Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Dont bring back NDC - Akufo-Addo

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday November 11, 2008
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged the electorate not to make a mistake by voting back the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to office in the December poll.
He said "the NDC showed that they could not manage the country't economy that was why the electorate voted them out of office.The choice we make in this election will shape the destiny of our country for years to come. The NPP has shown that it has the capacity to lead Ghana to become a prosperous nation and we should all come together to make this happen"
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing NPP supporters at a rally in Nima, Accra on Friday as part of his tour of the country to solicit the support of the electorate to retain the NPP in office.
He said "in some few days our democracy will be tested as we go to the poll to elect a new president.I urge you to select a leader who has the vision, courage and the will to lead Ghana to prosperity."
"Our country is on the precipice of great transformation and modernization.Only one candidate offers a clear vision and path for effective continuation of the good governance initiated under the current administration offering us the opportunity to strengthen our institutions and 'move forward' to the next level of transformation and modernization. That candidate is Nana Akufo -Addo."
Nana Akufo-Addo told the enthusiastic crowd that victory beckons the NPP and asked them to continue to intensify the campaign for that to happen.
"The political landscape is volatile and it would take the collective energy and sacrifice of all of us to win a 'one touch' victory on December 7th".
Other speakers at the rally included Sheikh I.C. Quaye, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, Kwabena Agyapong, Gloria Akufo and Boakye Agyarko, all leading members of the NPP

Sunday, November 09, 2008

NDC poised to form next gov't

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday November 6, 2008
Nii Nortey Dua, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ledzokuku in the Greater Accra Region says the party is poised to form the next government to stop what he calls “the economic hardships of the people.”
“The NDC has put in place a well packaged campaign message and I know that with our people-centered policies in our manifesto, we are going to triumph in the December poll.”
In an interview with the Times in Accra, yesterday, Mr. Nortey-Dua said the three pronged approach adopted by the NDC in the campaign has put the party in a sound position to sin the polls, adding “the people are now appreciating the fact that t6he NDC can lead Ghana better.”
On his chances of winning the seat for the NDC, Mr. Nortey Dua, a journalist, said “I have toured and interacted with all manne of persons in this constituency and it is clear that they are all yearning to give me the mandate to represent them in parliament.”
“Let us not forget that in the 2004 election I won, but due to some strange reasons the verdict was stolen from me.”
He said when gets the nod he will sponsor the setting up of what he calls “Ledzokuku Mini Parliament,” where representatives from all the political parties, civil society, and all interest groups would come together to deliberate the needs of the constituency.
He said “such an intervention will inform me to attend to the development needsof the constituency better.”
He said as a former Assembly Member and Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly respectively, he knows the needs of the constituents better than any other candidate in the race.
Mr. Nortey-Dua, a former sports broadcaster for the Ghana Broadcastig Coorporation (GBC) promised thatr when he gets the nod, he would facilitate the efforts to solve the acute water problems that had been with the people for years.
“The NDC’s manifesto has already indentified the water crisis and we are working hard to set up another water station at Akuse to serve the water needs of residents particularly in the eastern corridor of the city of Accra.”
HE said “roads in Teshi and other areas are in deplorable conditions. The only good ones were constructed under the NDC and we will form the next government to push for true development for the country.”
Mr. Nortey-Dua also said when he gets the nod, he will set up an endorsement fund to support education as well as set up a youth counseling centre to nurture the youth for leadership positions.
He also said the NDC will come back to complete the OPEC funded hospital in Teshi which was abandoned by the NPP when it assumed office in 2001.
H e also promised to support the police to effectively clampdown on armed robbery and street crimes when elected.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

NDC launches fund to support the party's agents

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday November 1, 2008
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday launched an appeal for funds to support its agents who will be working in the various polling stations during the December 7, poll.

Party Chairman Dr. Kwabena Adjei said at the launch in Accra that the idea of NDC Party Agents support Fund was mooted by one of their members who presented GH¢10,000 to start the fund.

Launching it Dr. Adjei said “as we get nearer to the December poll, many Ghanaian voters are getting more and more uneasy about the security of the ballot that will be cast in favour of the NDC”.

He said it was the apprehension expressed variously and repeatedly by NDC members that informed the decision of the leadership of the party to set up the fund to support the agents to ensure that the sanctity of the electoral process was preserved.

He said “in recent elections, the NDC had not been able to make the financial provision and logistical arrangements necessary to cater for the needs of our polling agents on time.”

He said “as a result our political opponents had in the past had the opportunity of tricking our polling agents into accepting and eating packaged food laced with laxative and drinking water laced with sleep – inducing medicinal agent.

Dr Adjei said the NDC is on course to recruit what he described as “agents who are literate, knowledgeable, committed and incorruptible”.

He said the party has created a platform to sensitise and train them to be efficient in order to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.”

“The grossly immoral strategy be our main political opponent had effectively compromised the loyalty and lowered vigilance of many of our agents during the polls in many constituencies and we are prepared to turn things around this time.”

Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, NDC general secretary at question time said “poisoning and drugging of agents is a real issue” but added “we do not want to mention the culprits involved”.

We do not want to litigate about what happened in the past. We want to guard against it this time around”.