The Ghana Education Service made the revelation in a statement detailing the 2017 Senior High School Computerised School Selection System Placements results for various schools across the country.

“On 21st August 2017, the WAEC released this year’s BECE results. The CSSPS began the process of placing BECE candidates in the various senior high schools across the country of their choice.Out of the total number, 460,941 registered candidates qualified to be placed. A total of 36, 849 candidates (8% were not placed because they scored a Grade 9 in either English or Mathematics,” the statement said.

The GES indicated that “267, 327 candidates secured places in schools of their choice, while 150, 770 candidates could not be placed in a school of their choice.”

The GES asked the qualified students who did not get a place of their choice to “go online and select an option available within 48 hours from today.”

It said these students will be “given the second chance of choosing a school.”

The statement further revealed that a total number of “460,941 registered candidates qualified to be placed while a total of 36, 849 candidates (8% were not placed because they scored a Grade 9 in either English or Mathematics.”

It said : “students can check their status from 8 am tomorrow 1^st September 2017 by logging onto www.myjhresult.net and following the online instructions.”

It further announced that the 2017/18 academic year for all Senior High Schools “will commence on 11^th September 2017.”

“All Form One students are expected to report to their schools on that day.”

A few weeks ago the West African Examination Council released the 2017 BECE results.

It said 1,298 candidates will, however, have to wait longer for their results amidst suspicions of examination malpractices.

These candidates were found to have cheated in the objective test section of the examination by the Item Differentia Profile (IDP) software.

It said the withheld results would be released after investigations into the various cases of examination malpractice are concluded.

468,060 candidates sat for the examination, comprising 241,145 males and 226,906 females; a 1.53 percent increase in 2016.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Over 36,000 students miss cut off point for SHS placement appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The breakdown is 22,174 male, and 18,232 females.

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, visited  Tamasco, Ghanasco and Kalisco examination centres within the Tamale Metropolitan Area to supervise the process.

He implored the invigilators to be extra vigilante and curb any malpractices that characterized the previous exams.

Salifu Saeed assured the invigilators of good packages at the end of the exercise, with the expectation that they will diligently discharge their civic responsibility in that regard.

He also encouraged the candidates to acquire good grades and benefit from the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) yet to be implemented flagship free Senior High School policy scheduled for September 2017.

–

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 40,406 candidates sit for BECE in Northern Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows the Supreme Court ruling that ordered them to extend the period for the receipt of nomination to the close of Tuesday, November 8, to enable disqualified presidential hopefuls to correct errors on their nomination forms.

According to the Electoral Commission, the Supreme Court specifically asked them to conduct the balloting on Thursday, after the final list of candidates is declared on Wednesday, November 9, 2016.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6Vf7t8Gqf9M2a8IJ0XA3ESJHDHosnA9s”]The Commission, which has welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court in their case against Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party, (PPP), has already written to all the affected presidential hopefuls, pointing out their errors to them, and reminding them of the need for them to correct same in view of the court ruling.

Already, the affected parties are pessimistic about whether they would be able to meet the extension period which they say is too short.

Barring any last minute changes, there will only be four candidates on the ballot paper, representing the NPP, NDC, CPP and an Independent Candidate.

Below is the EC’s full response to the Supreme Court verdict

EC WELCOMES SUPREME COURT VERDICT

The Commission has received a certified copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of the Republic vrs. High Court (Commercial Division) Ex-Parte Electoral Commission (Papa Kwesi Nduom, Interested Party). Upon carefully studying the judgment, the Commission is glad to note as follows:

1. That the Apex Court agreed with the Commission that the High Court committed an error of law apparent on the face of the record by holding that the Commission did not fix a nomination period. The Supreme Court indeed confirmed that there was a nomination period.

2. The Supreme Court also agreed with the Commission that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction when it ordered the Commission to allow Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom to alter or amend his nomination papers. The court therefore quashed the High Court’s order in that respect.

Following the above, the Apex Court ordered that:

1. The nomination period which closed on 30th September, 2016 be extended for a further period of 2-days from Monday November 7 to Tuesday November 8, 2016.

2. That the Commission should invite Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, and all the disqualified presidential candidates who were able to submit their papers within the earlier nomination period, for a hearing within the extended nomination period specified above.

3. The Court further ordered that the Commission should in appropriate cases afford the candidates the opportunity to comply with Regulation 9 (2) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2016 (C.I. 94). For the avoidance of doubt, the Regulation 9(2) of the law provides that:

“The returning officer shall inform a candidate that the candidate’s nomination is invalid where:
a. The particulars of a candidate or the persons subscribing to the nomination paper are not as required by law; or

b. The nomination paper is not subscribed to as required by law, and shall give the candidate an opportunity to make amendment or any alteration necessary within the stipulated nomination period.”

4. The Court further ordered that the Commission declare the candidates so nominated to contest the 2016 elections by close of Wednesday November 9, 2016.

5. The Court also ordered that the Commission conduct the balloting of presidential candidates by Thursday November 10, 2016.

6. The Supreme Court also ordered a stay of proceedings pending in the various High Courts against the Commission in respect of the same issue to enable the Commission to carry out its constitutional obligations.

In line with the Court’s directives, all the 12 persons whose nomination forms were invalidated for failing to meet the legal requirements are hereby:

i. Invited to come to the Commission’s Head Quarters for a hearing within the extended nomination period specified above.

ii. They have the opportunity to correct the errors on their nomination forms and submit same to the Commission within the extended nomination period ending at 5:00pm on November 8, 2016.

iii. All corrected pages must be submitted in quadruplicate to the Commission.

The Commission would like to sincerely thank their Lordships for determining the case speedily. We would like to further express our utmost appreciation to the Court for bringing finality to the issue and therefore saving the electoral calendar.

Thank you.

Signed: Eric Kofi Dzakpasu Head of Communications
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EC to ballot for presidential candidates on Nov. 10 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In all, thirteen presidential aspirants have been disqualified.

The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, who made the announcement at a news conference today [Monday], 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.

All the parties were supposed to submit their filing fees by midday today [Monday], after an Accra High court dismissed an injunction suit filed by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) in protest against the fees.

The other disqualified parties are the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Independent People’s Party (IPP) led by Kofi Akpalu, Democratic People’s Party (DPP), led by Ward Brew, Akua’s Donkor’s Ghana Freedom Party (GFP),  Akwasi Addai Odike’s United Progressive (UPP), and the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), led by Kwabena Adjei, and the United Front Party (UFP), led by one Nana Agyenim Boateng.

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings’ National Democratic Party (NDP), has also been disqualified for the second time.

An Independent Candidate, Alfred Asiedu Kwame Walker, has also been disqualified.

The PPP had argued that, the GHc50, 000 and GHc10, 000 filing fees for both presidential and parliamentary hopefuls was too high.

The Convention People’s Party’s (CPP) participation, which was earlier in limbo after it failed to meet the deadline for the submission of the filing fees, has been cleared to participate.

The CPP thus joins the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress,  and Jacob Osei Yeboah, as the only qualified independent presidential candidate.
–

By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie

The post Ayariga’s APC, PPP, PNC others disqualified from 2016 polls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This comes after the commission on Friday [September 30], closed the window for the submission of completed nomination forms from persons interested in contesting in this year’s presidential election.

A total of 17 presidential aspirants had submitted their forms on the deadline for submission of forms on Friday, September 30.

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, told Citi News, the Commission will soon start vetting of the forms to ensure they are in compliance with the constitution and other subsidiary legislation.

“For the candidates who have met the requirements, their nominations will be accepted, which will mean they will be on the ballot paper for the December presidential elections,” she said.

Charlotte Osei said the Commission will take seven (7) days to vet all the forms before coming out with the final list of qualified candidates.

“Next week, the Commission will come out with the official list of  those who have met the legal requirements to be candidates for this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections,” she added.

At the end of the submission on Friday, 17 aspirants, including two independent candidates, submitted their forms, although the EC was expecting 23 people.

‘PPP sues EC over ‘high’ filing fees’

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP), led by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom as the presidential nominee for the 2016 polls, sued the Electoral Commission (EC) and government through the Attorney-General, over the ‘high’ filing fees set by the Commission for presidential and parliamentary hopefuls.

‘EC declines filing fees’

The EC on Thursday [September 29] refused to accept the filing fee of some political parties including the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic congress (NDC), when their flagbearers and representatives submitted their forms.

The EC said it was temporary decision following a court injunction secured by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) over the filling fees.

The Commission however accepted the completed nomination forms of the various presidential aspirants.

‘EC accepts PPP’s filing fees’ 

But in a rather interesting twist, the Commission accepted the filing fee of the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) flag-bearer despite an interlocutory injunction placed on the process by the same party.

Dr. Nduom, who was represented by the party’s Chairman, Nii Allotey Brew Hammond, subsequently requested that the filing fee be returned; but the EC Chair, Charlotte Osei, said it was too late to return the fee as the PPP was aware of the legal implications yet went ahead to present the fee in bank draft form.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EC to announce qualified presidential candidates next week appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.