Former Attorney General and a founding member of the ruling National Democratic Congress Martin Amidu is urging Ghanaians to vote against the party in the upcoming elections.
According to him, the NDC government led by President John Mahama must be changed in order to make the nation progress.
In a statement on the upcoming polls Tuesday, Mr Amidu urged Ghanaians to put the nation first as they go to the polls in December.
He said although the ideal situation would be to advocate the removal of the EC chair, that appears to be too late in the day, with less than a month to the polls.
“It is too late in the month to advocate in defence of the Constitution for a reorganization of the Commission before the election, or for the impeachment of the Commissioner. This should be the task immediately after the 2016 elections – conducted by responsible members of the media, civil society, and civil society organizations who love the Republic of Ghana’s constitutional and democratic dispensation of free, fair and transparent political representation for elections and referenda. We need to put Ghana First and work tirelessly for change of governance at this year’s presidential election,” he wrote.
He continued: “Before then, let us watch the rigging agenda of the Commissioner and her mentors during the remaining election period. She has already engineered elections in such a way that a good six weeks have been lost for the campaign period of the NDP, PPP, and the PNC. Her actions affect the equal right and facilities for political campaigning mandatorily enjoined by the Constitution. Fellow citizens be alert to the Commissioner’s other tricks. The Commissioner cannot be trusted to fairly implement her mandate under the 1992 Constitution without vigilance on our part. We must defend the Constitution!”.
Source:Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Kwame Danso Acheampong
2016 polls: NDC must be changed – Martin Amidu
I can’t work with new Kotoko Chairman- Peprah
Former Asante Kotoko CEO Jarvis Peprah has ruled out a return to the Porcupine Warriors to serve under the administration of newly appointed Executive Chairman Dr. Kwame Kyei.
The Life Patron of Kotoko Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Sunday handed the CEO of Unity Oil Dr. Kyei a three-year mandate after dissolving the Lawyer Paul Adu Gyamfi led Board and Opoku Nti led management
Kyei is expected to put together a new Board and management team with speculations that Peprah is likely to be included.
“I am old enough now, a pensioner and will prefer that young ones take over the job now. I have done it before and can’t keep on serving Kotoko all my life.
“The way I wish to do my work is going around but this time is not possible. I know Otumfuo will even accept my explanation when I am officially approached since (Otumfuo) is not a dictator”, he told Starr Sports.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kwame Kyei has pledged to restore Kotoko’s iconic status in Ghana and Africa football. The businessman told the playing body and the technical team on Monday evening that, he intends developing the team to the level where the players can’t be overlooked in national team call-ups.
EC, NPP clash over Special Voting figures
There is confusion between the Electoral commission (EC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the number of people cleared to vote through Special Voting come December 1.
While the EC insists only 65,001 people have been approved to vote on the day, the NPP says the list given them suggests that about 114,000 people will be voting under the special voting arrangement.
Speaking to Nii Arday Clegg on the Morning Starr Tuesday, the Director of Elections for the New Patriotic Party Martin Adjei Korsah challenged the EC to come clean with the actual figures of people voting on December 1.
“We had earlier been told by the commission that after the necessary procedures and arrangements, about 65,000 were voting under special voting but currently, the list submitted to us has 114,000 who are supposed to vote on that day, so we don’t know how the extra figures came about.
“And we haven’t been informed as to why the figure has changed so much. So we expect the EC to be consistent and forthright with us on this matter,” he said.
But in a sharp rebuttal, the EC spokesperson Eric Dzakpasu denied knowledge of the new figure and maintained that on record, the commission has only 65,001 who are supposed to vote on the day.
“I don’t know where this is coming from. On our IT system, what we have, and what was forwarded to me after I had requested was 65,001 and I don’t think it has changed. The IT office forwarded my figure to me on either Wednesday or Thursday last week,” he said.
He however gave the assurance that he will cross check the figures again to rectify the issue, if need be.
“I will do so because it looks like Martin’s words and mine are contradicting and it shouldn’t be the case. It is very important all issues are trashed out before the election so we are doing our best to ensure that”.
Special voting is a special dispensation under the electoral laws that allows registered voters who will not be able to present themselves at their polling stations on voting day as a result of the roles they will play in the elections to vote on a date before the rest of the electorate vote on the date set for the elections.
The category of people who are allowed to do special voting are security personnel, officials of the EC and journalists.
Source:Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Kwame Danso Acheampong
Goalkeeper Brimah is full of inconsistencies- Damba
Former Ghana goalkeeper Abubakari Damba has lashed at Black Stars shot-stopper Razak Brimah for abusing his opportunities in the senior national team with his inconsistent performances.
Damba’ s bashing comes at back of the Black Stars two nil lost to the Pharaohs of Egypt on Sunday when he lackadaisically conceded the second goal on the day in the 2018 World Cup qualifier at the El Borg.
Braimah has been the first choice goalkeeper for Coach Avram Grant since his appointment in 2014 despite being a benchwarmer at his club side Cordoba.
“It is very true Razak has been a very lucky goalkeeper because a lot of trust has been shown from the technical team especially Avram Grant. He has not been a true consistent goalie for liking no to say he is not good.
“I want him to improve technically and rule Africa as well as rule the World in the near future. Making mistakes is permissible but repeating mistakes are unpardonable so as professionals evaluation must take place and identify your challenges and work on them”, he told Starr Sports.
Access Bank extends IPO period
Access Bank Ghana has been given the green light by the Security and Exchanges Commission to extend its Initial Public Offer (IPO) period.
The period was supposed to have ended on 11th November, 2016. As a result of the extension, the Offer Period will now end on Friday 25th November, 2016.
Shares can be bought at any Access Bank branch, African Alliance Securities and Chapel Hill Denham Securities offices or any Licensed Dealing Member (“LDM”) of the Ghana Stock Exchange (“GSE”).
Access Bank hopes to raise a minimum amount of GHs104 million to support its growth and expansion strategies when the offer opens from 19th October to 11th November,2016.
Prospective investors are required to purchase a minimum of 100 shares at GHC4.00 per share.
Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Osei Owusu Amankwaah
Obasanjo wanted 3rd term but I stopped him —Atiku
Many years after he parted ways with his boss, Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has confirmed for the first time that the former president actually wanted a limitless term but he opposed him.
Similarly, Atiku has opened up on the seeming lingering quarrel with current Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-rufai and the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, whom he claims to have brought into the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Atiku claimed that the two men, who allegedly connived to work against him, had refused to show any form of appreciation to him, despite his disposition to them.
He also gave reason Ribadu must go on public television station to avow that he was not a corrupt person in order to earn his forgiveness. Atiku’s claims are contained in the current edition of the EFCC Magazine, Zero Tolerance released in Abuja yesterday [Monday].
The former Vice President denied allegation that he was corrupt, claiming that if he was, he would have been convicted before now. He also said he had become popular among Nigerians, having held sway in politics for over 25 years.
He said: “My offence was simply that I disagreed with him on the amendment of the Constitution to remove tenure or term limits or what was popularly called third term agenda. In fact, Obasanjo sent the then Attorney General of the Federation, and Jerry Gana to my office to bring me the draft of the amendments to the constitution.
“After going through, I found out that tenure limits had been removed. In other words, he could be president for life. I now asked them, ‘if I send you to the President can you deliver this message’? And they said ‘yes’. I said ‘go and tell him I will not support it and I will fight it.”
Source: Vanguardngr.com
I’m alive – Kufuor dispels death rumours
The New Patriotic Party’s first president under the Fourth Republic John Agyekum Kufuor has dispelled reports of his death in South Africa.
Rumours were rife on social media and on some mainstream news websites Monday that the 77-year-old had passed on.
However, his office said the father of five is “hale and hearty”.
Mr. Kufuor has been on the campaign trail in the Eastern region calling on the electorate to vote massively for Nana Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of his party in the December 7 elections.
Mr. Akufo-Addo is contesting incumbent John Mahama for the second time after the 2012 polls.
Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
Russia’s Economy Minister detained over ‘bribe’
Russia’s Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has been detained in connection with an alleged bribe.
Russia’s main anti-corruption body, the Investigative Committee, said Mr Ulyukayev received a payment of $2m.
His ministry had given a positive assessment that led to the oil giant Rosneft acquiring a 50% stake in another oil company, Bashneft.
He is the highest-ranking Russian official to be detained since the 1991 coup attempt in what was then the USSR.
“This is about extortion of a bribe from Rosneft representatives accompanied by threats,” Svetlana Petrenko, a spokesperson for the Investigative Committee, told RIA Novosti news agency.
“Ulyukayev was caught red-handed as he received a bribe,” she said.
The Investigative Committee said the minister would soon be charged.
He could face a prison sentence of between eight and 15 years, if found guilty.
Rosneft, which is controlled by the Russian government, bought 50% of Bashneft for 330bn roubles (($5bn) in October.
A Rosneft spokesperson told the Tass news agency it acquired the Bashneft stake “in accordance with Russian law on the basis of the best commercial offer made to the operating bank”.
Mr Ulyukayev was appointed economy minister in 2013; prior to that, he had been deputy chairman of Russia’s central bank for a decade.
Source: BBC
It’s not yet a done deal; go out and vote – Nana Addo to NPP
The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo has urged supporters of the party to shun complacency as the country readies for the December polls.
According to him, although he is confident of victory, it is important for every party member to go out and vote in order to ensure an absolute victory for the elephant family come December.
“On 7th of December, everybody has to go and vote. If you want change, you have to vote for the change. Everybody knows the wind of change is blowing everywhere we go. But I beg you, nobody should think that it is a done deal. We need everybody to vote,” the former attorney general told supporters at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo region, where he is currently campaigning.
The three-time flagbearer is seeking to unseat President John Mahama of the NDC in the December polls after losing to him in 2012, and earlier to the late John Evans Mills, also of the ruling NDC, in 2008.
On December 7, Ghanaians will go to the polls to elect a President and 275 parliamentarians.
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Kwame Danso Acheampong
Katawere dead
Veteran Ghanaian actor, Katawere, known in private life as Ebenexer Donkor, has died.
According to family sources, the actor died early Monday morning, and his remains has been deposited at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital morgue.
He was 78.
Katawere featured in the popular television series, Efiewura – where he played the role of a controversial and difficult landlord.
Prior to his acting career, he disclosed in a 2013 interview on Asempa FM that he worked with the then glamour stores and later had to carry his sewing machine around from house to house as “oye adiaye”.
In that interview also, he revealed, that his name Katawere was derived from a controversial god.
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM