According to him, individuals like Obetsebi Lamptey, Edward Akufo-Addo and J.B Danquah already have streets, interchanges and roundabouts named for them and so do not require a special day to celebrate them again.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fqy0jMp2IfmdnmtOBxMjOhbTSEmCMjPY”]Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, Ade Coker said he believes that although others played key roles in Ghana’s attainment of independence, Kwame Nkrumah who is hailed as the country’s founder, deserves honour for his ultimate efforts in leading Ghana to gain independence from British rule.

“Nobody is saying that J.B Danquah or Akufo-Addo did not contribute to the formation of what we are talking about, but at the end of the day, somebody stood tall among them and you cannot celebrate all of them… When you go to Obetsebi Lamptey Roundabout, go to Danquah Circle, go to Akufo-Addo circle… We have celebrated them. We have recognized them. The person who stands tall [Kwame Nkrumah] is the one we are celebrating. Others have been given monuments,” he said.

There is a renewed debate over who must be celebrated as the founder of Ghana.

The former National Democratic Congress (NDC) government declared 21^st September,  Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday as a day to celebrate him as Ghana’s founder.

President Akufo-Addo recently canceled the former government’s decision to celebrate September 21 as Founder’s Day and has rather set August 4, as founders’ day to recognize all who helped Ghana to attain independence, christened Founders’ Day and rechristened 21^st September as Nkrumah Memorial Day.

August 4 as set by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is the day the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), was formed in 1947.

The UGCC was founded by President Akufo-Addo’s uncle, J. B. Danquah, his father Edward Akufo-Addo, and Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey. The NPP was birthed from the UGCC.

While some have proposed the scrapping of both days, Ade Coker said it will be inappropriate not to recognize Kwame Nkrumah’s enormous role in Ghana’s independence adding that ultimately, he is the main leader who ultimately pushed the country to gain independence.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post J.B Danquah, others already honoured with roundabouts – Ade Coker appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, Ade Coker, who made the announcement during the party’s unity walk, said the biometric register is one of the causes of the party’s defeat in the 2016 election.

“We are now going to ensure that the biometric registration which contributed to our downfall is going to scrapped and a better system put in place so that the true NDC people will be identified,” Ade Coker said when he addressed teaming members in Accra on Thursday.

Ade Coker who was speaking during the party’s Unity Walk said scrapping the biometric system will bring sanity into the NDC’s register.

Sylvester Mensah welcomes decision

Speaking to Citi News, the NDC’s Greater Accra  Regional  Campaign Coordinator in the 2016 election, Sylvester Mensah  welcomed the  decision by the executives to review the biometric register saying it will make the register more credible.

According to him, the current register is ridden with errors and problems which need to be addressed before the party begins internal elections.

“Of course we have had difficulties with the integrity of our register. We have evidence of individuals whose membership of the NDC is doubtful on the register. We have had complaints from people to the effect that their names have been omitted from the register. So it is a fact that the register has challenges so there is a need for some work to be done on this register,” he added.

Background

The NDC prior to the December 7, 2016 general elections commenced the registration of its members through a biometric system targeting to capture about 1.5 million members of the party.

Meanwhile, there were complaints that some non-NDC members took advantage of the biometric registration to be captured on the NDC’s voter’s database.

Despite this the leadership of the NDC ignored the complaints and advise.

They subsequently lost power to the New Patriotic Party in a historic defeat.

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By: Godwin A. Akweiteh & Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post NDC ditches biometric registration of members appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Confusion broke out between some supporters of the NDC and NPP in front of the residence of NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo during a health walk organized by the NDC.

The NPP’s acting General Secretary, John Boadu at a press conference hours after the incident accused the NDC of attacking their supporters with guns, knives and other weapons; a claim the NDC had debunked.

“Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s vehicle got to the traffic light, just 40 yards from the house when a gunshot was heard from the crowd. This time, the security men guarding the house realised the house was under attack…A section of the crowd began surging towards the gate of the house in a clear attempt to enter. For what purpose your guess is as good as mine. Before the NDC fired the shot, one of the guards approached them and demanded of them to leave, whereupon one of the NDC thugs pulled a knife on him, right in the presence of Auntie Becky’s vehicle, but away from her view,” Mr. Boadu added.

But also addressing the press, the NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Ade Coker said they have photos of NPP supporters holding guns and would furnish the Police with the information.

“We are sending these pictures to the IGP and ask for the swift arrest of those in these pictures who were holding guns in the full glare of the police and in front of Akufo-Addo’s residence.”

He explained that “we the people of Greater Accra had a peaceful health walk, we got out of our houses around 5:00am and we never gave guns to any of our supporters.”

“So we feel that the statement that was issued by the NPP is full of blatant lies and they must be ashamed of themselves for wanting to plunge this country into chaos and we the NPP will not allow that to happen,” he added.

Also at the press conference, Greater Accra Regional Organizer of the NDC, Anthony Nukpenu further cautioned the NPP to refrain from acts that could destabilize the country.

“We are here to assure the Ghanaian public and its entity that we the NDC members are peace loving people and will do all possible to maintain a peaceful atmosphere; we will therefore take any foolishness of the NPP in this region from henceforth. We are sending this strong signal to the NPP to caution their hooligans to refrain from any more attack on our party members in the region. They will face swift response from our men should they dare to any stupid move from today,” he added.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Arrest NPP gunmen now – NDC to IGP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.