63 to contest 15 seats in Upper East

Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga SIXTY-THREE persons have filed nominations on the ticket of the various political partiesto contest in parliamentary electionsin the fifteen constituenciesin the Upper East Region. Statistics obtained from the Upper East Regional Office of the Electoral Commissionindicated that out of thetotal number of aspirants, 57 of them are males while the remaining six are females. The National Democratic Congress, (NDC), and the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), arecontestingin all the15 constituencies while the People National Convention, (PNC) have filed candidatesin 11 constituencies. The Progressive Peoples Party, (PPP) presented candidatesin 10 constituencies, while the Conventions Peoples Party made a showingin seven constituencies with the National Democratic Party, (NDP), filing candidatesin three constituencies. Twoindependent candidates filedin two constituenciesto contest in the race.In the Fumbisi constituency, four persons filedto contest the seat. They are Roger Abolimbisa Akantagriwen for the NDC, Paulina Morton-Bruce for the NPP, Alhassan Azong, theincumbent MP, for the PNC and Mr. Daniel Kunde who iscontesting on the ticket of the CPP. Three persons arein the race for the Sandema Constituency. They are NDC’s James Agalga, Mrs. Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, former Deputy Minister and former MP on the ticket of the NPP, and Mr. Francis Agilinko, a 36 year old teacher for the PNC. The Navrongo Central Constituency will witness a three-man race with the aspirants being, the current Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo for the NDC, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda on the ticket of the NPP and Mr. Crispin Avanakwa Awupuri, a 40 year old teacher who iscontesting on the ticket of the PPP. Five people are vying for the Chiana/Paga seat. Mr. Abuga Pele, Executive Director of the National Youth Employment Programme of the NDC will be seekingto unseat, NPP’s Leo Kabah Alowe. Alsoin teh race are Mr. Muniru Aloah Adoa of the PPP, Journalist Francis Niagra Santuah on the ticket of PNC and Desmond Ayirevire for the CPP.In the newly created Bolgatanga East Constituency, the race for the seat is between NDC’s Mr. Dominic Ayine, a law lecturer, NPP’s Rockson Ayine Bukari, a former Municipal Chief Executive for the Bolgatanga and PNC’s David Apasera, a former MP for the Bolgatanga Central constituency as well as PPP’s Baba Starling. Mr. Emmanuel Opam-Brown Akolbire, NDC MP for Bolgatanga Central Constituency will face stiff challenge from NPP’s Dr. Gyesika A. Agambila, PPP’s Robert Anamolga, PNC’s Rockson Akugre and NDP’s Saeed Jafar Mohammed. The race for the Bongo Seat is between theincumbent MP, Albert Abongo for the NDC and four others, namely, Madam Diana Aburiya Asuure of the NPP, Mr. Jacob Nsoh of the PNC Peter Ayamga Akugre of the CPP and anindependent candidate Mr. Clement Ayorigo. Five terms MP for Talensi, Mr. John Akologu Tia of the NDC will face NPP’s Robert Nachinab Doaneng, Ramson Yinbil Babihitzaaya of the CPP, Dr. Micheal Wombeogo, PNC and Dominic Mogre, PPP.In the Nabdam constituency, another veteran parliamentarian, Mr. Moses Asaga of the NDC will becontested once again by former Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambila of the NPP. Othersin the race are Gabilemm Ditamina, PPP, David Kurug, PNC and William Atampugre, CPP. Majority Leaderin Parliament and NDC MP for the Zebilla Constituency, Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka will becontested by Mr. Frank Fuseini Adongo, NPP, Atang Naba, NDP, and anindependent candidate, Mallam Ali Yusuf Isa. Five people are vying for the Bawku Central Constituency. They are Deputy Education Minister, Mr. Mahama Ayagira, NDC, Former Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV, Alhassan Ayariga, NPP, Businessman Iddrisu Mubarak, PPP, Farmer Joseph Awini Auuga, PNC, and Teacher, Madam Zaliya Ibrahim the only female candidatein the constituency on the ticket of CPP.In the Binduri Constituency, the race for the seatin between Ben Noah Azure, NDC, Stephen M.D. Yakubu, theincumbent NPP MP, William Ayinga Abanga, PPP and Cyprian Azure Ayendago, PNC. For the Pusiga Constituency, the race is between Madam Laadi Ayii Ayamba, NDC, Imoro Sarko, NPP, and William Abako Abosa, PPP.Incumbent MP for Garu constituency, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah of the NDC will becontested by former Regional Minister, Alhassan Samari, NPP, Dominic Ligadya Dinko, CPP and Seidu James Achel of the NDP.In the newly created Tempane, fourcontestants arein race for the sole ticketto represent the peoplein parliament. They are immediate past DCE for Garu-Tempane, David Adakurugu, NDC, Mr. Joseph Akudibillah, NPP, Samson Kangben Laar, PPP and Madam Akugri Laadi for the PNC.

DCE elect for Talensi District enlist support of assembly members and citizens

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tongo The newly appointed District Chief Executive for the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, Mr. Edward Awunnore has promised to work with assembly members and the people in the area to explore the rich natural resources including the Tengzug Hills and other rich cultural heritages to accelerate development of the area. Mr Edward Awunnore who stands to be reappointed if the NDC is retains power in the December 7, 2012, prior to his endorsement was an English teacher of the Bolgatanga Technical School. He polled 21 votes representing 70 per cent with nine people voted against him at a confirmation exercise. The election became necessary following the split of the former Talensi-Nabdam District. The Awunnore expressed his appreciation to the President for nominating him for the job and also thanked the assembly members for overwhelmingly endorsing his candidature and the the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to work with all members of the assembly as well as the various decentraised departments to mobilize the needed revenue for the development of the area. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo who swore in the DCE elect admonished the new head of the assembly to build bridges of peace and run an open door administration to harness the strength of all members to fast track development in the area. He reaffirmed government commitment to pursue development it development agenda for the area stressing work on the road between Winkongo and Tongo, the district capital is been worked on while government is committed to ensuring the constructing of a multipurpose dam at the Pwalugu for irrigation, hydro-power generation and water transport. He urged assembly members to close their ranks and work with the new DCE to enable him achieve success in his new appointment. Apart from the Talensi District which have endorsed its DCE, the Pusiga District has also endorsed the president nominee, Mr. Abugbila Awuni Alhassan. The Nabdam district failed to endorse Mrs. Vivian Anafo after she failed to secure the requisite votes. Two other districts, Binduri and the Builsa South districts are yet to have its heads nominated by the President. benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh -End-

UE Security Taskforce strategies for elections 2012

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Heads of Security Agencies in the Upper East Region have pledged to collectively work in ensuring free, fair and violent-free elections in December. Briefing the Daily Graphic after an inaugural meeting of the Regional Election Security Taskforce, the Public Relations Office of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), Mr. Thomas Yaw Agbanyo said members of the Taskforce have resolved to exhibit a high sense of professional discipline and competence to ensure that the ongoing electioneering campaign and the general election are conducted peacefully. The task force is made up of heads of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, with the Regional Police Commander Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP), Mr. Bright Oduro as the chairman. According to ASP Agbanyo members of the taskforce have identified the various flashpoints in the region and resolve to beef up with strong security and patrol personnel. Again, he said enough logistics would be provided to the security to make sure that no one foments trouble anywhere in the region. ASP Agbanyo added that all the security agencies agreed at the meeting to release their vehicles on Election Day to ensure a smooth operation of the security agencies. He said the taskforce will be replicated in all municipalities and districts to demonstrate the readiness of the security agencies to deal with all elections related violence. ASP Agbanyo said present at the meeting was the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Bruce Ayisi who inform the members that polls will take place in 1, 118 polling stations in the region and enlisted the support of the security agencies to make the process violent free. benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Navrongo Central Constituency, a rematch between Mark Woyongo and Joseph Kofi Adda

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga But for the timely clearance of the Progressive People’s Party, (PPP) candidate for the Navrongo Central parliamentary candidate, Mr. Crispin Avanakwa Awupuri by the Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission, it will have been a straight ‘fight’ for the seat between NDCs Mark Woyongo and NPPs Joseph Kofi Adda. At the close of filing of nominations on Thursday, 18 October 2012, only the three persons above were cleared to contest the 2012 parliamentary elections. A gentleman who appeared on the nick of time appeared at the offices of the EC attempting to file on the ticket of the PNC but the Returning Officer detected a flaw and hence rejected the documents. Under the current circumstances, on can describe the polls as a rematch between NDCs Mark Woyongo and NPPs Joseph Kofi Adda and it will not be far from wrong, albeit the presence of the PP candidate. In the last parliamentary elections, Messrs Woyongo and Adda together with PNCs Gabriel Pwamang and CPPs, Fotunate Anuga were entangled in the race for the seat. At the end of that contest, Mr. Kofi Adda polled 14, 354 representing 45.23 percent of votes cast as against, Mr. Woyongo’s 13, 224 represent 41. 67 per cent. The two gentlemen are in the race again and what makes it interesting is that the PNC which is not presenting a candidate for this year’s race is reported to have thrown its weight behind Mr. Mark Woyongo. In 2008, the PNC candidate, Mr. Gabriel Pwamang polled 4,026 votes. Assuming all these votes goes to add to that of what Mr. Woyongo obtained in 2008, it will add up to 18, 380. With this one can safely call it for Mr. Woyongo, who doubles as the current Regional Minister. But politics like a game of football is not east to predict. The NPP since the year 2000 have had a grip on the Navrongo constituency. In the 2000 elections, the late John Setuni Achuliwor contested on the NPP’s ticket and defeated the NDCs Clement T. Bugase by 143 votes. Achuliwor polled 11,246 while Bugase had 11,103 votes. The rest was shared between five other candidates who contested in that race. Following the death of John Setuni Achuliwor in 2003, Mr. Adda a MP. He won the by-election for the Navrongo Central constituency. In the 2004 elections, Adda retained his seat after he defeated NDCs Emmanuel Andema, the current Municipal Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana East. In that polls, Adda polled 12, 444 votes while Mr. Andema came a distant third with 6,201. Mr. Adda comes into this year’s race with a lot of experience likewise his contender who has also in the past three-and-half years have done so much for the region as a whole and the Kassena-Nankana East District. Mr. Adda after the he was elected was appointed the Minister for Manpower Development and Employment by President John Kufuor in 2005. On 28 April 2006, he was moved in a cabinet reshuffle to the position of Minister for Energy, a position held until the NPP was deposed in the 2008 elections. As a seating MP, Daily Graphic has learnt that he is constantly in touch with his constituents and he is reported to be a mingler who wouldn’t mind engaging the people in informal conversation anytime he visits. Mr. Woyongo is taking a second shot at the seat. His first attempt was in 2008 when right after retiring from public service grabbed the chance to contest. Observers believe he fared well and having had the opportunity as Regional Minister, his chances are far brighter than his previous attempt. The experience communicator that he is, the Upper East Regional Minister is bent on winning the seat for the N.D.C. As a regional minister, election watchers believe lobbying skills that has seen the Kassena-Nankana East District benefit from a number developmental projects in the constituency be it educational infrastructure, health facilities, access to water and electricity but as to whether that will sway votes into his favor is something that we all await to see. Mr. Woyongo trained as a journalist and for a long time worked as the Upper East Regional Information Officer. He also worked as a press attaché in UK. He returned to Ghana, worked with the Information Services Department rising through the ranks until he retired as a Director in charge of Finance and Administration. He is the 25th regional minister to serve in the Upper East region in that capacity since the creation of the region on July 1, 1960. In 2008 when he was appointed in 2008, I asked him what he brings to the table as a Regional Minister. His response was that “My vision is to ensure that there is peace, unity and development. Without peace and unity there cannot be any meaningful development,” He came in at a time when the Bawku crisis was at it peak. Thankfully the situation in Bawku in particular and the region in general is better than it was before. As a Regional Minister, he enjoys so much commendation for lobbying development projects to the region but as to whether his achievements as Regional Minister will reflect in votes at the ballot in his constituncy is something we all wait to see. Mr. Adda on the other hand is a Financial Economist and a Management Consultant. He worked as an Executive officer at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana in 1979. Between 1983 and 1984, he worked as a Research Analyst intern at the Third World Trade Institute, New York, USA. He was also an account Executive and Management trainee at the Equitable Financial Service, Inc., in New Jersey, USA. Mr. Adda has also worked at Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, USA (1986 – 1988), Thomson McKinnon Securities Inc., New York (1989 – 1991) and with Deloitte and Touche Consulting, (West Africa), Accra (1991 – 1994). Since 1994, Joseph Adda has been the Director of Omni Consulting International (Ghana) Ltd. Between 1996 and 2000, he worked in various capacities at the Ministry of Finance, Ghana. Incidentally both front runners in the Navrongo Central Constituency are former students of the Notre Dame Minor Seminary School High School.The question is can Woyongo end the dorminance of NPP in the Navrongo central constituncy? The answer will be known after December 7, 2012. benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Assemblies cautioned against misuse of HIV and AIDS share of Common Fund

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional HIV and AIDS Co-ordinator of the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Samuel Angyogdem has cautioned Municipal and District Assemblies against misuse of District Assembly Common fund allocated for HIV activities. He noted that while some assemblies in the region have kept faith with the release of the 0.5 per cent for HIV and AIDS activities, other districts have remain silent and this he said was hampering roll out of programmes to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT). He mentioned the Builsa district, the Kassena Nankana East and Kassena Nankana West District, Talensi and Nabdam Districts as the defaulting districts. Mr. Angyogdem gave the caution at Bolgatanga when he addressed the opening of a three-day media training programme on HIV and AIDS. It was organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), with the aim to galvanize support, whip up and sustain interest to the national HIV response particularly on human rights, stigma and discrimination among most at risk populations. He noted that lapses witnessed in the disbursement of the 0.5 per cent of the common fund for HIV activities in these districts was hampering any meaningful roll out of PMTCT trainings and other HIV related activities. He therefore urged the defaulting assemblies to mend their ways and ensure timely release of funds if HIV and AIDS activities are to succeed. Giving a trend analysis of PMTCT in the region, Mr. Angyogdem said out of the 17,048 Anti Natal Care Registrants recorded between January to June 2012, 16,370 were Tested and received post-test counselling. Of the figure, 160 tested Positive out of which 129 are given antiretroviral drug He attributed the good PMTCT uptake to easy to reach population, high saturation of trained counselors from over the years, integration of PMTCT services into rreproductive and child health services , regular monitoring and support as well as trainings initiated by some districts assemblies notably Bolgatanga, Bawku, Garu-Tempane and Bongo, with support from Ministries Departments and Agencies. Mr. Angyogdem, therefore, stressed the need for advocacy and education of the populace by the media for district assemblies who are silent on the disbursement of funds for PMTCT activities to live up to expectation and help meet set targets. Touching on plans increasing access to antiretroviral treatment,(ART), he said nine ART sites in the region has been established while key stakeholders and owner of Private health facilities have been engaged in a dialogue to explore the possibility of rolling out ART services. Again, he said to addressed the problem of stigma, persons living with HIV have been deployed as models of hope to offer counseling in communities. He added his office was also liaising with the World Food Programme for food support activities to persons living with HIV and their dependants in order to make life comfortable. Dr Richard Amenyah, Director (Technical Services) of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana is fully committed to ensuring the elimination of mother –to-child transmission of HIV by 2015 and task the media to allocate more space and time to the dissemination of messages to help achieve that target. “I believe that no Ghanaian with HIV should die because treatment is available. People must put aside fear and stigma and seek early treatment and the media must help in this direction”, he said. The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Affail Monney, who spoke on the topic: "The Role of the Media in the Response to HIV," called on journalists to go beyond the norm and evolve creative stories and story angles to support the national response to AIDS.

Fmr Vice President Aliu Mahama reinterate call for peace talks to continue in Bawku

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has reiterated the call on the leadership of the people of Bawku, especially the faction that has withdrawn its participation from the deliberations of Inter Ethnic Peace Committee to return to the negotiation table and use dialogue to help restore permanent peace in the area. The Bawku Inter Ethnic Peace Committee, made up the two dominant ethnic groups in the Bawku Municipality- Kusasis and Mamprusis- as well as other minority tribes, was established by the current government in 2009/2010 in the aftermath of the conflict that rocked the area to draw up a road map leading to restoration of permanent peace in the area. However, the committee’s activities were jolted when one of the sides, the Mamprusis, withdrew their participation due to perceive bias on the part of government and since then, its programmes activities have stalled. In a media encounter with selected journalists at Bolgatanga after accompanying, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to the NPP’s Presidential Candidate for the December 7, 2012 polls on a tour of the region, Alhaji Aliu Mahama said it will be fruitful and rewarding if all efforts are channelled into bringing lasting peace to the area. “The pulling out from the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee might have been as a result of lost of confidence of one of the sides. I believe with that passage of time, things are cooling down. I will want to prevail on the aggrieved party to come back to the negotiation table so that they can really work out something to bring permanent peace to the area”, he said. “This is the time to start talking after a long layoff knowing that people have now cooled down and will be able to listen to each other”, he stressed. He commended the people of the region for sustaining the peace which he said was needed for the development of the country stressing that development can never take place where conflict exists. On the December 7, 2012 elections he have the assurance that as far as the NPP was concern, they stand for peace and they would do all they can to ensure that peace prevails, during, during and after the elections. “Naturally, anytime election period come, people have their fears. But I believe that having gone through five elections and I am very hopeful that, Ghana will go through these elections peacefully”, he emphasised. Alhaji Aliu Mahama who was with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia throughout his one week tour of the region asked the people to support Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia by voting massively for the NPP in the December election to continue from where President Kufour left off. He said during the latter parts of the Kufour administration, Pwalugu Tomato Factory in the region was revamped to help rejuvenate agricultural activities, particularly tomato processing in the region to reduce poverty. He however accused the current government for failing to put in place a good management to continue from where their (NPP) administration had left off from leading to a slump in activities at the plant. He therefore called on the people to vote back the NPP to help it continue its plans for the factory to help change lives and improve on the economy of the area. “We in the NPP know the importance of that factory. We know what it can do to impact on the lives of farmers in the area. It was for that reason that our administration secured a loan facility from Brazil to build a mini hydro dam with irrigation facilities at Pwalugu. We had planned that through that programme, the region will enjoy constant electric power which will certainly attract industries to the region and also create a huge irrigation system that will keep out farmers busy all year round. Sadly the programme was frustrated by the NDC government who succeeded the NPP. They ended up diverting the funds into roads construction”, Alhaji Aliu said. He expressed the confidence that the people of the Upper East Region will return the NPP back into power to revive that dream and also carry on its free SHS education policy which he said from observation of their tour of the region was catching up with the electorates like wide fire. -End- (benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh)

UE Regional NPP secretary lose bid for Tempane constituency

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tempane The opposition New Patriotic Party in the newly created Tempane Constituency has elected Mr. Joseph Akudibila as its parliamentary candidate. Mr. Akudibila, a former Deputy Minister for Defense in the Kufour Administration polled 149 votes to defeat two other contenders; Mr. Joseph Dindiock Kpemka, who prior to the polls was the Regional Secretary of the NPP and Mr. Paul Abugre Azumah, a tutor who polled 121 and 12 votes respectively at the primaries which were held on Sunday. The wrong placement of candidates on the ballot party contrary to agreed position at the balloting, led to disagreements and a delay in the process of conducting the polls. Following objections raised by one of the contenders, the Electoral Commission had to reprint the ballot papers, a situation that led to a late start of the programme. Voting eventually kicked off at 4 pm instead of the 10 am scheduled for the exercise. Tempane is one of two constituencies created in the Upper East Region as part of the 45 newly created constituencies. With the victory,Mr. Akudibila will come face to face with the District Chief Executive for the area, Mr. David Adakudugu who is contesting the seat on the ticket of NDC. The NPP candidate was between won the then Garu-Tempane constituency seat as an independent candidate 2000 after he dethrone the NDC; Dominic Azimbe Azumah. While in parliament he aligned himself with the NPP and was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense. In the 2004 elections, however, he lost to the man he defeated at the earlier polls, NDC’s Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah. Meanwhile in the Bolgatanga East Constituency, the former Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga won the primaries to contest the seat on the ticket of the NPP. He polled 79 votes to defeat Mr. Emmanuel Abugre Abole, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast who secured 76 in their primaries. With the dust settled, Mr. Rockson Ayinne Bukari will lock horns with NDC’s Lawyer Dominic Ayine and PNC’s David Apasera for the sole slot to represent the people in parliament -End-