NDC poise to expel Questionable characters

The NDC northern regional Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka has warned that the party will expel any of the Parliamentary aspirants who will attempt to contest the 2012 election as independent candidates if the primary does not favour them. He said the party will no longer tolerate such “Questionable characters” whose actions might mar the NDC’s democratic credentials. He gave the warning during the opening of the NDC’s Parliamentary vetting exercise in Tamale. Again, he said no party member will be appointed for any government position unless those whose commitment and hard work will lead to the NDC’s victory in 2012. Chief Azorka advised them to do away with politics of insults and character assassination and rather focus on building the party’s frontiers to consolidate power in 2012. Alhaji Umar Yussif Alhassan, the NDC regional Secretary said in all 75 potential aspirants filed their nomination papers to contest the Parliamentary primary slated for next year. He gave the breakdown as 72 male and only three female including the incumbent Member of Parliament for Savelugu, Hon. Hajia Mary Boforo. According to him, the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo constituency recorded the highest number of 10 aspirants including the District Chief Executive, Hon. Philip Laari. Alhaji Umar mentioned Tamale South, Yagba-Kubori, Chereponi and Saboba constituencies where the sitting MP’s will go unopposed. He decried the low representation of female aspirants and encouraged women in the region to rise up to the challenge of competing with their male counterparts in every decision making process. The entire northern region has 26 constituencies and can boast of Hon. Hajia Mary Boforo for Savelugu as the only female MP.

East Gonja District To Demonstrate Over Exorbitant Bills

   

Communities in the East Gonja District in the Northern Region of Ghana are complaining bitterly over exorbitant electricity bills being levied on households and other users by the Volta River Authority (VRA).This issue topped the agenda for discussion at the last ordinary meeting of the East Gonja District Assembly at Salaga in December, 2011. Tabling the issue before the house for discussion, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mohammed Jakpa disclosed that, a number of communities including Salaga the district capital have expressed serious sentiments over the bills charged them by VRA .According to him, this comes at a time most people in the district also experience poor services including frequent power outages and power fluctuations most especially in the night. Thus, members of the East Gonja District Assembly and their communities have started mobilizing to demonstrate against officials of the VRA over what they deem as unnecessary power outages and huge bills brought to them at the end of every month. The Presiding Member in his ruling on the matter however, stated that given the enormity of the problem, he would refer it to the District Chief Executive and his Coordinating Directors to investigate the matter. Reacting to the concerns, the DCE Alhassan Mumuni noted that the concerns were very genuine and that the East Gonja District Security Council (DISEC) has analyzed the security implications of the frequent power fluctuations and outages especially during the night which according to him is very negative. He therefore, informed Assembly members that DISEC will soon organize a meeting with the Area Manager of the VRA to discuss the issues raised by Assembly Members. Meanwhile, the DCE announced that all projects earmarked for implementation during the year 2011 were 99 per cent completed.

Conspiracy To Oust DCE From Office Exposed

Members of the East Gonja District Assembly in the Northern Region of Ghana at its last ordinary meeting in December 2011 witnessed a serious drama as rumours of a plan to outs the DCE eventually manifested. The grand scheme designed by a few disgruntled members of the Assembly and aided by intra political opponents of the District Chief Executive (DCE) Alhassan Mumuni came to limelight when some Assembly members refused to fall prey to political motivated reasons to oust the DCE. In a letter read by the Presiding Member of the East Gonja District Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Jakpa which was addressed to the Electoral Commission and copied to the Northern Regional Minister Moses Bukari Mabengba seeking to pass a vote of no confidence on the DCE, accused the DCE over incompetence on pertinent issues including non-payment of ex-gratia to old members of the Assembly, non-distribution of motorbikes to Assembly members and his failure to organize the required number of meetings for the year ending 2011 among others. By these reasons, the writers quoted paragraph 17, sections 2 and 3 of Model Standing Orders of District Assemblies which gives Assembly members the power to pass vote of no confidence on District Chief Executives through the support of one–third of Assembly members. To meet the above requirements according to the Presiding Member, the originators of such letter smuggled names of some Assembly members who were not privy of such an act. Mr. Jakpa after reading the letter described the act as unacceptable, very criminal and such behavior goes contrary to the standing orders of the Assembly.

NANA Addo must maintain Bawumia-Tamale NPP youth

The Progressive NPP Youth (PRONY) in Tamale has called on Nana Akufo Addo to announce his running mate before the New Year begins. The group observed that the delay in nominating the running mate continued to create confusion among followers of the interested candidates. A situation according to PRONY has the tendency of affecting the party’s electoral fortune in 2012. Mr. Mohammed Kamil, Vice president of PRONY made the call at a news conference in Tamale where he stressed the need for Nana Addo to nominate a northern Muslim candidate to partner him in 2012. Among the potential candidates whose names have popped up, the group is convinced that maintaining the 2008 Nana-Bawumia ticket will be the best. “The world is currently witnessing continental economic recession that has the prospect of torpedoing any emergency economy of which Ghana is no exception.”  It added, “With Nana Addo’s bag full of political credentials coupled with his unmatched legal astuteness: it is only well and good that Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia who has high economic and banking exploits with a depth of international repute be picked to partner him in 2012”. PRONY noted with deep concern that any attempt to change Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia could be disastrous because he is already known to the Ghanaian electorate. The group also explained that maintaining the Nana-Bawumia ticket will save the party from spending money to erect new billboards and other visible paraphernalia nationwide.

TAMALE Mayor calls for peace

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has appealed to the clergy and the entire Christian community especially those in the Metropolis to offer special prayers for His Excellency, The President and the nation as they begin to usher in the New Year with numerous church and other religious programmes..

Hon. Alhaji Abudulai Harruna Friday, Chief Executive of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly in a statement issued to the press today in Tamale drew attention to the fact that, constant prayers and forgiveness for the brethren and humanity were some of the notable and significant attributes of Jesus Christ and therefore it is incumbent on every genuine and true Christian to abide by those same traits and teachings for the good of society.

According to Hon. Harruna Friday, the Tamale Metropolis even though predominantly Muslim, the city has in recent times played host to a number of very important Christian events including the Ghana version of the World Catholic Youth Day Celebrations saying it is an indication of the importance the Ghanaian Christian community attach to Tamale and its people.

 Hon. Harruna Friday said the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly in particular has over the years cultivated a very special cordial working relationship with the Christian community saying it is important for all parties to continue to work together for the mutual benefit and good of all who live in this great northern city.

He appealed for moderation and caution during their moments of joy and New Year festivities so as not to mar the essence and significance of Christmas and the New Year of Lord Jesus Christ.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive assured the Christian Community in Tamale of the support and co-operation of the Assembly and urged them to go about their legitimate Christian duties without fear or favor and wished them well and a prosperous new year.