BAGBIN TO REVEAL ‘RIGHT’ INFORMATION

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday August 31, 2018

Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has officially notified the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that he is interested in becoming the party’s flagbearer for the 2020 presidential election.

He said in a letter to the party’s General Secretary that his team is going to ‘share information’ with the rank and file of the party on why the party lost power in 2016 so that the delegates will be well-informed in the selection of the next flagbearer.

Fair Play

He also said he was praying fervently so that there will be “good conscience and fair play” in the process.

Mr. Bagbin, who is the NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo, has been firing from all cylinders since he declared his intention to lead the party in 2020, mostly directing his ‘fire power’ on former President John Mahama who is also contesting.

He has said variously that former President Mahama should not be allowed to lead the party again because he is a ‘bad driver,’ who has landed the party into a ‘ditch.’

Serious Introspection 

“I have taken this decision after serious introspection and wide consultations with the elders, executives and the rank and file of the party,” the letter said.

He said, “Let me take this opportunity to assure you and the entire members of the party of a campaign devoid of insults and personality attacks,” adding “my team, with the active support and advice of the elders and executives, will conduct a virtuous, decorous, civil and mature campaign.”

Right Information

“We will share the right information with members of the party to enable them take the right decisions towards restoring the lost glory of the party,” he hinted and assured that “the supreme interest of the party will be uppermost in all we do.”

Mr. Bagbin said “as we strive to build a strong party to win Election 2020 and beyond, it is my fervent prayer that good conscience and fair play prevail in this contest,” adding “May our social democratic credentials shine in order to persuade the people and give hope to Ghanaians of a better future thus pave the way for victory 2020.”

Goosie Entry

Another NDC member, Augustus Goosie O. Tanoh, onetime aide to former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, who went into political hibernation for many years, has resurrected his political career and has declared that he is also contesting for the flagbearership position.

Mr. Tanoh, who abandoned the NDC ahead of the crucial 2000 general election which the NDC lost to then opposition NPP, to form his own NRP for which many ardent NDC members have never forgiven him since they say his breakaway made the NDC lose that election which brought President J.A. Kufuor and Alhaji Aliu Mahama to power, is hiding behind a group calling itself Organising for Ghana (OfG) to re-launch his political career.

He was at the party’s headquarters at Adabraka, Accra yesterday to submit his letter of intent to the NDC General Secretary.

New Democratic Party

Even when he was pronouncing National Democratic Congress he called it ‘New Democratic Congress’ before he corrected himself along the line, saying he is coming to restore what he called ‘values’ of the party.

“I believe that a renewed and revitalised NDC will have the values, the organisational potentials and vision to lead Ghana to realise the dream of the Fourth Republic,” he said.

MOSQUITO ANYIDOHO LOCK HORNS OVER NDC POST

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 30, 2018

Two gurus of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who are vying for a top post in the party, are at each other’s throat.

Koku Anyidoho, who is the NDC’s Deputy General Secretary in charge of Operations, is busily campaigning to unseat his boss, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the substantive General Secretary and the ‘dog fight’ has intensified.

Koku’s Pressure 

Mr Asiedu Nketia, popularly called General Mosquito, for the first time since he became General Secretary, is facing stiff competition from Koku, who has vowed to snatch the post from him.

The ‘fight’ started somewhere in October 2017, when Koku was quoted by various media outlets as saying that his boss Mr. Asiedu Nketia had ‘blessed’ him to go for the post because he would not seek re-election when nominations open.

An Accra-based private station, Rainbow Radio, then published that the NDC General Secretary had asked Koku to abandon his plans to contest him suggesting that General Mosquito has had a change of mind.

Sending Emissaries 

Mr. Asiedu Nketia was even reported to have sent some emissaries to Koku to persuade him to step down.

According to Rainbow Radio, he (Asiedu Nketia) had ‘admitted’ that he told Koku to contest because he was no longer interested in the post.

In the ensuing heat Koku, in interviews, appear to confirm reports that Mr. Asiedu Nketia initially told him to go for the post but later made a U-turn.

Koku cannot be ‘bought’ b anyone in the party and vowed not to abandon his dreams of becoming the General Secretary.

Nomination Forms 

After picking his nomination forms last week for the contest, Koku again said he would help to unseat what he called “the incompetent New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, who has failed woefully in fulfilling his campaign promises in 2020.

Using innuendos, Koku said he is not ‘scared’ of any candidate vying for the General Secretary position.

He said “the race is not about insults, it’s not boxing; we are not in the race to insult anybody. I have decided to contest as General Secretary with the message of party first. The party is supreme and we must work for the party at all levels in order to rebuild it and bring it back to power in 2020.” 

Mosquito Bite 

Mr. Asiedu Nketia, who appears to have enough of Koku’s tantrums, reacted by ‘exposing’ his subordinate for peddling ‘falsehood’ about him.

He said, “I saw a headline on one of the portals that I have pleaded with Koku Anyidoho to step down for me to go unopposed. I called that radio station, Rainbow Radio, and asked them where they got that story and also expressed my reservations about it since the headline and body of the story did not match. They gave me the opportunity to give my side of the story.”

“I explained to them that it was rather Koku Anyidoho who asked some prominent people in the NDC to come to my house to apologise to me for indicating that I have blessed him for the General Secretary position because that was not true. Koku Anyidoho rather came to apologise to me not the other way round.

“He sent Dr Carl Max, Hon. Kofi Attoh, Vida Addei, who is the Deputy National Treasurer, to apologise to me. He also asked Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan to join them but Yaw couldn’t come, and so it was Koku who apologised to me for that falsehood.

"These are confidential matters that I would have kept to myself, but due to the controversies that are emerging, I am forced to come out and set the records straight.”    

MAHAMA BOYS ‘WICKED’ KWESI BOTCHWEY FUMES

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday August 29, 2018

Former Finance Minister and National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, has described the faces behind media reports of him picking nomination forms to contest the chairmanship position of the main opposition party as wicked.

Prof Botchwey, who is lacing his boots to enter the flagbearership race of the NDC for the 2020 presidential election, said he never asked anybody to act for him, saying that the purported picking of forms to contest the chairmanship position came to him as a surprise.

His office issued a statement yesterday debunking media reports that he picked nomination forms to contest as chairman of the party.

Prof Botchwey said he was rather aiming for something higher which implies that he is interested in the flagbearership position.

 “The office wants to put it on record that Professor Kwesi Botchwey has not authorised any person to pick a form on his behalf, or has he ever considered contesting for the office of NDC National Chairman. 

“We consider this act by some faceless people as desperate, wicked, and devious with the intent of portraying him as inconsistent with his decisions, and a deliberate attempt to create confusion in the mind of his teeming supporters,” the statement said.

According to sources, the forms were picked by people close to former President John Mahama, who is staging a comeback for the NDC’s flagbearership slot.

The highest position in the NDC, according to the party’s constitution, is the National Chairman but once a flagbearer is elected, the leadership mantle is given to him or her to steer affairs.

It has emerged that the Mahama Boys are allegedly behind the chairmanship move of Prof Botchwey since they see him as the main threat to the former President’s presidential plans if he should contest for 2020.

The motive, according to sources, was to make Prof. Botchwey, who chaired the 13-member Committee that investigated NDC’s abysmal performance in the 2016 general election, appear ‘inconsistent’ as far as his political ambitions are concerned.

But the former Finance Minister’s office described the move as “wicked and devious.”

Incensed by the action of his detractors about ‘forced’ chairmanship agenda, the former Minister’s camp said it “shall investigate and report this conduct to the National Executive Committee to bring to book the persons behind this desperate conduct.”

Chairmanship Snub 

The NDC presidential hopeful said his next political move would be unveiled in the days ahead.

“In the coming days, Professor Kwesi Botchwey shall publicly declare his intention and the capacity in which he will decide to lead the party for victory 2020. We want to assure our teeming supporters that Prof. Kwesi Botchwey remains resolute to the agenda agreed on,” it stated.

Main Contenders 

So far about 11 NDC gurus, including former President John Dramani Mahama, have declared their intention to lead the party, and DAILY GUIDE learnt the number could increase before close of nomination ahead of the showdown on December 7, 2018, two clear years before the 2020 general election.

Apart from former President Mahama, who wants a second shot at the presidency after his government was sent packing in 2016 for poor show, former Rector of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) Professor Joshua Alabi, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Second Deputy Speaker and NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, are all in the race.

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester A. Mensah, former Central Regional Minister and NDC MP for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, are also contesting.

It’s even believed that Augustus Goosie O. Tanoh, who abandoned the NDC ahead of the crucial 2000 general election, which the NDC lost to then opposition NPP, wants to come back to lead the party.

Many ardent NDC members have never forgiven him for forming his own NRP which made the NDC lose that election which brought President J.A. Kufuor and Alhaji Aliu Mahama to power.

A lawyer and NDC Communications Team member called Elipklim Agbemava, a banker and oil and gas consultant, Nurudeen Iddrisu and one David Dotse Kwame Kuwadah, have all declared their intention to challenge the former president.

Even maverick Stephen Atubiga, aka Latrician or Acolatse, who Justice Atuguba humorously described as ‘somebody who can burn down a market’ during the landmark Presidential Election petition after being cited for contempt, is also in the race to lead the NDC.

Atubiga had derisively said that Mahama’s comeback is not ‘sexual intercourse’ for him to call for second round.

Atubiga claimed cynically that Mr. Mahama would be a good running mate for him.

Former Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, who was buried last month, was preparing to contest his boss, Mr. Mahama.

He was believed to have the full support of former National Security Advisor, Baba Kamara, who reportedly fell out with Mr. Mahama.

Former President Mahama says he is seeking a second shot at the presidency because he believes he owes a duty to God and the country to do so.

NDC SHOPS FOR CHAIRMAN

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday August 28, 2018

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is desperately shopping for a suitable party guru to vie for the position of national chairman as the party appears to be settling on John Mahama as flag bearer.

So far, about five people have declared their intention to lead the party but the majority of the party’s leaders are reportedly holding that all those who have come out to contest the position currently occupied by Kofi Portuphy, do not fit the bill.

As a result, they are pushing for former Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, who had earlier showed interest in the presidential race, to enter the contest to become the chairman.

Unblemished Record 

The former minister, who chaired the 13-member committee that investigated why the NDC performed abysmally during the 2016 general elections, sending them packing out of power, is being ‘coerced’ to contest because they still consider him to have what they term an‘unblemished’ record.

The agenda to make Prof Botchwey the NDC National Chairman by ‘all means’ is reportedly being spearheaded by the camp of former President John Mahama.

Some of the Mahama ‘boys’ are said to have even gone to the NDC Headquarters at Adabraka in Accra to pick a nomination form for the good old former finance minister without his consent.

Main Contenders 

Currently, NDC’s Director of Elections, who supervised a disastrous general election in 2016, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, former NDC General Secretary Hudu Yahaya and former Trade and Industry Minister and former NDC MP for Keta, Dan Abodakpi, who was once jailed for causing financial loss to the state, have all shown interest in the chairmanship race.

Hudu Yahaya was in the race in 2014 but chickened out at the last-minute while Mr. Abodakpi also lost to Kofi Portuphy, who is not seeking re-election, sources said.

Former Attorney General Betty Mould-Iddrisu and current NDC Vice Chairperson, who supervised the fraudulent payment of GH¢51.2 million to Woyome which has become an albatross on the neck of the party, is reportedly interested in the position as her posters have been spotted in some principal streets of Accra.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that Dr Benjamin Kumbour, a former Defence Minister and ally of former President JJ Rawlings is also believed to be lacing his boots for the same position.

Running Mate Saga 

The Mahama Camp is said to be pushing for Prof. Botchwey, who is from the Central Region where the NDC was walloped at the polls in 2016 because he wants to select his running mate from the Volta Region should he win the flag bearer contest for the 2020 election.

Interestingly, the Ahwoi brothers, who are one of the power brokers in the party, are said to be pushing for one of their brothers to partner Mr Mahama for 2020.

However, the former president is reportedly determined to go for a running mate from the Volta Region that is why they are pushing somebody from the Central Region in order to appease the electorate there.

Mr. Mahama himself is said to be in a dilemma over his running mate if he becomes the flag bearer because one of his trusted officers, former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, is also eyeing the post and it could be difficult for the former president to overlook him.

The party has set 29-5 September 2018 for submission of nomination forms with the endorsement of at least 100 party members.

A former ambassador is also required to recommend or second the nomination of party members vying for all 14 national executive positions.

Botchwey’s Denial 

However, Prof Botchwey issued a statement denying reports that he plans to contest the chairmanship position of the NDC.

Prof Botchwey gave a hint of his intention to contest a leadership position to help the NDC possibly return to power in 2020.

Having shown a lack of interest in the chairmanship position, the only leadership position available that would help bring the NDC back to power is the flag bearer.

Prof Botchwey said he would announce his plans in the coming days.

Botchwey was said to have picked forms on Saturday to contest the chairmanship position.

“The Office of Professor Kwesi Botchwey received with surprise the news being carried by Myjoyonline news portal that he has picked a form to contest the office of National Chairman in the upcoming NDC congress slated for later this year.

“The office wants to put it on record that Professor Kwesi Botchwey has not authorised any person to pick a form on his behalf or has he ever considered contesting the office of NDC National Chairman. 

“We consider this act by some faceless people as desperate, wicked and devious with the intent of portraying him as inconsistent with his decisions, and a deliberate attempt to create confusion in the minds of his teeming supporters. 

“The office shall investigate and report this conduct to the National Executive Committee to bring to book the persons behind this desperate conduct to book.

“In the coming days, Professor Kwesi Botchwey shall publicly declare his intention and the capacity in which he will decide to lead the party for victory 2020. We want to assure our teeming supporters that Prof. Kwesi Botchey remains resolute to the agenda agreed on,” he stated.

FINANCE MINISTER FLOORS CHRAJ IN $2.25 BN BOND

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 27, 2018

The findings made against Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in the $2.25 billion bond saga have been quashed by an Accra High Court.

The court, presided over by Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, upheld the Attorney General’s argument that CHRAJ overstepped its bounds in making findings against the Finance Minister when the NDC’s Yaw Brogya Genfi brought an allegation before the commission that Mr. Ofori-Atta breached the financial laws of Ghana in the issuance of the bond.

She said CHRAJ had no jurisdiction “to make the said findings and recommendations herein as its jurisdiction had not been invoked by a petition.

“Since the respondent acted without jurisdiction and in excess of its jurisdiction with respect to the stated findings and recommendations, the application for certiorari would have to be granted to quash them.”

CHRAJ, in determining the case filed by Brogya Genfi, made extraneous findings without giving the minister the chance to respond to the allegations, a decision the court said was miscarriage of justice.

Adverse Findings 

CHRAJ, at the time of making adverse findings against Mr. Ofori-Atta and the Bank of Ghana, did not give them a hearing and the judge said she had been persuaded by the Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame’s argument that CHRAJ had no jurisdiction to make those findings against the minister.

Incensed at the ruling, the Finance Minister, through the Attorney General, filed an application for judicial review seeking a declaration that the commission had “no jurisdiction to make findings and recommendations touching on the issuance of government of Ghana bonds by the Ministry of Finance generally, alleged breaches of the financial laws or regulations of Ghana by the Ministry and Bank of Ghana in the issuance of securities, or an examination of compliance with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).”

The applicant further sought a declaration that the findings by CHRAJ was in excess of its jurisdiction under Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution and prayed for an order of certiorari to quash the purported findings and recommendations by the commission that touch on the issuance of the bonds by the Ministry of Finance generally, alleged breaches of the financial laws or regulations of Ghana.

The AG, on behalf of the Finance Minister, brought the application under Order 55 Rule 1 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules C.I. 47 and relied on Order 55 Rule 2,3 (1) of the same C.I. 47, Articles 23, 141, 295 (8), 296 of the 1992 Constitution as well as other legal authorities.

AG’s Argument 

The AG, represented by her deputy, Godfred Yeboah Dame, argued that CHRAJ is a public institution which is supposed to act in the public interest, contending that the decision to go beyond the remit of the application filed by Brogya Genfi could not have been taken in the public interest as CHRAJ claimed.

Conflict of Interest 

According to the Deputy AG, CHRAJ had no power, apart from determining if the conduct of the Finance Minister amounted to conflict of interest or not, to set out on a general enquiry into compliance with the financial laws of Ghana or the regulations regarding the issuance of bonds in Ghana.

He said CHRAJ had power only to enquire whether any conflict of interest was manifest in the dealings of Ken Ofori Atta and nothing more, adding that having found no evidence whatsoever of any conduct bordering on conflict of interest or breach of Chapter 24 of the Constitution on the part of the minister, the commission’s mandate was discharged.

The Deputy AG said that the decision by CHRAJ has far-reaching implications and said if the decision was not challenged and quashed, it could potentially bring uncertainty and chaos into the financial and securities industry.

CHRAJ Fights 

CHRAJ, in its defence, contended that its powers are clearly stated under Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution, saying it has the mandate to investigate all instances of alleged or suspected corruption and misappropriation of public money by officials and to take appropriate steps, including reports to the AG and the Auditor-General resulting from such investigations.

CHRAJ insisted that the findings they made against the Finance Minister or any other institution did not occasion any miscarriage of justice and therefore the instant application for judicial review was misplaced.

The commission said the AG has not denied the findings to be inaccurate and has not demonstrated any errors in the findings except to say the commission has no jurisdiction to probe the general regularity of the issuance of government securities and compliance with the laws and regulations governing the securities industry in Ghana.

Final Ruling

The judge, in her ruling said “one of the reliefs sought by the applicant is certiorari to quash the said findings of the respondent. Certiorari is granted where a decision is made in the absence of jurisdiction or in excess of jurisdiction.”

“It has been established that at the time the respondent (CHRAJ) made adverse findings against the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, the respondent did not give them a hearing,” the judge held, adding “the right to be heard or given an opportunity to be heard is so fundamental that a breach of it is always grounds to set aside or quash a decision.”

GOOSIE TANOH CALLS ON RAWLINGS

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By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 27, 2018

Augustus Goosie O. Tanoh, onetime aide to former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has paid a courtesy call on the NDC founder to get support for his purported plans to become the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer in 2020.

Mr. Tanoh who abandoned the NDC ahead of the crucial 2000 general election which the NDC lost to then opposition NPP, to form his own NRP for which many ardent NDC members have never forgiven him since they claimed his breakaway made the NDC lose that election which brought President J.A. Kufuor and Alhaji Aliu Mahama to power, is hiding behind a group calling itself Organising for Ghana (OfG) to re-launch his political career.

It is obvious that he wants to become NDC flagbearer for 2020, a position about 10 of the party’s gurus including former President John Mahama are fighting for.

Mr. Tanoh reportedly called on the former President last Wednesday, to discuss socio-economic and political issues affecting the country and the NDC.

Ethical Collapse 

He is reported to have said that there is an ‘ethical collapse’ of state institutions and ‘the grinding poverty and insecurity of Ghanaians’ were similar to the situation that pertained in the country in the late1970s and early 1980s and said an ‘urgent course-correction’ was required for Ghana to avoid the kind of ‘social collapse’ it faced in 1981.

 He said it will “require a massive and sacrificial national mobilisation that not only solves the country’s material problems but that challenges the selfish and elitist values and leadership practices that underpin them”.

 He said that “political parties, the central political institutions that the 31st December Revolution bequeathed to the Fourth Republic, are simply not delivering value for society and that the political establishment must be overhauled to bring the masses back to the forefront of national development struggles.”

OfG Agenda

Mr. Tanoh said “the OfG agenda is first to reorganise the NDC to restore voluntarism, participatory decision-making, integrity, and transparency; second to regain public trust in the NDC and reposition it in national life; and third to help it recapture power to resume the national democratic transformation of our country.”

“These experiences have profoundly shaped my own political outlook and methods. They underlie what I believe I can offer the party and the Ghanaian people. Today, the NDC needs leadership that understands mass mobilisation and participatory democracy.  My greatest pride remains my work as Head of Projects and Programmes in the National Development Committee where we worked with PDCs, WDCs, the Student & Youth Task Force and other mass organisations in achieving this mobilisation.  If I have any claim to leadership now, it is based on this experience.”

Display of Opulence

President Rawlings in his response reiterated the need for a free and fair electoral process during the NDC contest to select its leaders and urged that the campaigns be conducted without the open display of opulence as had happened in the past.

He would leave the decision as to who leads the NDC into the 2020 election to the collective judgement of the delegates and promised not to be an obstacle to any of the aspirants.

Rawlings Factor

Ahead of the December 7, 2018 NDC election of who becomes the flagbearer, former President Rawlings has re-established his control of the party since all the aspirants are dashing to his Ridge office in Accra to pay homage to him.

The NDC tried to go into the 2016 general election without their founder and in the end they were ‘cut to size’ by then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on December 7.

Even former President Mahama whose ‘babies with sharp teeth’ have undermined Mr. Rawlings, has seen the need to pay homage to the founder as he seeks a second chance to lead the NDC.

GERMAN LEADER ARRIVES THURSDAY

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 27, 2018

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel, is expected to pay a day’s working visit to Ghana on Thursday, August, 30 at the invitation of President Akufo-Addo.

Ahead of the visit, Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany, Gina Ama Blay has touched down to do preparatory work for the historic occasion.

Apart from Ghana, the German Chancellor is also scheduled to visit Nigeria and Senegal during her tour of Africa.

The German Ambassador to Ghana, Christoph Retzlaff said in July that Chancellor Merkel is expected to be accompanied by the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gerd Müller and a high-level business delegation.

He had said the Chancellor, who is arguably the most powerful woman in Europe currently, would hold high-level meeting with President Akufo-Addo and also added that a chunk of her delegation would stay for another day to deepen economic corporation and bilateral relations with Ghana.

“The visit to Ghana will be the first of a German Chancellor to Ghana since 2004. This visit underlines the strong and deepening partnership between Ghana and Germany,” he said.

“President Akufo-Addo met Chancellor Merkel in Berlin in June 2017 and February 2018. German President Steinmeier was in Ghana for a state visit in December 2017. The visit will focus on economic cooperation and promoting investment and business in Ghana.”

Ambassador Retzlaff said that “the visit will also be an opportunity to discuss and take stock of the G20 ‘Compact with Africa Initiative,’ launched in June 2017 in Berlin under Germany’s G20 presidency,” he said, adding that “The Compact with Africa aims at bringing more private investment to the African partner countries amongst which Ghana is a front-runner.”

“Germany is supporting Ghana through long-standing development cooperation programmes, as well as a new bilateral ‘Investment and Reform Partnership,’ which was launched in December 2017 and brings additional 100 million Euros of German development funds to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Ghana and to foster private investment into renewable energy, as well as vocational training in the energy sector.”

He said “the Reform and Investment Partnership supports Germany’s commitments under the G20 Compact with Africa.”

Ambassador Retzlaff said another highlight of German-Ghanaian relations would be the “German African Business Summit (GABS) in Accra from 11-13 February 2019,” saying “GABS is the German signature business event in Africa. Top business and government leaders from Germany and Sub-Sahara Africa meet every two years in Africa to promote economic relations between Europe’s largest economy and the fastest growing region in the world.”

11 VIE FOR PRESIDENT FOR NDC FOR 2020

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday August 25, 2018

The race for the flagbearership position of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 presidential election is gathering momentum.

So far 11 NDC gurus, including former President John Dramani Mahama, have declared their intention to lead the party, and DAILY GUIDE learnt the number could increase before the close of nomination ahead of the showdown on December 7, 2018, two clear years before the 2020 general elections.

NDC Gurus 

Apart from former President Mahama, who wants a second shot at the presidency, former Rector of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and Second Deputy Speaker and NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, are all in the race.

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester A. Mensah, former Central Regional Minister and NDC MP for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, are also contesting.

It’s even believed that Augustus Goosie O. Tanoh, who abandoned the NDC ahead of the crucial 2000 general election, which the NDC lost to then opposition NPP, wants to come back to lead the party. Many ardent NDC members have never forgiven him for forming his own NRP which made the NDC lose that election which brought President J.A. Kufuor and Alhaji Aliu Mahama to power.

A lawyer and NDC Communications Team member called Elipklim Agbemava, a banker and oil and gas consultant, Nurudeen Iddrisu and one David Dotse Kwame Kuwadah have all declared intention to challenge the former president.

Even maverick Stephen Atubiga aka Latrician or Acolatse, who Justice Atuguba humorously described as ‘somebody who can burn down a market’ during the landmark Presidential Election petition after being cited for contempt, is also in the race to lead the NDC.

Atubiga had derisively said that Mahama’s comeback is not ‘sexual intercourse’ for him to call for second round.

Atubiga claimed cynically that Mr. Mahama would be a good running mate for him.

Former Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, who was buried last month, was preparing to contest his boss Mr. Mahama.

He was believed to have the full support of former National Security Advisor, Baba Kamara, who reportedly fell out with Mr. Mahama.

Former President Mahama says he is seeking a second shot at the presidency because he believes he owes a duty to God and the country to do so.

Open Secret

Mr. Mahama’s declaration ended months of speculation about his intention to make a comeback even though it was an open secret that he was lacing his boots to run for president again.

The former president had been using the so-called NDC Unity Walk agenda to test the ground, and therefore submitting a letter officially to declare his intention did not come as a surprise to many political observers.

It’s believed in NDC circles that ex-President Mahama is the only candidate with a deep pocket to finance the party’s campaign for 2020, hence the massive support.

94 MPs 

The former president enjoys the support of a large number of NDC members and it would be a shocker if he is not able to win the position for 2020.

Some political observers have even said it’s going to be a mere formality for him but the camp of Prof Alabi has disputed that analysis.

Recently, 94 out of 106 or so NDC MPs declared their support for the former president sparking heated debate in the party.

The list included two MPs from Ashanti, nine from Brong Ahafo, three from Central, six from Eastern, 12 from Greater Accra and 16 from the Northern Region.

The rest included 12 from Upper East, three from Upper West, 21 from Volta and 11 from Western Region.

Conspicuously missing on the list of endorsement were NDC MPs like Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Ketu North and deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and MP for Keta, Richard Quashigah, who belongs to the Prof Alabi camp.

Also, MP for Yunyoo in the Northern Region, Joseph Bipoba Naabu, who clearly does not like former President Mahama, said the MPs were ‘blackmailed’ into making an endorsement.