The Minister of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, Professor Frimpong Kwabena Boateng has been tasked to lead the team lobbying for the project.

“The African Union is in the process of setting up a space agency for the whole of Africa. This is a very ambitious and laudable project. That is why I have directed the Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation under the leadership of the world acclaimed Ghanaian scientist, Professor Frimpong Kwabena Boateng to express strongly Ghana’s readiness to host the agency and mobilize support to that end,” President Akufo-Addo said on Saturday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wSzpwO8fkXnmutEn5PgrLSMKN3GtTuc9″]This comes on the back of a successful launch of a satellite into space by some students of the All Nations University College in June 2017.

The satellite, GhanaSat 1, was developed with support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and has been embedded with low and high resolution cameras to take pictures of Ghana and provide data that can be used to monitor the coastal areas of the country.

Speaking at the 20^th graduation ceremony of the All Nations University College in Koforidua today, [Saturday], President Akufo-Addo commended the school for the project.

“On the occasion of your 20^th congregation and graduation ceremony, I come here today with the sense of pride in view of your recent achievement in launching GhanaSat1 into space. Indeed your achievement has put Ghana on the map of nations that are venturing into space.”

President Akufo-Addo said he is hoping to host the AU Space Agency in Ghana because of the exploits of the university.

“Clearly, I was motivated to take that decision partly as a result of your successful launch of GhanaSAT1. You achieve this through hard work, dedication and collaboration with partners at home and abroad, especially your Japanese counterparts. Such an achievement can come about only through the use of technology,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The flagbearer of the party, Papa Kwesi Nduom said a PPP government “seeks to build a just, disciplined and prosperous nation. In Ghana, indiscipline leads to injustice and results in poverty for the many and wealth for the few.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”gI7E8vkqMStIgbTRrPv6zaEc5AZ3ra4E”]In a statement published on his Facebook page on Friday, Dr Nduom called on the various security agencies to vote for the party in the upcoming special voting exercise.

“As a party that believes in the progressive philosophy, we aim to better the living conditions of Ghanaian human beings and ensure continuous progress and improvement in the quality of life of the people. The PPP is asking the security organ in Ghana to vote for the party on December 1st.”

He said a PPP government will prioritize improving the conditions of service of the workers in state institutions to encourage discipline amongst them and eventually help build a disciplined society.

“We must improve the conditions of work and life of the people who work in the state institutions given the responsibility to ensure that discipline takes root in our society. At the same time, we must strengthen the institutions given the responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our people.”

He expressed regret at the conditions of service of the country’s security personnel, adding that they must be provided with modern equipment and tools that will enable them carry out their duties effectively.

“The living conditions, meaning salaries and housing must be improved. For example, a police or prison officer must be able to obtain a loan to buy a car and a mortgage to buy or build a house so that peace of mind prevails.”

“The PPP will seriously implement the national identification system to ensure the use of a common identification from birth until death. We will enforce the use of this national identification for social, banking, business and public sector purposes so we can avoid duplication of identity and allow for unique and secure determination of all citizens and residents. This will allow law enforcement officials to build criminal justice databases to be used to facilitate the work of our police, courts and others. It will allow the effective building of credit information systems. The tax authorities will be able to tackle all those who should pay tax and help government maximize revenue.”

He noted that the Progressive People’s Party intends to reform the country’s prisons by introducing light manufacturing plants to create jobs and teach employable skills there.

“The PPP will bring innovation to our prisons by implementing correctional enterprises – creating jobs and teaching employable skills on a large scale within prison walls. This will mean building prisons with light manufacturing plants to process farm produce, build furniture, repair vehicles, engage in data entry work for the ICT industry etc.”

“The Army, Navy, Air Force and Immigration services all face common challenges – how to acquire modern equipment and decent accommodation (housing and offices). This the PPP will work diligently on as the oil and gas discovery puts the country at risk to foreign and domestic challenges,” he noted.

He also assured of the expeditious passing of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill by a PPP government to promote transparency and accountability in the country.

“To help combat indiscipline and corruption in government, President Papa Kwesi Nduom will ensure the passage of the Right to Information Bill. This will promote transparency, accountability and discourage illegal transactions and acts of impunity which the country suffers from.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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He said the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will need to win in just two of such regions to win the elections.

Speaking at a public lecture on Wednesday in Accra, Mr Frempong said the Central Region will be a key decider on December 7, warning that, the region may ‘punish the NDC’ over some sensitive issues the government has failed to address.

“The Central Region is very sensitive to indecencies to its sons. There are questions about the circumstances surrounding the former President, there are questions about why the President’s wife, in the Brong Ahafo region, is on all the billboards and not Kwesi Amissah Arthur [who is from the Central Region].”

“I’m warning you that the Central Region is very particular about some of these little things,” he said.

He noted that three of the four swing regions were along the country’s coast and vote for a preferred candidate based on issues regarding the supply of pre-mix fuel, pair-trawling and other events that affect fishing.

He said the New Patriotic Party may also suffer the consequence of some wranglings between Ashantis and the people of the Brong Ahafo region over the traditional leadership of Tuobodom.

‘Ghana’s swing regions’

The Greater Accra, Western, Central and Brong-Ahafo regions have been found with an inconsistent voting pattern with no inclination towards a particular political party.

The regions often determine which party emerges the eventual winner.

Ahead of this year’s elections, the two major parties, the NDC and the NPP have been seen holding strategic campaigns in the regions with messages aimed at addressing some key challenges in the regions.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC will win 2016 elections if… – Lecturer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The list shows an increase in the number of polling stations from 26,000 in 2012 to 29,000 for the 2016 polls.

The Ashanti Region maintains the highest the number with 5,190 polling stations, whilst the Upper West Regions remains the the lowest with 991 polling stations.

The infographic below show the regional breakdown of the number of polling stations.

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By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Regional Breakdown: The 29,000 polling stations for election 2016 [Infographic] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, Sally Amaki Darko Attopee showcased her culinary skills as she joined NDC Greater Accra Regional executives on a campaign tour of her constituency on Wednesday.

As part of efforts to clinch as many seats as possible, in the Greater Accra region, the regional executives have embarked on a tour of all 34 constituencies in the region to join the party’s candidates in their door-to-door campaigns.

After earlier completing 15 constituencies, the executives made a stop in Ablekuma North, on Wednesday where the were  welcomed by the party’s constituency chairman, Augustine Rasito Akwetea and it’s Parliamentary Candidate, Sally Amaki Darko Attopee.

The group then split itself into four different group and spread across the constituency to spread its campaign message.

Affectionately called Madam Tilapia, Mrs. Attopee, sought to connect with the grassroots in hopes that her efforts would translate to victory come election day.

She will be looking to win the Ablekuma North seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who will be represented by to Nana Akua Owusu-Afriyie, onetime Ablekuma North Constituency Women Organiser of the NPP.

Mrs. Owusu-Afriyie beat the incumbent MP for Ablekuma North, Justice Joe Appiah the party’s primaries.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ablekuma North NDC candidate showcases cooking skills on campaign appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) which made the claim, Dr. Bawumia’s borehole he constructed for the Amedzofe College of Education (AMECO) was a “last minute” move “aimed at securing votes.”

Dr. Bawumia in June 2016, cut the sod for the construction of a mechanized borehole for AMECO in the Ho-West District of the Volta Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”idbYs5gseWo0wQHWJesDjgdMWYbklYCS”]The NPP running mate is said to have initiated the project in fulfillment of a promise he made to the school in a bid to address the perennial water problem confronting the institution.

But GII in a report released on Friday dubbed: “Reducing abuse of incumbency and electoral corruption in Ghana’s election 2016” said the move clearly was to secure votes.

“The Coalition also observed an incident during this monitoring period, where the Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia commissioned the construction of a mechanized borehole for the Amedzofe College of Education (AMECO) in the Ho-West District of the Volta Region. This incident can be described as an act of “providing last minute infrastructure, construction, etc. and the provision of other services to communities aimed at securing votes,” the report added.

Mahama’s sharing of outboard motors abuse of incumbency

GII in the report also accused President John Mahama of abusing incumbency and indulging in electoral corruption, for distributing outboard motors to Fishermen during his campaign tour of the Western Region in August.

“On August 16, 2016, during President John Mahama’s publicly announced four-day campaign tour of the Western Region, outboard motors and pans were distributed to fishermen in Sekondi.   On 17th August, 2016, the Spokesperson of the NDC Campaign, Mrs. Joyce Bawa Mogtari indicated…that the distribution of outboard motors were part of an on-going government intervention. She stated that the items were purchased with state funds. The Coalition officially considers this particular incident as unfortunate and a demonstration of the incumbent government engaging in acts that constitute abuse of incumbency.”

Outboard motor distribution not abuse of incumbency

But Mahama’s adviser on corruption, Daniel Batidam, rejected GII’s claims.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Batidam, who claimed he was not privy to the President’s move, said “the outboard motors that were distributed were actually included in government’s budget for the year.”

Click here for GII’s full report on vote buying

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

The post GII accuses Bawumia of vote buying appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows the Commission’s announcement of the list of aspirants qualified to contest in the upcoming presidential elections at its Head Office in Accra on Monday.

The Commission revealed that, only four (4) out of the seventeen (17) aspirants qualified to contest in the December presidential polls.

According to the Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission, Eric Dzakpasu, all District Officers must publish the list of qualified parliamentary aspirants as part of their legal mandate.

He told Citi News, “When we go to the parliamentary, every returning officer receives the nomination, vets it and makes a determination to the Commission for approval, so in due course, a comprehensive list of all persons who are standing for the parliamentary will be published.”

Mr Dzakpasu expressed the hope that the announcement will be made “in due course”.

“It is a process and it wouldn’t take too long because we want to believe as at yesterday [Monday], all the constituencies were getting ready and so we expect that in due course within this period, the regions will be submitting the names of those whose forms have been accepted to the Head Office.”

‘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 ten other aspirants from contesting in the December presidential elections.

All thirteen presidential aspirants were disqualified over their inability to appropriately complete their nomination forms.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He said his party’s government led by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, would make sure that Ghana worked for everybody and not a privileged few.

He said the NPP would keep faith with the people, live up to expectation and will not disappoint.

He was speaking to students of the Assin-Fosu College of Education as part of his week-long campaign tour of the Central Region to win over more voters ahead of the December polls.

Dr. Bawumia mocked the Mahama administration for poor economic performance, which he said, had led to untold hardship and widespread suffering.

“The government has proven that it clearly lacks the ability to manage the resources of the nation efficiently to bring development and transform the lives of the people.”

He said the coming election was therefore an opportunity to vote out the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for messing up things.

Dr. Bawumia, an economist and a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, indicated that, the prevailing harsh economic conditions were the result of the massive corruption, wastefulness and the ineptitude of the current managers of the economy.

He repeated the pledge to move quickly to restore teacher trainee allowances and bring back to life collapsing social intervention programmes introduced by the NPP under President John Agyekum Kufuor.

He had earlier toured a number of communities in the Assin North, Assin Central and Assin South constituencies, where he interacted with the people, to help them to appreciate why they should trust the NPP with their votes.

He was accompanied by the regional party officers and some NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region.

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Source: GNA

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