The group at a news conference today [Thursday], said the Tamale Mayor, Iddrisu Musah Superior, has so far demonstrated that he is on top of his job.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2uSApsr6XPnHOgaF7YF3Xx3EB1yj9PA4″]According to the group’s Secretary, Bawa Abdul Samed, Iddrisu Musah Superior is capable of turning the Tamale Metropolis into an appreciable hub of the Sahel.

The group commended the MCE for decongesting the business areas of the Tamale Metropolis that has ensured free flow of vehicular and human traffic.

The group further thanked the Assembly for sacking commercial sex workers operating at night in the Metropolis. They advocated the need for peaceful coexistence at the Assembly to enable Iddrisu Musah accomplish his task.

They praised the chiefs of the area for their unflinching support and cooperation with the Tamale Mayor.

No more impeachment; Tamale MCE spared by angry members

In November this year, 31 elected members of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly who had initiated moves to impeach the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Iddrisu Musah Superior, finally backed down.

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, confirmed their decision to Citi News.

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.”

–

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP youth group commends Tamale Metropolitan Assembly appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 31 members, who can form a quorum to pass the vote of no confidence, called for a general assembly meeting to initiate the MCE’s removal from office, citing his disrespect towards them, among other allegations.

[contextly_sidebar id=”O284Udvn5ssUxKprYHEOFdFZA9MM1MBw”]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.”

The Assembly Members also claim the MCE has been awarding contracts without due process, and further accused him of taking critical decisions without prior approval of the Assembly, and lying or withholding information from the Assembly members, and by extension from the people of Tamale.

They also alleged that he mismanages the Assembly’s meager resources, by appointing two personal assistants to himself, paying each of them Ghc1, 400 a month.

He is also accused of constituting and paying a 61-member non-functional Task-force which cost the Assembly GHc 9,150 a month.

But these allegations were also denied in the MCE’s Facebook post.

“…the allegation that I have awarded contracts without due process is completely untrue. Since I assumed office, I have awarded only four contracts and all of fall within my THRESHOLD of 125,000 as the Metropolitan Chief Executive. The Contracts are:  refencing the Guunayili Cattle Market @ Ghc 106,000, Replacement of the weak wooden bridge with a metal one at Sanerigu-Dungu @ the cost of Ghc 79,534, clearing and removal of threes for the new Yam market at Gbabshe @ the cost of Ghc 72,000 and the paving of the durber ground at Banvim Lana’s palace @ the cost of Ghc, 93,541.”

“Lastly, I reject their claim that I am “hiding information and lying to the people of Tamale. I run an open, transparent and accessible office. Here on Facebook, I have consistently informed the people about my activities, etc. On our local radio stations, I have prominently engaged with the citizens,” Musah Superior retorted.

Find below a full statement

I have read the petition of some of the Hon Assembly persons. I have noted also that they deliberated posted the petition on the social media for reasons known to them.

My response to the Petition are as follows:

First, it is absolutely FALSE that I do not respect them as they alleged in point one. 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.

Second, the allegation that I have awarded contracts without due process is completely untrue. Since I assumed office, I have awarded only four contracts and all of fall within my THRESHOLD of 125,000 as the Metropolitan Chief Executive. The Contracts are:  refencing the Guunayili Cattle Market @ Ghc 106,000, Replacement of the weak wooden bridge with a metal one at Sanerigu-Dungu @ the cost of Ghc 79,534, clearing and removal of threes for the new Yam market at Gbabshe @ the cost of Ghc 72,000 and the paving of the durber ground at Banvim Lana’s palace @ the cost of Ghc, 93,541.

The petitioners stated also that, I pay my assistants     Ghc 1400 per month. That’s a fact. The two hardworking gentlemen were duly recruited by the Assembly. One is my Executive Assistant and the other works with the Public Affairs Department as the Media Laison officer and doubles as my operations man. They do not only deserve to be paid, they deserve some respect by the Hon Assemblymen who contact them day in and out.

The petitioners also claimed that I recruited 61 persons as TAMA Taskforce and pays each a patty amount of 150 per month. I say without hesitation that I only recruited 40 individuals to augment the efforts of the 21 member taskforce who were hired by the previous administrations under Hon Friday and Hon Gundaadoo. The claim that the taskforce is unfunctional is palpable false. The people of Tamale now conduct their businesses in a more orderly and peaceful CBD. The entire CBD which was “encroached” by traders has been wholly decongested. The chaos and indiscipline are no. Drivers, pedestrians, workers, banks and store owners now go about their activities without nuisance and hindrance. We have achieved all these because the Taskforce are diligent, professional, hardworking and committed to the job. The Hon Assembly persons must apologise to them for ridiculing them.

Other allegation in their baseless petition are that, I am hostile to them and that I take “serious decisions without informing them”. I can only respond to these if they come clear and provide explanations the nature of the hostility and decisions they claim I took without informing them.

Lastly, I reject their claim that I am “hiding information and lying to the people of Tamale”. I run an open, transparent and accessible office. Here on Facebook, I have consistently informed the people about my activities, etc. On our local radio stations, I have prominently engaged with the citizens. Between 5pm and 10pm, I run a surgery in my office and this has been hugely beneficial. Everyday, I meet hundreds of people as I walk around the Metropolis working for the people.

My conclusion is that, this petition is without merit. It is a propaganda piece to bring my good name into disrepute and to attempt to undermine my confidence. I am clear about what I am doing for the people and will continue to do the right things.

I have prepared myself adequately for the impeachment process. I will subject myself to our laws. I fear not the outcome! Tamale must work.

Musah Superior

–

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

The post I haven’t abused my office – Musah Superior fires back appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He described the petition as “flamboyantly outrageous and totally without basis,” but expressed intent to abide by due process in the matter.

The MCE, in a Facebook post, said he remained focused on overseeing the development of the Tamale metropolis.

I have just received a petition by some Assemblymen of TaMA to impeach me as the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale.

It is limbless, flamboyantly outrageous and totally without bases.

I am focused on fixing the problems of my city and people.

As a law abiding fellow, I will subject myself to laws of the land.

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has 60 Assembly members including 18 government appointees, and two MPs for Tamale South and Tamale Central.

Thus, the 31 members, can form a quorum to pass a vote of no confidence against the MCE.

The aggrieved Assembly Members in a letter to the Presiding Member, copied to the Coordinating Director and sighted by citifmonline.com, notified them of their resolution to pass a vote of no confidence against the MCE, explaining that they have lost confidence in him, hence the need for a general assembly meeting to initiate his removal from office.

The Assembly Members claim the MCE has been awarding contracts without due process, thus their moves to impeach him.

They further accused him of taking critical decisions without prior approval of the Assembly, and lying or withholding information from the Assembly members, and by extension from the people of Tamale.

They also alleged that he mismanages the Assembly’s meager resources, by appointing two personal assistants to himself, paying each of them Ghc1, 400 a month.

He is also accused of constituting and paying a 61-member non-functional Task-force which cost the Assembly GHc 9,150 a month.

–

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

The post Petition to impeach me baseless – Musah Superior appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A combined team of military and police led by the the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Iddrisu Musah Superior on Monday stormed some forest reserves in the metropolis to smoke out suspected marijuana smokers.

The move forms part of the assembly’s agenda to ensure that social vices are reduced in the Tamale Metropolis which is one of the hotspots in the Northern Region.

Iddrisu Musah Superior at press briefing declared zero tolerance for marijuana smoking, commercial sex trade, and open defecation among other social vices.

“It is against the law to smoke marijuana, and as a responsible lead officer of the metropolis, I have a responsibility to mobilize the rest of the metropolis to defeat this especially when we have the younger children engaging in it. Children between the ages of 14 and 17 are engaging in the use of marijuana and they are basically housed in the forest reserves.”

“We are not arresting them, but to remove them from danger, rehabilitate and support some of them to go back to school.”

He said chiefs, opinion leaders and the clergy in the metropolis, are strongly behind the operation of the combined team of law enforcement agencies in collaboration with the Assembly’s Task-Force.

He served notice that the Assembly will no longer tolerate the smoking of marijuana in the open by October 31, 2017.

“So from the 31st of October, we are asking every ‘wee’ smoking gang within the metropolis to stop otherwise we will come heavily after you, you will be prosecuted or issued a heavy fine.”

Musah Superior also warned that, “Sex trade is illegal, and we don’t want it in Tamale. I will come heavily on people who are engaged in sex trade and people who are engaging people to do sex trade.”

He implored the clergy to condemn such social vices in the Mosques and Churches.

–

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tamale Metropolitan Assembly moves to assist young ‘wee’ smokers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It offered a cross-section of the populace to seek clarifications from local authorities managing various sectors of the economy in the area.

The Tamale Mayor, Iddrisu Musah Superior flanked by some departmental heads gave an overview of their agenda and also addressed the concerns of participants there.

The Mayor reiterated government’s commitment to fulfill promises enshrined in the governing party’s 2016 campaign manifesto.

According to him, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is focused on delivering good governance required to improve the wellbeing of all.

“I think that it is imperative for us as duty bearers to get our people abreast with the current development within the country and in our localities in particular.”

“It is important for us to understand that even though the forum has been localized the essence is not only to present to you matters that are related to the Tamale Metropolis but also national policies and programmes initiated by the Akufo Addo government.”

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed in a speech read on his behalf touted the event as a practicality of the good governance President Nana Addo promised Ghanaians.

He thus tasked the remaining 25 Municipal and District Assemblies in the region to replicate the Town Hall Meetings.

Salifu Saeed said the populace deserved objective and accurate information on the assemblies budgetary allocations and disbursements.

The nationwide Town Hall meetings are spearheaded by the Ministry of Information.

–

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tamale Metropolitan Assembly holds Town Hall meeting appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This was captured in a report on income tax and property rate presented by the CBAG’s Executive Director, Vitus Adaboo Azeem, at a stakeholders meeting in Tamale under the auspices of IBIS-Oxfam Ghana.

He bemoaned the situation and underscored the need for district assemblies to widen their tax network with emphasis on property taxation.

His call comes on the back of government’s decision to reduce the amounts allocated to assemblies through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

He said the assemblies’ authorities have to discover other sources of revenue mobilization to execute their development agenda.

“The Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale Metropolitan Assemblies need to start thinking of how to get enough revenue without waiting for the assemblies’ common fund.”

He admonished entrepreneurs to honor their tax obligations to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

“I am not happy that private people who are fully aware of their tax obligations are invading taxes on the blind sight of both the GRA and the assemblies.”

He charged the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Tamale and the Sagnarigu assemblies to double-up their tax collection system.

He further implored the assemblies to increase their monitoring and supervision on revenue mobilization.

Vitus Azeem tasked the Ghana Revenue Authority and the district assemblies to deepen their advocacy on the new tax law (Act 896).

Country Director of IBIS-Oxfam Ghana, Tijani Hamza, said his outfit supported the CBAG’s survey to help the authorities reinvent the wheel and rake in enough revenue through Internally Generated Funds (IGF).

Hamza Tijani reaffirmed IBIS-Oxfam Ghana’s commitment to promote good governance in the country.

–

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tamale, Sagnarigu assemblies record low revenue appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Musah Superior was appointed last week together with three others in the President’s first list of Chief Executives for the assemblies yet to be approved.

[contextly_sidebar id=”B2XjQ7pgPi6jtmuImjuu1rNBdf9OmnGk”]If he is approved by the members of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Musah Superior  said his utmost priority will be peace, security and job creation.

In an interview with Citi News, the 2016 campaign aide to the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said he believes he is prepared to offer Tamale the right kind of leadership.

“The most difficult area is how we are going to sustain the peace in the area. If we don’t have peace and security in the area we can’t develop. And I intend to work with the chiefs, the security forces, the opinion leaders, the Imams and the clergy to be able to sustain this peace that we have.”

“In jobs, I intend to establish a programme called NEAP – Not In Education Apprenticeship training. This is a very huge programme. There are great opportunities ahead of us. And I’m going to move along with the people of Tamale in a non-partisan manner, consulting people, create human resource available for our progress,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo has nominated four Metropolitan Chief Executives for Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale, subject to approval by the respective assemblies.

The three others nominated for metropolitan Chief Executive positions include: Mohammed Adjei Sowah, AMA, Anthony K.K Sam, Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, and Osei Assibey Antwi, KMA.

The President has 212 more appointments to make in that regard for the rest of the MMDAs in the country.

MMDCEs to be appointed by end of March 

The Minister of Local Government, Hajia Alima, had earlier announced that the various assemblies will all have their chief executives by the end of March.

“The process is ongoing. We have finished the vetting at the regional level so we are now validating them at the national level. Definitely, by the end of this month [March]we would have appointed them,” Hajia Mahama said.

–

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

The post Musah Superior outlines vision for Tamale metropolis appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr Meriam Yahya Ibrahim was condemned to hang for allegedly leaving Islam and marrying a Christian man.

The court said that by doing so, she had abandoned her religious faith and was guilty of apostasy, which carries the ultimate penalty under Islamic law in the country.

But some liberal religious scholars have argued apostasy is not even a crime.

They back up their beliefs by citing the Koranic verse which states: “There shall be no compulsion in religion.”

Other more conservative Muslims refer to the words of the Prophet Muhammad in the Hadith saying: “It is not permissible to spill the blood of a Muslim except in three [instances]: A life for a life; a married person who commits adultery; and one who forsakes his religion and separates from the community.”

Day of judgement

Islam’s legal system – Sharia – says apostasy covers a wide range of offences, including conversion to another religion, idol worship, or mistreating the Koran.

While some scholars favour the death penalty, others say the punishment should be left to God on the day of judgement.

The late Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran’s religious and political leader, famously denounced the author Salman Rushdie as an apostate for his novel The Satanic Verses – and said he should be killed.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan also uphold strict interpretations.’

In 2006, an Afghan, Abdul Rahman, who announced his conversion to Christianity escaped a death sentence and was offered asylum in Italy.

Another Afghan citizen was granted asylum in the UK earlier this year after persuading the courts he faced the death penalty at home because he was an atheist.

Meanwhile, non-Muslims such as the Bahai community have faced difficulties in countries including Egypt.

‘Abhorrent’

Human rights groups have condemned Islamic laws on apostasy.

Amnesty International has described the latest case in Sudan as “abhorrent”.

“The fact that a woman could be sentenced to death for her religious choice … should never be even considered,” it said.

When she was convicted on Sunday, Dr Ibrahim – who is said to be eight months pregnant – was given three days by the court to return to Islam.

But she again affirmed her Christian faith, and her lawyer says she will appeal against the sentence.

For now, her fate hangs in the balance.

And the debate over apostasy – and whether she committed a crime in the first place – goes on.

Source: BBC

The post Sudan death penalty reignites Islam apostasy debate appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.