From its humble beginnings as a tertiary students wing of the NPP, TESCON has steadily evolved into a powerful political machinery, occupying an important place within the structure of the NPP. Since its inauguration on January 8, 2000 by the venerable John Agyekum Kufuor, the distinguished former president of the Republic, TESCON has been at the forefront of student and political activism, and grass root mobilisation.

It has produced a wealth of talented individuals, whose skills and drive have been aptly utilised by the NPP to build capacity and enhance its stock as a demonstrable political guild, not only in Ghana, but Africa. I must take this opportunity, yet again, to commend the founding members who gave birth to the Confederacy and the Patriots whose Herculean sacrifices, over the years, have nurtured it into the formidable political force it is today.

The 2016 elections, like that of year 2000, was a defining moment, not only for TESCON and the NPP, but Ghanaians at large. Eight years of economic mismanagement, flagrant abuse of power, unbridled corruption and incompetent stewardship was threatening to bring Ghana yet again to the brink of economic and social degradation.

Indeed, we were at the abyss and only an undiluted resolve of the citizenry could savage this precipitous decline.

While the task ahead remained enormous, it did not seem to daunt hardworking party members or sympathisers who were disillusioned by the poor level of governance the NDC had bequeathed Ghanaians. Lacing boots and girding up their loins, the presidential candidate of the NPP and his running mate traveled extensively across country, rallying the base and bringing the message of hope.

We were to discover on those worthwhile journeys the true state of the country. Despite the song and dance about transforming Ghana, which the NDC claimed was “unprecedented”, we witnessed unfathomable hardship of many who were wallowing in abject poverty and social exclusion. We also saw at first hand, the deplorable state of our road infrastructure. It seemed the die was cast, win to competently steer the affairs of State or perish into political oblivion. It was a stark reality that confronted us as a party and we were determined to rise to the occasion.

Ghana Beyond Aid

TESCON was to play a critical role in complementing the efforts of the presidential candidate and his campaign team. With determination and incomparable vigilance, from polling stations to collation centres, TESCON members joined fellow patriots to deliver a crushing blow to the faint hopes of an incumbent which had resolved to conduct a divisive and tribalistic campaign, devoid of substance that addressed the legitimate needs and concerns of the Ghanaian people.

The resounding electoral victory of the NPP, unprecedented in the history of Ghana, was a clear rejection of the myopic policies of the NDC but more importantly, a decision by the people of Ghana to embrace the new vision that the NPP was seeking the mandate to implement. This vision has been reiterated by President Nana Akufo-Addo on many occasions, but none more fortuitous than during the visit of the President of France to Ghana: A Ghana Beyond Aid!

The battle for electoral victory having been comprehensively won, the newly sworn in government on January 7, 2017, has set about to reverse the decline of our economic competitiveness and swiftly laid an impermeable foundation for the new industrialisation agenda to take off.

The challenges have been many and the tasks arduous, but this government would be unrelenting in its pursuit of building a more just, equitable and progressive society, where all have equal opportunities to realise their dreams and fulfil their potentials, irrespective of social status.

Pledges

The implementation of our flagship campaign pledge, the Free Senior High School remains a radical but necessary step toward the socio-economic transformation of Ghana.

The One District One Factory programme has begun in earnest and gathering steam. Restoration of nurses and teachers allowance, payment of accrued arrears to road contractors and other government suppliers have been done with minimal fiscal implications to the economy.

Revamping of the National Health Insurance Scheme and the School Feeding Programme are but a few of the social interventions that government is committed to as part of efforts to broaden the social safety net.

Without a doubt, job creation remains a key priority for the NPP government. Commendable efforts have been made, through the dynamism of the Vice-President, to create a formal and digital economy, evidenced by the National Digital Address System, E-registration of businesses at the Registrar General office and the Paperless Ports Project.

While enhancing efficiency and reducing cost of business, the digital economy will undoubtedly create opportunities for new businesses to mushroom, not least e-commerce. It will also help government raise the needed revenue to meet its obligations to the people.

Aside the digital economy, government continues to adequately resource the Youth Employment Authority to perform its duty of developing feasible policies to engage the the youth.

As eloquently stated by the President, ‘it is people who build nations. It is not gold, cocoa, diamonds, timber or oil that is going to build nations. It is Ghanaians, especially the youth of today, who are going to build Ghana’. Maximising the demographic dividend requires a new mindset coupled with the creation of an ecosystem that stimulates new thinking, fosters innovation, creativity and unleashes the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth.

Government has set up the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), a flagship initiative, aimed at stimulating investment and providing timely support and advise to budding entrepreneurs.

Contribution from TESCON

TESCON, as a youth platform with dynamic minds can contribute meaningfully to the realisation of this ecosystem. The seeds for growth and jobs have already been sowed. Now is the time for it to be watered by honing skill sets to take advantage of the opportunities that a buoyant economy will present.

We must inject the same levels of energy, drive and zeal that characterised our collective efforts in winning the elections into discovering new pathways for success and prosperity. Not everyone would welcome our success as a government and party nor seek the collective interest of Ghanaians with genuine intention.

To such, the response must be to strengthen our resolve to deliver on the promises made and to build the capacity of the youth to navigate this brave new world driven by technology and innovation.

As we mark a year into office and also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Fourth Republic, my appeal to TESCON is to remain united, resolute, focused and diligent in helping government implement its laudable initiatives. The accelerated development of Ghana is a shared responsibility of both a purposeful government and a dutiful citizenry.

The flame of hope has been lit and all productive forces, including TESCON, must put their shoulders to the wheel in driving the transformation agenda forward. Being Ghanaian must mean something. It must mean living a life of dignity, self respect, discipline and personal responsibility. It must mean a dedication to our cherished values of fearless honesty, commitment to service and a desire to see each other strive for excellence. Ghana will rise again as the Lord continues to bless us with good leadership and patriotic citizens.

Happy New Year 2018!

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By: Francis Asenso-Boakye (Founding president of TESCON, and currently Deputy Chief of Staff and Political Assistant to the President)

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The former executives said they are hopeful that Mr. Ayisi Boateng will be appointed to a higher public office to enable him to advance his cause in the interest of members of the party and those of TESCON.

[contextly_sidebar id=”h1JGwXiqXWvheGxBY3PCnWa74xDyhYus”]In a statement copied to citifmonline.com, the group said Mr. Ayisi Boateng’s conduct continues to inspire them although they are unemployed.

They said in the light of the development, they were “waiting patiently for the right time to be fixed [in various positions].”

The group also chided members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for condemning Mr. Ayisi Boateng’s comment, arguing that they [NDC] did the same whilst in power.

‘NPP members more Ghanaian than others’ – SA High Commissioner

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng, among other things, suggested that some citizens are more Ghanaian than others, hence deserve better treatment and immediate attention from his outfit.

According to him, the “more Ghanaian” people, loyalists of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), must have their interests prioritized by all government appointees.

Read the full statement below:

We the past TESCON Presidents bring you greetings from our homes. Although unemployed and waiting patiently for the right time to be fixed, we wish to state emphatically that we are very proud of you, H.E. Ayisi Boateng, the High Commissioner to South Africa.

We have heard and read diverse backlash and attacks from “the babies with sharp teeth” in opposition regarding your statement at a TESCON meeting at Kumasi Technical University that TESCON members are your priority and to that extent, NPP members.

You have been our source of inspiration during our days in opposition and you continue to inspire us. Travelling from South Africa to attend our programs alone tells us to do more since there is hope for the future because we are always remembered by you.

“Onipa nua” affectionately called has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he has TESCON members at heart and we also pledge to be present any time you call on us, we are going to be present.

It is our fervent hope and prayer that very soon, you shall be appointed to an office in Ghana that will aid you to continue helping the youth as you have always envisioned. God continue to bless your positive thought’s for us.

TO PAST TESCON LEADERS

We shall by this call on former and past TESCON leaders in government to turn to TESCON members and aid us since they are our source of inspiration. We shall however forever be grateful to the likes of lawyer Justin Koduah Frimpong( CEO of YEA) ,lawyer Henry Nana Boakye aka Nana B (deputy CEO of NSS ), Mr Nelson Owusu  Ansah ( Ashanti regional youth organizer and YEA director) and many others for their immense support to TESCON in Ashanti region. We recognise your efforts. They have made TESCON members their priority and we really appreciate it.

TO THE OPPOSITION (NDC)

To the opposition, our only advice to them is to concentrate on fixing their tattered party just as the KB’s report is suggesting and stop creating something out of nothing because we all saw how they treated our TEIN counterparts.

It was very normal to treat TEIN members special but abomination now to treat TESCON members special. They must get over the elections shock and give proper opposition to the government for the formulation of better policies that will help develop the country.

………..SIGNED………..

Hon George Krobea Asante
Former TESCON President
GIMPA, KUMASI
Yiadom BOAKYE Emmanuel
Former  TESCON President
KNUST
Nana Osei
Former TESCON President
CSUC

Seth Osei Acheampong
Former TESCON President
University of Education, Kumasi
–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the “more Ghanaian” people, loyalists of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), must have their interests prioritized by all government appointees.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aw9ves1fJ3WqMYXNG34sLS2rTInk4iSB”]He made the remarks at a ceremony over the weekend to welcome fresh members of the tertiary wing of the NPP, Tertiary Students’ Confederacy Network  (TESCON) at the Kumasi Technical University.

NPP members are my first priority – SA High Commissioner

In his address, he said he believed that members of TESCON must be considered first in employment opportunities before others, and that is something he would have done if he had his own way.

“Indeed I’m not boasting, but I’ve started meeting the NPP groups. Every weekend I meet some group members and I tell you if I had my way, every job opportunity that will come will go to a TESCON member before any other person. And I know my colleague appointees also have the same feeling except that because of IMF we cannot do anything now,” he said.

“A TESCON member is my priority, an NPP member is my priority. We are all Ghanaians but some are more Ghanaian than others….this government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I’m here, so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it,” he said.

Sack SA High Commissioner for shameful partisan comment – Ablakwa

Meanwhile the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is urging President Akufo-Addo to sack the High Commissioner over the comment which he said is shameful and undeserving of a diplomat of the country.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ablakwa said, “ideally, he should resign and apologize to Ghanaians, and to the President for betraying the trust that was reposed in him. He should be doing the honorable thing, but we know that in this our country, that does not happen quite often… The foreign minister, the president, must recall him with immediate effect…It is clear that this mindset cannot represent Ghana.”

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, Mr. Ayisi-Boateng’s comment is discriminatory and undeserving of a government appointee whose duty is to remain fair in the discharge of his duty.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bScHOKtg8MeRXwYaN5tQZkO1wssHuw3A”]Speaking on Eyewitness News, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said President Akufo-Addo must immediately dismiss the diplomat for the irresponsible comment.

“Ideally, he should resign and apologize to Ghanaians, and to the President for betraying the trust that was reposed in him. He should be doing the honorable thing, but we know that in this our country, that does not happen quite often… The foreign minister, the president, must recall him with immediate effect…It is clear that this mindset cannot represent Ghana,” he said.

The diplomat, while addressing members of the Tertiary Students’ Confederacy Network  (TESCON) in the Ashanti Region over the weekend, said his first priority is to members of the party, and that if he had his own way, members of TESCON will be prioritized for various jobs.

“…this government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I’m here, so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it,” he said.

But Ablakwa in reaction, said the comment is reprehensible.

“His comment is reprehensible, unacceptable and must be condemned by all of us. The constitution demands of all public officers to be fair, and treat all Ghanaians equally. The High Commissioner to South Africa is Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, not the NPP’s High Commissioner. He is paid from the taxes of all Ghanaians, NPP, NPP, CPP, and everyone.”

“He said he was there to prioritize NPP members and others can wait. It is shocking. It is shocking he said there were some people who were more Ghanaian than others,” Ablakwa said.

Okudzeto Ablakwa further noted that, the minority in parliament will commence processes to demand action against Mr. Ayisi Boateng if the President does not act.

“[It is] very insentient, very belligerent… He knows that what he is saying is unacceptable, very unconstitutional, but he says damn the consequences. Clearly, he has made it untenable for him to hold office as High Commissioner in South Africa….If the President does not act swiftly on this matter, we will be compelled to take advantage of the standing orders of parliament and file a number of processes,” he noted.

–
By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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George Ayisi Boateng said he is of the firm belief that it is the right thing to do because the efforts of the party loyalists won them the December 2016 election and they must be rewarded accordingly.

The High Commissioner made these comments when he addressed some TESCON members in Kumasi at a ceremony over the weekend, to usher in fresh students of Kumasi Technical University into the network.

While urging other government appointees to follow suit and ensure party members are satisfied before other citizens, he said, “this government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I’m here, so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it.”

“Indeed I’m not boasting, but I’ve started meeting the NPP groups. Every weekend I meet some group members and I tell you if I had my way, every job opportunity that will come will go to a TESCON member before any other person. And I know my colleague appointees also have the same feeling except that because of IMF we cannot do anything now…,”he added
–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This suggestion comes on the back of some confirmed ministers by President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo; the latest being Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, one of Africa’s renowned heart surgeons, who has been slated as the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WJkuEfVinEhHNC8Wwkbb2YLNMgYOY5q2″]The Atwima Mponua MP in Ashanti Region, Isaac Kwame Asiamah is also set to become the next Minister of Youth and Sports, according to the President-elect’s Spokesperson Mustapha Hamid.

The Group Coordinator for the Former TESCON Executives, Richie Osei, who spoke to Citi News, put forth his pitch for Mr. Mireku Duker saying the MP-elect’s experience as a Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa-Nsuaem made him the right person for the job.

“If you want somebody to be a deputy Minister for Local Government, you need somebody who is competent, somebody who has a practical experience of that position. As a former MCE he has dealt with the municipality so he is the one best fit for that position.”

“His knowledge of the decentralization process will help the Nana Addo administration to formulate policies and programs to reduce poverty and also propel development in the various MMDAs across the country,” Mr. Osei argued.

Unconfirmed reports say Hajia Alima Mahama, a lawyer, is likely to be made the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

Hajia Mahama, who is the Member of Parliament-elect for the Nalerigu-Gambaga Constituency of the Northern region, was a Minister of Women and Children Affairs under the erstwhile Kufuor administration between 2005 and 2009.

The move by the former TESCON executives comes despite a caution by former Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, Hackman Owusu Agyeman, urging members of the party to desist from putting undue pressure on President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, ahead of his ministerial appointments.

Mr. Owusu Agyeman said Nana Akufo-Addo should be allowed to name his own ministers at his own time ahead of his inauguration on January 7, 2017.

–

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

The post Consider Mireku Duker as Dept. Local Gov’t Minister – Former TESCON executives appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In the the shortlist released by the FA Cup Committee (FACC) on Thursday, two players from Kotoko, Abeiku Ainooson and Issah Yakubu, are in line for the Best Player Award in the tournament.

The duo are joined in the running for the main prize by Elvis Opoku of Gold Stars and Bechem United’s Augustine Okrah

Also up for grabs is the award for coach of the year which has FA cup-winning coach, Didi Dramani in the running, along with the coach of runners-up Inter Allies,Herbert Addo, John Kila of Feyernood FC and King Faisal’s Prince Acheampong.

Other awards to be presented on the night include Discovery of the Year, Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender and the Goal of the Tounament.

Th awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on the evening of August 9 at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.

The nomination continues the tradition of officially recognising the impact made by footballers and Clubs who participated in the Cup competition.

Asante Kotoko won the FA Cup after beating Inter Allies to record their 8th Cup success.

FA Cup Awards categories and nominees

Defender Of The Year

1. Abeiku Ainooson – Asante Kotoko
2. Joseph Aidoo – Inter Allies
3. Lassana Coulibaly – Feyernood Fc
4. Emmanuel Akuoku – Aduana Stars

Goalkeeper Of The Year

1. Osei Kwame – Inter Allies
2. Joseph Addo – Asante Kotoko
3. Benjamin Mensah – New Edubiase
4. Theophilus Jackson – Feyernood FC

Top Scorer Of The Year

Elvis Opoku – Gold Stars – 7 Goals

Highest Scoring Club Of The Year

Asante Kotoko – 17 Goals

Referee Of The Year
1. Seidu Bomison
2. Daniel Laryea
3. Patrick Kyeremanteng

Assistant Referee Of The Year

1. Ibrahim Adam
2. Dawood Wadrago
3. Ashitey Armah

Promising Referees Of The Year
1. Maxwel Hason
2. Anafo Nathan
3. Prince Amoah

Coach Of The Year

1. Didi Dramani – Asante Kotoko
2. Herbert Addo – Inter Allies
3. John Kila – Feyernood FC
4. Prince Acheampong – King Faisal

Discovery Of The Year

1. Elvis Opoku – Gold Stars
2. Benjamin Tetteh – Mighty Jets
3. Patrick Kpozo – Inter Allies
4. Lassana Coulibaliy – Feyernoord FC

Best Player Of The Year

1. Elvis Opoku – Gold Stars
2. Augustine Okrah – Bechem United
3. Abeiku Ainooson –Asante Kotoko
4. Issah Yakubu –Asante Kotoko

Also awards will be handed out in the following categories:

Best Goal Of The Tournament
Fair Play
Special Awards

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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