Bolga PNC Executive Trade Blows(2nd December 2011,Benjamin Xornam Glover)

At least three persons sustained injuries, when factions within the Bolgatanga Constituency of the People’s National Convention clashed.

The clash involved supporters of Mr Rockson Akugre, a lawyer and Mr David Apasera, a former MP for the area who are both contesting the parliament slot for the party.

Among those who were severally injured was the Regional Organiser of the PNC, Mr Iddrisu Azure who is also a supporter of Mr Akugre.

Mr Azure was admitted at the Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga as a result of a cut in the mouth and a swollen eye he sustained during a violent clash with other members of the PNC but was later discharged.

He told the Daily Graphic that he was attacked by men he suspected to be supporters of Mr Apasera who were opposed to his (Azure’s) support for Lawyer Akugre.

The trouble had sparked off after a faction in support of Lawyer Akugre had gone to court to obtain a court injunction restraining the constituency executives from going ahead with the primaries.

According to Mr Azure, after he and Mr Akugre had emerged from the High Court premises and were going home, his assailants stopped them and demanded to know why they were challenging the conduct of the primaries.

He said out of the blue, his assailants charged on him and punched him from all direction.

He said he managed to slip from them and reported the matter to the police who issued him with a police medical form.

The Regional Organiser said he was sent to the Regional Hospital where he was treated and detained overnight.

Meanwhile, as a result of the injunction served on the executives by the court, the scheduled constituency primaries were not held.

In a related development, Mr Apasera has denied mobilising the people to attack the regional organiser.

Speaking on a radio station in Bolgatanga, the former MP rather blamed his contender and his supporters for working had to thwart his effort at winning the primaries to represent his people in parliament.

In the meantime the regional chairperson of the party, Madam Agnes Atayilah, is urging both sides to exercise restraints and not involve themselves in acts that will destroy the party.

PNC Chairman Takes Swipe At Leading Members(Benjamin Xornam Glover)

The National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, has taken a swipe at some leading members of the party for embarking on acts that seek to break the unity of the party and derail its progress.

Speaking at the Upper East Regional delegate’s conference of the party, which saw the election of new set of executives to run the affairs of the party for next four years, Alhaji Ramadan made a specific reference to Dr Somtim Tobiga for resorting to the law courts and also failing to even mingle with party members to discuss matters of mutual interest.

He made this comment Dr Tobiga refused to join members of the party in the auditorium of the Catholic Social Centre in Bolgatanga for the conference but rather chose to peep through the windows of a hall where a regional party conference was underway in order to follow proceedings.

When the chairman of the party rose to speak, he expressed his disappointment at the development.

He said the PNC which had in the past being known to be very united was experiencing certain developments which appeared to be threatening that unity.

“It is pathetic that we are in a party where people don’t want to see eye to eye with their compatriots. People don’t want to sit with their fellow party members to discuss issues of mutual concern.

This is not the way to build the party. This party needs everybody. When we begin to pick and choose, we will end up showing the world that we are not together.”

“As we speak, I have my brother (pointing to the direction of Dr Tobiga) standing behind the window there. He is a very agile member of the party. He represented the party on many platforms and we are all proud of him. But what is wrong today that we cannot sit together to solve our problem? Today, Tobiga does not even want to take a seat among us. He wants to be outside. He is a pillar of our party but does not want to mingle with us. What is the magnitude of the problem that we cannot sit and resolve but we will also want to rush to the courts?” Alhaji Ramadan asked.

Dr Somtim Tobiga in an interview denied that he was engaged in activities that would disintegrate the party.

According to him, he is involved in organising the party in various constituencies.

He explained that his decision to observe proceedings from outside was because he was not formally invited to the conference.

He also said that he had filed a motion on behalf of his clients restraining Mr Bernard Mornah, Alhaji Ramadan and Dr Edward Mahama from holding themselves as General Secretary, National Chairman and Leader, respectively, of the party.

According to him, that motion has not yet been heard and “because of that, for me, as a lawyer in the case, to be seen in the same hall listening to these same people whose position I am challenging will be unprofessional. That’s why I am outside,” he said.

He added that his presence at the precincts of the conference was to gather evidence to support his motion which was yet to be heard in court.

MP Bemoans Internal Strife Within PNC(26th November 2011.by Benjamin Xornam Glover)

The Peoples National Convention (PNC) Member of Parliament for Builsa South constituency in the Upper East Region, Mr Alhassan Azong, has bemoaned the growing incidence of internal strife and differences within the party, which he says is derailing the progress of the party and called on party members at all levels to find amicable ways of solving the problem.

Mr Azong, who is also a Minister of State at the Office of the President, made the observation during a constituency delegates conference held at Fumbisi which ended with the elections of new executives to run the affairs of the party for the next two years.

The MP called on party members to get copies of the party’s constitution and acquaint themselves with the provisions in it so that they could duly defend the party and ensure that the rights things were done.

He also called for hard work and commitment to ensure that the party would retain the Builsa South seat.

In an election supervised by the Electoral Commission, the 213 delegates elected Mr Joseph Achianah as the Constituency Chairman while Mr Emmanuel Akanpaadzi was elected the 1st Vice Chairman. The position of secretary went to Mr Seidu Mukhtar Alikali. Eleven others were elected into various position in the Builsa Constituency to run affairs for the next four years.

In an acceptance speech, the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Akanpaadzi, on behalf of the elected officers, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in them and promised to work in unity and work hard to retain the seat in the constituency.
The newly elected executives were later sworn into office by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Henry Fatchu.

In a related development, the Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Baba Mohamed, has advised contestants for positions at the regional level not to see themselves as political enemies but as people working in partnership with a vision to build a strong political party towards victory in December 2012.

Alhaji Mohammed gave the advice when he swore in a 10-member constituency executives for the Garu-Tempane constituency.

The poll, which was conducted by the officials of the Electoral Commission, saw Mr Thompson Aguri Awini being elected as chairman, while Mr Francis Aawuni Akolgo was elected as Secretary. Other persons elected were Jacob Kolog, Vice Chairman; Damire Moses, Deputy Secretary; Laadi Akugri, Women’s Organiser; Eric Avoka, Constituency Organiser; Felix Asaana Ayaaba,Youth Organiser; Seidu Karim, Treasurer; Minter Haruna Tuyaab, Education Secretary and Micheal Koka, Deputy Education Secretary.

The Garu-Tempane Constituency Chairman elect, Mr Thompson Aguri Awini, expressed his appreciation to delegates and pledged on behalf of his colleagues to work hard to help the party win the upcoming elections for the PNC in the constituency.

Boakye Gyan, Abuga Pele, Ayariga Win NDC Primaries(D/G 21/11/2011)

The ruling National Democratic Congress held primaries Saturday to elect parliamentary candidates for constituencies without sitting Members of Parliament in the three northern regions, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Region.

Messrs Mark Woyongo, Abuga Pele, Mahama Ayariga, and Ben Noah Azure won the Navrongo Central, Chiana-Paga, Bawku, and Binduri constituency seats respectively in the Upper East Region reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.
The primaries elected parliamentary candidates for constituencies without sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).

Mr. Mark Woyongo, the incumbent Regional Minister shrugged off challenge from his contenders polling 248 votes as against 109 and 5 votes respectively by Messrs Sampson T. Chiragia and Jacob Atule Adongo, a Deputy National Coordinator for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

In the Chiana-Paga constituency, the National Coordinator for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Mr. Abuga Pele, won against the District Chief Executive (DCE) of for Kassena-Nankana West, Mr. Thomas Dalu Adda. He polled 312 votes, while the DCE got 146 votes.

Deputy Minister for Education and former MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga polled 319 votes to win against Issahaku Bukari, a development worker who had 97 votes.

In the Binduri constituency, Mr Ben Noah Azure also beat four other contestants to represent the ruling party in the constituency. He had 92 votes as against 90 secured by the closest contender, Mr. Stephen Atubuga, who had 90 votes. The remaining contestants, namely, Dr. Robert A. Alem, Richard Akumbas, and Daniel Adoliba had 69, 31, and 7 votes respectively.

185 Schools Under Trees Provided Classrooms In UER(1st November 2011, Daily Graphic)

A total of 185 schools holding classes under trees in the Upper East Region have been provided with classroom infrastructure by the government since it held the reins of power.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, who disclosed this during the recent working visit to the region by members of the Council of State said this had become possible following a crash programme being embarked upon by the NDC government to provide educational infrastructure for schools.

Mr Woyongo said in addition to tackling the schools under trees, second cycle institutions in the region had benefitted from over 99 big projects comprising dormitories, classroom blocks, assembly halls, laboratories, as well as teachers’ accommodation facilities.

According to the regional minister, the increase in the capitation grant, expansion of the school feeding programme, distribution of free exercise books and uniforms to deprive pupils have undoubtedly increased school enrolment significantly.

He said additionally, a number of district education directorates and second cycle schools had also received pick-ups and buses to enhance supervision and administration of the schools.

The Upper East Regional Director of Education, Mr Paul Apanga, while acknowledging the government’s efforts at tackling the phenomenon of schools under tress, stated that with increasing interest in education, many more communities were establishing schools in remote villages and this called for the provision of additional infrastructure.

He also made a special appeal for the construction of a new dormitory block and a classroom facility for the Bolgatanga Senior High School to deal with the problem of congestion.

On water and sanitation, Mr Woyongo told the delegation that with the execution of the Better Ghana Agenda, the government was expanding the Bolgatanga, Bawku, and Navrongo water systems, while five small town and water supply systems had been completed with eight others almost at the level of completion.

He said apart from the expansion of the Vea Raw Water Treatment Plant being executed with a loan of $5 million, another 40 million euros had been secured for the construction of a water treatment plant at Tono to serve Navrongo, Paga, and Bolgatanga. All these, he said, when completed would increase the water coverage significantly in the country’s bid to meet the Millennium Development Goals for Water and Sanitation.

The Upper East Regional Minister also told the members of the council that the government had also secured a loan facility of over $100 million to provide 500 communities in the region with electricity.

Touching on the National Youth Employment Programmes, he said currently 14 modules were being operated with about 12,177 youth being engaged, adding that the Youth in Road Maintenance module was yet to be launched in the region. He, however, expressed the hope that once the scheme was rolled out many more youth would be engaged.

The Chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, described the trip as an eye opening one which would go a long way to facilitate advisory role of the council.

Ndebugre doubts chances of NPP candidate for Zebilla(DG, Tuesday October 25, 2011)

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Akparibo Ndebugre from the Zebilla constituency, has his doubts that the party's parliamentary candidate, Mr Frank Fuseini will win the seat for the NPP come December 2012.

According to him, the processes leading to the declaration of one person in this case, Mr Fuseini, as the parliamentary candidate for the constituency had not been transparent which had created a problem.

Speaking at a launch of a support group for the NPPs Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the former Member of Parliament for Zebilla said although he was ready to rally support for the presidential candidate, he could not do same for the parliamentary candidate.

Mr Ndebugre, who supported the NPP after be lost to Mr Cletus Avoka of the NDC in the last parliamentary election when as an independent candidate said: “Mr Fuseini is going to start whatever campaign he intends to wage with a deficit in image, since the opponent we are facing is formidable. It would appear that many of us are unaware of Mr Fuseini's association with the NPP.

Incidentally, Mr Fuseini was also a member of the PNC in the Zebilla constituency but has now defected to the NPP. He was endorsed unopposed by delegates at the party's constituency congress recently.

Mr Ndebugre stated that although some party members had questioned Mr Fuseini's qualification to contest the party's parliamentary primaries, no effort had been made at resolving the problem transparently and in accordance with the party's rules.

“Mr Fuseini was simply railroaded into that position. There cannot be any doubt that a lacklustre parliamentary campaign will impact negatively on the presidential vote in the constituency and this is what we must avoid at all cost,” he said.


“Ghana's politics of today is being modelled to promote honesty and fair play and it is neither honest nor fair to use smartness and other means to enter a race when you know in your heart of hearts that you do not qualify to participate in that race,” he added.

“For these reasons, and others, some of us do not and it appears cannot feel disposed to supporting Mr Frank Fuseini as the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Zebilla Constituency,” he emphasised.

Explaining the objectives of the launch of the Nana Addo for President (NAFOP) in Zebilla with himself as the patron, Mr Ndebugre noted that for the NPP to recapture power and continue with the development of Ghana, it needed to be re-organised and united.

He said it was the goal of the group to campaign vigorously to get a great number of votes for the NPP presidential candidate to ensure victory for the party.

He called on NPP members committed to this vision to hold themselves in readiness for the establishment of the necessary structures to support the project for it to succeed.

I Didn't Receive $5m From Government - Nana Konadu(3rd October 2011 10:21:10 by Benjamin Glover)

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has denied ever receiving $5million from the government on behalf of the 31st December Women’s Movement to run the Nsawam Fruits Cannery. She has also denied ever receiving financial assistance from the government to operate a chocolate factory.

According to her all these assertions by some people she failed to name in the current government, were part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish her image in her quest to secure the flagbearship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking to a packed audience at the VAG Hall mostly dominated by women in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region as part of her “Thank You Tour,” Mrs Rawlings urged her followers to ignore such allegations, since she contended they were intended as a grand scheme to destroy her image and portray her as an ungrateful person.

“We have struggled to get the factory running on our own. Never has government come to our aid. So anybody who comes to tell you that I am collecting money from the government, it is not true,” she said.

“Five million for me? Even the founder himself, who is supposed to be taken care of as a former president, that has not even started, how much more me, the wife? So when they come, tell them to stop lying about our founder, stop lying about our party,” she urged, adding, “Those who are peddling lies about me are new in our party. They did not sleep in the bushes to form the party, they didn’t walk in the rains to form the party, they did not drink in the villages to form the party as we did, as you did, as I did.

They have come to join a party that is already growing and have become prosperous. They should come and join and learn in order to let the party grow instead of coming to destroy things for us,” she said.

She justified her nationwide tour to express appreciation to those who sacrificed their time and effort during her failed bid to become a flag bearer, stressing that it was only proper that she expressed appreciation to all who supported her.

She indicated that she would continue to mobilise the party at the grass roots in order to make the NDC a strong and formidable party.

Mrs Rawlings bemoaned the unemployment situation in the country, especially among the youth and called on the government to do something extra to give the youth, hope and life.

The former first lady also urged supporters of the party to take active part in the Biometric Registration when the Electoral Commission declares the exercise open later in the year.

A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and spokesperson for the Rawlingses, Mr Kofi Adams condemned what he termed, attempts by some elements within the party to shift the NDC from the Social Democratic philosophy to that of Nkrumahism.

“What has changed suddenly that five days after winning elections, you have a member of this party in the person of Hannah Tetteh going to sit with the Americans to sit to turn the NDC into something else?” he said, in apparent reference to the contents of recently released leaked cables , Wikileaks.

“Those who think that they want to dismember NDC by their action must be taken out. This is a party that has values. We welcome new members, but we must show them we have a track record,” Mr Adams added


On the decision by Major Boakye Gyan, who has filed to contest for the Jaman South parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NDC, Mr Adams questioned how someone who six months ago described the NDC as an illegality, was being allowed to pick forms to contest as a parliamentary candidate.