“The NPP as a party unreservedly condemns this reckless, amateurish, and misguided statement from Mr. Anyidoho, especially judging from his background as a former presidential spokesperson for former President John Evans Atta Mills, who was hailed by all as a peace-loving personality,” a statement signed by National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Sammy Awuku added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”clOejQv6j0NyPTohy7RuErt9gkbhtumF”]Mr. Anyidoho had in an interview on Accra-based Happy FM, indicated that President Akufo-Addo will be overthrown just like his father and the late Dr. K. A Busia due to the ratification of the controversial defence cooperation agreement between Ghana and the US.

“There will be a civilian coup d’état. There will be a social revolution. We [NDC] are starting it on Wednesday. The movement is starting on Wednesday. Nana Addo will have sleepless nights. He will suffer diarrhea. He said he wanted to be president, but we will make sure he will be fed up on the seat,’’ he added.

Anyidoho has been widely condemned for the comment.

Security agencies must be on alert

The statement from the NPP also urged the security agencies to be on alert to avert any attempt to destabilize the country.

“We call on the security agencies to be on the alert because there is no smoke without fire. The police should invite Mr. Anyidoho over his treasonable comments and inciting Ghanaians to forcibly remove a democratically elected government,” the statement added.

CID picks up Anyidoho for threatening a ‘coup d’état’

Meanwhile, Koku Anyidoho, has been invited by the Criminal Investigations Department [CID] over the comments.

He was picked up at the International Press Centre in Accra on Tuesday during a press conference by a group of opposition political parties known as the Inter-Party Coalition for National Sovereignty, who are kicking against the Ghana-US Defence Cooperation agreement ratified by Parliament last Friday.

Anyidoho should be questioned for ‘treasonable comments’ – Hamid

Government had said on Tuesday that it expects the country’s security agencies to interrogate Mr. Anyidoho for making what it considers treasonable comments.

Speaking to Citi News, the Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, condemned Koku Anyidoho’s comments saying “Our [government’s] immediate reaction is utter condemnation of the comments by Koku Anyidoho. We condemn it in the very strongest of terms. When people make treasonable comments, when people allude to the fact that they intend to overthrow a government, it will be important for the security agencies to have a chat with him and to find out how he intends to do that.”

He indicated that, although the NDC has subsequently dissociated itself from Mr. Anyidoho’s comments, it has to take a firmer stance by strongly condemning same.

“Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the General Secretary of the NDC says the party disassociates itself from Koku Anyidoho’s comments, but we think that merely disassociating the NDC from that comment is not enough. We think that the NDC should condemn this in the strongest possible terms.”

The National Democratic Congress [NDC], has stated its opposition to the Ghana-US Defence Cooperation agreement, after its members in Parliament, staged a walkout during the approval.

Minority to join demo against ‘US military base’ agreement

The Minority in Parliament has already served notice that on Wednesday, it will join some Ghanaians in Accra to demonstrate against the recently ratified Ghana-US Defence Cooperation agreement.

In a statement copied to citifmonline.com, the caucus described the agreement as a betrayal of the Ghanaian people by the Akufo-Addo government.

The Ranking Member of the Communications Committee and Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu constituency, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, who signed the statement, said they have taken a decision to “unanimously and without reservation resolved to support and join Ghanaians who will be demonstrating tomorrow [Wednesday].

Below is the full statement from the NPP

NPP CONDEMNS RECKLESS STATEMENT OF KOKU ANYIDOHO

It has come to the notice of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the Deputy General Secretary of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho is inciting Ghanaians to revolt against the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The NDC loose-talker in an interview with Accra-based Happy FM was emphatic that a nationwide demonstration under the sole sponsorship of his party and being led by the Ghana First Patriotic Front (GFPF) is the beginning of activities to stage a coup d’etat against the NPP government which was democratically elected in 2016.

The NPP as a party unreservedly condemns this reckless, amateurish, and misguided statement from Mr. Anyidoho, especially judging from his background as a former presidential spokesperson for former President John Evans Atta Mills, who was hailed by all as a peace-loving personality.

We call on the security agencies to be on the alert because there is no smoke without fire. The police should invite Mr Anyidoho over his treasonable comments and inciting Ghanaians to forcibly remove a democratically elected government.

We call on all Ghanaians to condemn this reckless statement of Mr. Anyidoho because 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule under the Fourth Republic did not come cheap.

We must guard our democracy jealously and must not allow any disappointed and peeved Politician feeling the pinch of being in opposition to take our destiny for granted.

The security network must be on high alert on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 since the NDC is bent on using the demonstration to destabilize the country. We will resist any attempt by the opposition NDC to make Ghana ungovernable.

The rule of law must work and everyone must respect the law. Ghanaians voted massively for President Akufo-Addo to rule for four years and we must respect that.

If the NDC has alternate views on how this nation should be governed, there are constitutional avenues for doing so, other than inciting the citizenry to a coup d’etat.

Anyone who will dare disturb the enviable peace and order in Ghana will be met squarely.

Ghana First

…Signed….
Sammy Awuku
(National Youth Organizer)

–

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

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At a lunch meeting called at his behest in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Awuku expressed concerns at the seeming lack of respect among the hopefuls and the derogatory comments from their members, especially on social media.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ajyr256WMXEd1Z2uTyHWQMwslW6jBEc5″]”Instead of you and your supporters to help propagate government information on social media, you spend most of the time engaging in unnecessary debates and attacks,” Mr. Awuku scolded the aspirants.

“At least, engage in cutting-edge issues confronting the youth wing” Sammy Awuku remarked.

“We have a party and a government to run, and you must know that is paramount. That comes first before your interest,” he counselled them.

The National Youth Organiser also revealed that, he has formed a committee, headed by the deputy National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha, to monitor comments and statements from the hopefuls and their members,  adding that they will answer to any negative comment from them when vetting begins.

“Call your supporters to order. Let them know that their conduct reflects the conduct of their leaders. I am not trying to quench the fire or to cow you, if your contest generates heat devoid of insults, it’s good,” Mr. Awuku noted.

He also reminded the hopefuls that, they would have to be mindful of their utterances against each other, because they will be working together as party members after the contest.

National Youth Organiser aspirant hopefuls present at the meeting were Nana Boakye, Dominic Eduah, Kamal Deen, Alhassan Abdul Ganiyu and Bright Essilfie.

The hopefuls have pledged to engage in an issue-based campaign before and after their vetting.

–

By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Since the NPP’s election victory, the escalation of such acts of lawlessness by irate NPP youth has prompted renewed scrutiny, but has been met with little restraint from the party’s supporters or increased action from law enforcement.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fmc8YowIwYo9kMvr8iLGRHOimZxc3qNg”]The lack of action from police is seen by some to be emboldening such incidents.

The most recent incident, in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, saw offices of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) locked up by some youth of the area alleged to be members of the NPP’s Invincible Forces.

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.

Police must step up

Echoing President Nana Akufo-Addo’s comments on the acts of vigilantism, Mr. Awuku said the NPP has been clear in its condemnation of such acts, and shifted the onus onto the police to act decisively on such incidents.

“The police should not wait to be prompted by the Asylum Down Head office of the NPP or the Flagstaff House before they can do their work because, per the laws of our country, they are mandated to enforce these laws.”

The NPP has millions of supporters nationwide and the party leadership cannot “remote control someone in Techiman,” he argued further.

“What we can all do will be to support these security agencies. Anybody who breaks the law, deal with the person ruthlessly, according to the laws of our country.”

The incident at Techiman adds to the growing list of similar acts of lawlessness perpetrated by NPP-affiliated groups over the last seven days.

Other more recent incidents include disturbances in Karaga and Sissala West, perpetrated by alleged NPP supporters.

Following that, youth aligned to the NPP stormed an Assembly election in Adeiso in the Eastern Region, and allegedly assaulted some assembly members when the election did not go their way.

These added to 18 separate attacks previously reported by Citi News since the NPP assumed the mantle of governance.

–

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

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58,000 health trainees, comprising nurses and midwives, will be paid their allowance of GH¢400 per person, for each of the 10 months of the academic year.

The government has thus committed GHC232 million for the payment of the allowances for the 2017/2018 academic year. This was announced by President Akufo-Addo at a grand event to celebrate the restoration of the allowance in the Brong Ahafo region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2Kl3xshe0o5ovLpOaCeNjeaTe64i9bj7″]Ahead of the 2016 general election, the NPP promised to reintroduce the scrapped allowance.

On Tuesday, a ceremony was held in Sunyani to officially launch the reintroduction of the allowance, even though payment had begun since September.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Awuku, who doubles as the Board Chairman of the Youth Employment Agency, YEA, said, “With a fulfilled heart, I write once again as one of our major campaign promises; the restoration of the nurses-trainee allowance has been implemented. I thank the president of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo… We greatly commend him for a good work done as he continues to do more.”

“We the youth of Ghana will continue to give him our unflinching support in moving the country forward, as he is a shining example of a political leader who promises and delivers.”

In 2014, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) scrapped the payment of allowances to trainee nurses on the basis that it disallowed sufficient funds needed to improve infrastructure to accommodate more trainees into the nursing schools.

The restoration of the allowance follows the implementation of the NPP government’s flagship programme, Free SHS – to cater for the tuition, accommodation, and feeding of students in state-owned second cycle institutions across the country.

–

By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Dr. Donkor, the Minority Spokesperson on Employment, Social Welfare, and State Enterprise noted to Citi News that his concerns were not because Sammy Awuku was a member of the New Patriotic Party.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ao9WOEF1PCsa4A5X402VlAF5Z5IRpC1r”]”I raised an objection not because he is Sammy Awuku or because he is an NPP [Youth] Organiser. I raised issues with the very requirement of the law. Act 887 of 2015 in section 4, 1(a) it is very specific on the competencies expected of the board chairperson.”

The act in question says the Chairperson of the YEA must be a person of recognized standing and experience in administration and human resource development or training.

But Dr. Donkor said the Minority in Parliament feels Mr. Awuku does not match up to this requirement, and thus called on President Akufo-Addoo to reconsider this appointment.

“Sammy Awuku has a lot of potential. One is not against Sammy Awuku chairing a board, but one is against Sammy Awuku chairing the Youth Employment Agency Board because of the requirement of the law.”

“We believe he could be a member of the board but to be the Chair, the law was very specific on the competencies expected of it [the chairperson] and that is why we are appealing to His Excellency the President, or the appointing authority, to take a second look and let our laws work,” Dr. Donkor added.

On Friday, 15th September, 2017, the YEA inaugurated its board, which included the Founder of Ghana’s School Feeding Programme, Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffour, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong who represents management on the Board, and Lawyer Bright Wereko Brobbey, Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.

The acting CEO of the National Youth Authority, Emmanuel Sin Ayet Asigri, and a Forensic Auditor, Mr. James Quarshie were also appointed as board members.

–

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

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This is according to the party’s National Youth Organizer of the party, Sammy Awuku.

According to Mr. Awuku, a pineapple processing factory will be commissioned by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region on Friday, August 25, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”RZTHHIhw4vSq04onPUInaLrwUHb336Xq”]Two others, he mentioned are at different stages of completion and will be commissioned in due course by the president.

The commissioning will also be the formal launch of the implementation of the policy which the NPP believes will actualize the industrialization drive of Ghana.

Speaking to Citi News in Takoradi over the weekend, Mr. Awuku noted that government is ready to fulfill his promises.

He said “this week, President Akufo-Addo will be cutting sod for the commencement of the one district one factory with the first factory in Ekumfi on Friday.”

“It is a pineapple juice factory. We also have one of the factories ready at Twifo Ati-Morkwa district which the president in due course will cut sod for its commencement. It is a toothpick producing factory. We also have one fruit juice base factory in the Assin District. So we are moving, not even with the speed of light, but I think the government has demonstrated that it is ready to move beyond the comfort zone,” he added.

The NPP in its 2016 Manifesto promised of building one factory in each of the 216 districts across the country.

These factories will be built relative to the district’s endowed resources and capacity to particularly provide jobs for the people.

–

By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking to Citi News in Takoradi on the sidelines of an NPP youth programme, Mr Awuku noted that “the Ghanaian people spoke strongly against it [the tow levy] and president Akufo-Addo and his government has also taken a firm position that they are not implementing it…once the Ghanaian people don’t like it, I don’t see why we should impose it on them.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”LaiG9tgsuNfN6btu4YJdLW43AWwP0jkf”]Government announced that it will no longer implement towing levy which was scheduled to commence on July 1, 2017.

A statement signed by the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah explained that government took the decision after “extensive consultations between the Minister of Transport and stakeholders in the transport sector.”

Mr. Awuku said the law was propounded in 2012 and was to take effect in July 2017 but the NPP government is treading cautiously in order not to incur any unwarranted judgment debt for the country.

“We inherited a challenge from the previous government and then we also had to find way of making sure that we don’t incur debt on the other side but also listening to the very people who gave us the mandate,” he added.

Background

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) was expected to begin a nationwide towing programme in July 2017, to ensure that all vehicles that breakdown on highways are cleared off the roads.

For this reason, drivers were required to pay a road safety fee ranging between GHC 10 and GHC 200 in addition to their road worthy certification fees.

Commercial vehicles and taxes were to pay GH¢40, mini buses were to pay GH¢80, while heavy duty trucks were to pay between GH¢80 and GH¢200 annually, depending on their tonnage.

Non-commercial vehicles were expected to pay GH¢20.

The Road Safety Management Services Limited (RSMSL), the company which was contracted to tow the broken down vehicles has already acquired some 118 trucks ahead of the implementation, for the exercise.

But several persons kicked against the policy and called on government to scrap claiming it was a total rip-off .

–

By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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But he wants the process expedited because, according to him, while the government cannot fail the youth who voted massively to return the NPP to power, “time is also not on our side.”

Sammi Awuku was speaking at a presidential youth dialogue held at the Osu Castle Gardens, Friday to herald International Youth Day which falls Saturday, August 12, to be celebrated on the theme; Youth Building Peace.

In attendance were Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo, who delivered the keynote address, Youth and Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah, the Chief Executive of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Emmanuel Asigri and Madam Erika Goldson, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Acting Country Representative.

“Nana Addo recognizes the mandate that the youth of our country gave him and we cannot fail the masses. I’m confident the president will deliver, but Mr. Senior Minister let’s double up because time is also not on our side”, he said to spontaneous applause by a selection of youths from all 10 regions of the country to participate in the forum.

He pointed out that unemployment today presents the biggest obstacle to youth development as well as the biggest challenge to Africa’s security and should be fought on all fronts.

Sammi Awuku explained that since the devil always finds jobs for idle hands, much of the agitations over public facilities and office seizures would not occur if many of the youth were employed.

“I want the NPP government to know that the youth voted massively for us and we also have to move beyond just the paper talk when we are solving youth unemployment. I say this because under the previous administration, it was always a fanfare when it was International Youth Day. At least today we are in the open, so we’ve moved from the air-conditioned room at the Conference Centre as it used to be, to face the reality under the sun. Today we are faced with big challenges across in terms of our youth. You have growing anxiety, and growing uncertainty. And that is why at the least provocation the youth will either seize something or misbehave.

“Whilst we always condemn and condemn in no uncertain terms, government must also lead the way in quickening the process in helping provide jobs for our teeming youth,” he said, capping the prompting with the popular refrain, “Boys abrƐ oo, boys abrƐ”.

He also called on the youth to end “the unnecessary agitations” that sometimes happen at the least provocation since it does not make the fight for youth employment any better.

“It doesn’t make us look good when we seize lorry parks or car parks. It weakens our front when we are seizing offices. In any case when you seize that office you cannot be the District Director, and if you sack that person who is occupying that office and you go to sit there, that does not mean your name is in the Controller and Accountant General’s book. So you are only occupying space.”

Sammi Awuku also cautioned the youth not to lend themselves to self-seekers who would engage them to fight proxy wars, saying “whilst we will not condone youth agitation, and whilst we also want to speak true to power, the older guys too should stop using the youth to fight proxy wars.”

–

Source: Graphic Online

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Supreme Court judge, Justice William Atuguba and the National Youth Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Awuku, bumped into each other at the event.

The NPP youth leader, who played a major role in the victory of the party last year, made headlines when he was hauled before the Supreme Court for criminal contempt after he had publicly criticized the justices for an order he considered to be prejudiced against Western Publications Limited, publishers of DAILY GUIDE in the heat of the famous election petition hearing.

At the time, Justice Atuguba, who presided over the court, did not spare the young man when he appeared before the justices to explain why he should not be committed to prison sentence or a fine since his comments were deemed to be scandalous to the court.

The court subsequently banned Mr Awuku from the rest of its proceedings on the election petition and he narrowly escaped a severe punishment of the court.

But it was all smiles when the two met moments after the inauguration of the new Chief Justice during refreshment.

Interestingly, Justice Atuguba could not make Sammy Awuku out initially, but after some few seconds said “…aah Sammi Awuku eerrh…ooh good to see you again. You know after our encounter I learnt that you are a very good gentleman… I monitored you a few times and I was impressed…hehehe keep it up…”

Some anxious paparazzi, who had seen the two exchanging pleasantries, immediately placed their cameras on them.

In response, Awuku said “… My Lord now I know my real size so I’m staying out of trouble.”

They both burst into laughter with the media and other guests keeping a close eye on them. This was the first time Justice Atuguba and Sammy Awuku were meeting at a major public event.

Some Justices of the Superior Court, who were nearby, described the episode as ‘father and son’ reunion.

Awuku was later seen escorting Justice Atuguba to his vehicle. The NPP youth organizer said “it was just exchange of pleasantries.

He, however failed to give further details about their five-minute encounter.

–

Source: Daily Guide

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Awuku, who has been credited with building a formidable, but radical youth group that led the NPP campaign into the 2016 elections, is said to be eyeing the position of National Organizer, leaving a huge vacuum to be filled.

On various social media platforms, the contest is getting heated, with some engaging in name-calling, innuendos and insults.

[contextly_sidebar id=”NMuzhddON1gH3VY4actGrZTWTlqHhIzD”]Indeed, most followers of the history of the NPP under the 1992 Constitution, tout Awuku as one of the greatest youth leaders of the party.

For majority of the youth, it is an emotional departure for their charismatic youth leader who is also credited with bringing vibrancy and energizing the party youth base.

The thought of him not being the youth leader again, is an emotional matter according to some constituency Youth and Regional Youth Organizers who spoke with The New Crusading Guide.

Even though it is rumored that he will be contesting for the National Organizer position of the party, he is yet to confirm. But even before he does that, many party Executives across the country are excited they will be working with him.

But the major questions on the lips of many party followers, has to do with who replaces him, as they are torn between three formidable contenders; namely Nana Boakye aka Nana B, Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Dominic Kwasi Eduah, incumbent Deputy National Youth Organizer of the NPP, and Kamal Deen, who is the incumbent Nasara Coordinator of the party.

Kamal Deen is well known among the NPP Youth following his association with Sammy.

The student’s wing of the party, known as TESCON is no stranger to him. He has served as president of TESCON at the University of Mines and Technology at Tarkwa, and later become TESCON president at KNUST.

On several occasions, he has mounted the stage to speak at TESCON events motivating the young men and women to work hard for the party.

Dominic Edua, is equally no stranger to student’s politics as he ably served as Awuku’s trusted lieutenant prior to the 2016 elections, criss-crossing across the country. He, like Nana B, is seen to be affable and more pragmatic. He is said to be “a guy of few words but with action.”

The hold of Kamal Deen in the Zongo communities cannot be downplayed, as he is credited with delivering votes in those communities to the NPP.

“We did not win a lot of seats in those communities, but the votes appreciated a lot and so Kamal also deserves commendation,” a youth activist told this paper.

“We have a huge challenge now, since they are all perfect replacements for Sammy Awuku. We do not know who to vote for. Interestingly, none of them seem to want to depart from the legacy of Awuku so we are encouraged by that,” another Regional Youth Executive of the NPP told The New Crusading Guide.

–

Source: The New Crusading Guide/Ghana

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