“We have one goal and that goal is that 2020 we must win the election. We are not just going to show Nana in 2020 we are going to win the election to develop mother Ghana,” he said.

According to Bagbin who is also the Member of Parliament for the Nadoli-Kaleo constituency, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) lied its way to power, adding that those same lies will lead to the NPP’s downfall.

“Politics is service to the people, if you deceive the people to win power it is like pregnancy, tomorrow it is the lies that will lead to your downfall. So I want to appeal to all of you in politics to let truth prevail. If you are leading people and the people don’t trust you, there is no way you can develop the people because leaders themselves don’t produce, it is the followers who work and produce,” he added.

Bagbin made the remarks on Saturday when he addressed a mini-rally at Asawase in the Ashanti Region.

The NDC which was defeated in the 2012 election is currently re-strategizing and preparing to elect a presidential candidate to lead the party in the 2020 polls.

Aside Alban Bagbin and former President John Mahama who have hinted of plans to vie for the NDC’s presidential slot, others including the 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, and Stephen Atubiga have all declared their intention to contest.

Mr. Bagbin used the opportunity to urge members of the party to support whoever is elected as flagbearer.

“The problems challenging Ghana, the problems challenging the NDC, the problems challenging the Asawase constituency are not for the faint-hearted. We need bold, courageous leadership to be able to solve the problems. What we are doing now in trying to reorganize the party is a family matter. We want everybody onboard. We want everybody to show love and loyalty to the NDC.”

“Competition is the spirit of democracy and so wherever there is competition, it’s a show of how competent or how better you are than your opponent. It is not a time for war; it is not a time for insults. This is the time you have to show commitment to the vision. And so whatever is happening in NDC should not discourage any persons, it’s a family contest. And I’m assuring you that whoever is elected the parliamentary candidate, the presidential candidate, we all have to give our 100% support to that person,” he added.

–

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

The post NDC will defeat NPP in 2020 polls – Alban Bagbin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The MPs, who spoke to Citi News, cautioned that such moves could compromise the unity of the NDC.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CkbTSKjQFElWeh7lyWePzt2a5iBPeZXr”]The regional Chairmen, in a brief communiqué after a meeting with the former President, asked him to embark on a ‘Thank You Tour’ to aid party’s reconciliatory and healing process.

But some observers have interpreted the call as a subtle move to endorse Mr. Mahama’s candidature ahead of the party’s election in December 2018 to choose a flagbearer as well as regional and national leaders.

NDC MP for South Dayi, Rockson Dafeamakpor, noted that “these regional Chairmen, who also are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), have in a way sidelined, or will seek to sideline other potential contestants, and as the highest decision-making body of the party, they ought not to do that.”

He said calls for support of Mr. Mahama’s return should be left to the  Members of Parliament as they are the people on the ground and reminded that “regional executives are supposed to be neutral.”

“We will be seen as a party that is not united,” Mr. Dafeamakpor stated.

Grassroots can speak for themselves

The Wa West MP, Rashid Pelpuo, advised the Regional Chairmen to “play within the rules.”

“I am sure they are responding to the pressures from the grassroots, but they should be able to advise the grassroots so we can all do it in a decorous manner,” the MP suggested.

The outspoken MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, said the Chairmen should learn from Mr. Mahama’s stance on the matter.

“President Mahama himself has been on record to say that the time for campaigning and declaring has not come yet. You need to take a cue from your leader,” Sam George reminded.

He also warned against using the supposed needs of the grassroots to lay claim to any political capital.

“I as an individual, I as a grassroots member of the NDC, believe that President Mahama is the best candidate for the NDC. I believe that he should run and I believe that he will listen to the voice of the grassroots… The NDC grassroots doesn’t need any linguist.”

Focus on reorganisation

George Lawson, a deputy General Secretary of the NDC, also said the action from the chairmen was needless and a distraction.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, he was adamant that the NDC needed to be focusing on the reorganisation  because “without the reorgansation, we can’t get a leader.”

“For now, what we need form the regional chairmen is an update on the re-organization in their various regions. So if they are going to issue a statement, the statement is supposed to be about the reorganization.”

Mr. Mahama has also underscored the importance of the NDC’s regrouping saying it would be unwise for him to declare his intention to contest whilst the party is still reorganising after its heavy defeat in the 2016 polls.

“On the issue of considering the request of party colleagues and supporters to lead the NDC to the 2020 Elections, HE John Mahama’s position, as stated in Cape Coast, remains that it will be premature to announce his decision whether or not to contest, in view of the ongoing reorganization efforts of the Party,” a statement signed by the Special Aide to the former President, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, said.

–

By: Duke Mensah Opoku & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Pelpuo, others slam regional chairmen for ‘endorsing’ Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

John Mahama, under whose leadership the party woefully lost power to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), gave the assurance when he spoke at an NDC Unity Walk in the Central Region today [Sunday].

[contextly_sidebar id=”NZ0ZCSbiKYGZBblLxARxKCHHWZXm7rjB”]Several members of the NDC including, Nadowli-Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin, Dr. Spio-Garbrah, former NHIA boss, Slyvester Mensah, Joshua Alabi, former MP for La-Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale among others, have given indications they may contest the flagbearership position.

Speaking at the event, John Maham said he bears no grudges against persons who have shown interest in the party’s flagbearership position.

“I have no problem with any of my colleagues who has 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 said: “Spio was my boss and later became my minister; Joshua was my colleague in Parliament and later became the Vice Chancellor of UPSA, Slyvester was the NHIS Boss and later a Presidential Staffer… It’s not now that they want to contest that I will have a problem with them. Atubiga is even my favourite Presidential candidate. Let us all work in unity for victory 2020,” he added.

The walk, themed, “Mobilization of the Grassroots”, is the third to be undertaken by the party after previous ones in Tamale and Accra.

–

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

The post Mahama hints at 2020 flagbearership slot again appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The National Executive Committee had unanimously agreed to scrap the register citing credibility issues.

[contextly_sidebar id=”X4CnOu37CF2AbaUqnLryVmyucci0aNLR”]Recommendations made by the Kwesi Botchwey Committee, which was set up to probe NDC’s loss in the 2016 elections, also contributed to this development.

The registration will be followed up with an audit of the register in January 2018, and then branch elections on January 21 and 28, 2018.

Nominations for national executive positions will be opened from March 1 to March 9, 2018, ahead of the national congress from July 27 to July 29, 2018.

The swearing-in of elected executives and a National Executive Council Meeting  has also been scheduled for August 9, 2018

DETAILED TIME-TABLE FOR RE-ORGANISATION OF THE NDC (2017-2018)

BRANCH ELECTIONS TIME-TABLE

1. Registration of members at the Branch – Nov & Dec 2017.

2. Auditing of Membership Register – 1st – 15th January 2018. By Constituency.

3. Branch Elections – 27th – 28th Jan 2018. By Constituency.

4. Collation of Branch Elected Executive Data – 29th Jan – 5th Feb 2018.

5. Inauguration of Branch DC – 24th – 25th Feb 2018.

CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS TIME-TABLE

1. Opening and Closing of Nomination @ the Constituency Office –
29th Jan – 5th Feb 2018.

2. Vetting – 12th -16th Feb 2018. By Region.

3. Appeals Vetting – 22d -23rd Feb 2018. By Region.

4. Balloting – 27th Feb 2018. By Constituency.

5. Printing of Ballot Materials – 1st – 10th March 2018. By Constituency.

6. Constitiency Conference – 24th -25th March 2018. By Region

7. Transitional Meetings – 26th 30th March 2018. By Constituency

8. Swearing-in/Maiden Meeting 31st March 2018. By Region

9. Receipt of Conference Report – 1st – 3rd April 2018. By Region

REGIONAL TIME-TABLE

1. Opening and Closing of Nomination – 1st -9th March 2018. By Region.

2. Vetting – 17th -19th March 2018. By National

3. Appeals Vetting – 26th -30th March 2018. By National.

4. Balloting – 9th April. By Region.

5. Delegates List – 27th April 2018.

6. Printing of Ballot Materials – 1st -24th May 2018. By Region

7. Youth/Women/Zongo Caucus Conference – 2nd – 3rd June 2018

8. Regional Conference 9th June 2018. By National

9. Transitional Meeting – 11th – 13th June 2018. By Region

10. Swearing-in/ Maiden Meeting 14th June 2018. By National.

11. Inauguration of Regional D.C. 6th July 2018. By Region

NATIONAL TIME-TABLE

1. Opening and Closing of Nomination – 9th – 20th April 2018

2. Vetting – 30th April – 5th May 2018

3. Appeals Vetting – 7th -12th May 2018

4. Balloting -16th May 2018

5. Notice of Polls – 31st May 2018.

6. Delegates List – 29th June 2018.

7. Youth/Women/Zongo Caucus Conference – 13th -15th July 2018

8. National Congress – 27th -29th July 2018

9. Transitional Meeting – 31st July 2018

10. Swearing-in/NEC Meeting – 9th August 2018

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC’s releases full time-table for re-organisation activities appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement copied to citifmonline.com on Thursday, signed by Frank Ayei-Twum, Communications Director of the Office of the Vice President, he asked Ghanaians to ignore the posters and its content, claiming they are “meant to cause disaffection for the Vice President.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”3vmDdBaXQrjQCUalqNqeTPWenTuo5hLa”]“The attention of the Office of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been drawn to posters purporting to indicate that H.E. Dr Bawumia has begun a campaign to lead the New Patriotic Party into the 2020 elections.”

“It is clear that the perpetrator(s) of this act intend to cause disaffection for the Vice President but their campaign will fail. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state unequivocally that the posters are the figment of the imagination of the originator(s), and we call on all Ghanaians and the general public to treat the poster campaign with the contempt it deserves” the statement concluded.

It is however unclear those behind the circulation of the posters.

Dr. Bawumia, a one-time former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, a respected economist and a technocrat, entered full-time politics in 2008, following his selection to be Nana Addo’s running mate in 2008.

Many political watchers believe he has matured into a vociferous and formidable politician, and has been very instrumental in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) victory in the 2016 elections.

The watchers also believe that 52-year old Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has the appeal and the competence to eventually vie for the next contest to choose a leader for the NPP, once 73-year old Nana Akufo-Addo leaves the scene after a term or two.

The Vice President has been quite active in the first 10 months of the NPP administration, focusing largely on reforms in critical state agencies in a bid to block loopholes, and help the country generate more revenue for development projects.
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bawumia rubbishes posters announcing his election 2020 bid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at an event to celebrate his 25th year in Ghanaian politics, Mr. Bagbin said his presidential ambitions were “as clear as daylight.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”FA0FDhADPh7aQcvs5SotzasihwjSzH8z”]Mr. Bagbin said he considers himself a notch above all the other persons who have been touted as potential flagbearers, including former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and former National Health Insurance Scheme CEO, Sylvester Mensah.

“I stand tall amongst those who have come out so far. There is none of them… who doesn’t admire my leadership because I have led all of them in politics,” Ghana’s longest serving MP said.

Mr. Bagbin once announced his intentions to run for president on the NDC’s ticket in 2008, but never stood for the primaries.

“It is very clear to everybody who is watching the political arena that honorable Bagbin has presidential ambitions. Together with the NDC, we will take the decision as to who will lead us in 2020.”

For the possible detractors, the MP reminded that there was a time he had two former presidents under his wing.

“The current President, my good friend Nana, is aware that from 1997 to 2000, the committee he actually showed his mettle was the committee on Constitutional and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and I was the Chair and he was my ranking member,” he recalled.

“…If honorable John Dramani Mahama passed through my hands and he was a vice or he was President, how can he or any other person say the person who mentored and trained him is not qualified to be president?” the MP quizzed further.

Mahama would’ve won if NDC took my advice – Bagbin

Alban Bagbin believes former president John Mahama could have easily won the 2016 election if he and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had listened to his advice.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Bagbin explained that, all the advice he gave to the former president and the National Democratic Congress were ignored.

“…I think the election defeat is a useful lesson that we have learned as a party and many of the elders and senior members of the party have come to me to say that if they had listened to my early signals about the way things were going, we might not have been in opposition.”

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I stand tall among all potential NDC flagbearers – Bagbin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Bagbin explained that, all the advice he gave to the former president and the National Democratic Congress were ignored.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1VCDD6A5JAqvoYcS5lO70xD7ZKThqBNy”]”…I think the election defeat is a useful lesson that we have learned as a party and many of the elders and senior members of the party have come to me to say that if they had listened to my early signals about the way things were going, we might not have been in opposition.”

Mr. Bagbin, who publicly criticized Mr. Mahama said he has been vindicated because “they saw belatedly that what I did was for the benefit of all, not just me.”

The MP once again underscored his presidential ambitions, but was not straightforward with a response on whether or not he would contest the 2020 flagbearership of the NDC.

“As for presidential ambitions, that is as clear as daylight. It is very clear to everybody who is watching the political arena that honorable Bagbin has presidential ambitions. Together with the NDC, we will take the decision as to who will lead us in 2020.”

Mr. Bagbin said he stood tall amongst the names being linked to the NDC flagbearship in 2020 “and there is none of them, those who have come out so far, who doesn’t admire my leadership because I have led all of them in politics.”

“…If honorable John Dramani Mahama passed through my hands and he was a vice or he was President, how can he or any other person say the person who mentored and trained him is not qualified to be president?” the MP quizzed further.

Among the names making rounds as possible flagbearers are former Rector of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), Joshua Alabi, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho and former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) CEO, Sylvester Mensah.

Mr. Bagbin himself announced his intentions to run for president on the NDC ticket in 2008, but he never stood for the primaries.

–

By: Latif Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mahama would’ve won if NDC took my advice – Bagbin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Coming off its comprehensive defeat in the 2016 elections, Mr. Rawlings said a cleanup and the “restoration of our integrity” is paramount.

[contextly_sidebar id=”RKqnsnhjunaZI2HfBGdL5CD4asmT0Gew”]”We don’t like to hear it, but I keep repeating it. We have to go back and seize the moral high ground and I believe we know what we have to do,” he said in an interview with TV3 news.

The former president was clarifying his earlier statement suggesting it would be impossible for the NDC to win back power from the New Patriotic Party in the 2020 elections.

He said he held the best interest of the NDC, as far as the 2020 elections were concerned, but questioned the readiness of the NDC  to effect the needed changes to win power.

“I would very much want to see the NPP beaten, but do we have what it takes? Do we have the capacity to be able to wrestle power from them? That is the issue we should be addressing. We should be looking at this question a lot more seriously than we have done so far.”

“We know what we have to do, but I don’t think we are prepared to confront it or that is what I have noticed about some of our people,” Mr. Rawlings stated.

Involving the grassroots

The former President has never shied away from criticising the hierarchy of the party he founded, especially for straying from its core values of probity and accountability, and instead allowing room for corruption.

Having previously called for a complete overhaul of the NDC, he stressed that the party needed to turn to the grassroots, as it puts in place strategies for the 2020 elections.

“…Let’s give the party back to them [the grassroots], they are the ones who actually make it possible to win or lose elections, let’s respect their views,” he advised.

–

By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC must restore its integrity before 2020 – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“There is nobody under this sun who will start doing something and wouldn’t want get to the climax of it,” he said in an interview on Eyewitness News’ Point Blank segment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jT4fqGhJC1w0RF8aBZqstClgTAZenoF7″]Alhaji Muntaka, also the Minority Chief Whip, said he will be taking his political ambitions a day at a time.

“I am a politician; I have been it for a long time, I have been a minister, I have been the Majority whip… I take the days as they come. If it is the will of Allah that one day I get there then why not.”

“It is not something that any politician, no matter where he finds himself, will just say that no; this is the last thing that will come to my mind. Obviously once you are in the game, it is your wish and prayer that one day, you could be at the very top of it.”

Alhaji Muntaka, however, declined to support any potential bids to be the flagbearer of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) when the topic came up.

“We are not [currently] looking for a new flagbearer,” the MP said, noting that the Kwesi Botchway 13-member committee, tasked to investigate the cause of the NDC’s massive defeat in the 2016 elections, was still at work.

“We all are waiting for them [the committee] to come and tell us the issues that led us to opposition,” Alhaji Muntaka insisted further.

“By the time it is a year or year and a half [from now], it will be much clearer to all of us in the NDC who could best lead us,” he noted, echoing the sentiments of the 2016 NDC flagbearer, former President John Mahama.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I would like to be President if Allah wills – Muntaka appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I’ve said that President Mahama in today’s NDC is the best material that we have,” he added in response to questions posed him on Eyewitness News about who the party’s next candidate would be for the next election.

John Mahama’s second term bid was truncated by the New Patriotic Party’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the December 7, 2016 general elections.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cYJCPrZ9iu1REbtkRoprUBKL9lemdJf1″]Although he is yet to officially announce his bid to lead the NDC in the next election in 2020, Kofi Adams said “I will be really happy if he puts himself up for re-election but that decision will totally depend on him.”

Speaking on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News last Friday, the NDC National Organizer said Mahama’s loss in the election does not make him a bad candidate.

“One thing you need to realize also is that the fact that you have lost an election does not mean that your candidate was bad. We have had great candidates lose election…I have read in some papers quoting family sources that he is not going to stand again but I have not heard any denial from him but he has indicated to us…that his primary focus now is how we will rebuild our party,” he added.

NDC forms committee to diagnose it’s election defeat

The leadership of the NDC last month, Demceber 2016 formed a 13-member committee to investigate the cause of the party’s historic defeat in the December 7 polls.

The committee, which was formed by the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee (NEC), and approved by its Council of Elders, is being chaired by a Former Minister of Finance and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Kwesi Botchwey.

–

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

The post Mahama is NDC’s best candidate for election 2020 – Kofi Adams appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.