This followed the intervention of chiefs, religious and opinion leaders within the Tamale Metropolis.

The Assembly Member for Nakpanzoo electoral area, who spoke for the aggrieved members, Mohammed Alhassan, today (Tuesday), confirmed their decision to Citi News.

[contextly_sidebar id=”kulQCMqSfKRWjzKmS6UDsJsOdjDYU2Lw”]He clarified that they were not against Iddrisu Musah Superior’s personality, but his conduct as the head of the Assembly.

“Chiefs and opinion leaders play a very critical role at that level. So when this petition came out, the chiefs, the opinion leaders including the Imams didn’t rest in their quest to get this issue resolved amicably.”

“…So we have actually been talked to and though it is hard for some of us, we had to take it like that and also let me state it on record that the impeachment was not against the person of Iddrisu Musah Superior, and so we are ready to work with him.”

Mohammed Alhassan insisted that, their concerns as chronicled in a signed resolution were legitimate and therefore called for immediate redress.

“We are backing down on the decision, but the issues that were raised in the petition are still relevant, and we call on other people to put their eye on the Assembly.”

It would be recalled that the aggrieved members in an earlier petition among other nagging concerns, accused Iddrisu Musah Superior of taken unilateral decisions and awarding contracts without due diligence.

They also claimed he recruited two of his personal assistants and paying each Ghc1,400 monthly.

But the MCE, Musah Superior, in a Facebook post rubbished the allegations, saying they were baseless and “absolutely false.”

“I run an open office and work with everyone cordially. I tour Electoral Areas with them in my Connect with the communities tour. My information is that, this is the first time a Tamale MCE has worked so prominently in our communities. I am proud of my relationship with the grassroots.”

Below is the letter withdrawing the impeachment process
Hon PM,
NOTIFICATION OF WITHDRAWAL

Please be informed that we hereby withdraw the resolution dated the 25th September, 2017 requesting you to call for a special meeting to initiate an impeachment process of Hon Iddrisu Musah – the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Tamale Metro Assembly.
Several reasons accounted for this decision. Among which include:

1. Timely intervention by our revered Chiefs including but not limited to the Vittin lana, the Banvim lana, and Lamshenaa. Others are Naa Yeba- Gukpena and Naa bapira- Kugnaa

2.The Islamic clergy also prevailed on us to rescend our decision.

3.The Hon PM in his small way contributed to this current position.

4. Most of all the level of remorse the Hon Chief Executive has shown indicates his readiness and willingness to change his usual ways of contravening the Standing Orders.

“In conclusion, we want to reaffirm our commitment to work to with the Hon. Iddrisu Musah to uplift the status quo of the city of Tamale. Blending the expertise of Hon. Assembly Members and his progressive style can bring a tremendous positive change to our dear metropolis.”

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post No more impeachment; Tamale MCE spared by angry members appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He secured hundred percent of the total votes of 57 to serve as the Tamale MCE of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s government.

The confirmation was held at the Tamale Sports Stadium on Friday, March 17.

As a youth activist who understands the geopolitical dynamics of the Tamale Metropolis, an elated Iddrisu Musah Superior reaffirmed his commitment to change the area in line with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) transformational agenda.

According to him, residents of Tamale through their elected representatives at the Assembly have decided to move forward.

“We have decided that we are collectively ready for development,” Iddrisu Musah Superior remarked.

He called for peaceful co-existence to attract investors and development partners. Iddrisu Musah Superior promised to liaise with traditional, religious and opinion leaders in the metropolis in his quest to meet the aspirations of the people.

He thanked President Nana Akufo Addo for the confidence reposed in him, and pledged his commitment to live up to expectation. Some residents of Tamale at the event in a Citi News interview expressed confidence in Musah Superior’s ability to accomplish the task.

They however advised him to operate an open door administration and seek guidance and counseling from technocrats at the Assembly and beyond.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Musah Superior overwhelmingly endorsed as Tamale MCE appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ahead of the official announcement, his name had been widely speculated in Tamale Township as the preferred MCE nominee.

Shortly after the announcement on Friday, March 10, 2017, the group’s Chairman, Mohammed Saani thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for the honour done the chiefs and people of the Tamale Metropolis.

He said the announcement did not come as a surprise saying, “It has been our wish or expectation that you were going to be nominated by His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.”

“We of the Northern Patriotic group are extremely happy and promise you all the support you will need to enable you distinguish yourself and to justify our inclusion in H.E Nana Addo’s wining team.”

The group expressed confidence in Musah Superior’s ability to transform the Tamale Metropolis into the business hub of the Sahel.

Mohammed Saani however pinpointed the Tamale Metropolis insanitary condition.

“We will want to inform you as a matter of urgency that poor sanitation is not befitting the area’s status as a metropolis. The recent survey on open defecation in the region brought to light that Tamale Metropolis topped the list as the dirtiest.”

“We will humbly request you to address that issue immediately you are sworn into office.”

The Northern Patriots group adopted and sponsored six constituencies in the Northern Region and won three at the 2016 elections.

The group’s members comprise contractors, business men, technocrats and teachers.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP Northern group congratulates Musah Superior appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Star-Ghana, a multi-donor funded initiative supported by DFID, DANIDA, and the EU seeks to support the creation, utilisation and institutionalisation of spaces for collective civil society engagement in order to increase the responsiveness of the executive and key state institutions at both local and national levels.

[contextly_sidebar id=”g2sy00LUoYdXKrh5yJzoAXcIYWLXmjE3″]In a statement dubbed: “Star –Ghana Elections Call for Media,” and “Star-Ghana Elections Call for Civil Society Organisations,” Star-Ghana has invited interested and eligible organisations to submit project proposals.

It said the project proposal should aim at helping to achieve peaceful, credible, issues-based and inclusive elections in 2016.

“Applicants are particularly encouraged to explore opportunities for formal/informal alliances/networks/ coalitions in the design and implementation of their proposed actions,” the statement said.

The Star-Ghana statement explained that the alliances/networks or coalitions may seek to; build innovative partnerships between CSO, the media and/or private sector organisations; link actors across levels of governance (community, district, regional and national) and/or enable collaborations between actors working on complementary issues.

The statement said the proposals has two components: an Open Component targeting all eligible CSO, irrespective of size, typology, location or programmatic focus and covering all activities which will contribute to peaceful, credible, issues-based and inclusive elections in 2016.

The Strategic Component on the other hand targets only national level research and advocacy organisations and media houses with the capacity and credibility to mobilise broad alliances of stakeholders for long term electoral reforms critical to strengthening democratic and accountable governance in Ghana.

Star-Ghana noted that Organisations/networks/alliances submitting applications must clearly demonstrate: How the project represents value for money; Track record of previous or ongoing work in the relevant area of the elections which the proposal seeks to address.

Evidence of partnerships or other collaborations with relevant state and non-state actors to implement the proposed project; How learning from the projects will be feed into future election cycles; and How issues of gender and social inclusion will be mainstreamed and addressed in the project

The main areas for consideration under the Open component are: Peace and security; Voter education; Electoral reform; Adjudication of disputes; Observation and monitoring of elections; and Inclusiveness and participation.

The main areas for consideration under the Strategic component are: Reforms of the Electoral Commission, including its composition and governance, appointments of commissioners and ways of working; and Constituency creation and demarcation.

The rest are: Integrity and inclusiveness of the Voters’ register; Financing elections and the EC; Election, peace and security; Political parties and election campaign financing; Electoral justice, including adjudication and litigation.

On Eligibility criteria, Star-Ghana explained that organisation/coalition/alliance will not be awarded grants for projects under both Open and Strategic components.

Open component organisations include: Registered Ghanaian CSOs, including community based organisations, media organisations, research and advocacy organisations, trade unions/labour organisations, private sector associations and registered civil society coalitions/networks/platforms in the governance sector.

Strategic component organisations include: Registered Ghanaian CSOs, including media organisations, research and advocacy organisations, trade unions/labour organisations, private sector associations and registered civil society coalitions/networks/platforms in the governance sector.

Interested organisations should visit www.star-ghana.org and complete the online application form which must be submitted on or before 11.59 hours on Sunday, January 17, 2016.

–

Source: GNA

The post STAR-Ghana to pump £22 million into 2016 election appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Some critics have questioned why the choice of Mac Manu considering the fact that he failed to retain power for the party in the 2008 election when he was the then party Chairman.

But speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show on Tuesday, Nana Addo said he is confident in the ability of the campaign team led by Peter Mac Manu to deliver victory for the NPP in 2016.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nJIJfC6nMPwadYFjd15Jl4HJF2hRGlKd”]He highlighted some of Mac Manu’s achievements in the past saying “he was the Western Regional chairman of the party who helped the NPP to get majority seats in the region. He has that to his credit as well as working very much at the grass root level. He was able to catapult us into a position of political prominence in the Western Region.”

According to Nana Addo, Mr. Mac Manu is also “extremely familiar with electoral processes.”

He added that Mac Manu is noted for his enormous knowledge in electoral processes saying “he’s been asked to talk about electoral systems all over the world. Although he has not been an electoral commissioner before, there is recognition that his knowledge of interest in the area is amazing.”

The Mac Manu led team assisted by Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, Dan Botwe, was outdoored at the NPP’s 15^th National Delegates Conference over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mac Manu has promised to reconcile all disgruntled members of the party to support the campaign for victory.

He said “although I have been appointed leader of the campaign, every member of NPP, every supporter, every well-wisher is a member of the campaign because we need to get to every voter to explain issues to them. Mac Manu and his team alone cannot do that” he emphasized.

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By:  Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Nana Addo extols Mac Manu’s credentials for victory in 2016 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Counsel for the party, Dr. Opoku Adusei and Prof. Mike Oquaye, told the Accra High Court that attempts to settle the matter out of court had proved futile, and as a result the party would want to remain neutral.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VFnP18mHMKpZH0mY5vbLdqgtnj9rh6jL”]They said since the plaintiff, Philip Addison, and the third defendant, Nii Noi Nortey, were both members, the party would not want to take sides.

Counsel prayed the court to hear the matter and deliver its ruling, saying the party would oblige by the ruling.

The NPP, earlier sought an out of court settlement of the case in which Addison, who was defeated in the parliamentary primaries, is demanding an annulment of the result, alleging the election was illegal.

Acting on behalf of the party, Dr. Adusei had prayed the court to allow the party to use internal mechanisms to settle the dispute and later report to the court.

The plaintiff and the second defendant in the matter, Valentino Nii Noi, who won the primary, agreed to the submission and moved the motion to set aside the earlier default judgement given by the court when the party failed to make an appearance.

The court, presided over by Ms. Patience Mills Tetteh, granted the plea for an out of court settlement and adjourned the case to December 16, for the parties to report the outcome to the court.

Unfortunately, the disputing parties failed to reach an agreement.

Following this, they prayed the court for another adjournment with the view that the case would be resolved by then.

The counsel for the party told the court yesterday [Tuesday] that they had held two meetings with the National and the Regional Executives in an attempt to settle the grievances of the two sides, however, they had proved futile.

Consequently, the court adjourned the case to January 12.

–

Source: Ghanaian Times

The post Addison back to court over NPP Klottey Korle primary appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVA) has criticized the Chairman of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei for not clarifying the commission’s stance on incessant calls for a new voters’ register ahead of the 2016 elections.

According to the group, the “deliberate” delays by the EC in making a decision on the voter’s register “could easily be a recipe for disaster in future elections”

[contextly_sidebar id=”qavynGYPhBl2Us6e4jzTZIyFI28uResj”]A statement signed by the group’s convener, David Asante, said: “The commissioner has not given a reply to the good people of Ghana whether to do a new register, or clean the existing register .The unreasonable deliberate delays and dithering on the part of the Commission is a dangerous practice. The Electoral Commission of Ghana over 5 months period has walked this Nation along a volatile path of uncertainty over what the future state of the voters register is . This could easily be a recipe for disaster in future elections.”

The group has spearheaded efforts to, in its opinion, get a new, more credible voters’ register ahead of the general elections in November next year.

Let My Vote Count’s efforts culminated in a demonstration which resulted in clashes between the police and protesters in Adabraka.

“In our own case, Mrs. Charlotte Osei is dragging her feet unnecessarily, showing little on her decision on the supreme court ruling that the NHIS card should not be used to register. Again the commission is mute on the call for a new credible voter register and is unwilling to open up to Ghana on her plans for a credible voter register. Prof. Jega said in his lecture organised by the IEA that ” the credibility of an election depends largely on the credibility of the voters register,” the LMVCA added in its statement.

Other groups, most notably the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), have reiterated the call for a new voters’ register, alleging the current one is bloated with names of foreigners and minors.

The post Voters’ register: ‘Stop delays and decide’- LMVC to EC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Several of them who spoke to Citi News during the party’s 15th Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region last weekend, highlighted the experience of the members of the team, which they felt would be vital in the party’s quest to win the elections in 2016.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xt2ynbhJDngGPpu6bqzlbz6A8orKTX6k”]A former National Chairman of party, Peter Mac Manu, will head the campaign team which also comprises of Dan Botwe (Campaign Strategist), Boakye Agyarko (Policy Adviser)  John Boadu  (National Organiser and Head of Operations Directorate), assisted by Otiko Afisa Djaba (National Women’s Organiser); Sammy Awuku (National Youth Organiser); and Kamal-Deen Abdulai (National Nasara Co-ordinator) and Ken Ofori-Atta (Director of Fundraising Committe), assisted by Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah, (National Treasurer)

One of the delegates, excited about the team, especially Mac Manu’s inclusion, said:  “The team announced in Sunyani is a formidable one because it is power that we are looking for, it’s not about individuals. Peter Mac Manu was a party chairman in 2005, he was there when the party won power in 2004 and he was also there when the party lost power in 2008. Considering his vast experience in politics, I believe he is the best person to lead the team as campaign manager.”

Another delegate stated that given the team that had been put together, nothing short of victory in the 2016 polls would be accepted.

“The leaders that Nana has introduced to us, we expect nothing but victory come 2016 from them and we want them to work with everybody to make sure that they listen to every party member and to make sure that we get victory in 2016. They are all perfect, they can all do the work and they will do it, we believe in them.”

The NPP has made the headlines for the wrong reasons recently for its internal strife culminating in the suspension of several senior officials, including the party’s National Chairman, Paul Afoko, the General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong and the second vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe.

A third delegate described as unfortunate the party’s recent internal wrangling but believes the formation of the campaign team was a step closer to victory in 2016.

“I believe in my party leaders and I know that we are going be behind them as we fight for 2016 because what we need is power in 2016 and not the internal wrangling that’s not taking us anywhere. [The campaign team] is very strong, looking at some on like Musa Superior, he’s very competent, they all are competent and I think that they will deliver,” she said.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EdKwakofi

The post Campaign team solid enough to give us victory – NPP delegates appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, although the NDC’s record under President John Mahama is enviable, the elections in 2016 still remains open.

[contextly_sidebar id=”M5jydz12ku8NUAegfc4f5PWqaCzlZ8fu”]Speaking at a forum organised by the NDC students’ wing [TEIN] in Cape Coast in the Central Region, Mr. Amissah-Arthur urged party members not to rest on their oars in projecting the NDC to Ghanaians.

“We need to continue to work because next year is going to be tough. Anybody who tells you it’s going to be easy walkover they don’t know what they are talking about; it’s going to be tough. We need to project the work that we have done because the last four years have been some of the more difficult periods in the economic history of our country.”

He also highlighted government’s achievements in some sectors of the economy including agriculture despite the sector’s slow growth rate this year.

“If you look at the trends of commodity prices like cocoa…we have guaranteed the farmers that we will continue to give them a large share of the proceeds of the crop. So even as the prices are going down, we are giving them a higher percentage of the global price so that the farmers will be guaranteed better standard of living,” Mr. Amissah-Arthur added.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur will be partnering President Mahama for the second time in 2016 after his re-nomination was endorsed by  the NDC.

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By:  Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post 2016 election will be tough for NDC– Veep appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Abu Ramadan argues that the Supreme Court’s ruling that the National Health Insurance Card was an illegal form of identification for voters strengthens his suit.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hNqMNlfH5RDfLDqZT8rZKgAVthYRea5O”]The Supreme Court a year ago ruled that the NHIS Card does not qualify anyone to be registered as a voter.

Ramadan’s suit comes at a time when debate for the compilation of a new register has deepened after the pposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), petitioned the Electoral Commission to replace the current register.

The party argues that the current register is not credible because it is bloated with names of foreigners and minors, an allegation the incumbent NDC has denied.

The Electoral Commission has since set up a five-member committee which collated the views of all parties and stakeholders at a recent public forum.

The committee is yet to come out with its recommendation which will be implemented by the EC.

The PNC’s Abu Ramadan is seeking the following reliefs.

Reliefs

1.A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 (hereinafter, the “Constitution”) the mandate of the Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile the register of voters implies a duty to compile, fair and transparent register.

2. A declaration that the 2012 Voters Register which contains the names of persons who have not established qualification to be registered is inconsistent with Article 42 and 45 (a) and therefore unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

3. An order setting aside the 2012 Voters Register and compelling the Electoral Commission to compile fresh Voters Register before any new public election or referendum is conducted in this country.

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By: Sammy Wiafe/citifmonilne.com/Ghana

The post Abu Ramadan turns to Supreme Court to nullify voters’ register appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.