This is because the party held its elections for its Constituency Executives to run the affairs of the party at the constituency level for the next four years.

The election paves the way for Regional Executive elections and subsequently the big one — the National Executive elections.

In recent times a number of NPP stalwarts have declared their intentions to contest national positions within the party.

One position which has attracted a lot of attention is the position of National Chairman.

Three people are in the race namely: Acting Chairman, Freddie Blay, Upper West Regional Chairman, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Abubakar and five time contender, Stephen Ayensu Ntim.

Among all, Freddie Blay to me tops and is seen by many as the next National Chairman of the NPP after serving the party faithfully in that position for almost two years in acting capacity.

He will be credited for bringing peace and stability into the NPP after almost two years of turbulence under the leadership of Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong, suspended Chairman and General Secretary respectively.

He fought the John Mahama administration exposing the rot in the government earning him the nickname “Opana.”

He lived in harmony with the party flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo and party members and this led to the massive victory of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the 2016 election.

Why would anyone want to change or replace a general who has fought hard and won a major battle?

Many have described Freddie as a CPP man who schemed his way into the NPP fold rising through to become acting National Chairman.

“Look, I’m not a newcomer in NPP; I have fully registered as a member of the party; fully paid up one for that matter. I joined the NPP many years ago after some flirt in the 2000 to 2008. Today, I drink, speak, eat and think NPP. I have been attending party meetings and rallies through and thorough,” Freddie Blay said in an interview with the Statesman Newspaper on February, 28, 2014.

Mr. Blay started his political career with the UP tradition but joined the Nkrumahist Ideology during his university days.

In politics people can switch camps any time.

Nkrumah resigned from UGCC to form CPP, so was Victor Owusu, RR Amponsah, Joe Appiah and others from CPP to join the UP, and what about J. H Owusu Acheampong and Justice Annan who defected from UP to join the NDC.

Freddie can never go back to the CPP, no matter what happens to his political ambition.

Whether rain or shine Freddie will never go back to the CPP, he will die in NPP and be buried same.

Mr Blay is motivated to run for the chairmanship position of the NPP due to his desire to see the NPP retain power in the 2020 election.

Mr. Blay is a lawyer; he was called to the Ghana Bar in 1977, specializing in the field of company law, corporate structure and foreign direct investment-which spans various areas of law and business.

His chamber has represented the party on a number of cases in court.

Freddie Blay single handedly bought twenty four (24) pickups for the party to aid officers in their work.

He will do more if given the chance to lead the party as its substantive Chairman.

His newspaper Daily Guide has served as a mouth piece of the NPP way back in opposition.

The party used it to circulate all its information: use it for its propaganda purposes and as attack machinery against the NDC/Mahama administration.

Who will do such a thing if he is not a true member of the NPP.

Mr. Blay comes in with experience, the drive and passion to see the Akufo-Addo government succeed and I have no doubt about that.

From the points aforementioned my bet is on Freddie Blay for the choice of National Chairman of the NPP.

–

By: Nana Kwame Ampadu

The writer is a Polling Station Executive in the Ayawaso Central constituency in the Greater Accra Region.

The post Freddie Blay is our best bet for NPP chairmanship [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“It will not be subject to any control by anybody, not even the president’s office, and that is what the president has decided to happen,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, January 2, 2017, appended his signature to the bill setting up the Special Prosecutor office after it was approved by Parliament in November 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0S28iWYxrbj097jdluXMycf2gsZHp859″]Akufo-Addo used the opportunity to also accent to four other bills including the Zongo Development Fund Bill, and the three National Development Authority Bills.

It won’t be independent – NDC

Members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have argued that the office cannot be independent since the Special Prosecutor will certainly be someone aligned to the NPP.

General Secretary of NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, had warned that the Office risks being a lame duck if the official expected to lead the office is not independently appointed.

“I want to remind them that if they are going to appoint another NPP lawyer as the independent prosecutor, then you would have wasted the nation’s time and resources in making that law. It is because of the difficulty of an NPP lawyer as the Attorney General trying to prosecute offenders within the NPP government that we decided that, let us get an independent prosecutor,” the NDC General Secretary added.

But speaking on Ekosii sen on Asempa FM on Tuesday, the acting NPP Chairman said the government will do everything possible to make the Office independent.

“When the person is appointed, it is supposed to be subjected to Parliament; Parliament will agree to it by overwhelming majority…we want to make it independent just like in other countries. We all have to work towards that to make sure it succeeds,” he added.

About Special Prosecutor Office 

The Office of the Special Prosecutor marks the fulfillment of a major campaign promise of Nana Akufo-Addo in the run-up to the 2016 elections.

The Bill defined the modalities for the appointment and operations of the Special Prosecutor, which will have the mandate to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption under the Public Procurement Act 203 Act 63, and other corruption-related offences implicating public officers, political office holders and their accomplices in the public sector.

–

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

The post Not even Nana Addo can control Special Prosecutor – Freddie Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Let’s brace ourselves for the greater opportunities that lie ahead of us this New Year-tapping into all not just to better our lives but that of others around us,” he said in a statement.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pDPSRXERLIPCZ2u6BuwWBDQgjFAuqvG8″]In the statement, he also thanked members of the NPP for helping in every way possible to return the NPP to power after being in opposition for eight years.

Freddie Blay advised them to continue to believe in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is working hard to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say Ayekoo to us all; both our brethren here and abroad who relentlessly fought for this victory. All our expectations may not have been met yet but let’s remain hopeful in the great leader we fought to serve. Despite the many challenges, let’s rise above them all and serve diligently to the admiration of all. Let’s also take consolation in the fact that, we have a listening and working government who has the spirit of Servitude and therefore put the citizenry first,” the acting NPP chairman added.

Below is the full statement from Freddie Blay:

CHAIRMAN FREDDIE BLAY WISHES ALL A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

Fellow Patriots both home and abroad, I would like to wish you and your families a very prosperous New Year. Let us remain resolute and begin this New Year with the spirit of Servitude because, to be a great leader, you must have the spirit of servitude- it is in Serving do we not only brighten the lives of others but ours as well.

At a time we close an old page to open a new one, I would love to take this opportunity to thank you all for your sacrifices and selfless support in making our dear party grow in strength and greatness.

Together we fought our way back from eight years in opposition. Along the line, we lost soldiers of the patriotic army for change- May their selfless souls rest in perfect peace.

Nonetheless, we fought on regardless of the hurdles to achieve this unprecedented victory for our party. I would like to take this opportunity to say Ayekoo to us all; both our brethren here and abroad who relentlessly fought for this victory.

All our expectations may not have been met yet but let’s remain hopeful in the great leader we fought to serve. Despite the many challenges, let’s rise above them all and serve diligently to the admiration of all. Let’s also take consolation in the fact that, we have a listening and working government who has the spirit of Servitude and therefore put the citizenry first.

Let’s brace ourselves for the greater opportunities that lie ahead of us this New Year-tapping into all not just to better our lives but that of others around us.

Today, we step into this year with the idea that we are our sisters’ and brothers’ keeper. That we should treat each other as we would want to be treated and that we care for the sick, feed the hungry and welcome the stranger no matter where they come from. Those are the values that guide us as humans because our greatest responsibility is to serve.

Let this New Year bring us joy, peace, fulfillment and above all the heart to look out for one another. Happy New Year To You All

Long live NPP
Long Live Ghana

Freddie Blay
Acting Chairman of the NPP

–

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

The post Brace yourselves for more opportunities in 2018 – Freddie Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Blay said the NPP can take a step closer to retaining power in the 2020 general elections if Sunday’s Delegates’ Conference is conducted in a peaceful manner.

[contextly_sidebar id=”TOqScIEL8XxgtgqDEMUJJcZkJ20iwaox”]“This is a family gathering; a meeting to see how best to ensure that our party is strong and formidable for future elections,” Mr. Blay said.

Thousands of NPP delegates are arriving in Kumasi for the Extraordinary National Delegates’ Conference to, among other things, decide on amendments to portions of the party’s constitution.

Delegates will vote on Sunday to expand the Electoral College that elects the party’s National Youth Organizer and Women’s Organizer.

Some members of the party have also called for a review of the requirements for qualification to be elected into the constituency and regional executive positions.

The argued that only persons who have gone through the ranks of the party at the local level, should be given the chance to vie for such positions.

Disagreement over amendments

Already, there have a number of concerns raised over some of the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

For instance, the NPP-USA branch, this week, issued a strongly-worded statement accusing some persons in the party of hijacking the process.

But speaking to Citi News, Mr. Blay says such assertions will not be accepted.

“We are here to do something good for our great party, all these allegations and counter allegations will not help us… the party should consolidate its gains, work to improve its fortunes and that’s what is important,” he stressed.

Sunday’s Extraordinary Conference follows the NPP’s Annual National Delegates Conference in August at Cape Coast.

The governing party will go to Congress in May 2018 to elect new National Officers.

–

By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post No room for division after Delegates’ Conference – Freddie Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Host of Asempa FM’s late afternoon political show, Eko Sii Sen, died on Saturday, November 18, 2017, after he was rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

The cause of KABA’s sudden demise is unknown, but there are reports he may have suffered some form of attack from a health condition.

Mr. Freddie Blay, in a statement, consoled the family and the media fraternity; stating that KABA executed his mandate as a journalist brilliantly and was greatly admired by many.

He said: “The loss of this brilliant personality will leave a gaping hole in the family, the electronic media and the entire country, for we have lost a rising legend.”

Below is Freddie Blay’s statement eulogizing KABA

Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong, (KABA) was a greatly admired journalist and his death has come as a big blow to all of us. The loss of this brilliant personality will leave a gaping hole in the family, the electronic media and the entire country, for we have lost a rising legend.

Throughout his career, KABA has made substantial contributions to journalism using his powerful intellect and communication skills in dealing with politicians of various shades of opinions. He always had a knack to punch hard enough to bring the best or the worst in any person he encountered on radio.

I am more shaken, because, he and I were supposed to have met today, 21st November, 2017, for an interview as well as discuss other matters, only to be informed of the shock of his untimely death.

My heart goes out to his cherished family, to his fraternity, Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), to Asempa FM, the springboard to his short-lived greatness and to the entire Media industry.

Gone too soon, KABA .Till we all meet again.

Rest in perfect peace.

President Akufo-Addo, his Vice, former president John Mahama among other recognized individuals and groups, have all expressed their condolence in separate comments.

Multimedia Memorial Service for KABA

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, on Monday joined a Memorial Service which had staff of the multimedia group, politicians, journalists, family and sympathizers in attendance.

There was a book of condolence for mourners to sign and pay their respects.

Speaking to the media, Vice President Bawumia said: “this is a very sad day… the news that he had passed away was very shocking news.”
“He was one of the best journalists that we have in this country. He plied his trade with such professionalism and neutrality. He was the friend of everybody, and across the political divide, he is very well respected,” the Vice President added.

About KABA

KABA has been with Asempa FM since 2008. Prior to joining the Multimedia Group, KABA had worked with Top Radio from 2004 – 2008.

The broadcaster was a trained teacher at the University of Cape Coast after which he moved to the Ghana Institute of Journalism for Communications Studies.

He later enrolled at the University of Ghana to study Political Science. KABA had also hosted Adom TV’s Morning Show on Multi TV.

The ace broadcaster was among a group of selected senior journalists, who joined the President at the Flagstaff House this year, to ask him questions about critical national issues.

He married Valentina Ofori Afriyie [in June 2016], a staff of Accra-based Class FM, who had moved from Radio Gold.

They welcomed their first baby girl seven months ago.

–

By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post KABA had booked me for interview today; I’m shaken – Freddie Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is regardless of a number of groups making appeals in the media for the NPP hierarchy to forgive him.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0jQFqxlwBjBugUqB7M2QpGD1nuDIJJpL”]The NPP suspended its 2nd Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe, alongside Mr. Agyapong in 2015, after they were accused of publicly rebelling against the party’s decision to indefinitely suspend its National Chairman, Paul Afoko.

Mr. Afoko and Mr. Crabbe, subsequently filed a suit over their suspension, but both suits were thrown out by the court.

Speaking to Citi News, the acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddy Blay, said the NPP had no intention of reversing, what he called, justified suspensions.

“Nothing has come before us. The National Executive Council took the decision. The National Council endorsed it. Nothing has been done about it… they were suspended indefinitely for some good reasons and nobody has thought it proper that this matter should be raised again.”

Mr. Blay further defended the party’s suspension as being the right move as it had no effect on the NPP’s election fortunes.

“There were people who were agitating that since they [Kwabena Agyapong, Sammy Crabbe and Paul Afoko] had been suspended, we were going to totally lose the election, particularly NDC or sympathetic media that support the NDC. They have been put to shame. We won.”

Reasons for Kwabena Agyepong suspension

A) Violation of Article 3(D) of the NPP constitution which enjoins members to publicly uphold the decisions of the party, through various acts including;

i. His disregard for NEC decision on 23rd October, 2015, suspending Mr. Paul Afoko.

ii. Various Public statements he made that cast the Party in bad light.

B) He engaged in unilateral actions and activities without consultation of, or authorization by the NEC, such as;

i. Writing to the Electoral Commission designating only himself and suspended Chairman Afoko as the only authorized signatories.

ii. Granting waivers to parliamentary aspirants

iii. Non-reference of legal matters to the proper legal Committee of the Party

iv. Interference with Constituency primaries against National Appeal Committee decisions and also, Court decisions.

v. Misrepresentation/misleading of NEC on status of some constituency primaries

vi. He, in conjunction with suspended Chairman Afoko and Sammy Crabbe, launched Party cards without authorizations from NEC.

–

By: King Nobert Akpabli & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’ve not received any petition for Agyapong’s reinstatement – Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Law is law, and it must be enforced in this country. So I will ask that if they [vigilante groups] are our members they should stop doing that because people who do that ought to face the rigorous of the law,” he warned in a Citi News interview.

The country has recorded over 20 cases of violence allegedly perpetrated by youth groups affiliated to the governing party since the beginning of the year, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AKNQBvYULaqOg8wq3vy8bhgcnrscAxDZ”]Notable among them is the terrorizing of the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei, by members of Delta Force.

Just last week, some rampaging youth believed to be sympathizers of NPP in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District in the Upper West Region, stormed the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office, after they accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

Many especially opposition parties and civil society organisations, have accused government of losing control of the country following the violent attacks perpetrated by the perceived NPP youth groups.

Freddie Blay in the Citi News interview said such cases are regrettable and must not be encouraged by anyone.

“I think it is regrettable and must be condemned. That kind of hooliganism, we must stop it. Whatever it is, government has appointed individuals and given them positions and tasked them to perform some roles in the management of this country. We should respect that, whoever we are; members of our party, supporters should not take the law into their own hands. I will tell all our members in this country particularly party leadership, supporters and the youth that we must discourage that, we must not give a backing to that. We should not encourage young men to do it that way. Directly or indirectly we should stop that.”

He also rejected claims that government is not in control of the country hence such attacks by the party’s members.

He noted that “government is in full control of this. We have asked peace enforcers to take charge of it and do what is appropriate.”

NPP can’t ‘remote control’ vigilante supporters – Sammy Awuku

Meanwhile, the Youth Organizer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has conceded that his party cannot control all its members across the country, but said they should not be blamed for the rise in acts of political vigilantism.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Awuku however cautioned against treating the increased vigilantism as an NPP matter, and asserted that “we must also treat it as a matter that cuts across the political divide and not limit it to just the NPP.”

“If we also want to play the partisan card, we can give a total recall of hundreds of incidents, but that does not solve the matter,” he added.

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey & Naa K. Siaw-Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Stop attacks or face the law– Blay warns NPP hooligans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, it is “only fair that those who worked for the government to be in power” to be first time beneficiaries of the government’s policy programs.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QQOseSuneL17bIi1wswfvOQsGTTomsF2″]Delivering his opening address at the NPP’s National Delegates’ Conference in the Central Region, Freddy Blay said such party members must also be made ambassadors for the party’s policy programs in their respective communities.

“It is only fair that those who worked for the government to be in power, who believes in the policies and support of its implementation, must be first time beneficiaries and channels /of communication of government programs in our communities,” he said.

“It is advisable and imperative that our government recognizes the creative and entrepreneurial abilities of members of our party and economically empower them so that they can be an example of the prosperity we seek to deliver to Ghanaians,” he added.

Freddie Blay’s comment comes to support one made in April this year by the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Anthony Abayifa Karbo who implored DCE’s to consider hard working party members first in employment opportunities.

Freddie Blay noted that there has been growing concerns from some members of the party that they do not have jobs despite working hard to get the party into government.

He said there are “growing complaints about access to government functionaries and lack of employment which we inherited from the NDC administration. This is disturbing but related to the economic problem.”

Gov’t engaging in cronyism – NDC MP

The MP for Sagnarigu, A.B.A Fuseini on Friday accused the New Patriotic Party government of engaging in “nepotism, cronyism and selective politics” following new guidelines for the selection of caterers for the government’s School Feeding Programme.

The guidelines called for earmarking 30 percent of the schools in each district as a protocol allocation for the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, according to a letter sighted by citifmonline.com.
–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Put NPP members first in gov’t programs – Freddy Blay to Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He believes it will be inappropriate to reinstate these executives, who in his view did not contribute to the party’s victory in the 2016 general elections.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lYiNHgUlOtwqur1y1tEI1nvHA7yW49hs”]Making his case on Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, Mr. Blay said : “If you needed people to undertake the biggest battle of an election and you thought that those that were in charge will not contribute to winning so you put them aside and you put other people in charge and they go to the battle and they are victorious. I do not see the wisdom that we should go back for people we thought will not help.”

The National Vice Chairman of the party, Sammy Crabbe was suspended indefinitely in 2015, alongside the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong.

The suspension of the two came shortly after the suspension of Paul Afoko, who was National Chairman.

They were suspended for “misconduct” which included a disregard for party structures.

Mr. Afoko and Mr. Crabbe subsequently filed a suit over their suspension but both suits were thrown out by the court.

Mr. Agyepong unlike the two, did not seek a legal action, but appeared to have supported the action by the duo viewed as his allies.

Afoko will remain suspended

Freddie Blay also emphasized that Mr. Afoko will not be reinstated, adding that “there has not been any discussion” in relation to reinstating him.

I wasn’t surprised

According to him, the instruction for him to take over Afoko’s role after his suspension did not come as a surprise to him, because the party’s constitution makes provision for the “Vice Chair to act when the Chairman is not around.”

“The way the crisis was going, it was not surprising that I found myself to be Chair. One door closes and another opens. The situation I find myself as acting Chairman of the party presents new challenges. I have been busy and I find it interesting but that is okay,” Mr. Blay added.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Reinstating suspended executives ‘unwise’ – Freddie Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I am Chair of the GNPC but I consider that to be service that I am rendering. If you think that that it is a reward, I beg to differ. I consider what I am doing as a service to my country, ” Mr. Blay said.

Mr. Blay was appointed a few months ago to serve as Chairman of the GNPC by President Nana Addo.

He also commented on NPP’s internal affairs, including the suspension of some executives, saying it would not be advisable to reinstate them.

He believes reinstating them would be unfair since in his view , they failed to contribute to the party’s victory in the 2016 general elections.

Making his case on Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, Mr. Blay said : “If you needed people to undertake the biggest battle of an election and you thought that those that were in charge will not contribute to winning so you put them aside and you put other people in charge and they go to the battle and they are victorious. I do not see the wisdom that we should go back for people we thought will not help.”

The National Vice Chairman of the party, Sammy Crabbe was suspended indefinitely in 2015, alongside the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong.

The suspension of the two came shortly after the suspension of Paul Afoko, who was National Chairman.

They were suspended for “misconduct” which included a disregard for party structures.

Mr. Afoko and Mr. Crabbe subsequently filed a suit over their suspension but both suits were thrown out by the court.

Mr. Blay also emphasized that Mr. Afoko will not be reinstated, adding that “there has not been any discussion” in relation to reinstating him.

I wasn’t surprised

According to him, the instruction for him to take over Afoko’s role after his suspension did not come as a surprise to him, because the party’s constitution makes provision for the “Vice Chair to act when the Chairman is not around.”

“The way the crisis was going, it was not surprising that I found myself to be Chair. One door closes and another opens. The situation I find myself as acting Chairman of the party presents new challenges. I have been busy and I find it interesting but that is okay,” Mr. Blay added.
–
By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post My appointment as GNPC Chair not a reward – Freddie Blay appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.