According to him, the party in its current state is disorganized, and that they need a strong reorganization and not a battle for positions.

“We are not there yet, why are people so interested in candidacy and leadership? We are reorganizing the party to make it stronger, to make it a voice that reflects the mode of the people. So I don’t think that it is time for leadership yet because the leader will come from a reorganized party, not a leader imposed on a party that is disorganized.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”w2FmayTilA0LleeRicim33qtj303td6g”]He added that “a reorganized strong party at the branch level will elect the leader that represents the best interest of our country.”

The former Vice president made the remark after he and his wife, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, made some donations to Children on admission at the Ho Regional and Municipal hospitals in the Volta Region last Monday.

Mahama to face stiff opposition in NDC flagbearership slot

Mr. Amissah-Arthur, who was Vice President and then running mate to John Dramani Mahama were defeated in the December 2016 general elections.

Barely a year after the historic defeat, a number of high profile members of the NDC have announced their intentions of vying for the flagbearership position.

Former boss of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi, former Trades and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, former Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon Nii Amasah Namoale, Member of Parliament for Nadoli Kaleo, Alban Bagbin and Stephen Atubiga, have all expressed their intentions in leading the NDC in the 2020 elections.

The new entrant to have joined the race is a former Deputy Finance Minister, and NDC Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Kwaku Rickets-Hagan, who said the decision was not “taken lightly.”

“It’s not a decision that I took yesterday or last week,” he said in a Citi News interview.

The former Central Regional Minister added that, despite the fact that a number of persons have already announced their intention to contest for the position, he had taken a number of things into consideration before making a decision.

I’ve no problem with those interested in 2020 – Mahama

Despite the number of NDC members wanting to lead the party, former President John Mahama appears unperturbed about the opposition he is likely to face in the party’s presidential primaries if he decides to contest.

He said he has no problem with the candidates who have so far declared their intentions of leading the party in the next presidential election.

“I have no problem with any of my colleagues who have expressed interest in leading this great party. Let us not attack anyone because whoever is elected to lead us to victory 2020, will need the support of each and everyone,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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According to him, it was good the party lost so Ghanaians could “feel the deceptive nature of the…NPP.”

“It is not for nothing that God asked us to step aside, if God hadn’t let us step aside, Ghanaians would have not appreciated anything that we do because they would say if Nana Akufo-Addo had won, he would have reduced fuel prices, he would have provided employment for everyone, he would have reduced utility tariff,” Mahama said when he addressed teeming members of the NDC at Tamale in the Northern Region during the party’s unity walk session on Saturday.

Stop propaganda and work – Mahama advises Nana Addo

[contextly_sidebar id=”zucuFA1Zb93b26R3YfKHdqz0fMFGd1fb”]He also charged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to move beyond propaganda and work to assuage the plight of the suffering masses who voted for him.

John Mahama said Akufo-Addo has no excuse than to implement the juicy campaign promises that won him power at the last elections.

“No amount of propaganda can make the people oblivious of their own responsibilities because they are living with the prevailing circumstances,” he said.

Let’s unite

He also called on the NDC to unite in a bid to snatch back power from the NPP in the 2020 election.

He said the NDC cannot win the next general elections with a divided front for which reason party loyalists and leadership should bury their differences and unite for a common good.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post NDC lost for Ghanaians to see NPP’s deception – Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows the party’s defeat in the recently held general elections that saw incumbent President, John Mahama of the NDC’s ambition to serve a second term quashed.

The Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo defeated President Mahama with a 53.85 percent lead in all valid votes cast, against the latter’s 44.40 percent.

The NDC’s defeat has sent shock waves through the rank and file of the party, with many blaming the leadership of the party for the loss.

But Speaking on the Citi Breakfast show on Monday, the Greater  Accra  Regional  Campaign  Coordinator  of the party, Sylvester Mensah called on supporters of the party to remain focus and as the party prepares for the next elections.

“We were very hopeful that we were going to win. It was like no, this cannot happen. But you see, it is not strange in an election situation when you have psyched yourself up and you are so convinced you are winning even when you are losing.”

“Most of our people are in shock, some are in anger and some are in complete disbelief but we want to assure them that what they hear and feel is true, we have lost the elections but they need to be calm and sober,” he said.

“Let us know and be confident that we are capable of winning the elections next four years. What we need to do is to regroup and reorganise and restrategize. The lessons have been learnt, lets come together as one strong party,” he added.

He further called on supports to avoid provocation and violence.

‘Mahama concedes defeat in elections’

President John Dramani Mahama on Friday, December 9 conceded defeat in the elections and has called his main contender, Nana Akufo-Addo to congratulate him.

This was ahead of the official declaration of election results by the Electoral Commission in Accra.

‘NDC activist locks up party office’

Meanwhile, an aggrieved member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the Ashanti Regional capital has locked up the party’s head office in the region because he beleives the regional executives were responsible for the party’s loss. in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region woke up to find their party head office locked up by a known party

The activist, known as Yakubu Tony Aidoo said he took the decision to punish NDC executives because they failed to use monies allocated for their campaign judiciously.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post We’ll re-strategize for 2020 elections – Sylvester Mensah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Electoral Commission on Wednesday approved of the party’s resubmitted presidential nomination forms after reviewing it.

The others also cleared to contest the upcoming polls include the National Democratic Party’s (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and the People’s National Congress’ (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama.

The three candidates had earlier been disqualified together with 9 others by the Electoral Commission (EC), for inappropriately filling their nomination form.

Following a legal tussle that resulted in a Supreme Court order that the EC allowed the affected candidates correct the errors and resubmit their forms, the three candidates were subsequently found to have amended the errors on their forms hence given the nod to represent their parties in the elections.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nduom, two others cleared to contest 2016 presidential elections appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr Saied made the announcement at a tour of the hospital by a delegation of Euroget De-Invest S.A and the media.

He said the work was about 40 per cent complete, explaining that by June 2017, the hospital would be completed barring any unforeseen situation and would be handed over to the Government.

The hospital is one of the nine, being built by Euroget De-Invest S.A, a member of the Euroget Group of Egypt, under the Turn-Key project, to increase access to specialised health care services.

The ultra-modern hospital has departments such as Administration, Maintenance, Operation Theatres, Emergency and Casualty Departments, Physiotherapy, Water Treatment Plant, a Mini-market, and a security post.

Mr Saied said he was optimistic that the project would be completed on schedule to serve the health needs of patients in the catchment area.

Mr Baba Anaba, the Administrator for Euroget De-Invest S.A, appealed to the public to see the projects as property of the State, and avoid playing politics with it otherwise a partisan attitude would undermine the development of national infrastructure.

The Company was awarded the Contract in 2010 to construct eight Hospitals for the Ministry of Health and a 500-Bed Military Hospital in Kumasi, for the Ministry of Defence.

The projects, include a 160-Bed Regional Hospital at Wa in the Upper West Region, a 60-Bed District Hospital for Salaga in the Northern Region and a 60-Bed District Hospital at Tepa in Ashanti.

Others are a 60- Bed District Hospital for Nsawkaw in Brong Ahafo and a 60-Bed District Hospital, slated for Konongo in the Ashanti Region.

The rest are a 250-Bed Regional Hospital for Ashanti and a 60-Bed Hospital for Twifo Praso District in the Western Region.

The delegation saw workers working to meet the deadline with heavy duty equipment to facilitate their work.

Other members were Mr Prince Armah, the Country Manager of Euroget De-Invest S.A, Mr Charles Mankatah, Project Manager, and Mr Omar Wahied, Mechanical Engineer.

–

Source: GNA

The post Madina Hospital to be completed in July 2017 – Engineer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr Adama who was speaking at his campaign launch in the constituency over the weekend blamed the governinig National Democratic Congress for the instability in the area and the conflicts between Sissalas and the Dagabas.

“When NPP is in power, there is always peace between the Sissalas and the Dagaabas. Whenever NDC is in power, there is a problem between the Dagaabas and the Sissalas. Ever since I was a child, there has always been peace between the two communities. When you have a father, sometimwes there are misunderstandings but the important thing is to sit down and solve it,” he said.

Whenever an election looms, their [NDC] strategy, to put the fear into their own people to say that if NPP comes to power, the Dagaabas will be driven away, this is not true, the Dagaabas will be where they are, the Sisaalas will be where they are and we shall work together,” he added.

Patrick Adama also assured the electorates that if he is given the mandate to represent the people in parliament, he will launch a five hundred thousand cedis (GH¢500,000) education fund to take care of the educational needs of students in the constituency.

Patrick Adama is hoping to unseat the incumbent NDC Member of Parliament, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemana who is also the Upper West Regional Minister.

‘NDC will win 11 seats in Upper West’

Meanwhile, the incumbent, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana has said the governing NDC will again win all eleven seats in the Region.

Speaking at his campaign launch to be retained as MP earlier this month in Gwollu, he projected 79 per cent votes for President Mahama in the upcoming presidential elections.

According to him, the NDC government under President John Mahama had done a lot of work in the constituency in areas such as of education, agriculture and road infrastructure.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sissala West: NPP parliamentary candidate promises ‘1 village, 1 borehole’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They put up broad smiles as they posed for the camera after a warm interaction earlier this week.

The four will be facing each other in a stiff electoral contest for the parliamentary seat.

From left, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Philip Anderson, Zanetor Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nii Noi Nortey, an independent candidate and standing behind them, the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP) Godwin Opare Addo.

The photo of the quartet has received wide praises from some commentators on social media with some calling on other candidates in the various constituencies across the country to emulate it as a way of ensuring peace before and during the December polls.

A commentary on social media said it was a great example to follow to reduce the tension that clouds the country in the run-up to every election.

‘Race for Korle Klottey’

The Korle Klottey seat is one of the few constituencies in the Greater Accra Region that will be keenly monitored due to the unique dynamics and play of politics in the area.

The NPP’s Philip Addison became popular after leading his party’s legal team to challenge its loss at the the 2012 presidential elections at the Supreme Court.

The NDC’s Zanetor Rawlings is the daughter of Ghana’s former President and founder of the party, Jerry John Rawlings.

The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP)’s Parliamentary candidate for the area, Eva Lokko, was unable to submit her nomination forms as she died last week earlier in the USA while receiving medical care.

Rockson Kofi Bright of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), and CPP’s Godwin Opare Addo are said to be making inroads in gaining support from the local people ahead of the elections.

Nii Noi Nortey, who fell out of the NPP after losing the primary in a controversial election, is also contesting as an independent candidate.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post #GhElections: Korle Klottey parliamentary candidates take selfie for peace appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Director of Communication for CPP, Issifu Kadiri Abdul Rauf told Citi News the party is stepping up its campaign across the country following their clearance from the Electoral Commission to contest in the upcoming elections.

He said the Presidential candidate, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet has also begun work to mobilize the various youth groups within the party to facilitate their campaign activities.

“Ivor Kobina Greenstreet is actually on the campus of the University of Ghana where he is meeting with the leadership of the tertiary chapter of the Convention People’s Party (CPP). We want to draw them into our main campaign so he is meeting them to assess their various needs and how he can support them to be able to execute the election agenda,” he said.

The flagbearer is also expected to hold some private meetings with certain stakeholders on strategies to promote their subsequent campaign activities.

Issifu Kadiri Abdul Rauf said Nana Gabby Nketia “is trying to do some community outreach and also to touch base with some constituencies who are requesting to see him,” in the Volta Region.

He added that the CPP is poised to garner massive votes across the country through their campaign activities ahead of the elections.

The CPP’s presidential candidate, Ivor Greenstreet is among four candidates who were cleared by the Electoral Commission on Monday to contest in the upcoming presidential elections.

‘EC disqualifies 13 aspirants’

The EC disqualified 13 presidential aspirants from contesting in the December polls for their inability to appropriately fill their nomination forms as required by electoral laws.

The EC however cleared the National Democratic Congress’ John Mahama, the New Patriotic Party’s Nana Akufo-Addo, the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP), Ivor Kobina Greenstreet and Jacob Osei Yeboah, an independent candidate to contest in the polls.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gabby Nketia takes CPP message to Volta Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Electoral Commission’s Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the EC, Mr Serebour Quarcoo confirm the development to Citi News.

He further said candidates who filed on the tickets of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) were not part of those disqualified in the region.

This comes after the Commission on Monday disqualified 13 presidential aspirants from the December polls.

Reports indicate that 240 aspirants who filed their nomination at the close of filing last Friday, only 216 were cleared to represent their respective political parties as parliamentary candidates in the elections.

The 24 aspirants were disqualified because they failed to pay the GHc10,000 filing fee. The EC pegged nomination forms for parliamentary aspirants at GHc10,000, whiles presidential aspirants paid GHc50,000.

There are 47 parliamentary seats in the Ashanti region to be contested for in the 2016 parliamentary elections.

The two major political parties, National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are the only political parties to have candidates contesting for all 47 seats.

‘Ayariga’s APC, PPP, PNC others disqualified from 2016 polls’

The Electoral Commission on Monday disqualified Hassan Ayariga’s All People’s Congress (APC), the People’s National Convention’s (PNC) Dr. Edward Mahama, the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, and other aspirants from contesting in the December elections.

The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, who made the announcement at a news conference, said those disqualified failed to meet the necessary requirements that makes them eligible to contest.

There were different reasons for which each of the parties were disqualified.

‘Protest over disqualification’

Some of the political parties whose candidates were disqualified from the Presidential race have initiated legal actions against the Commission to get it to reverse its decision and instate them in the race.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EC disqualifies 24 parliamentary nominees in Ashanti Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr. Nduom, who had indicated this will be his last attempt for the presidency, announced this at a news conference on Tuesday, to react to its disqualification from the upcoming polls by the Electoral Commission.

The Presidential aspirant of the PPP, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, was disqualified by the Electoral Commission on Monday, together with twelve other aspirants, when the EC found that their nomination forms were not appropriately filled according to existing electoral laws.

Papa Kwesi Nduom, who addressed the press, said the circumstances that led to his disqualification are not questions of fraud as the EC suggested, but were purely administrative and clerical errors that could easily be resolved.

He requested a meeting with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) to deal with the matter.

“I am asking the chairperson of the EC and the returning the officer to let me know by the end of Thursday this week, when we can meet and deal with this matter positively…all I am asking is for is the chance for us to meet; five minutes of your time.”

He threatened that the party to head to the court if the matter is not solved amicably.

“I believe that it is a simple administrative of clerical matter that can be resolved… However if we cannot solve this mater simply, administratively, then we will take the legal route and go to court to seek satisfaction so that I can be on the ballot. That is the destination we want, to be on the ballot.”

Dr Nduom told the media and scores of party supporters who were present at the conference that he was certain of victory if his name is cleared and reinstated in the presidential race.

‘Nduom’s disqualification illegal’

A Policy Adviser to the Progressive People’s Party, Kofi Asamoah Siaw, in an earlier interview on Eyewitness News described the disqualification of Papa Kwesi Nduom, from the upcoming presidential election is illegal, and that the party will do everything possible to ensure he contests the race.

He said the EC did not follow due procedure in disqualifying its candidate, alongside twelve others.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Give me 5mins of your time – Nduom ‘begs’ Charlotte Osei appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.