‘Ghanaians must object to this lackadaisical attitude towards solving problems in this country.  The penchant of successive governments to opt for easier methods of solving problem in this country must not be countenanced.  These shortcuts decisions in a long- run go to affect the country adversely,” the PPP, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Murtala Mohammed, and issued to the media in Accra yesterday said.

District Assemblies all over the country, the statement noted, are enjoined by law to tow all broken down vehicles on “our roads at a fee” while Section 21 of the Road Traffic Act-2004(ACT 683), indicates the penalty for leaving vehicles or trailers on “our roads,” it said.

And instead of enforcing the law, the PPP said, the government was rather charging Ghanaians to pay an extra levy to solve a problem whose solution already exists.

“We cannot continue to sit aloof and watch while successive governments continue to milk the state with impunity under the guise of parliamentary approval. What happened to consultation of the people?” the statement asked.

According to the statement, Parliament must represent the interest of the people but it said in this particular instance, the decision of Parliament did not represent the interest of Ghanaians and therefore, “we must reject this so-called “advisory report” from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport.”

“The party finds it absolutely preposterous that the law enjoins us to engage the services of only one company – “Road Safety Management Company Limited,” the statement said.

This particular clause inserted into the law, the PPP asserted, was a recipe for corruption which every Ghanaian must be worried about.

“Its public knowledge that the owners of this company are behind the companies in the SUBAH and SADA scandals that caused the country to lose close to 1 billion Ghana cedes during the NDC administration.

“On what basis did the government and Parliament of Ghana come to the conclusion that, that particular company is the only company in the world that can deliver towing services to Ghana?  The district assemblies must contract their own towing companies and collect the approved fees to pay those contractors from fines imposed on offenders. This is not difficult to do and if the government cannot enforce this simple solution, then we will not pay – YENTUA,” the statement stressed.

According to the PPP, the enforcement of the law will rather promote discipline on “our roads since the fees to be imposed on the offenders by the assembly can be designed to ensure compliance with road safety rules.”

The statement also called on government to empower the district assemblies to vote for their DCEs so that they will stand a better chance of enforcing the law and generating revenue for local development.

“We, therefore, call upon Ghanaians to oppose this tow levy by openly speaking against the levy and demonstrate for the revision of the law with immediate alacrity,” the statement concluded.

–

Source: Today Newspaper

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The party is disappointed it polled only 1% of the total valid votes cast in the recently held national.

Kofi Asamoah Siaw, the policy advisor of the party in a Citi News interview said, the PPP will hire an external consultant to look into the party’s performance in the December polls.

He said, they will ascertain the quality of their campaign message among other things to arrive at the cause of their loss.

“This is something the nation committee has agreed on that we need to do, and to find out our own policy propositions if they are acceptable by Ghanains and why Ghanaians decided that even though they voted for change, all of these 6 million voters decided to one side to vote for the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo, there should be a reason,” he said.

He added that, “We need to break that jinx by getting beyond 1% and getting members elected into Parliament. Maybe we have exhausted our ability to think through and find the solution. Let someone from outside see what we can do and based on his advice and recommendation, we’ll devise a strategy for 2020.”

Mr Asamoah Siaw said although the party can internally assess its performance in the elections and devise strategies to perform better in the next elections, it would prefer to use external consultants to avoid biases.

‘PPP election history’

The PPP came third in the just ended election behind the winning New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The party made it second appearance in the political race in the 2016 elections after first contesting in 2012.

Its founder, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom has been the flagbearer on both occasions but has failed to poll a significant number of votes although its 2016 performance was better than that of 2016.

It is unclear who the party will present as its presidential candidate in the 2020 elections as some have suggested that the 63-year-old leader of the party will not contest in any national election again.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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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
Follow @jnyabor

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Dr Nduom, who was addressing party supporters and sympathizers at Mankessim in the Central Region on Saturday [November 12] as part of his Central Regional campaign tour said the party was built on peace and therefore its supporters must conduct themselves as such.

He said, the PPP has not been involved in any act of violence since its launch  and that must be maintained.

“Since the PPP came here, has there been any record of violence? Has anyone ben attacked? This party is a very peaceful one. We respect ourselves and we are against violence. In this year’s election, we don’t want any violence. The voting must be done in peace. Supporter of the party should fight. We know we will win this election so we have to be careful, and not be involved in violence so that, when we win the elections people will not dispute it.”

Papa Kwesi Nduom, who was cleared by the Electoral Commission last week to contest in the upcoming December elections after a legal battle said he was optimistic the Progressive People’s Party will win the elections.

He told the supporters that the PPP remains the best option for Ghanaians after enduring several years of bad governance from the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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About 15.7 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballot in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in about 29,000 polling stations across the country.

Political pundits have projected a close race between sitting President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

But speaking at a news conference on behalf of the party’s 25 parliamentary aspirants in the region, Ms Bertrin Abena Britwum, contesting the Manhyia North seat, said the time had come for the voting public to stand up and vote against the ruling NDC and the opposition NPP because of their record of bad governance.

She said, “Consistently voting for these two parties will take our beloved country further down into the stone age because Ghana, under the two parties, has failed to rub shoulders with her peers in the Diaspora”.

She unveiled a chain of campaign activities and economic growth agenda of the PPP that focused on human development and progressive leadership which are tipped to generate more job opportunities and tackle the protracted unemployment “menace” in the Ashanti Region.

“We can boast of financial companies, hospitality industries, estate companies and radio and television companies,” Ms Britwum said amidst thunderous clapping and chanting from party supporters.

“It is time we took our destiny into our own hands as a people and as a region and got rid of the NDC who are championing one million votes without any tangible and worthwhile project that has benefited the people in the region,” she said.

Ms Britwum said, “Our country is at the threshold of a new era, an era that beckons for a new kind of leadership, a leadership that is uncontaminated by the prejudices of the past, a leadership committed to change and ready to solve the everyday problems that confront the average Ghanaian.

“A vote for the PPP is a vote for growth and development in a peaceful environment. A vote for the PPP is liberation from the economic and mental slavery the NDC Government has subjected us to in the last eight years.”

Mr Frank Aboagye Danyansah, the Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East, slammed both the NDC and NPP for what he described as “continuously throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians.”

The two top political parties often boast of initiating massive non-existent development in the region, he said, “but we sit here and cannot point to even one that is changing lives in the region.”

Mr Danyansah said: “It is time to awake fellow Ghanaians in the region and beyond to bring life back to the region. We shall not sit for our region full of human and natural resources to be destroyed.”

–

Source: GNA

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This follows a judgement by an Accra High Court on Friday [October 28] ordering the Electoral Commission of Ghana to allow the party correct some errors that led to the Dr Nduom’s disqualification from the 2016 presidential elections.

The party successfully challenged had Dr Nduom’s disqualification in court praying that it restrains the EC from holding balloting for the presidential elections and annul the EC’s decision to disqualify the flagbearer.

The General Secretary of the PPP, Murtala Mohammed told Citi News, the decision by the court has shamed the people who mocked the party when their flagbearer was disqualified.

“There has been propaganda going on against out candidate that we are fishes without head because they have disqualified [your flagbearer].”

He said some political parties had taken advantage of EC’s initial decision to woo the party’s supporters to join their party.

He added that the party is eager to have its presidential candidate represented on the Presidential ballot ahead of the polls.

“By Monday afternoon we should be able to serve the EC with the judgment,” he said.

He said the EC’s challenge that the party had a used someone an electorate who subscribed twice to the PPP flagbearer’s nomination forms will be duly corrected to ensure PPP is given the chance to contest in the upcoming presidential polls.

Meanwhile, Flagbearer of the Party, Papa Kwesi Nduom has said that the party will consult its lawyers to determine how the errors must be corrected to ensure that the submitted forms meets all the electoral requirements that qualifies him to contest as a president.
‘I’ve no evil intentions against EC boss – Nduom’

Meanwhile, Papa Kwesi Nduom has said that he bears no grudge against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei following the party’s court victory over the latter.

Mr Nduom who was until yesterday [October 28] disqualified by the Electoral Commission from the upcoming presidential elections for errors identified on his nomination forms said his party has only been advocating for the strengthening of the electoral body to enable it deliver on its mandate effectively.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This follows the judgement by an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, ordering the EC to allow the party correct errors on its presidential nomination forms that formed the basis for the flagbearer’s disqualification from this year’s presidential race.

Citi News’ Sixtus Dong-Ullo reported that the supporters were in a jubilant mood, chanting and singing party songs.

The judgement indicated that the Electoral Commission had disobeyed its own rules in Regulation 9 of CI 94 which stated that the EC and its returning officers for the presidential election were under a legal obligation to afford the persons with errors on their form an opportunity to make any necessary amendments or alterations before the close of nominations.

Some of the teeming supporters told Citi News they were excited about the court’s judgement. Some said it was a positive sign for the party’s chances in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, flagbearer, Papa Kwesi Nduom has told the teeming supporters at the Party’s Headquarters that his victory must been seen as a wake up call to all public institutions to execute their mandate with diligence.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post PPP supporters celebrate party’s victory [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, some electorates have the impression that all parliamentary aspirants of the PPP were also disqualified.

Speaking to Citi News, Joseph Eshun said the EC’s announcement of the disqualification was not done in a proper manner.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cdeXd02epgvFnJIjZx64BGK2Rhn6vBlo”]“It is a mistake the EC did, it is only the flagbearer [that was disqualified], but through the announcement that was made, they should have mentioned that it is only the flagbearer but not the parliamentary aspirants. It has affected the whole of our aspirants,“ he said.

He added that “we have 170 parliamentary aspirants; so if the news comes out to say that PPP has been disqualified but we know the parliamentary aspirants are still contesting, it is a problem.”

He stressed that, the chances of the parliamentary aspirants in the upcoming elections are negatively being affected.

Joseph Eshun further stated that, the embattled flagbearer, whose disqualification is being challenged in court, has assured them of his support going to the polls in December.

‘Nduom, 12 others disqualified’

The Electoral Commission on Monday disqualified thirteen presidential nominees including the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP), Papa Kwesi Nduom from contesting in the upcoming presidential polls.

The others included Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC), the People’s National Convention’s (PNC) Dr. Edward Mahama and Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

According to the Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, those disqualified failed to meet the necessary requirements that makes them eligible to contest.

‘Parties challenge EC in court’

Some political parties whose presidential nominees were disqualified have initiated processes to seek redress in court.

The NDP, GCPP and the PNC have all vowed to drag the EC to court in a bid to have their aspirants  reinstated in the race.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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