s Hubert Hugo Huppenbauer (5.6 percent).

These were the only three parliamentary candidates the respondents could name although there were other parliamentary candidates such as Fanny Amartey.

In 2012, the four constituencies were won by the NDC with the closest being Ablekuma where the NDC secured 51.8 percent of valid votes cast while the NPP had NPP had 47.5 percent.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo leads in Greater Accra ‘Bellwether’ Survey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Analysis of Ghana’s 2012 elections reveals about 26 constituencies across the country that voted skirt and blouse.

On a regional breakdown, the Central, Northern and Brong Ahafo regions recorded the highest with 4 constituencies in each of these regions voting skirt and blouse, while the Upper West and Volta regions recorded the least skirt and blouse voting in 1 constituency in its region.

The infographic below gives a breakdown of constituencies that voted skirt and blouse in the 2012 elections.

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By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @MawuliTsikata

The post Constituencies that voted skirt and blouse in 2012 [Infographic] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It would also scrap import duties on fishing inputs in order to make fishing materials more affordable.

Mr Ato Panford, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Shama Constituency, said this during a recent parliamentary candidates’ debate held on the theme: “Election 2016- Prioritizing Fisheries and Oil and Gas Governance Issues for Inclusive Development”.

The event was organized by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana and Friends of the Nation, in Shama.
The event, funded by OXFAM and Ghana Oil and Gas Inclusive for Growth (GOGIG), also provided a platform for the parliamentary candidates to present their party key manifesto commitments on fisheries, the oil and gas sector.

The NPP candidate said an NPP government would strengthen and enforce the Fisheries Act 2002 (Act 625) and establish a coastal guard unit that would collaborate with the Ghana Navy, to protect the country’s territorial waters from illegal fishing practices.

An NPP government, he said, would also establish a Coastal Development Fund to support fishermen through the provision of alternative livelihood programmes that would make them financially-independent and self-sustainable.
Mr Panford said the NPP government would also ensure transparency in the distribution of the premix fuel, adding that more sale points of the commodity would be established.

Mr Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate and incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, said the NDC government considers the fishing sector as a very critical industry.

He said some social interventions the NDC government had undertaken to improve the sector include the distribution of more than 2,000 subsidised outboard motors to fishermen, the expansion of the Bosumtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour which would enable large fishing vessels to berth.

He said the government under President John Mahama has ensured transparency in the distribution of premix fuel, introduced the fishermen’s insurance programme and would soon complete the construction of a Fisheries College at Anomabo in the Central Region.

Dr Papa Essuman, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) parliamentary candidate, said the party would establish factories that would use fisheries resources and their by-products to produce animal feeds, glue, soap and would create more jobs for the people.

He said a PPP government would allocate a special quota of the petroleum revenue to the Region for developmental projects because the inhabitants of the region would suffer most in the event of any disaster from the oilfield.

Earlier, Mr Mohammed Mohammed Nasiru, a Consultant of the CDD-Ghana, said the election was about the choice of a political party with the best ideas, policies and programmes that would enhance the livelihoods of the citizenry and it must be done devoid of insults and acrimony.

He urged the supporters of the participating political parties in this year’s polls to desist from any act of violence and personality attacks and rather focus on issues that would enhance the living conditions of the people.

The members of the public were given the opportunity to ask the parliamentary candidates questions bothering on youth unemployment, lack of transparency and accountability in the sale of the premix fuel, scholarship for fishermen’s children, among others.

The debate was moderated by Mr Solomon Kusi Ampofo, the Programme Coordinator of the Friends of the Nation.

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Source: GNA

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Nana Gyan-Appenteng was speaking at the opening of a two-day training for court reporters held on the theme: “Responsible and Objective Court Reporting before, during and after the election: The Media and the Law.”

The training is to update and equip journalists, particularly those on court beats with relevant information to enhance their work.

He said professional ethical journalism is an indispensable tool for judicial independence and accountability.

Nana Gyan-Appentang, who spoke on the topic: “Press Freedom and Responsibility: Is the media a threat to Judicial Independence?”, said the administration of justice was more important than journalists getting their scoop.

He urged journalists and media practitioners to cross check all information, get their ‘vitals’ right and understand the court cases thoroughly before reporting.

The NMC Chairman said journalists should also show compassion, restraint and have human understanding regarding cases they report on.

He said the media has a role to advocate access to justice and legal schemes for the poor.

“It’s also for the media to highlight the barriers to justice and suggest alternatives models and scenarios,” he said.

Nana Gyan-Appenteng said some of the barriers to justice include political, financial, cultural, linguistic, gender-specific, logistics and geographic.

Justice J.C. Amonoo-Monney, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, called on court reporters to equip themselves with relevant legal documents to enrich their stories.

He urged journalists and media houses to use the correct legal expressions of terms used in trials to educate their audiences.

“Courts at the end of trials do not give ruling but rather they give judgment,” he said.

He said most journalists changed the court terminologies, which did not bring the right meaning in the story.

Mrs Grace Tagoe, the Director of Communication of the Judicial Service, said the Service duly acknowledged the media’s effort in bring accurate, balanced and fair information to the public.

She said there was no denying the critical role the media played in complementing the work of the judiciary in justice delivery.

The journalists were taken through topics like legal terminologies and courtroom etiquette, what constitutes contempt of court, types in relations to the media, court processes and procedures in criminal and civil cases and effective court reporting with emphasis on election petition reportage.

They were also exposed to improving access to justice: the role of the media as a partner, press freedom and responsible journalism: Is the media a threat to judicial independence and the role of the public complaint unit in effective justice delivery.

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Source: GNA

The post Irresponsible media threatens judicial independence – NMC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement issued by the Communications director of the party, Issifu Kadiri Abdul Rauf said, its Flag bearer Ivor Kobina Greenstreet will share the party’s vision for the country in what it calls the “Apam Fofro”, to wit new covenant.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nXyi829Lpe7J0P4ZXZAkJD1ND5Qno2mw”]Mr Greenstreet will be accompanied by the National Chairman of the Party, Professor Edmund N. Delle, Vice Presidential nominee of the Party, Nana Gabby Nketia, the first Vice Chairman Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, and a host of other rank and file members of the Party.

The statement said the “Flag bearer will interact with electorates in Agona East, Gomoa Central and Gomoa West constituencies and share with them the policy objectives of a CPP government.”

He said the party will focus its campaign message on the education and agriculture sectors by stressing on how a CPP government will address the numerous challenges confronting these sectors especially that of the fisher folks in the area

“The Flag bearer would also touch on how the CPP intends to avert the damages of rising sea levels and their threats to coastal areas,” it said.

Mr Greenstreet had earlier spent time in Accra meeting with some farmers and students at the University of Ghana.

The Vice Presidential nominee, Nana Gabby Nketia had also visited the Brong Ahafo and Volta regions to interact with electoral and calling on them to vote the CPP into power to lead the country into economic growth and social transformation.

‘CPP nomination forms accepted’

The Electoral Commission (EC) last week accepted the nomination forms of the Convention People’s Party and cleared it to contest in the upcoming elections. 13 presidential candidates were disqualified by the EC after their nomination forms were found to have been improperly filled.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post CPP takes campaign to Central Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

She made the call when she joined the Shalom Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in the La-Dadekotopon constituency on Sunday to worship.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UdGLfvnjTZWvmBbISsy5Cb7oYFT9jHK6″]She was in the company of the parliamentary candidate for the area, Vincent Odotei Sowah.

She told the congregants to pray for God’s favour for the NPP presidential candidate as well as the party as it goes into this year’s elections in December, urging the congregants to seek the interest of Ghana’s  future by voting wisely.

Mrs Akufo-Addo urged the congregation to pray without ceasing and desist from any activity that will promote chaos in the upcoming elections.

Together with some party officials, she visited the Ablekuma North Constituency later on Sunday to attend the graduation and exhibition ceremony of the Fifth Delight foundation at Odorkor Official Town.

She assured the gathering that she would work to promote the interest of women and children when her husband is voted into power on December 7.

“I would be a mother for all women and children”, Mrs Akufo-Addo said.

The New Patriotic Party led by Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo is seeking to unseat the governing National Democratic Congress in the upcoming elections.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Pray for Akufo-Addo and the NPP – Rebecca Akufo-Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, government remains firm in its resolve not to spend beyond what it budgeted for the year.

The President noted that Ghana has consistently in every election year overspent its budget, leaving the country in a difficult economic times the subsequent year.

“Happily we are in an election year and we haven’t overspent even though there is pressure from everywhere,” he said.

Speaking at the Holy Ghost Temple of the International Central Gospel Church at Adenta in Accra over on Sunday, he said, “one of the major problems this country has suffered is that vicious cycle where every four years we go back into an economic instability and you have to take tough economic measures to stabilize the economy again.”

“One of the major challenges we have been dealing with is how to stabilize the economy even through an election year by keeping down expenditures and increasing revenues,” he said.

If your expenditure is high and your revenue is low then you will have a deficit which will keep growing until the country becomes so indebted that nobody will be prepared to lend you any money and your currency will depreciate,” he added.

President Mahama said government has taken measures to ensure its expenditure increases slowly while revenue is increased through taxes.

“[If] you have only 30 per cent of people paying taxes, 70 per cent of the people don’t even know you must file your tax returns then you must find an ingenious way to get it through indirect taxes so that at least everybody is contributing his quota to make the economy stable,” he further said.

Mahama said government wants to ensure that the country’s currency and economy is stable after the election period.

He revealed that the cedi has been one of the best performing currencies in Africa, a development he said is a positive sign of effective economic measures.

On energy, he indicated that Ghana is working to increase its power generation capacity so that it is able to have excess power to serve as back up in case it loses a thermal plant.

‘We’ll not overspend on election 2016’

Mahama in August last year said vowed that government will ensure that Ghana does not go for another IMF bailout due to election year expenditure overruns.

According to him, the fiscal imbalances, experienced after the electoral cycle, mostly arise as a result of excessive demands on government by labour unions.

The Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper also reiterated government’s position when he presented the 2016 budget in Parliament.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We haven’t overspent 2016 budget – Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Checks by Citi Business News show that it cost as much as 6,500 cedis to obtain a license from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), to mount a billboard in the Greater Accra regional capital, Accra.

Also, politicians would be expected to pay about 15,000 cedis as rent for the advertising space they use during the elections.

Citi News’ Eugenia Tenkorang takes a look at the money involved in erecting these billboards and its impact on elections.

Interestingly, compared to past election years, most of the billboards mounted this time round also bear images of the various presidential candidates and their respective Member of Parliament nominees.

Click to listen to full audio report

According to some outdoor advertising companies, a client pays up to 10,000 cedis for a billboard per month depending on the size and location and 15,000 every month for super billboards with three faces.

Also, not all of the politicians dole out cash for their billboards as some outdoor advertisers approach the parties or candidates themselves and offer them huge discounts or free advertising spaces, with the hope of claiming those spaces after election.

The NPP candidate for Ododdiodoo, Nii Lantey Bannerman, confirmed this.

“What I have at the roundabout is an offer from someone…I do not even know how much that cost to build it.”

Meanwhile some electorates who spoke to Citi Business News expressed mixed reactions over the impact of billboards on their decision to vote for one candidate or another.

“The billboards which they have erected are meant for the electorate to remember that they are the people that are to be voted for. But actually for me I’m not looking at the billboards but I’m using my conscience to vote,” a seven time voter, Nii Amugi, stated.

“If someone will just be influenced by the high cost of billboards and vote for someone, then I think that is problematic,” another stated in a sharp contrast.

Yet another remarked, “In my view, the high costs of the billboards in the country especially during the campaign seasons, is a complete waste of money.”

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By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Biz of Elections: Politicians dish out thousands to erect billboards appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, some electorates have the impression that all parliamentary aspirants of the PPP were also disqualified.

Speaking to Citi News, Joseph Eshun said the EC’s announcement of the disqualification was not done in a proper manner.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cdeXd02epgvFnJIjZx64BGK2Rhn6vBlo”]“It is a mistake the EC did, it is only the flagbearer [that was disqualified], but through the announcement that was made, they should have mentioned that it is only the flagbearer but not the parliamentary aspirants. It has affected the whole of our aspirants,“ he said.

He added that “we have 170 parliamentary aspirants; so if the news comes out to say that PPP has been disqualified but we know the parliamentary aspirants are still contesting, it is a problem.”

He stressed that, the chances of the parliamentary aspirants in the upcoming elections are negatively being affected.

Joseph Eshun further stated that, the embattled flagbearer, whose disqualification is being challenged in court, has assured them of his support going to the polls in December.

‘Nduom, 12 others disqualified’

The Electoral Commission on Monday disqualified thirteen presidential nominees including the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP), Papa Kwesi Nduom from contesting in the upcoming presidential polls.

The others included Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC), the People’s National Convention’s (PNC) Dr. Edward Mahama and Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

According to the Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, those disqualified failed to meet the necessary requirements that makes them eligible to contest.

‘Parties challenge EC in court’

Some political parties whose presidential nominees were disqualified have initiated processes to seek redress in court.

The NDP, GCPP and the PNC have all vowed to drag the EC to court in a bid to have their aspirants  reinstated in the race.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nduom’s disqualification affecting our parliamentary candidates – PPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.