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Bawumia is the right person to lead NPP- Godfred Dame

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Godfred Yeboah Dame

The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has indicated that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is the right person to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the 2024 general elections.

“Bawumia has the integrity, he has the intellect, he has the experience, and he has the vision to lead the NPP to victory in 2024 and to break the eight. He is the right person to lead the NPP,” he indicated.

He made this known in an interview at the venue to cast his vote for the NPP presidential primaries.

According to Mr. Dame, the Vice President is the only one who can do it because he has continued to remain calm despite the variety of attacks that were directed at him.

Yeboah-Dame praised Bawumia’s record as Vice President, highlighting his role in the implementation of key government policies.

Four candidates are vying to become the NPP’s flagbearer. They include Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Addai-Nimoh, and Kennedy Agyapong.

NPP Presidential Primary: Ken Agyapong expresses satisfaction at Assin Central polls

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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Kennedy Agyapong addressing the media
Aspiring presidential candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a native of Assin Dompim, has expressed satisfaction with the way and manner in which voting proceedings are underway at Assin Central.
Addressing the media after casting his ballot, the Assin Dompim Show Boy said, “What I am seeing here, if it will happen everywhere, then the election will indeed be peaceful. So far, so good,” adding that, however, it was very early to describe the entire process across the country as peaceful.
“As for Assin Central, we can only describe it as peaceful. Let’s wait after 2 p.m.—the close of the polls. As for Assin Central, we are only disciplined. We make sure we follow the rules to the latter.”
“Let’s wait till after 2 p.m.—the close of the polls—but so far, so good,” he added.
The maverick politician who has given Alhaji Mohamudu Bawumia a hot race spoke about security at his voting centre.
“I see many police officers here. So far, so good. It’s very early to describe it, but so far, so good,” he said.

Akufo-Addo casts his vote: Says the grassroots of the NPP will vote for who they want

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cast his vote a while ago at the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra, in the ongoing presidential primary election.

On his way to his car, the media approached him and asked who he had tipped to win. Responding to the question, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the grassroots of the party would decide.

According to him, the grassroots held the majority voice, and the candidate “the grassroots of our party want is the one who will win.”

“If I don’t win, I will be there” – Kennedy Agyapong pledges after casting his vote

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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Kennedy Agyapong - NPP flagbearer hopeful

Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has pledged that if he loses, he will not exit the party nor sit aloof, but rather support the winner for the NPP to break the 8.

He was addressing the media after casting his ballot at the Pentecost Worship Centre in the Assin Central constituency.

The usually fiery Agyapong said he will humbly accept the result, no matter the outcome, and support whoever emerges victorious in today’s presidential primary election.

In a rather calm tone, Kennedy Agyapong said, “I have psyched myself for whatever the outcome will be. Even if I lose, I will still support the winner to break the 8.”

He, however, highlighted plans by his team to collate their votes.

“We have a centre where the results instantly come in, so be rest assured we will get our numbers on time. There is no violence, nothing and we will all go to the stadium this evening to celebrate. Whoever wins is for the party. It’s not an individual thing. If I win, I will be there. If I don’t win, I will be there,” he said.

“My victory is in the hands of God” – Bawumia says after casting his vote

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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Dr Bawumia casting his ballot

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, cast his vote at the party headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, a while ago, in a bid to lead the New Patriotic Party to the 2024 presidential election.

He was accompanied by the 2nd Lady, Samira Bawumia, but she did not vote because she is not a delegate.

The media bumped on the Vice President after he had dropped his ballot in the transparent box and asked about his chances of winning the flagbearer slot of the NPP.

Speaking in Twi, he said he would not want to “predict”, adding that “everything is in the hands of God.

NPP Presidential Primary: Delegates with mobile phones blocked from entering voting booths

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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Voting during NPP primary

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is being firm with its directive on entering the voting booths with mobile phones during the presidential primary election today.

At the Ablekuma West voting centre, delegates who were seen with their mobiles in the voting queue were made to switch them off before they were allowed to vote.

According to a Citinewsroom report, a similar situation occurred at Sagnarigu in the Northern region, where some delegates were told to switch off their phones.

The presiding officer at Okaikwei Central for the Okaikwei North Municipality, Yunus Salifu Rashid, also cautioned delegates to desist from entering voting centres with their mobile phones.

He emphasized that the move was to ensure that delegates maintain the integrity of the EC and the secrecy of ballots.

“We have mounted four voting screens, and delegates can vote at any of them. However, we’re warning them not to enter the perimeter with their phones to prevent them from taking shots of votes”. He said.

NPP Presidential Primary: Over 200,000 delegates to vote today

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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The four aspirants

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is going to the polls today to elect a presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.

In all, there are 203,439 eligible delegates across the 16 regions of Ghana to partake in today’s crucial polls, popularly termed the ‘showdown.’

On the ballot paper, Kennedy Agyapong will be number one, followed by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at number two. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, number three, and Francis Addai Nimo, number four.

NP Regional Breakdown

I’m The Grassroots Candidate …I will win massively tomorrow -Bawumia

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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Dr Bawumia and his campaign team members at press briefing yesterday

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the lead contender in Saturday’s flag-bearer contest of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), says he identifies more with the grassroots than being classified as an establishment candidate.

The Vice President said this on Thursday, November 2, 2023 in Accra, during an engagement with journalists to announce the end of his nationwide campaign.

According to him, one of the factors he expects to work in his favour tomorrow is his closeness with the grassroots, something he said many of his competitors do not have.

“You get to a place and someone will bring you a picture you took in 2008 and tell you that this is us together. So, I have this affinity with the grassroots of the party. Basically, this is one of the reasons why I believe I am more of a grassroots’ candidate than an establishment candidate. And that will come through, I believe, on Saturday,” he indicated.

He explained that about 98% of the delegates are from the grassroots, who are the electoral area coordinators and polling station executives, stating that the election was going to be a simple test of what the grassroots think about all the candidates.

“I believe that my relationship with the grassroots over the years has been a 15-year relationship. We’ve gone through the ups and downs of the party. But the bottom line is that I believe I’m more popular with the grassroots than with the establishment. That, I want to see, come through on Saturday,” he remarked.

NARRATIVES

These comments from Dr. Bawmia addressed speculations that the Akufo-Addo government was pushing for him to lead the party.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was compelled to refute the allegations that the government machinery was supporting the candidature of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to become the next leader of the party.

The President, who had met party communicators in August at Jubilee House, said that those allegations were “false and malicious narratives.”

CONTRIBUTION

Speaking to journalists at the informal gathering in his Cantonments residence yesterday, Dr. Bawumia said that during his campaign, he told the delegates about how hard he had worked for the NPP and government, since the year 2001.

He mentioned his work towards the successful HIPC initiative, the redenomination of the cedi and the groundbreaking presidential election petition in 2013.

He also mentioned the lectures he gave, highlighting the state of the Ghanaian economy leading up to the 2016 elections, his work in digitalisation and its transformational effects on the economy and so on.

ENDORSEMENT

Majority of the delegates of the ruling NPP are said to overwhelmingly endorse the candidacy of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia tomorrow.

The Chronicle has gathered that sources within the party have projected that the lead contender in presidential primary, Dr. Bawumia, will secure not less than 80% of the total valid votes cast.

Over 200,000 delegates are to vote tomorrow in the NPP Presidential Primary election to select one of the four contenders, including Ken Agyapong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai Nimoh.

Already, several election surveys have projected Dr. Bawumia to carry the day, with over 70% of the votes and Ken Agyapong coming after him, while Dr. Akoto Afriyie and Addai Nimoh are feeding on something meager.

In a recent poll conducted by Outcomes International, Ghana and the Centre for Sustainable African Development Initiatives (C-SADI), UK, of polling station executives across all 16 regions in Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is projected to secure a commanding 80.8% of the delegates’ votes.

VISION

Meanwhile, Dr. Bawumia, who is confident of victory tomorrow, informed journalists that he would outline vividly his vision to better the lives of Ghanaians.

He based his confidence on what he described as a “spirited campaign” that he and the team embarked upon across the country.

He said, “Having put up a spirited campaign backed by a dedicated team of brilliant and hardworking young men and women across the country, I have nothing but absolute confidence that I will be victorious on Saturday, November 4th. And my victory will be the victory for the NPP.

“After this, I will shortly, through you the media, outline in vivid detail the great vision and plans I have to better the lives of all of us Ghanaians. Today, this informal meeting is to allow me to thank you, the media, over a few drinks and bread, and to seek your active engagement from Saturday and beyond,” Dr. Bawumia concluded.

IFC advises gov’t to leverage on stability to create jobs

By
admin
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Kyle Kelhofer, Ken Ofori-Atta and Dr Addison at the programme yesterday

The Senior Country Manager of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Kyle Kelhofer, has said the resolving economic challenges in Ghana present a unique opportunity for government and private sector to adopt pragmatic and sustainable ideas to create jobs and sustain economic growth.

He asserts that government, has in recent months, benefited under the IMF programme which has seen overall de-risking of the investment climate as the GDP growth, exchange rate, inflation, interest rates, have all stabilized and began to improve.

This development, he emphasised, presents the private sector and government with the opportunity to play a key role in economic growth and job creation.

Kyle Kelhofer, Senior Country Manager of Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo of the International Finance Corporation

“Leveraging this window of increased stability to take advantage of improved macro environment and where resources are constrained, where private business and private investment needs to be mobilized to create jobs,” Kyle Kelhofer said at the maiden Ghana Mutual Prosperity Dialogues in Accra on November 2, 2023.

“That’s why it’s so important for business and government to be kindly gathered here today and listening, and seeking suggestions that can all mutually make Ghana grow more prosperous and stable, sooner and better,” he added.

The GMPD aims to improve the business environment in Ghana, attract more FDI, and enhance the country’s competitiveness. By fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, the GMPD seeks to unlock investment opportunities and promote economic growth in Ghana.

The initiative falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, being the key actor in charge of the FDI dialogue in the country with support from International Finance Corporation (IFC) providing the government with facilitation and technical assistance.

NPP chains aspirants to party

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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0
Mr Stephen Ntim and his General Secretary addressing the media

The four aspirants vying to lead the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the 2024 general elections have been made to sign an undertaking to remain in the party, regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s election.

All four candidates have agreed, with their signatures, that in the event that they lose tomorrow, they will remain true and faithful to the party.

The aspirants signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), binding them to the party on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at the Alisa Hotel, Accra.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, other National Executive Council members, the Council of Elders, the National Chairman, General Secretary, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, chairman of the Presidential Elections Committee and a host of others witnessed the signing of the MoU.

MOU

The MoU, a copy of which The Chronicle has sighted, reads in part that: “Now, therefore, we, the undersigned aspirants, hereby agree to the following: we commit ourselves to accept the results of the November 4, 2023 Presidential Primary election of the NPP and we will respect the outcome, irrespective of the result.”

Another striking portion of the document they all signed reads: “We undertake not to leave or resign from the NPP regardless of the outcome of the primary election. We shall remain active and dedicated members of the party.”

They have also committed to supporting the winner “diligently and conscientiously” during the 2024 election to secure majority seats in Parliament. They are to refer to the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

The MoU was in effect Thursday, November 2, 2023 when they signed, until after the announcement of the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.

The signing of the MoU climaxed a closed-door meeting between the top party hierarchy and all the aspirants.

ENFORCE

The General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, addressed journalists after the closed-door meeting. He indicated that the party would ensure the enforcement of the MoU signed.

He said, “The New Patriotic Party today has had a very successful meeting involving all the major stakeholders in the party, including President Akufo-Addo and former President Kufuor.

“At the meeting, all four aspirants were made to sign an undertaking to the effect that they would not resign from the party should they not win the elections. They have also signed an undertaking to support the winner of the party to win the 2024 main elections, he added.

PRECEDENT

The NPP seems to have learned from the Alan Kyerematen episode, where after the August 26, 2023 Super Delegates polls, the former Trade and Industry Minister announced his resignation from the party and also launched his independent candidacy.

It has thus taken steps to right the wrongs. Some have, however, questioned how effective the MoU could be, considering that freedom of association as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

MORAL

When asked whether the MoU was legally binding, the Chairman of the Presidential Elections Committee, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, said the undertaking was “morally binding.”

“And we expect that all these gentlemen understand the full parameters of such an agreement. Nevertheless, it can be a standard of measure for judging a person in the future. You entered into this gentleman’s agreement, you broke it, and today you come to say what? So, it is as binding as it can be on people who are civilised and who know what they are about,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, the former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Oquaye, touching on the exit of Alan, stated that there was no MoU signed in the case of Mr. Kyerematen.

VOTE

The General Secretary told the press that over 200,000 delegates across the country will vote to select one of the four aspirants, namely Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ken Agyapong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai Nimoh.

He stated that the National Council members, National Executive Committee, Regional Executive Committees, Constituency Executives, Electoral Areas Coordinators, 15 people for the National Council of Elders, Members of Parliament, 12 Representatives for the External Branch, Founding Members, TESCON Representatives, all party card-bearing members and all MMDCEs are eligible to vote, including those who owe dues.

But the Constituency Council of Elders and the Constituency Council of Patrons will not be allowed to vote, as per the party’s constitution.

The National Chairman of the party, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, remarked that the meeting with the aspirants was to bridge gaps.

According to him, working with the steering committee, he would “take a strong view against indiscipline in the party and actions or inactions that have the propensity to thwart the effort to win the 2024 presidential election.

WIN THE BATTLE

He indicated that the 2024 presidential elections would be crucial to the economy. He, however, was optimistic that the NPP had performed creditably and “will win the battle on the economy.”

He attributed the confidence to the strengthening of the currency and tremendous performance by the party in all sectors, arguing that the opposition can not beat the record of the NPP.

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