K. Adu Construction Fumes Over Sabotage

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

Kwaku Adu Boateng, CEO of K Adu Construction Limited explains issues to the media. With him is his Communications Director Abdul Aziz Malik.

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Wednesday September 26, 2012

MESSRS K. ADU Construction and Plumbing Works Limited is accusing some officials of the Ghana Urban Water Limited of persistently sabotaging their effort to bring potable water to the Ga West Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.

According to K. Adu Construction, the Ghana Urban officials are allegedly using National Security operatives to intimidate them in spite of a genuine contract it signed with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) last year to supply water to over 500 residents in the area.

Briefing the media on Monday in the unfolding events, Abdul Aziz Malik, Communications Manager of K. Adu Construction said after carrying out feasibility studies on the water situation, the Ministry of Water Resources, Housing and Construction awarded them contract to commence the project in June 2011.

He said after the sod was cut by Ms. Hannah Bissiw, a Deputy Minister they have succeeded in providing constant potable water for the people.

The Communications Manager claimed on September 13, a man called Stanley Martey of Ghana Urban Water Limited and one Jordan Oku lead a team of 30 National Security operatives, six of whom were armed, to disconnect K. Adu Construction’s bulk metre which record the usage of water for the community, thereby disrupting water supply.

According to them, they sought audience with Ghana Urban Water Limited to understand their actions but the state agency would not give a listening ear.

He said that a dispute arose over debt in which K. Adu Construction explained their position after which a proposed payment plan was reached but water has still not reached the taps of residents.

“We wonder if Ghana Urban Water Limited has to use National Security operatives to disconnect water connection. Are there procedures and processes for addressing disconnection? Is the rationale only to recover amounts owed or sinister?” he queried.

He called on the government to institute enquiry into the circumstances leading to the actions by the Ghana Urban Water officials.

Kwaku Adu Boateng, CEO of K Adu Construction Limited said they have always been co-orporative with the water agencies but their contest over huge bills resulting from spillages which did not come from them appear to have broken the camel’s back.

He said the bill stood at GHC102, 3000 and they paid GHC10,000, issued a cheque of GHC 7,000 and the rest spread for subsequent months.

SSNIT Invests In Airline

Kwame Peprah - Board Chairman of SSNIT

Posted on: www.businessguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Tuesday September 25, 2012

Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has confirmed its 10 percent equity in the newly-established Africa World Airline (AWA), a local airline founded by Togbe Afede XIV, paramount chief of the Asogli Traditional Area in the Volta region.

The Board Chairman of SSNIT and former Finance Minister, Kwame Peprah, who made the confirmation at the official launch AWA in Accra on Friday said, “We have so far invested between 3 and 4 million dollars in this venture and it is the first phase.”

He said the prospects of the aviation industry in Africa are encouraging and SSNIT decided to take advantage of the situation to make investment.

The partnership of AWA is such that Togbe Afede is supposed to be the principal founder, with SAS Finance Group, SSNIT, HNA Aviation (China) and the China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) as the shareholders.

It was incorporated on November 15, 2010 and received its Air Carrier Licence (ACL) from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on March 4, 2011.

AWA is expected to provide services including schedule, charter and cargo flights as well as advertising.

Mr. Peprah said “this is the beginning of our involvement and we are expecting it to be a more dominant force in the industry.”

He said the partners have not paid much attention to competition in the industry at the moment because they were concentrating on how to bring efficiency into the operations of the airline.

“We have to worry about how to make the airline efficient instead of competition and that is what we are working to achieve.”

Togbe Afede said the partners had invested between 30 and 40 million dollars in the first phase of company and they currently have staff strength of 65 including Chinese.

He however said that a number of Ghanaians are indirectly employed to support the operations of the airline and added that plans for expansion were underway.

According to Togbe Afede, AWA was commencing business with Embraer ERJ-145LR jets to cover Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale with Accra as the nerve centre.

“The route network is structured to create a hub-and –spoke model centred upon Accra. This will allow seamless one-change connections between multiple city pairs,” he explained.

He mentioned the major challenge facing the local airline industry as the lack of lights on the runways of the various airports apart from Accra.

“There are no lights on the runways in Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale so we are unable to operate at night. It is a bother to us but I know things would be done right.”

Gong Jianzhong, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, underscored the need for the deepening of Chine-Ghana relations and added that China would continue to support Ghana.

“My government is ready to continue its developmental assistance to Ghana and I would urge Chinese businesses to come in to assist in the transformation of the Ghanaian economy.”

Chi Jianxin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of China Africa Development Fund (CADFund) Ghana, said he was hopeful the involvement of the fund in the venture would “stimulate Ghana’s economic growth.”

Chen Wenli, Director of HNA Group, said the group would offer continuous technical assistance to AWA to make it the preferred airline in the sub-region.

African World Airlines Starts Operation

Dignitaries support Togbe Afede XIV to unveil the AWA logo at the launch

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Tuesday September 25, 2012.

A newly-established local airline, Africa World Airlines (AWA), was launched in Accra on Friday to commence operation.

It was incorporated on November 15, 2010 and received its Air Carrier Licence (ACL) from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on March 4, 2011.

Togbe Afede is supposed to be the principal founder, with SAS Finance Group, state-owned Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), HNA Aviation (China) and the China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) as the shareholders.

AWA is expected to provide services including schedule, charter and cargo flights as well as advertising.

According to Togbe Afede, AWA was commencing business with Embraer ERJ-145LR jets to cover Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale with Accra as the nerve centre.

“The route network is structured to create a hub-and –spoke model centred upon Accra. This will allow seamless one-change connections between multiple city pairs,” he explained at a news conference after the formal launch of AWA.

At the launch, he said, the arrival of AWA on the aviation scene was very significant because it underscored the growing importance of Ghana as an aviation hub in the sub-region.

“The numbers are there to justify this. The growth in numbers of arrivals at the Kotoka International Airport has been very significant.”

 “Not only have we enjoyed relative stability in the various economic statistics, we have also showed tremendous GDP growth over the past years.”

“Our determination is that as and when the market justifies the conditions we would augment our fleet.”

Togbe Afede said it was the airline’s desire to integrate the sub-regions by linking all the cities to make Accra the hub of aviation in the sub-region.

“We want to make air travel and option for the majority of the people many of whom do not consider air travel in their plans because of the advantage that air travel presents.”

He said they were aware of the existence of four domestic airlines, adding “We think we can be able to compete because AWA believes that its strength will rely on safety, reliability, efficiency and value for money.”

Gong Jianzhong, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, underscored the need for the deepening of Chine-Ghana relations and added that China would continue to support Ghana.

“My government is ready to continue its developmental assistance to Ghana and I would urge Chinese businesses to come in to assist in the transformation of the Ghanaian economy.”

Chi Jianxin, Chief Executive Officer of China Africa Development Fund (CADFund) Ghana, said he was hopeful the involvement of the fund in the venture would “stimulate Ghana’s economic growth.”

Chen Wenli, Director of HNA Group, said the group would offer continuous technical assistance to AWA to make it the airline in the sub-region.

Akua Sena Dansoa, Minister of Tourism said the government was committed to providing the needed support for the private sector to flourish.

Veep Throws Gauntlet

Vice President Amissah-Arthur

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By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Thursday September 20, 2012.

VICE PRESIDENT Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has thrown down the gauntlet as campaigning for Election 2012 intensifies, describing the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s manifesto promise to provide free education up to the secondary level as “unrealistic.”

Although the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) does not have a manifesto of their own as yet, they have been quick to punch holes into the promises made by their political opponents at the least opportunity.

The Vice President made the comment at the National Theatre in Accra on Tuesday when he was introduced as the ruling party’s running mate in the December contest with President John Dramani Mahama as the candidate.

The selection of the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana comes about one and a half months after President Mahama selected him as his Vice President.

The two gentlemen ascended to the highest positions of the land by virtue of constitutional provisions following the untimely death of President John Evan Atta Mills on July 24.

Addressing a cheering NDC crowd, Mr. Amissah-Arthur said the ruling party had a comprehensive manifesto in which they would set realistic targets.

He said there were a lot of policy areas in which the NDC differed from the NPP such as management of the economy and education. 

“Our proposal for education would be more realistic than what our opponents have put out. We are seeking to increase access and to improve quality of education.”

He said for instance that Ghana had witnessed an unprecedented injection of resources into the management of the economy adding that the cocoa sector and infrastructure among others had been improved.

Obviously taking a swipe at the NPP, Mr. Amissah-Arthur said “We make progress but we do not announce it at the roof top. Others make small progress and they are out there shouting!”

He said the NDC had attached practical management and not a theoretical approach to management of the economy and added that global economic trends was what compelled them to modify some of their plans to achieve their objective.

“We are coming out with a manifesto and I am not here to make a long speech. I will reserve my message for our manifesto launch.”

Without directly mentioning the newly-formed National Democratic Party (NDP) – a party formed by disgruntled members of the NDC - the Vice President cautioned all party members who had decided to contest the elections as independent candidates due to the fact that certain decisions did not go their way, to rethink their stance.

He said “Nobody has gone independent and succeeded. Lets us support each other so that we can win the election.”

Onyameba Wants To Be President

Ambitious! Onyameba John Raymond Atta-Kesson wants to be President

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By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Thursday September 20, 2012.

ONYAMEBA JOHN Raymond Atta-Kesson, an Accra-based preacher is making feverish preparations to contest the 2012 presidential election as an independent candidate.

He promises that when successful, he would introduce an ideology called the National Interest Democracy (NID) that would wipe out the current partisanship in the body politic of the country.

“This ideology would greatly enhance public-private partnership to guarantee vast employment opportunities and a proactive welfare system for all,” he told journalists at the launch of his campaign at the Accra International Press Centre Tuesday.

Riding on the slogan: “One God, One Nation, One People, One Destiny,” Mr. Atta-Kesson maintained that he was a “passionate advocate” of democracy but did not subscribe to the current democratic system where “everything is done on partisan basis.”

“The essence of our democratic governance has been abused by our modern day political parties and we have no option but to shift to a political ideology that would secure our common national interest against partisan interest politics.”

He said Ghana’s socio-economic problems required what he called an “urgent radical” political solution saying “the insensitivity of all the political parties in government towards the people is alarming.”

“They use our taxes to entrench themselves in office and turn their backs on us. We should all help to change this current system where partisanship overrides national interests.”

Mr. Atta-Kesson said partisan interest adopted by the political parties had “rendered our country administratively dysfunctional.”

“Changing one political party for another would not close the developmental deficit and huge gap that we have because the parties are similar in government and the same in opposition.”

He said his team was embarking on a “unified campaign against partisan interest politics” adding “we do not just need change but rather radical change that will be tangible to every Ghanaian.”

He noted that due to partisanship, the country’s leaders who assumed office with good intentions ended up fleecing the very poor people they were supposed to serve.

“Because they spend huge amounts of money to get elected, they are always thinking about how to recoup the amounts spent and therefore have no time for national development,” he claimed.

“We cannot continue to vote for the same people and expect a change. We have to find an alternative through the ballot and I stand for this cause.”

Asked about his track record, all Mr. Atta-Kesson could say was that “I am a selfless Ghanaian who wants to salvage Ghana’s democracy by encouraging a national interest democracy.”

He said he agreed with President Mahama that the time had come for a youthful person to become President which meant that the President himself was out of the equation because he (Atta-Kesson) is a youthful candidate who is vigorously pursuing the ideals of the youth.

“What is the track record of those who are governing or had the chance to govern? At best their only track record is to supervise our taxes and squander them.”

He said he stood for truth and transparency adding “the people must benefit from the taxes they pay. They have not come to your rescue. All they want from you is to allow them to handle your taxes where they could enjoy.”

US Embassy Dialogues With Muslims

Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu leaves after the close-door meeting

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Wednesday September 19, 2012

As part of the to curb the violence that is engulfing the Islamic world in the wake of a documentary that purportedly slanders the Islamic religion, United States Embassy officials in Accra have met the National Chief Imam and his elders to discuss how to forestall similar occurrences in the country.

In the past week, wave of violent protests have rocked the Islamic countries following the documentary allegedly produced by a California-based Sam Bacile (whom many claim is also called Nakoula Basseley Nakoula), which Moslems have argued that it is an insult to the Prophet Mohammed.

Countries such as Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan and Tunisia have witnessed violent protests but it became deadly in Libya leading to the deaths of the United States Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi and other embassy officials.

Close allies of the United States have also not been spared as protests have hit Australia, Belgium Denmark France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

According to United States sources, the film: ‘Innocence of Muslims’ had been on social networking site You Tube since July but it sparked outrage in September.

The US Embassy officials: Pat Alsup –Charge d’ Affairs, Cheryl Anderson – Director of USAID Ghana, Vanelle Trim – Political Section Officer and four other officials, who had met the Chief Imam in Accra, declined to speak to the media about what transpired at the close-door meeting.

Alhaji Maman Gardo Mohammed, spokesperson of the Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, later told the media that “the American Embassy yesterday called the Chief Imam to say they want to come and see him in connection with events in Libya leading to the death of their ambassador. They believed that in Ghana we have a lot of Moslems and there is the possibility that there may well be some reaction so this is why they came to see the man.

“What transpired was that there was a dialogue of what happened and the implications of it not only to Ghana but to the Moslem world.

“They gave us their perception of what has happened and said it was reprehensible. They condemned the video and said the condemnation is from the top – from the President to the Secretary of State.”

He said the constitutional provision that allows Americans to have free speech might have been the cause of the production of the video saying “People are taking advantage of that clause.”

He said the visiting officials believed that whoever produced the film is ‘ignorant’ and did not ‘understand Islam’.

Asked if he anticipates the protests spilling over into Ghana, Alhaji Gardo Mohammed said “already it is happening all over Islamic countries and we have Moslems here…We should not forget that Moslems have a shared vision all over the world so the same reaction could come from here.”

“The embassy official came to us to explain their feelings about the damages that the documentary has caused. If you look at the reactions across the Islamic world, we may not have gone on demonstration but we feel the same way because our prophet has been abused.

“The Chief Imam believes that the visit by the embassy officials is a mark of respect that they have come all the way to see him on a matter of considerable implications to Moslems all over the world.

“What we are concerned about is that we told them that we do not want a repetition of the current situation. If there is a way that we can put our heads together to ensure that similar provocations do not recur, then we must find that way.

“We were clearly provoked by the producer of the film and we made our feelings known to the American.”

Mahama Outdoors Amissah-Arthur

President Mahama introduces Vice President Amissah-Arthur as his running mate for December 2012 elections.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Wednesday September 19, 2012.

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday officially unveiled Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur as the man to partner President John Dramani Mahama as the party’s presidential candidate in the December general elections.

The selection of the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana comes about one and half months after President Mahama selected him as the Vice President.

The two gentlemen ascended to the highest positions of the land by virtue of constitutional provisions following the untimely death of President John Evan Atta Mills on July 24.

Cheering sympathizers of the NDC thronged the National Theatre in the party’s paraphernalia to support the unveiling of Mr. Amissah-Arthur, who had earlier in the day endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Interestingly, NDC founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings was conspicuously absent.

Sources said Mr Rawlings who was recently lobbied by former Nigerian leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo to be part of the NDC campaign and declined was said to have dodged the programme.

The former president made a last minute appearance at the NDC Kumasi emergency congress in Kumasi but without voting for President Mahama.

Mr Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings are said to be linked with the newly formed National Democratic Congress (NDP), a breakaway group.

Introducing his running mate, President Mahama said “This is an event to complete the ticket we have for the December general elections.”

“I met the Council of Elders yesterday and told them I wanted Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as my running mate and the elders unanimously endorsed him. I met the National Executive Committee and put Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur’s name before them and I am happy to announce that the NEC overwhelmingly endorsed him as my running mate.”

He told the enthusiastic crowd that “Everything is on track for a gargantuan victory in December 2012.”

President Mahama said the late President Mills “Paid the ultimate price and sacrifice to rejuvenate the party” and added that he was convinced that the NDC would win another term.

He said Mr. Amissah-Arthur has what he called “solid grounding” in economics and added that “He is going to be a very critical anchor of out government.”

“He has already taken over as head of the government’s economic management team and has already given insights into what he is capable of doing.”

Accepting the position of running mate, Mr. Amissah-Arthur said he did not expect to be Vice President as the position came to him as surprise.

“I didn’t expect to be in this position and once I am in I am going to put in my best effort to ensure that NDC wins the elections.”

“I accept this position in all humility."

Mr. Amissah-Arthur who was incoherent at some points of his acceptance speech admitted he had been busy trying to learn on the job adding “I’ll have to do a lot more to secure our mandate.”

The party’s Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei aka Wayoo Wayo earlier said “We are totally rejuvenated. It is simply going to prepare us for the campaign.”

Hannah Tetteh, the Mahama Campaign Communications Director said when President Mills passed on, people thought it was going to affect the NDC negatively but events had shown that the ruling party was more united than ever.

Access Bank In Tango With BoG

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By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Wednesday September 19, 2012.

The Access Bank Ghana Limited is said to be suffering a Bank of Ghana (BoG) sanction over the illegal money transfer activities of their staff.

Ironically, Access Bank management is reported to have alerted the Apex Bank about the illegal transactions.

Access Bank has, in its banking halls, a notice warning staff to desist from such transactions.

Access Bank expressed its unhappiness following the BoG’s decision to impose six-month sanction on them for what the Central Bank called “a number of irregularities in the conduct of foreign exchange transfers by Access Bank Ghana Limited.”

Some of the bank’s customers and workers are of the view that if the Central Bank’s supervision department had been active it would have realised that management of Access Bank reported the matter but are now paying the penalty for helping the Central Bank to do its work.

According to sources, the new leadership of Access Bank, upon assumption of office, reportedly detected the irregularity and informed BoG for advice only to be slapped with the sanction.

The action, according to the bank’s source, amounted to a breach of trust on the part of BoG since officials of Access Bank acted in good faith.

They said Central Bank, they said, should have advised them on previous transactions and allow time to correct the mistakes.

The staff are said to have been affected by the decision of the Central Bank but are optimistic that things would get better.

They appealed to the BoG to enforce its supervisory role otherwise the confidence in banking business in the country was going to erode.

The staff welcomed an investigation into the issue, especially when the bank had taken steps to punish some of the workers who allegedly took part in the illegal transfers.

They said they do not want to believe that the Central Bank’s action is aimed at collapsing Access Bank, an action, they said, could worsen the unemployment situation.

Man Accuses NDC Candidate ...He Denies Allegation

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By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Wednesday September 19, 2012. 

THE NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Adentan, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore has been accused of collecting $1,700 from an unemployed man to secure him a visa to Italy but failed to do so.

The NDC candidate flatly denied the allegation made against him by Jacob Adjei Nortey of Teshie, a suburb of Accra when DAILY GUIDE contacted him.

According to Mr. Nortey, Mr. Moore allegedly collected the amount but later refused to either procure the visa or refund a balance of $1,400 due him after refunding only $300. 

Mr. Nortey, a former employee of SGSB claimed the NDC candidate had been playing what he called “hide and seek” with him since 1998 in spite of a legal action he instituted against the aspirant.

In an affidavit he filed in support of his claim at the Osu District Magistrate Court in Accra, Mr. Nortey averred that the defendant charged him $1,700 for processing the visa and asked him to wait for two weeks to get it.

He claimed the defendant refused to procure the visa after several weeks so he decided to ask for a refund but the NDC candidate gave him only $300 out of the $1,700 and he never saw him again.

Mr. Nortey said after a prolonged legal tussle with the candidate in court, the magistrate ordered Mr. Moore to pay the outstanding $1,400 with interest to the plaintiff.

He said since the court’s order, it had been difficult to locate Mr.   Moore until recently when he got information that he was contesting the Adentan seat.

Asked why he had not approached the NDC candidate after all these years, Mr. Nortey said “he was always eluding me. It has been difficult to get close to him.”

Moore has however denied the accusation and stressed that he had no visa dealings with Nortey.

According to the aspirant MP, he was not in Ghana in February 1998 and could not have collected the amount in dispute.

The aspirant said he was at a loss as to what might have motivated Jacob to make such a claim adding that the plaintiff’s action could be politically motivated.

Accra Compost & Recycling Plant Start Operation

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee tour the waste processing plant

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Tuesday September 18, 2012

The Accra Compost & Recycling Plant (ACaRP) has commenced operation at with the expectation that the plant would deal decisively with the disposal of waste that have overwhelmed the country particularly Accra, the capital.

Sited at Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West District in the Greater Accra Region, the multi-million plant is expected to recycle 1000 tons of waste.

The Managing Director of the company, Owura K. Sarfo explained to media and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on a tour of the facility that ACaRP is an integrated waste processing and recycling company established to collect, sort, process and recycle solid and liquid waste and produce organic manure for agriculture.

“The ultra modern waste treatment facility is expected to treat between 45 to 50 per cent of the daily waste collected from the  Accra metropolis and transported to landfill sites.”

According to him the plant has been built to address the problem of plastic waste through sorting, collection, processing and recycling as well as the focal point for training and research in the provision of effective waste processing.

Mr. Sarfo pointed out that  the plant development was currently in its first phase and occupied an 80-acre land is expected to also house in due course, a major plastic processing plant that would be set up.

The Managing Director who is a waste expert integrated solid waste management system is the solution for Accra’s sanitation problems and the ACaRP is seriously employing other ways to recover, recycle and reuse waste.

Commenting on its benefits Mr. Sarfo hinted the ultra modern solid waste treatment facility when fully completed would provide about 500 job opportunities with other thousands of employment opportunities through the supply chain.

“The facility will improve on sanitation by reducing health hazards created by the present practice of anarchic dumping of waste in the open, causing regular drainage blocked channels resulting in fatal flooding,” he noted.

Mr. Sarfo emphasized that the facility would provide more efficient and effective means of recovering recyclable materials to sustain indigenous recycling companies with raw materials and compost for agronomic purposes to help cut down the importation of soil conditioners (inorganic) into the country.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, Dominic Azinbe Azumah, was impressed at the level of work and expressed optimism that the completion of the plant would witness a remarkable improvement in sanitation within Accra and its environs.

He assured the management that the Committee would pressure government to release the remaining grant for the completion of the project.

Konadu Enters Race

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Tuesday September 18, 2012

By William Yaw Owusu

It is now clear that former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings will contest the December general elections on the ticket of the newly-formed National Democratic Party (NDP).

In what looked like a declaration of her desire to take a shot at the presidency, Mrs. Rawlings did not hide to her audience about her readiness to enter the presidential race during last Saturday’s Legend and Legacy Ball that honoured high life king, Abrantee Amakye Dede at the Accra International Conference Centre.

When asked by ace broadcaster Kwame Sefa-Kayi of Peace FM in Twi whether she was prepared to accept the call from the NDP (formed out of the ruling NDC) to become its flag-bearer, Mrs. Rawlings gave a cool response by saying, “Ebeba so” which literally means “It will happen!”

It would be recalled that in late April 2011, a similar incident happened between the same characters at a FAMOUS 5 musical concert during the ruling NDC’s preparation towards the Sunyani congress where the late President John Evans Atta Mills was elected as their flagbearer.

After putting political observers in suspense, Mrs. Rawlings who had barely resigned her position as a Vice Chairperson of the NDC told a cheering crowd that she was going to contest President Mills at the time.

A deafening “yes!.. yes!…yes!” had been the repetitive response from the packed crowd when Sefa Kayi asked whether Nana Konadu would contest then President Mills at the July 8-10 congress.

At the weekend’s event, it was clear that the 63-year old former First Lady had received an enviable endorsement from a packed audience when she responded “Ebeba So!”

Sefa Kayi also asked for her opinion on what would happen to Nana Akufo-Addo and the other flag bearers - as he pointed towards the other side of the VIP area where the NPP flagbearer and his entourage sat - she jokingly replied: “We will push them aside.”

About the free secondary education being promised by the Nana Akufo-Addo and his NPP, Nana Konadu was seen nodding in favour of the policy after the MC had asked Minister of Education Lee Ocran if it was possible.

Mr. Ocran was visibly not happy with the question and did not answer it as he went dumb.

When the same question was posed to Nana Addo, the crowd went ecstatic as they answered for the NPP leader that it will happen live.

Already, the NDP’s entry into the race has ruffled feathers in the corridors of power and many political observers are of the view that the latest political development would further dwindle the electoral fortunes of the ruling NDC since the NDP has been formed by disgruntled members of the ruling party.

Just last Friday, it officially received its certificate from the Electoral Commission to enable them operate as a political party.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the NDC and his wife Nana Konadu are believed to be behind formation of the NDP but the former first family has always denied this claim.