Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr. Ayariga said he has not received any official communication from the Commission and accused some individuals of deliberately seeking to tarnish reputations.

“So in that letter, they said, ‘in the light of your inability to provide the required document, you are hereby directed to immediately cease the use of the title Doctor, and additionally, you must provide verifiable evidence that the title has been removed from all platforms, including, but not limited to, official social institutions.’

“You see clearly, this is the first letter they are writing to me, and you are writing a letter asking me to provide ABC and D. In the same letter, you are asking me to stop using A, B, C and D. What is the essence of that letter?”

He stressed that GTEC has never served him with any official correspondence.

“And as we speak today, let me be very honest and clear to you, I have not received the letter from GTEC to date. Until today, there has been no evidence of them serving me a letter.

“I don’t have a letter from GTEC, as we speak, and if you want, put them on the phone to prove to you that they have given me a letter. So you see, there’s some kind of an agenda to destroy people’s reputations.”

According to him, such actions threaten the hard-earned image of individuals and institutions, who must tread carefully.

“And when you are destroying people’s reputations, you have to be very careful, because it is very difficult to build a reputation. So you must ask questions like an institution, a proper institution.”

Mr. Ayariga argued that the approach by GTEC was inconsistent and unprofessional.

“So you write to us, you write to a doctor, and then we are requesting him to do ABC. You give him timelines… ‘We are giving you from this day…’ See, I’m not your worker. I have not come to your office, and I’ve submitted a CV, whereby you are in a rush to verify my CV to see whether I am qualified to get that job or not.”

Source: Myjoyonline

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Hassan Ayariga had reportedly alleged that Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu is disguising himself as a businessman while engaging in sex and human trafficking.

These claims, the Igbo leader said in an interview, are not only damaging but deeply irresponsible.

“You have to prove it. You can’t accuse somebody of what is not right. That is defamation of character. I don’t even know who he is. I see him as a presidential candidate. He’s not my friend. I’ve never come across him anywhere in my life.”

He also clarified reports involving his invitation by the National Intelligence Bureau, explaining that it had nothing to do with Ayariga’s allegations.

According to him, the invitation was connected to the trending issue of the ‘kingdom controversy’ involving his community, which has sparked heated discussions and misinformation on the internet.

“For him to be on air, saying he ordered National Security to arrest me—he ordered them as who? A judge? A president? A friend? That’s not how a public figure should speak. There was never a protest at my house. Some people just took my pictures and placed them alongside protest scenes online. That’s fake. And there are even threats on social media targeting Nigerians. So it’s only normal that state security would want to hear from me.”

On whether he plans to sue Ayariga for the defamation, the Igbo leader simply responded that he leaves him to God.

The controversy is over reports surrounding the king, Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu’s alleged acquisition of over 50 acres of land to build an “Igbo Village” community in Ghana, contrary to state laws.

As part of his nationwide community outreach campaign, Dr Ayariga met with Togbe Worde, the Divisional Chief of Gbi Kpeme, Togbe Akronponi, the War Chief of Togbe Worde, and elders of the community to share his vision for a united and prosperous Ghana.

The meeting, held at the palace in Hohoe, provided a platform for Dr Ayariga to outline his policy priorities and seek counsel from the traditional authorities.

He emphasised the importance of grassroots involvement in shaping policies that reflect the aspirations of the people, highlighting his plans to improve healthcare, expand access to quality education, create jobs, and enhance infrastructure development across all regions, particularly the Volta Region.

Chiefs Offer Support and Advice

During the meeting, Togbe Worde commended Dr Ayariga’s humility and dedication to engaging local stakeholders.

However, he advised the APC leader to focus on presenting realistic policies to Ghanaians, stressing that feasible promises would help him win the trust of the electorate.

“The trust of the people is earned through sincerity and practicality in your policies,” Togbe Worde remarked.

Togbe Akronponi, the War Chief, lauded Dr Ayariga’s perseverance and consistent good character over the years.

He encouraged him not to relent in his quest to lead the country, stating that the APC’s policies present a beacon of hope for many Ghanaians.

“The people of Hohoe are ready to speak through their votes for the APC, as your vision aligns with their aspirations,” he assured.

Unlocking the Volta Region’s Potential

Dr Ayariga assured the chiefs and elders that his administration if elected, would prioritise inclusivity and equity.

He noted the immense potential of the Volta Region as a hub for agriculture, tourism, and small-scale industries.

“Our policies will unlock these opportunities, creating sustainable livelihoods for the people and boosting the region’s economy,” he stated.

He further highlighted his commitment to ensuring that all regions receive a fair distribution of resources, pledging to bridge developmental gaps across the country.

He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and insightful feedback from the chiefs, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping policies that resonate with local communities.

A Call to Action

Concluding his visit, Dr Ayariga urged the people of the Volta Region to actively participate in the upcoming elections and make their voices heard.

“Your votes are your power. Together, we can build a Ghana that works for everyone,” he said.

The APC leader reiterated that his leadership would prioritise the needs and aspirations of all Ghanaians, with special attention to regions like Volta, which have vast untapped potential.

The visit reinforced the importance of traditional authorities in Ghana’s political landscape, as they continue to play a critical role in guiding and supporting leaders who seek to bring development and unity to their communities.

In an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV, Mr Ayariga revealed bold measures, including a potential ban on imported food products and other goods, aimed at encouraging local production and consumption.

Central to his vision is an “economic lockdown” he plans to enforce within his first 100 days in office, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and cutting down on imports.

According to him, this move would promote economic independence, stabilize the cedi, enhance productivity, and create jobs for Ghanaians.

Mr Ayariga also intends to establish a 24/7 manufacturing hub, ensuring that Ghana becomes self-sufficient and significantly reduces its dependency on external markets.

“Ghana will stop importing. When you turn the country into a production-manufacturing nation, it means we’ll experience an economic lockdown. For one year, there will be no imports. From the day I become president, Ghana will undergo this economic lockdown,” he said.

“We currently import to consume, wear, and survive. We need to change our consumption patterns to produce what we eat and wear. We must shift to a self-sustaining economy, one that doesn’t rely on other countries.

“The purpose of this economic lockdown is to make our economy independent, stabilize the cedi, increase productivity, and boost job creation,” he added.

Source: Adomonline

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He expressed concern that voters are increasingly swayed by financial incentives rather than focusing on the intelligence and capabilities of candidates, which he believes is eroding the integrity of the political system.

In an interview on Channel One TV, Mr. Ayariga cautioned that the presidency is becoming more of a business venture than a noble role of public service.

He condemned the lack of patriotic leadership and the rising trend of politicians using their positions for personal financial gain rather than serving the nation.

Mr. Ayariga also voiced fears about Ghana’s sovereignty, stating that foreign interests are taking over the country’s natural resources and land, with the presidency being the last stronghold of national control.

He warned that this external encroachment threatens Ghana’s autonomy and independence, underscoring the need for patriotic leadership to reclaim the nation’s interests and restore its sovereignty.

The presidential hopeful called for leaders who are genuinely dedicated to serving the people and the country, rather than those who pursue politics for personal enrichment.

“Everything has been taken over by the foreigners. The only thing left is the presidency and sooner than later, because we believe in the monetisation of political affairs, the foreigners will get one of theirs to run for the president of Ghana and we will lose it.

“Today, the presidency is no more valued as it used to be. The presidency has been reduced to the politics of money rather than the politics of ideas. So, people who now have money can go and win the presidency of this country.

He emphasised, “Now we’re voting for people with more money than brains that is where we have gotten to and it is sad that we’re almost losing the presidency. The presidency has now been reduced to nothing. It’s no longer the presidency we used to value. Look at the calibre of people who are running for president today.

“Not to disgrace or undermine anybody. I have gone through this game for the past 12 years, I have not seen a leader who is running for the presidency who is more of a patriotic citizen who wants to change this country than who wants to do business. The office now turned into a business centre, so people are now running to do business with the office, to become popular, I mean to reap this country off.”

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He explained that, his government would focus on repaying the country’s existing debt and reclaiming natural and mineral resources currently under foreign control.

Speaking on JoyNews News Desk, Dr Ayariga said, “Once you claim it, it gives the Ghanaian government a good source of revenue. We are going to increase revenue and productivity in our country, and when we are able to increase revenue and productivity significantly, we will have enough resources to maintain this country, manage it, and start paying our debts bit by bit.”

Dr Ayariga stated that if President Mahama or Bawumia were to become president, the national debt would not be cancelled.

He said that however, if he, Hassan Ayariga, were elected, he would renegotiate the debt to cancel a portion of what the nation owes.

The APC flagbearer, emphasised that a new president represents a new government and leadership committed to building the country and achieving debt relief.

Dr Ayariga further noted that those who borrow lack economic knowledge and the fundamental skills necessary for running a business.

“My whole life as a businessman, I have never borrowed. My life as a father, I have never borrowed. My life as a young man, I have never borrowed. So, my life as President, I would not borrow. So, I will continue to invest in our productivity, in our production, manufacturing, and industrial hub to be able to create more jobs and more opportunities for our young men so that we get enough revenue and taxes.”

Source: Isaac Kafui Nyanyovor

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These ideas covers areas of artiste education, innovation and investment.

According to Dr. Hassan Ayariga, the flagbearer of the APC, “improving the music industry in Ghana requires a multi-faceted approach involving artistes, industry professionals, government, and other stakeholders”, a reason for putting together the policy ideas for the arts.

Below are 10-point key strategies that APC government will adopt to help boost the growth and global recognition of Ghana’s music industry:

(1) APC will build modern studios and infrastructure to support the industry and Invest in Music
Education and Talent Development.

A. Music Schools and Workshops

The APC Government will establish new modern musical schools, workshops, and training programs that focus on the technical, creative, and business aspects of music.

B. Mentorship Programmes

APC will build platform for artistes and producers to mentor upcoming talent, help them refine their skills and understand the industry and Create platforms in each region to mentor upcoming musicians from infantry to adulthood.

We shall Create an online radio platform for the upcoming artist to sing/rap through the phone and microphone.

(2) APC will Create market opportunities for musicians to Leverage Digital Platforms

A. Create market opportunities for musicians.

The APC will encourage and support Ghanaian artistes to take advantage of global streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube to expand their reach beyond the local market.

B. Social Media platforms for Musicians

The APC government will introduce social media platforms for musicians to leverage platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter to promote their work and engage with international audiences.

C. Monetization Artists should explore various ways to monetize their content digitally, such as ok selling music, offering exclusive content, and collaborating with brands.

(3) Enhance Production Quality

A. Professional Studios

Invest in more high-quality recording studios across the country to ensure Ghanaian music
meets international production standards.

B. Producer Artiste Collaboration

The APC government will Encourage more collaboration between artists and top tier producers to ensure music is produced at a competitive quality level.

C. Technical Expertise

APC will task the industry to provide training for sound engineers, producers, and music video directors to improve overall production value.

(4) Strengthen Intellectual Property Rights

A. Copyright Enforcement

APC will Strengthen copyright laws and enforcement to protect artists’ intellectual property and ensure they are properly compensated for their work.

B. Awareness Campaigns

APC government will put up musical training institutions to Educate musicians and industry players about the importance of registering their work and the legal means to protect their creations. Provide legal support for licensing, contracts, royalties for the industry.

(5) Create Platforms for Music Exposure

A. APC will create platforms for the music industry to explore Local and International Festivals, organize more local music festivals, concerts, and showcases that give Ghanaian artists a platform to perform and atract international recognition.

B. Collaborations with International Artistes

Encourage and facilitate collaborations between Ghanaian artists and international stars to increase visibility on the global stage. We will encourage Local media to prioritize playing and promoting Ghanaian music, including on TV, radio, and online platforms.

(6) Support from the APC Government and Private Sector

A. APC will create a music production fund

The APC government will collaborate with private organizations, investors to provide financial support for artists, music festivals, and industry events.

B. Export Policies
We will introduce Development apps and policies that will make it easier for Ghanaian musicians to tour and distribute their music internationally.

C. Public-Private Partnerships

Foster partnerships between the government and private sector to create infrastructure and
opportunities for musicians.

(7) Build a Strong Music Industry Network

A. Industry Unions and Associations

The APC will Strengthen associations like MUSIGA (Musicians Union of Ghana) to advocate for the interests of artists, address industry challenges, and organize collective bargaining.

B. Collaboration among Stakeholders

Encourage collaboration between artists, managers, promoters, producers, and other industry professionals to create a more unified and thriving music ecosystem.

(8) Promote Ghanaian Music Globally

A. Cultural Diplomacy

Use music as a tool for cultural diplomacy by promoting Ghanaian music through embassies, international festivals, and events.

B. Global Recognition

Focus on pushing for international awards and recognition, such as the Grammys and other music accolades, to put Ghanaian music on the world map.

(9) Diversify Music Genres

While Afrobeat and Highlife are dominant, the APC will encourage Ghanaian artists to explore other genres like hip-hop, jazz, gospel, and reggae to reach a wider audience. Create platform to exchange knowledge

(10) Develop the Business Side of Music

A. Music Management and Marketing

Train music managers and marketers to help artists navigate contracts, brand themselves, and effectively market their music.

B. Music Distribution Networks

Build stronger distribution networks to ensure Ghanaian music is available both locally and globally, including physical sales and digital downloads.

C. The APC government shall establish a Music Royalty Collection Agency to ensure fair compensation and collection for artiste. We shall develop a National Music Industry Database to track industry growth and trends.

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During the launch of his Nation’s Manifesto, Ayariga unveiled plans to transform Ghana and restore hope to its citizens, focusing heavily on economic reforms aimed at improving the lives of workers.

Speaking at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Auditorium on Sunday, September 22, 2024, Ayariga made a bold promise to raise the minimum salary to GH¢5,000 if he wins the upcoming presidential election.

In addition to this, he pledged to increase the current minimum wage, which stands at GH¢18, to between GH¢150 and GH¢300.

Ayariga also introduced a plan to shift from the monthly salary payment system to a bi-weekly one, meaning employees would be paid every two weeks, which he argued would help improve financial stability for Ghanaian workers.

He emphasized that the current salary levels in Ghana are insufficient, leaving many unable to meet their basic needs.

“Our people deserve better wages. We cannot expect people to live on salaries that don’t even cover basic expenses. This needs to change, and under my leadership, it will.”

Ayariga’s manifesto launch follows his official clearance by the Electoral Commission (EC),  to contest the 2024 presidential election.

His campaign is centered on his vision of a transformed Ghana, with a strong focus on wage reforms and economic growth.

According to him, he has consistently been advocating to make the most of Ghana’s natural resources.

He believes everyone must work longer hours so the country reaches its industrialisation goal.

Speaking on JoyNews on September 20, he said, “Look at the things we can use to do cooking oil. Groundnut, palm oil, shea butter, coconut, soya bean, all these things can be used to extract oil yet we import over 800 million dollars of oil and we say we are underemployed.”

“When we don’t make good use of our natural and human resource, we will be sleeping like we are doing, working 8 hours and 16 hours sleeping,” he said.

On the back of this, when asked whether he supported the NDC’s 24-hour economic policy, he retorted, “NDC adopted it from me.”

Touching on other policies, he suggested an “economic lockdown policy.” He said it is aimed at transforming Ghana into a production, manufacturing, and industrial hub if he wins the upcoming elections.

“I am going to lock down this economy for one year. When I lock down the economy, we will become a production hub, a manufacturing hub, and an industrial hub. Doing it so, I will increase productivity by running the 24-hour economy, making sure Ghanaians work the three shift system, 8 hours each for production, manufacturing and industrialisation.”

Dr Ayariga stated that this shift would create a vibrant city environment, enabling the country to reduce its reliance on imports, particularly for staple items like rice and cooking oil.

According to him, the current approach to economic management is ineffective, stating that without effectively utilising Ghana’s natural and human resources, the nation will remain stagnant.

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Consider, for example, the persistent cough that compelled APC’s Hassan Ayariga to interject then-candidate Akufo Addo during the 2012 presidential debate, controversies associated with condom use, or an urge to scratch an itch in a vehicle. “Healthy Secrets” is, by all standards, a must-read piece.

Before delving into the details of the book, it’s worth noting where Professor Dodoo first cut his teeth in medicine.

He studied at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and continued at King’s College London, and the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

While exploring his illustrious career could be an endless task I do not wish to delve into in this write-up, let’s walk through a few chapters of his book and why it should be on your reading list.

In the first chapter, Professor Alex Dodoo provides a brief insight into what coughing is. He references an incident from September 10, 2001, involving Major Charles Ingram, who won the coveted one million pounds on ITV’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” by using coughs to cheat.

He mirrors it to a popular encounter during the final presidential debate before the 2012 elections in Ghana, where Hassan Ayariga coughed whenever Nana Akufo-Addo, the leading opposition candidate, started speaking.

He opens up a debate on whether coughing should be considered a weapon of distraction and manipulation or a health issue.

Leaving the question of mischief or propaganda to political actors, he explains the health aspect of coughing.

For the average person, coughing is a reflex action to clear the airways of irritants and foreign materials, which can be either voluntary or involuntary.

Professor Dodoo discusses various social reasons for coughing, such as attracting attention, releasing tension, showing disapproval, or causing distraction.

He categorizes coughs into two types: dry coughs, which tend to be ticklish and irritating, and productive coughs, which lead to the production of mucus, often colored.

The causes of coughs vary and usually include bacterial or viral infections of the airways, such as the common cold and flu, serious lung infections, and more.

He explains that most coughs are short-lived and advises patients to drink plenty of water and avoid inhaling smoke and other irritants.

However, the same cough remedies should not be used for children under six years old unless recommended by a doctor. Coughs in children under three months should not be treated with over-the-counter remedies and should be referred to a hospital.

Additionally, coughs in patients with a history of heart disease or lung swelling require special medical attention.

The book’s later chapters continue to provide practical advice and insights into various health concerns, making it an essential resource for anyone looking to understand and manage their health better.

In Chapter Two, Professor Dodoo delves into some other health secrets and complications, specifically focusing on pruritus ani, commonly known as an itchy bottom.

He begins with a short story about Mr. Joseph P., a man with pruritus ani who gets into trouble with a woman in a commercial vehicle because he can’t stop scratching his bottom. This unfortunate incident leads to his arrest.

Professor Dodoo explains that pruritus ani is a chronic, persistent itch around the anus. It is more common in men than women but can occur at any age.

He elaborates on the causes, noting that several factors can contribute to or exacerbate the condition.

These include worm infestations, anemia, skin infections, and dietary factors such as excessive consumption of beer, coffee, and spicy foods.

One clear symptom is the desire to scratch, leading to the well-known “itch-scratch” cycle. According to Professor Dodoo, treatment may involve de-worming in cases of suspected worms, and the itch might resolve on its own.

Prevention strategies include avoiding irritating foods and substances and refraining from wearing tight jeans.

In Chapter Four, Professor Dodoo shifts focus to another health issue: eating disorders. He recounts how Ghana experienced a severe famine, forcing people to queue for uncooked food. During this time, R’s chains became a common greeting, with people questioning each other about the length of their chains.

Professor Dodoo explains that eating disorders are abnormal behaviours towards food, causing sufferers to either drastically reduce or excessively increase their food intake. According to the International Classification of Diseases, eating disorders are classified as mental disorders.

He identifies three types: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia involves self-starvation and minimal food intake. Bulimia is characterized by consuming large quantities of food in a short time, followed by purging through vomiting or diarrhoea. Binge eating disorder involves an insatiable craving for food.

These disorders are challenging to identify and treat. Untreated eating disorders can severely impact sufferers’ physical, social, emotional, and psychological health.

Treatment often involves counselling, behavioural therapy, psychotherapy, or medication. Expert medical advice should always be sought.

In the next chapter, Professor Dodoo tackles the rise and fall of body parts, including breast enhancement. He introduces the topic humorously, recounting a story about an elderly couple in their mid-80s.

An evangelist delivers his weekly sermons, and a woman believes she might be healed through the TV at the age of 85. The chapter leaves readers pondering what Grandpa Joshua hoped to achieve with his renewed vigour if his partner enhanced his breasts.

This chapter delves into the topic of breast enhancement and the various methods women have used to alter the size and appearance of their breasts. These methods range from using padded brassieres to inserting foam or other substances into their bodies. Professor Dodoo invites his readers to consider the popular materials used in surgical breast enhancement, such as silicone and saline (salt water).

He raises concerns about the risks associated with breast enhancement procedures, noting instances where these procedures have gone wrong, resulting in implant leaks and other complications. Some countries have even had to halt these procedures due to the associated risks.

Aside from altering the size and shape of breasts, Professor Dodoo also discusses buttocks enhancement, a trend that has gained popularity among many women. He references the current practices in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, where it is common to see women in ceremonial dresses with enhanced buttocks, often using pillows or metal girdles.

This practice may be linked to African puberty rite ceremonies, where young females symbolically enhance their figures to signify adulthood.

Many inhabitants of Salvador da Bahia are descendants of former West African slaves, and women of African descent typically have pronounced buttocks. This phenomenon raises questions about why some women seek medical or surgical enhancement: Is it a desire for further enhancement among the already endowed, or an effort to protect and perfect their natural attributes?

Moving forward, Professor Dodoo explains the concept of plastic surgery of the buttocks, known as “gluteoplasty.” The buttocks consist mainly of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, covered by fat, and serve to stabilize gait and walking.

Conditions like kwashiorkor can cause significant fat and tissue loss in the buttocks, leading to deformities that may require surgical correction. Additionally, congenital defects or traumatic injuries may necessitate plastic or reconstructive surgery to restore proper gait and balance.

Professor Dodoo provides a detailed explanation of how buttocks enhancement is performed. The procedure primarily involves surgery to insert artificial materials or transfer fat from other body parts into the buttocks.

This requires careful handling of nerves and blood vessels to avoid serious complications, such as paralysis or fatal bleeding. He cautions that the procedure should only be performed by licensed specialists in approved facilities, warning against resorting to untrained personnel who often cause severe deformities and other failures.

He emphasizes that there are no effective medications for buttock enhancement. The use of creams or injections is misleading and potentially harmful, often containing inactive substances or dangerous ingredients, especially when produced in unsanitary conditions.

Chapter 6: Ear Health and Hearing

In Chapter 6, Professor Dodoo continues his exploration of health secrets, focusing on the ear. He begins by emphasizing the invaluable gift of hearing, noting that those with hearing difficulties understand the frustrations of hearing loss, yet many people neglect ear care.

During election years, the cacophony of political claims and threats can make people wish they could turn off their hearing. Despite this, it’s crucial to protect and preserve our ears, and following a few simple tips can help maintain this precious sense.

Professor Dodoo also addresses the issue of foreign bodies in the ear, highlighting that many children and adults visit hospitals to have objects removed. This task, commonly performed in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) departments, underscores both the surprising variety of items that can get stuck and the curious nature of humans.

He then discusses earaches in both adults and children. Earache is a common ailment in children, often caused by viral or bacterial infections leading to middle ear inflammation, known as otitis media.

This condition requires medical treatment, and repeated infections necessitate specialist attention to prevent premature deafness and learning difficulties. Symptoms of otitis media include pain, fever, trouble sleeping, irritability, and ear tugging.

In adults, earaches can result from various causes, including glue ear (buildup of secretions), infections in the ear canal (otitis externa), ear infections, ruptured eardrums, tooth infections, tonsillitis, sinus infections, sore throat, facial nerve pain, jaw arthritis, and, rarely, eczema in the ear canal.

While some conditions can be managed with over-the-counter remedies, others may require prescription medication. He concludes the chapter by offering tips for improving ear care, such as avoiding inserting objects into the ear and using simple methods to remove wax.

Chapter 7: Eye Health and Vision

In Chapter 7, Professor Dodoo turns his attention to eye care. He begins with the story of Grace Goodluck, who returns home after 30 years in America, excited to share gifts with her family. However, she is dismayed when her brown suitcase goes missing at baggage claim, leaving her worried about disappointing her nieces and nephews and missing a special moment with her twin sister.

Upon her arrival home, Grace is mistaken for her twin sister, Gifty. Frustration mounts as none of her six checked bags appear. As she vents her anger, she notices the staff’s nonchalant attitude.

However, she soon discovers that her bags were actually purple, not brown, and had been loaded onto two trolleys nearby. The reunion with Gifty goes wonderfully. Later, Gifty urges Grace to get an eye test, revealing that Grace had vision problems and needed glasses. Once she gets her glasses, she can see clearly and joyfully sings Johnny Nash’s song, “I Can See Clearly Now.”

Professor Dodoo advises that individuals should take regular eye tests, particularly adults over 40, who should have them at least once a year. Regular eye exams can help identify treatable eye diseases that could lead to blindness, as well as other health issues, including cancers and brain abnormalities.

He elaborates on blindness, explaining that individuals with any degree of visual impairment should focus on reducing preventable blindness.

According to the World Health Organization, leading causes of global blindness include cataracts, trachoma, onchocerciasis, childhood diseases, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related retinal degeneration.

Many of these conditions are preventable or treatable, making regular eye exams essential for early detection and effective treatment. Glaucoma, in particular, is a major cause of permanent blindness. Additionally, over 120 million people worldwide suffer from myopia or hyperopia, which can often be corrected with appropriate glasses.

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their visual impairments and live in avoidable darkness.

He concludes the chapter by emphasizing the importance of eye tests for children before starting kindergarten, as poor vision can lead to academic struggles.

Many parents may not realize that their child’s difficulties stem from visual impairments. For adults aged 40 and above, eye tests should be conducted at least once a year, with more frequent checks recommended for those over 40.

Chapter 8: Safety from Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults

In Chapter 8, Professor Dodoo addresses the safety of females from drug-facilitated sexual assaults.

He begins by recounting a harrowing incident from December 16, 2012, when a physiotherapy student and her male friend boarded a bus unaware that it was occupied by six men who were not passengers but predators.

The group, including bus driver Ram Singh and others, locked the doors and took turns assaulting the student. The youngest, a 17-year-old, was particularly brutal, assaulting her multiple times before mutilating her and throwing both victims from the moving bus.

The student sustained severe injuries and was flown to Singapore for treatment but ultimately died. All six men were charged with murder and face the death penalty if convicted.

He continues to explain what rape drugs are, stating that certain medications can incapacitate individuals, making them drowsy or overly suggestive, facilitating sexual assault.

These drugs may cause temporary memory loss, preventing victims from recalling events that occurred after ingestion. In some cases, victims may not realize they have been assaulted until they notice physical signs of abuse later.

He mentions that men can also be victims of sexual assault, and consuming alcohol can increase vulnerability to being unknowingly administered drugs that facilitate such assaults.

Alcohol is the most common substance involved in these cases, but there are other potent drugs that can sedate or weaken individuals, making them more susceptible to assault. Extensive education is necessary to raise awareness about these risks.

Professor Dodoo identifies three main categories of substances often associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault: alcohol and two categories of powerful prescription medications used for sedation or surgical preparation. These medications are typically tasteless and odorless, making them easy to slip into food or drinks, rendering the victim unaware and vulnerable.

Their effects can include sleepiness, drowsiness, forgetfulness, confusion, helplessness, sluggishness, and physical difficulties such as trouble speaking or walking, along with headaches and stomach issues.

In the final part of this chapter, he discusses preventive measures against drug-facilitated sexual assault. Awareness of the risks associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault is crucial.

In addition to alcohol, certain small, tasteless, odorless, and sometimes colorless medications can induce drowsiness or forgetfulness, making individuals vulnerable to assault.

To reduce the risk, it’s important to be vigilant and avoid potentially dangerous environments. If someone feels unusual while eating or drinking, they should stop immediately. Drug-facilitated sexual assault is a serious crime that can have lasting effects on victims, making education and constant vigilance essential for prevention. Staying alert is key to safeguarding oneself.

Chapter 9: Condoms – Counterfeits, Controversies, and Confusion

In Chapter 9, Professor Dodoo discusses condoms, starting with a report from the Daily Graphic on April 16, 2013. The Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had announced the seizure of a large consignment of poor-quality condoms.

These substandard condoms were found to have visible holes and could easily burst during use, posing serious risks to users. The public was warned against using these products, leading to widespread discussions and jokes on mainstream media and social platforms.

While many found the situation humorous, it was viewed as a significant public health concern by the Ministry of Health and the international community.

Professor Dodoo then delves into the history of condoms, noting that they have been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Evidence dates back to ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, where men, particularly from the upper class, used “sheaths” to prevent disease and unwanted pregnancies. Early versions of condoms only covered the tips of the penis and were largely ineffective. However, by the 19th and 20th centuries, condoms evolved to cover the entire penis, improving their effectiveness.

Early condoms were made from animal materials like intestines and bladders, which were costly and ineffective. Other materials included linen and tortoise shell, but these were also unreliable.

The introduction of rubber through Charles Goodyear’s vulcanization process in the 19th century made rubber condoms popular, with some being reusable.

Today, most condoms are made of latex, which is affordable and widely available, while a few are made from polyurethane for those with latex allergies. Modern condoms are designed to be disposable and not reusable.

Professor Dodoo explains that condom use has faced significant controversy historically, with opposition from the Catholic Church, medical professionals, and moralists in the early 20th century, as well as women’s groups advocating for female control over contraception.

Attitudes shifted due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and concerns about sexually transmitted infections, leading to increased promotion of condoms.

Many countries had strict regulations against condom use in the 1800s and 1900s, with Germany enforcing tough laws and the U.S. banning advertising until 1965. In Ireland, such restrictions were lifted only in 1993 due to its strong Catholic influence.

Quality issues with condoms were highlighted in 1935 when a biochemist discovered that many leaked when filled with air and water. This led to public outcry and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifying condoms as a drug in 1937, requiring quality testing before packaging.

In 1938, hundreds of thousands of condoms were seized for failing these tests. Today, condoms continue to be tested for air and water retention, as well as strength, size, and lubricant content.

Chapter 10: Medicalization of Social Problems

In Chapter 10, Professor Dodoo explores the medicalization of social problems, questioning whether society has gone too far. He begins by recounting the story of Marvin Jr., who inherited his father Marvin Sr.’s early baldness and faced teasing and bullying in school.

Despite Marvin Jr.’s attempts to hide his baldness with hats, he became more reclusive and faced difficulties forming relationships. Marvin Sr. advised him to confront the bullies directly, suggesting physical action if necessary. While Marvin Jr. followed this advice, it led to an altercation and further teasing.

The story transitions to a broader discussion on the medicalization of social problems, where non-medical issues are treated as medical conditions. This trend has led to the pathologizing of normal life experiences, often resulting in unnecessary medical interventions and the stigmatization of individuals facing these issues.

Professor Dodoo argues that while some medicalization can be beneficial, such as recognizing mental health conditions, there is a risk of over-medicalizing everyday problems, leading to dependency on medication and undermining personal resilience.

He emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between medical interventions and addressing social problems through non-medical means.

This includes promoting mental health awareness and support, encouraging personal development and coping strategies, and fostering a society that values empathy and understanding over quick medical fixes.

Professor Dodoo concludes by urging readers to critically evaluate the increasing medicalisation of social issues and consider alternative approaches that empower individuals and communities.

According to him, nobody will win if he doesn’t, stating there will be a re-run.

“If I don’t win the 2024 elections, then nobody will win. The poll will go for a second round and I have the potential to win the elections,” he stated in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.

Mr Ayariga asserted there is a demand among Ghanaians for a third force and he stands a chance to break the duopoly of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He has therefore appealed to Ghanaians to vote for him.

“The Ghanaian people keep saying they want change and they do not want the NPP and the NDC but they are adamant in making that change. They will tell you that when I vote for Hassan Ayariga, he won’t win. Says who?

“You voted for John Dramani Mahama in 2016 and he didn’t win and you voted for him in 2020 and he didn’t win, so how sure are you that he will in 2024? It is because you believe that when you vote for him, he will win so believe in the aspect of voting for Hassan Ayariga and then he will win,” he added.

Source: Adomonline.com

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According to him, political leaders must engage with Ghanaians to instill the conviction to prioritise their country and consider it their most valuable asset.

Mr Ayariga noted that, there needs to be a shift in mindset regarding work ethics, behaviour, and job creation in Ghana.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show, Mr Ayariga said, “When you engage the Ghanaian society and have that mindset change, it gives the first opportunity to be able to move this country forward.”

He explained that, a change in mindset is necessary because Ghanaians have the capacity to transform the nation when they unite.

The APC flagbearer said however, that due to corruption in both the current and previous governments, many Ghanaians feel disillusioned and unwilling to participate.

Mr Ayariga noted that Ghanaians are hesitant to contribute their wealth, resources, money, and energy to national development when they perceive that the leaders are more corrupt than any others.

He emphasised that when corruption dominates, people are unwilling to contribute or change their mindset towards building the country.

“But when you have a president who is unique, who tells the people the way it is, inspires the people, and lets them know that he is coming to serve them, not the other way around, it makes a difference” Mr. Ayariga added.

Source: Myjoyonline

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Dr Ayariga is confident that this partnership will lead the party to victory.

The announcement was made during a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 4.

Rev. Dr. Mensah, who serves as the Head Pastor and Presiding Bishop of Christ White House Chapel in Ghana, was highlighted by Dr. Ayariga as a man of integrity, emphasizing that his religious role signifies a commitment to a corruption-free administration.

Dr. Ayariga praised Rev. Dr. Mensah for his philosophy, which focuses on positive impact, economic growth, and social justice.

He described him as a respected figure in Ghana’s economic and leadership spheres, well-suited to assist in transforming the country’s economic landscape.

Rev. Dr. Mensah accepted the nomination and was sworn in immediately as the APC’s vice-presidential candidate.

Watch the video below:

Source: Adomonline

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According to him, Bawku is properly situated and, if the political leaders leverage this, it could become one of the most developed towns in the country.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Election Brief, he explained that during a visit to the town, he observed that many individuals were leaving, making the place appear deserted.

He promised to leverage the geographical location of the area to develop the town.

“We are two borders. Bawku is a third border in the whole region. Bawku has a border, Togo and then Burkina Faso, You can imagine the kind of development that can come to that community.

“So, I have promised them that when elected as the president of the republic of Ghana, I will transform Bawku to one of the finest cities in Africa especially where we can have an airport,” he said on June 24.

Mr Ayariga stated that nothing was working properly in the town except for the security agencies and that it was time for development.

Meanwhile, he acknowledged that development was not attainable if the people continued to fight, hence Mr Ayariga said he was currently educating residents on the essence of peaceful co-existence.

As of Bawku has experienced chieftaincy conflict for many years. This has resulted in the destruction of properties.

Close to 200 people have been killed in renewed conflicts between November 2021 to August 2023.

As of February 2024, five more deaths had been recorded with four local radio stations shut down.

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According to him the depreciation of the cedi had led to increased costs of imported goods and services, contributing to inflation and economic instability.

Dr Ayariga said this at a press conference in Accra on the depreciation of the cedi against major currencies.

He said the depreciation of the cedi had become a major source of worry, economic hardship, and pain, especially for Ghanaian business owners, pensioners, traders, and businesses that depended on the dollar or foreign inflows.

He noted that the pressure on the cedi remained high, with its year-to-date depreciation against the US dollar standing at 5.5 per cent as of the end of April, higher than the 4.2 per cent recorded over the same period last year, adding that, that weakness was unusual in an election year.

Dr Ayariga asked the government to restore the strength of the vedi by implementing policies that promoted economic stability, “reducing corruption and mismanagement of resources, and investing in key sectors such as production, manufacturing and industrialisation”.

He also called on the government to ban forex trading, shut down businesses that charged in dollars, stop the quotation and awards of contracts in dollars, ban the opening of foreign currency accounts and close foreign currency accounts.

Additionally, the government must stop all hotels, businesses, airlines, landlords, schools, automobile companies and shipping lines from quoting and charging in foreign currencies, Dr Ayariga added.

According to him, dumsor is causing hardships to many Ghanaians.

To Ayariga, the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and his staff should be held accountable for the mismanagement of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

He suggested that individuals with successful track records should be appointed to lead the company.

Alternatively, Mr. Ayariga urged the government to privatize the ECG if it cannot efficiently and effectively manage its operations, adding that he is willing to purchase the company to deliver reliable electricity to Ghanaians.

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According to him, Ghana’s economy is in distress, affecting all sectors of the country because the electorate solely recycle leadership between the two political parties.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Election Brief on June 6, he explained that the APC has taken note of this and has developed a policy to change the mindset of Ghanaians.

“The APC has big and good policies, our first policy is the mindset. Change of mindset. Ghanaians need to begin to change their mindset towards their own country and how we manage our economy.

“We must change our mindset so as to embrace these new policies that the APC is bringing on board. We have to change our attitude,” he said.

The presidential aspirant said that if given the political mandate, he would initiate an economic lockdown.

He clarified thatt, an economic lockdown involves closing the country’s borders to imports and focusing on domestic production of goods.

Mr Ayariga insisted that if the government had been proactive, it would have learned from the COVID-19 lockdown, during which the country struggled to sustain itself for more than two weeks due to insufficient food and resources.

He stressed that the funds currently used to import certain food items could be better invested in building infrastructure and pursuing industrialisation.

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His argument is that supporters of the minor political parties that did not do well in the presidential polls will be discouraged, while it will motivate the parties that performed well in the polls. 

The Global InfoAnalytics in its latest presidential polls released on Monday, April 8, 2024, tipped the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, as the potential winner of the 2024 election with 54.3 per cent.

He was followed by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) with 34.9 per cent; while the leader and founder of Movement for Change (M4C), Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, polled 7.5 per cent.

Similarly, the leader of the New Force Movement (NFM), Nana Kwame Bediako, polled 2.3 per cent with those classified as “others” gathering one per cent.

The poll, which was made available to Daily Graphic/Graphic Online, using weighted polling data, said among first-time voters, Mr Mahama led Dr Bawumia with 52 per cent as against 33 per cent and among non-first-time voters, Mr Mahama led Dr Bawumia with 55 per cent to 35 per cent.

“In a twist at the regional level, Mr Mahama now leads in the North East Region with 58 per cent; Dr Bawumia, 26 per cent and Mr Kyerematen, 11 per cent,” it said. The poll indicated that in the turnaround for Dr Bawumia in the Ashanti Region, he had now regained the lead with 54 per cent; Mr Mahama, 31 per cent; Mr Kyerematen, 12 per cent, and Nana Kwame Bediako, 2 per cent.

Reacting to the results of the polls on TV3’s NewDay programme on Tuesday morning, April 9, 2024, Mr Ayariga said the sampling size and where it was collected did not favour most of the minor political parties.

For him, the poll favoured only the two dominant political parties in the country–NDC and NPP, arguing that campaigning for the 2024 election had not even started for the pollster to come out with reflective results.

“It is an issue of mindset,” he said. 

He was of the view that the poll could have been conducted after all the minor political parties had elected their flag bearers and had started their campaigning activities.

In his view, former President Mahama is now proud and can question the track record of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“What are the records for the NPP so far, high inflation, corrupt institutions, huge debt stock, lack of roads which they have borrowed so much and there is nothing to show coupled with indiscipline. Incompetence and prices of food on the market are so high you can name it.

“Where did they do better, if they had done better the NDC wouldn’t have presented President Mahama for the 2024 elections. But now President Mahama is so proud, that he stands on platforms and asks President Akufo-Addo to tell them his achievement,” Mr. Ayariga in an interview on Accra-based Starr FM.

The Presidential aspirant insisted President Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawuma have failed Ghanaians.

“He goes to SONA and tells Ghanaians that Ghana is down and Ghana will rise again. Then Bawumia himself had an opportunity to excel at the lecture at UPSA he danced like a DJ. Instead of telling Ghanaians his achievements and what he can do for Ghana, he tells us that he is a mate and not part of the mess. This is an indication that there is a mess and he is coming to fix it. It a betrayal of his party,” Mr. Ayariga criticised.

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Speaking on Cruise Control with Merqury Quaye, he said that current leaders of Ghana do not know how to properly utilize the country’s human and natural resources.

He also said that the youth of Ghana are suffering due to the mismanagement of her resources.

“Seeing how Ghanaians are suffering. The youth have no future. The country is in the hands of the wrong people making promises all the time and nobody is fulfilling them. It’s sad! Because Ghana is lost and somebody needs to find Ghana,” he said on Hitz FM.

He added that one major mistake citizens of Ghana make is re-voting for the same politicians who promise yet fail to deliver on their promises.

“That is why you should keep changing them, don’t repeat them. Don’t recycle them. And that is the mistake we, Ghanaians, are making,” he said.

He explained that the frustration and incompetence of Ghanaian leaders are the driving forces behind his passion to contest for the presidency.

“Passion and love for your country is very important. But if you love a country where leaders are doing the wrong thing, you will get frustrated at a point in time. You can’t sit down and watch it happen.” he said.

He also mentioned some other causes that influenced his decision to form the All People’s Congress.

“I look at the environment of our young people who are so hardworking, yet they have nothing coming from their leaders. And I look at German youth who are naturally dull and their leaders are forcing them to be active. And ours are active but our leaders are forcing them to be lazy. You can’t sit and watch unless you do not have the conscience,” he noted.

He believes that before any of these can be accomplished, Ghanaians need a change of mindset. This is because ‘Change is the key to a new life’,” he said.

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According to him, the change will help serve the needs of the industry, enabling it to flourish with more income and revenue.

Speaking with Merqury Quaye on Cruise Control, he explained practically how this could be achieved, highlighting that ‘change is a key to new life’.

“What are the leaderships? What are the structures? The creative industry needs an overhauling in leadership. We ‘Ghana’ are rich, but poor in leadership’.

“Say Hitz FM is in bad shape with dirty microphones, etc. If I change the leader who is managing the place, we now see a plasma TV, a centre, monitoring what is happening, and people transmitting all the things.

“You will then get to understand the value of Hitz FM. Sooner or later, adverts will start to come in and you will make money, salaries will also increase,” he explained.

He also added that Ghana has lost its ideals when it comes to partnering with foreign countries.

According to him, Ghanaians are directly and indirectly influenced which has affected our economic growth and financial stability.

“Ghana is lost and it is really sad. Somebody needs to find her. We don’t even believe in the Ghanaian potential anymore because the country has been taken over by foreigners”.

“We are becoming the 21^st century slaves, neo colonialism and that is what late president Kwame Nkrumah said. Politicians do not understand even though they are the cause of it, but it is happening.

“You don’t partner and everything is being taken away from you,” he stated.

He, however, admonished young individuals in the creative industry to master the act of self-generation and authenticity when it comes to their content.

“Creativity is an act of love, understanding, will and power. Begin to do things differently, act differently, and do not wait for people to do things before you, but rather, do things for others to copy.

“If you copy, you become second but if you are creative in the arts industry, you become so well and that’s why Dubai is doing so well”, he added.

All People’s Congress (APC) is now the greatest threat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), founder and flagbearer, Hassan Ayariga has said.

According to him, APC is now attractive and has majority of Ghanaians eager to join to help the party capture power in the upcoming general election.

Mr Ayariga made this statement on Adom FM’s Naket Kasiebo following his re-election as APC flagbearer to contest the general election for the third time.

His election occurred during a peaceful walk and National Delegates Congress held at the Haske Event Centre in Asawase, Kumasi, on Saturday, March 9.

The presidential candidate stated the turnout at the event reflects APC’s increasing popularity and the surge in momentum as the 2024 elections approach.

“Members from both the NPP and NDC have called to testify that APC is now on a different level. Some have expressed fear I will give them a tough time but all we are seeking to do is to capture power and bring the needed change,” he said.

Listen to the APC flagbearer in the video above:

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His election occurred during a peaceful walk and National Delegates Congress held at the Haske Event Centre in Asawase, Kumasi, on Saturday, March 9.

Mr Ayariga, a known figure in Ghanaian politics, has amassed support from diverse segments of the population throughout his political career.

Participants at the walk and National Delegates Congress overwhelmingly endorsed Mr Ayariga as the ideal candidate to lead Ghana and instigate the much-needed change in the country.

They expressed confidence in his capacity to tackle the various challenges confronting the nation and guide it towards a brighter future.

The event underscored the APC’s unity and strength, with members from across the country rallying behind their party and its leadership.

The turnout at the event reflects the increasing popularity of Dr Hassan Ayariga and the APC, signaling a surge in momentum as the 2024 elections approach.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, he also disclosed that, his running mate for the December elections will be from Ashanti Region.

Hassan Ayariga stated that, APC’s strategy is to win more parliamentary seats in the stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“This time around we are picking our running mate from the Ashanti Region. Ashanti region is a very big region with a lot of votes and if you can enter into the Ashanti, we will definitely get a lot of votes for 2024. We are also targeting 25 parliamentary seats across Ghana. There are a lot of activities going to happen in the Ashanti region and we urge our fellow citizens there to come support us,” he said.

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In his view, Ghanaians gave President Akufo-Addo the mandate hence he is oblige to render accounts of his stewardship.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, Mr. Ayariga said President Akufo-Addo has failed and owes Ghanaians an apology.

He cited the failure of government’s flagship 1 Village 1 Dam project as a clear example of the President’s failed promise.

“You have to come and justify all the promises you have made. Ghanaians have given Akufo-Addo a mandate and we have to hold him accountable. All the things the President promised, if he says he couldn’t fulfill them in seven years then he has lied to Ghanaians and needs to apologize. You don’t need more than seven years to construct a dam in a village. Today is the day, we don’t want any promises, he should tell us what has achieved,” he said.

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Founder of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga says the Electoral Commission(EC) does not need to change the December 7 election date.

According to him, the electoral body must push for an amendment of the portions of the 1992 Constitution which mandate a runoff if no candidate secures 50 plus one vote.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, he said,“I don’t think we need that [change in election date]. What we need is a different constitutional amendment to cancel the second round. Because their purpose of asking for the elections to be shifted to 7th November was not because of anything, but to give them time in case there is a runoff. For me, I think we should go a different step ahead and look at the issue of not necessarily having a runoff in our elections. 

“But finding a way where we go for the first round, two parties emerge with the highest votes. They now find a way of having an inclusive government and taking from the other political parties who do not have 50 plus one to join and form a government.”

He suggested that the winner-takes-all system practiced in Ghana must be replaced with a coalition government.

Mr Ayariga added that parties that attain the highest percentage of votes should choose members of the government from various political parties.

With this, he believes issues of corruption and monopoly in the Ghanaian political system would become a thing of the past.

On January 16, the Seventh-day Adventist Church made a strong case for an amendment to the December 7 election date.

The church, in separate petitions first to the Electoral Commission, said national elections would have to be moved from the conventional December 7 because the date falls on a Saturday, which will conflict with the Sabbath, a holy day dedicated to the worship of God.

This was however opposed by the National Democratic Congress and other political parties during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).

On February 19, EC stated that its proposal to move the date for general elections from December 7 to November will not take effect this year.

According to the Deputy EC Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Eric Asare Bossman, the legislation required for this change to be implemented for subsequent elections will be put before Parliament soon.

“So within the last few months, this is something the Commission is going to trigger,” Dr Bossman said on JoyNews.

The SDA Church has since welcomed the EC’s decision.

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Listen to Ayariga in the video above:

According to him, the huge budget is to ensure he secures not less than 25 seats in parliament and also win the presidential election.

Mr Ayariga disclosed this in an interview on Accra-based TV3.

“Any party that will win an election in Ghana this time around will spend not less than 50 to 100 million dollars,” he said.

The presidential who will be contesting for the third time expressed confidence about his victory on December 7, 2024, and cautioned corrupt politicians.

“If you are a political thief pray that Hassan Ayariga doesn’t become president, if you are corrupt pray hard that Hassan Ayariga doesn’t become the president.

“If you have mismanaged our country pray hard that Hassan Ayariga doesn’t become president because when I become president all those who have mismanaged our money and resources, I will change their sleeping places,” he warned.

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This he said will be due to the constant deceit and poor performance of the two major political parties that have left many Ghanaians disappointed.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, November 29, about the need for a common manifesto to spearhead national development, Mr Hassan Ayariga said, Ghana has gotten to the stage where all parties must agree to have one common manifesto for the country.

“We cannot be lying all the time to the people then when we get the votes we come up with excuses, and when we win we come back with lies. Enough of that. We have deceived the Ghanaian people for too long,” he fumed.

This year, if we are not careful, there’s going to be voter apathy and it will increase even higher than ever. You watch the last election, we had 17 million registered voters, but only 11 million voted. What it means is that 6 million Ghanaians refused to vote.”

“It’s either they were not for the NPP or the NDC. They just don’t want to vote again because they’re tired of the political lies, political hatred and everything that politicians do to them.

Checks by JoyNews indicate that out of the 17,027,941 registered voters for election 2020, 13,432,857 voted, bringing the voter turnout to 79%, higher than the 2016 turnout percentage of 69% out of a registered voter population of 15,712,499, from which 10,781,917 voted.

Mr Ayariga said his party believes in a manifesto that can build Ghana, and therefore he’s fully in support of a common manifesto for all the political parties.

So for us in the APC, we believe in a manifesto that can build Ghana. We believe that even if all of us come together as political parties it doesn’t matter. NDC and NPP should bring their representatives, CPP and APC should bring their representatives and draft a manifesto that can drive this nation forward.”

Ban manifestos

Speaking at a recent public lecture at the British Council in Accra on the theme “A Common Manifesto for our Common Future”, the Lead Consultant for Konfidant, a globally oriented, Africa-region-focused advisory firm, Micheal Kottoh said party manifestos should be banned if Ghana wants to develop to the level of first-world countries.

According to him, the current political system that allows presidential aspirants to compete on their own ideas, for the best idea to emerge as victorious, is not pushing the country into development.

He said a common manifesto would propel the country into economic stability and infrastructural development.

“The only way we can have a common manifesto for a common future is to ban party manifesto. Let’s ban them [party manifestos]. I hear time and again that a lot of Ghanaians are frustrated about why we cannot have a national development plan and stick to it.

“We keep referring to Malaysia, Singapore, and the Chinese and we know that this has been a very fundamental part of their transformation. There is no way we can have a common national development plan and stick to it if we keep having party manifestos. It is not possible. There is a contradiction there. So if we want a common manifesto that will translate into a common development plan, I say ban the party manifestos,” he said.

Our party manifestos are usually silent on the most important issues – Ofosu-Dorte

But David Ofosu-Dorte, Executive Chairman of AB and David Africa who was the guest speaker at the lecture, said instead of banning manifestos, the citizenry must rather drive what goes into the manifestos of the parties to bring about the desired development.

He, however, said his analysis of manifestos churned out by Ghana’s two main political parties since 1992, shows that the real issues of importance to national development are often not captured.

According to him, his analysis also established that the two main parties usually say the same things in their manifestos except for the wording of the pointers that differ.

But David Ofosu-Dorte, Executive Chairman of AB and David Africa who was the guest speaker at the lecture, said instead of banning manifestos, the citizenry must rather drive what goes into the manifestos of the parties to bring about the desired development.

He, however, said his analysis of manifestos churned out by Ghana’s two main political parties since 1992, shows that the real issues of importance to national development are often not captured.

According to him, his analysis also established that the two main parties usually say the same things in their manifestos except for the wording of the pointers that differ.

The interesting thing is that none of these manifestos seems to focus on the soft points without which the manifestos cannot thrive. For example, the manifestos make copious provisions for security. But what is security in an undisciplined society? If the society is undisciplined there cannot be security; it doesn’t matter how many plans you make” he argued.

After pointing out several other examples of the similarities in manifesto promises for various sectors of the economy, David Ofosu-Dorte concluded that “The real problem, therefore, is not what the manifestos say, it is rather what the manifestos don’t say.

“Because the manifestos in my view, are silent on very important issues which form the real foundation. It’s either they’re completely silent on them or do not address them adequately.”

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Mr. Ayariga contends that, redirecting the focus of young people towards technological innovation should take precedence over betting activities. 

He argues that the revenue generated from betting taxes would be unnecessary under his leadership.

“But why are we betting because betting is an avenue for lazy people. Because they have no jobs and are looking for avenues… I will cancel betting and make it illegal. Why do you bet? What do you mean by betting? When I need young people like them to sit on computers and design things and build the country where we have the highest technology in the world, you are sitting down doing betting,” he said on Accra-based 3FM.

The recent introduction of a 10 percent withholding tax on betting, games, and lottery winnings by the government has sparked widespread public outcry.

Implemented on August 15, 2023, this contentious decision has ignited fervent debates nationwide. Ghana’s youth, a significant demographic engaged in sports betting for both leisure and potential income, have expressed notable disapproval.

While precise figures on Ghana’s betting population are unavailable, there has been a surge in the number of licensed betting companies operating within the country.

Currently, Ghana boasts 35 licensed betting companies, 26 casinos, and eight establishments holding route licenses.

Politicians against betting

Mr. Ayariga joins other political figures including Majority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Asawase Member of Parliament (MP),  Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, in criticizing betting for promoting indolence.

Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has voiced concerns about the proliferation of betting companies and its potential ramifications, particularly among the nation’s youth. He posits that the rise of such establishments may inadvertently nurture a culture of complacency and idleness among the younger generation.

Muntaka on the other hand said he’s not a fan of gambling and considers sports betting as “haram,” an Arabic term that means forbidden.

Betting companies in Ghana have since 2019 paid an estimated million to the government in various forms including taxes and licensing fees, according to Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) data.

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The house features 10 bedrooms, eight halls, two penthouses, four kitchens, 30-seater cinema room, gym, barbering saloon among other units such as gaming room.

The lavish mansion, meanwhile, was designed by his wife, Anita Ayariga, who is an ardent graphic designer and lover of arts.

The politician flaunted many of his cars during the tour such as his Lamborghini, Nissan Infiniti, two Land Cruisers, Porsche Panamera, and several superbikes.

Talking about sport, Mr Ayariga said he loves to watch football, basketball, tennis and wrestling.

When queried if he has a favourite musician, the APC leader said: I love listening to all of them. Sometimes you don’t know the people, but you get to know later. Most of the footballers are my friends.

He named Black Sherif as one of the musicians whose song motivates him.

Black Sherif is very good. If you look at him, he knows what he is about. Black Sherif is about poverty and those in the ghetto.

He continued, Sarkodie is also a good rapper. Samini, Edem, Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale are all my guys, but we have to push him [Black Sherif]. Most of the time, the musicians get low after a few high moments.

Meanwhile, Mr Ayariga climaxed the tour with a moment of him dancing passionately with his wife, Mrs Anita Ayariga.

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According to him, some delegates will be influenced to sell their votes, hence the outcome of the elections wouldn’t be worth the party.

Speaking to GTV, prior to the commencement of the conference, he said:

We the APC are urging the delegates to vote for leaders with more brains than money, as you know in every election most people induce the voters with money not with their leadership skills. They must vote for a team that will help their government continue with the agenda.

If they need to move and win the 2024 elections, then they must vote for a team that will help their government to continue with the agenda. The president must know that times are tough. We wish them well and pray they present themselves peacefully.

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He said the implementation of the programme has been characterised by flaws that have resulted in eroding the quality of education in the country’s high schools, adding that education has become expensive than before.

In an interview on Prime Morning, Wednesday, Mr Ayariga claimed that, “now we have free education but we don’t have quality.”

“Now, we’ve destroyed all those very intelligent schools and very competitive schools that were doing so well because of free education. Free education shouldn’t be free to everyone; those of us that can pay let us pay and those that cannot pay, let them get that opportunity,” he told Prime Morning Host, Jay Foley.

He said the policy has failed to serve its purpose because there are not enough classrooms, infrastructure and teaching and learning materials needed to enhance the acquisition of knowledge in schools.

“If you talk about free education, you need infrastructure to build the free educational system. That is why the Free Education has also crushed; it’s very expensive now than before.”

He argued that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) usually promises to embark on policies such as the Free SHS just to win votes but not to transform the country.

“Delivering and not being corrupt, dedication to the promises you make, implementing them and having proper blueprints…those are what the NPP didn’t have.

“That is why you see that NABCo has crushed, one district-one factory crushed, planting for food and agriculture crushed because if you go to the market, the prices of foodstuff are higher than before. You don’t need a lot of comparison, just pick one or two items,” he noted.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has noted that he is proud of the performance of the Free SHS graduates.

He said the WASSCE results of students under the policy have further given credence that the policy is a success.

Speaking at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Tamale Senior High School, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that although there have been some challenges with the implementation of the policy, he is proud of its impact so far.

“The WASSCE results of the second batch of students under the Free SHS policy indicates that 54% of students recorded A1 to C6 in English as opposed to 51.6% in 2016, 65.7% recording A1 to C6 in Integrated Science in 2021 as opposed to 48.35% in 2016, 54.11% recording A1 to C6 in Mathematics whiles 56.03% in Social Studies.”

“In 2015 it was 29.2%, in 2016 it was 31.4%, in 2017 it was 34.7%, in 2018 31.3%, in 2019 it was 46.3% and in 2020 45.8%. Surely, there can no longer be any controversy about the validity of the Free SHS policy and its consequential measures, it is working,” he said.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG), in a statement on Wednesday, announced that with effect from July 1, 2022, the Ghana Card shall be the only identification card that will be used to undertake transactions at all Bank of Ghana licensed and regulated financial institutions.

But, Dr Ayariga has argued the Ghana Card cannot be used as a legitimate document to verify citizenship and identity.

According to him, the BoG directive cannot hold as there is no law backing it and also considering the challenges associated with its acquisition.

“I registered for the Ghana Card in 2019 but yet to receive it and when I went to the office, I was told to lodge a complaint of a missing card with the police to acquire a form for a new one. How is that even possible when I haven’t even received any card,” he bemoaned.

Dr Ayariga made these remarks on the Beyi W’ano segment on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Monday as he questioned the motive behind the directive.

“They are forcing to create a database system which does not exist. We are not leaving in a banana economy for them to issue such a directives,” Dr Ayariga stated.

He said he could not fathom why there are passports and voters’ ID cards that were issued on a biometric basis and can still not be valid.

“Telcos and Bank of Ghana cannot reduce acceptance of identification to only Ghana Cards. What form of documents (ID) will they accept from a foreigner who visits Ghana for business or holidays?” he quizzed.

Customers of telecommunication companies have been directed to synchronize their details with the National Identification database.

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The process includes visiting respective mobile operators’ outlets, a situation that has resulted in long queues.

Though NIA says it has issued cards to about 15 million Ghanaians, a lot of citizens are still struggling to either register for a new card, misplace missing cards, or mere collection.

This has generated conversation about the waste of productive hours amid questions about the flexibility of the exercise.

Meanwhile, a group of notable Ghanaian personalities who have identified themselves as Concerned Mobile Network Subscribers have served notice of boycotting the re-registration exercise on February 8, 2022.

The group say they are ready to lose their SIM cards and have therefore set aside Tuesday, February 8, to embark on a nationwide protest dubbed ‘No Calls Day’.

“Taxation is what is going to help us develop our country and not borrowing, no country has ever developed on borrowing, and I believe Ghanaians want to pay taxes, but they do not want to pay taxes that don’t contribute to development,” he said.

Addressing a Press Conference in Accra on Monday, dubbed, ‘Post Budget Analysis,’ Mr Ayariga, the 2020 Presidential Candidate for the APC, applauded the government for suspending the collection of road tolls from next year as captured in the 2022 Budget Statement.

He also commended the Government for its YouStart Initiative aimed at empowering young people to start and grow small businesses.

The target is to create one million jobs with a seed capital of one billion Ghana Cedis beginning from March 2022.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced 1.75 percent charges on all electronic transactions on Wednesday during the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement to Parliament.

“The suffering is killing too much, the hardship is beginning to have a toll on people,” he said, asking the populace to rise above “pettiness and save the country…”

Mr Ayariga also called on all political parties to work together and stand firm against LGBTQ, saying the practice is “demonic”.

Speaking on Joy News, he remarked that it is the citizen’s right for the government to be accountable, stating it makes the Minority’s request mandatory.

In his opinion, the well-meaning people of Ghana must be equipped with information on how the government is managing the novel virus in terms of finances.

“Whether people have gotten medications or not we must hold our government responsible for the things they do, it is necessary. It is not about the Minority. It is for government to also come out and tell us their expenditure on COVID and what they have done with COVID money so far,’’ he stressed.

He further explained that the ‘agenda 88’ and other social amenities needed to manage the pandemic are part of COVID plans and should be included in the discussion.

“The Simlo packages, the hospitals they say they are building so far, how much has gone into the building of the agenda 88 hospitals?’’ he quizzed.

He admonished the same energy should be invested in the ‘fellow Ghanaians’ COVID update.

On the address, Mr Ayariga reminded that the respiratory virus is still lurking around and urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to continue the address.

“Now they don’t say it anymore, people think that because the President will not give us update COVID is gone. COVID is not gone go to your hospital people are dying on daily basis and nobody is talking about it, nobody is saying anything. We are reducing every day and the numbers are going down. And the numbers of COVID are going high, and Ghanaian numbers are going down. We are dying and nobody is saying anything,’’ he bemoaned.

Mr Ayariga urged Ghanaians to strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols since the pandemic is far from over.

This was after his near-death experience after being infected with the deadly virus.

The APC leader was battling for his life and had to be put on life support for survival.

Weeks in hospital, Mr Ayariga has now recovered and is urging all Ghanaians to observe all the COVID-19 protocols.

“I am very grateful to GOD for my life. Covid is no respecter of persons. Wear your nose mask, wash your hands and stay safe,” he said in a post on Facebook.

Below is his post:

Miss Ayariga marked her 17th birthday on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.

The venue was the Founder of the All People’s Congress’ plush home.

Family members and friends thronged the house in their numbers to share in her joy.

Photos from the event captured moment Stonebwoy joined the celebrant and her family to cut the birthday cake.

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Others also saw the musician pose with Mr Ayariga and his three adorable girls.

The politician, who could not hide his joy over the daughter’s new milestone, took to his Facebook page to splash the photos backed by a lovely message to his daughter.

Now a refined politician, Mr Ayariga, who worked and lived in Germany for the most part of his life, emulated the western lifestyle which was evident in the photos available to Adomonline.com

The throwback photos captured mid-adult Ayariga rocking blonde braids on his faded haircut, coupled with an oversized shirt.

The photos, believed to have been taken on two separate instances, proved that was Mr Ayariga’s way of life at the time.

In the first photo, it appeared Mr Ayariga was unbraiding, as he smiles to the camera.

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In the subsequent photo, the model-like gentleman, donning a black jacket, turned to his side and exposed his dyed hair and strands of braids.

The surprising images are the exact opposite of who Mr Ayariga is now, a gentleman with shaved hair.

Photos below:

The flagbearer of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo, will borrow more money to salvage Ghana’s ailing economy.

According to him, borrowing to build a nation as it is being done in the United States of America (USA) and Japan is the best economic strategy.

“America alone owes $31 trillion; Japan owes $11 trillion. The whole of Africa continent, we owe $1.3 trillion and we are calling it debt? For me, it is peanuts. We need to borrow more!” he said during the first Akan presidential debate organised by Adom TV, Adom 106.3 FM, Nyhira 104.5 FM, Asempa 94.7 FM and Adomonline among others.

He said Ghana’s current debt stock estimated at 40 billion compared to the US and Japan is “peanut”.

“If I have the opportunity to borrow 1 trillion,  I will borrow money to expand our economy, create jobs and build infrastructure so that will can rock shoulders with US and Japan,” Mr Akpaloo stated.

But the presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress, Hassan Ayariga, disagreed with Mr Akpaloo.

He said any President who borrows to run a country is “lazy and not fit to be a leader”.

The APC leader described as worrying how successive governments use Ghana’s natural resources as collateral for such loans.

Should he win the election, Mr Ayariga said he will rely on internally generated funds to run the economy.

Presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr Hassan Ayariga, is promising an all-inclusive government should he win the December 7 general election.

His reason, he said, is to give every Ghanaian willing to work with him to contribute their quota to national development.

Dr Ayariga was speaking at the first-ever presidential debate in Twi organised by Adom FM, Adom TV, Nyhira FM, Asempa FM and Adomonline among others on Monday, November 23, 2020.

He bemoaned the winner-takes-all attitude of politicians which he said has retrogressed Ghana’s progress.

Aside the economy, he said his government will also practice an all-inclusive government to give opportunity to all.

He indicated that the winner-takes-all attitude of politicians has contributed to Ghana’s under-development

“A winner-takes-all is not helping us so I will practice an all-inclusive government and give others opportunity to serve,” he added.

On the economy, the APC leader said Ghana is running a “banana economy” which in his opinion has exacerbated the plight of Ghanaians.

Under his presidency, the APC leader said he will establish a National Data System to register all Ghanaians.

“The perfect data system will have details of all Ghanaians including newborn babies so that we can plan our development,” he added.

Dr Ayariga said the data gathered will help his government do the necessary projections to provide the needs of the citizenry.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Mr Ayariga said although political campaigns are crucial to the 2020 general election, the disease still lingers and poses a serious threat to Ghanaians.

He, therefore, suggested that the President calls for a stop to all rallies with immediate effect to help Ghana win the fight against the pandemic.

“It is when we make laws as the government of the day, and we ignore them, then we are endangering the lives of the people we say we love. There are protocols to fight off Covid-19 and people were abiding by them. So why is that we the same people who instituted those laws are breaking those laws?

“So I think the President over the weekend should come out again and stop and ban all the rallies of political parties,” he stated.

His request follows the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers’ findings that political parties, mainly, the governing New Patriotic Party and opposition National Democratic have not done enough to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

According to the Coalition’s pre-election Environment Observation, political parties have disregarded the safety protocols against the spread of Covid-19 as far as political campaigns are concerned.

However, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, has refuted these claims, stating that the onus lies on all Ghanaians in curbing the rate of spread.

Five out of the 17 aspirants, who submitted their nomination forms with the hope of contesting the polls, have been disqualified.

Following the EC’s Chairperson, Jean Mensa’s announcement on Monday, October 19, 2020, some of the aggrieved persons have threatened to sue.

However, Mr Ayariga, speaking on Accra-based TV3, noted there was no need for that as someone who suffered the same fate in 2016.

Though he shared their pain, he was of the view that it is a waste of time.

The five include two independent presidential nominees Kofi Koranteng and Marricke Kofi Gane.

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And three political party-sponsored nominees namely Akwasi Addae Odike of the United Progressive Party, Kwasi Busumbru of the People’s Action Party and Nana Agyenim Boateng of the United Front Party.

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has won the heart of presidential aspirant, Hassan Ayariga after he was cleared to contest the December general elections.

The founder and leader of the All Peoples Congress (APC) whom hitherto was an ardent critic of the EC boss said his recent interaction with Madam Jean Mensa has changed his perception about her.

Explaining the sudden u-turn on Adom FM, Hassan Ayariga said she compared her posture and demeanor to that of former EC Chair, Charlotte Osei and realized that “Jean Mensa is 10 times better than Charlotte Osei”.

The APC leader said he was very much impressed with the leadership style of the current EC boss.

“Charlotte Osei is arrogant, Jean Mensa is not, she sat through when all the minority parties were filing their nomination and even gave us an opportunity to make corrections which Charlotte didn’t do so I think Jean Mensa is 10 times better,” he stated.

On how he managed to qualify, Hassan Ayariga said his party made sure all those who endorsed his forms did not endorse others.

“I learnt my lessons in 2016 so I made sure the people endorsed on my forms that is why I was not disqualified this time,” he added.

He wants a 50 percent reduction of the GH₵100,000 and GH₵10,000 fee for presidential and parliamentary candidates respectively ahead of the December polls.

In a statement copied to Adomonline.com, Mr Ayariga cited how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their ability to raise such huge sums to buttress his point.

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“A 100% increment will compel some political parties that are financially handicapped to fall out of the presidential race,” the statement added.

Below is the full statement:

According to Mr Ayariga, the two ruling parties have lost focus on serving Ghanaians, but are channeling their energies in ‘ghost’ projects.

He added institutions in the country are not working, giving life to his claims that both are “incompetent”.

Claiming to have gathered experience, commitment, skills and brains in his over eight years of party politics, the flagbearer insists the NDC and NPP have stolen and implemented his ‘well laid out’ policies slowly.

His party, however, is ready to outline new policies which would be launched by the end of September, after which he is challenging party leaders to a debate.

“After the launch of the manifesto of the party, I want you to bring in John Mahama, bring Nana Akufo-Addo without any foreign document to hold debate and scrutinise our manifesto without document, iPad or phone and let’s see who knows his manifesto very well,” he said.

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His challenge came after his competence and seriousness were questioned after losing woefully in two consecutive elections; 2012 and 2016.

Mr Ayariga explained his nature was not a sign of unseriousness but to present himself as approachable for the grassroot members, afterall politics, in his perspective, is not a do or die game.

Mr Ayariga says the failure of the Office of Special Prosecutor only symbolises the failure of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The APC leader said both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress ( NDC) have taken turns in the last 27 years to disappoint Ghanaians in government.

While he was being grilled by Nana Ampofo Adjei on The Big Agenda, Thursday evening, Mr Ayariga expressed optimism of winning the December polls to rescue Ghanaians from the ‘incompetence’ of the NPP and NDC.

In pursuit of that dream, he said, the APC will outdoor it’s Vice Presidential Candidate in mid-September and its manifesto at the end of next month.

Pushed to give a foretaste of the manifesto, the founder asserted the APC now believes in both Capitalism and Socialism; and, as such cannot tie its apron strings to the social-democratic NDC, like it did in 2016.

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In a manner reminiscent of the late Dan Lartey; when Mr Ayariga was asked whether his running-mate would be male or female, he replied: “He will be a Ghanaian.”

Asked whether he was not going to waste his money – looking at the strengths of the capitalist-leaning NPP and socialist-inclined NDC, Mr Ayariga retorted: “Is the money your money?”

Founder and Flagbearer for All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has promised free dialysis treatment for individuals suffering from kidney-related diseases.

He said this will be coupled with the building of new state of the art hospitals across the country.

“We shall continue to give free dialysis to every Ghanaian who needs it. I will rather spend money on free dialysis than on land cruisers for ministers,” he said.

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This forms part of the healthcare policies outlined in APC’s manifesto for the 2020 elections.

He further assured that pregnant women will not be charged for delivery.

“Mothers are dying because they can’t pay for maternity charges, they can’t go to the hospitals because they can’t afford it, yet we call ourselves Ghanaians,” the flagbearer lamented.

Mr Ayariga bemoaned the current state of the country’s healthcare system.

The APC is the second political party to launch its manifesto ahead of the December elections.

The New Patriotic Party outdoored its manifesto on Saturday, August, 22.

Founder and Presidential Candidate for the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has rejected findings from the recently conducted survey on Ghanaians’ preference for a new voters’ register by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show Wednesday, Mr Ayariga said he was rather concerned with the non-credibility and technical reasons given by the Electoral Commission (EC) for a new voters’ register.   

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“I’m not worried about University of Ghana’s research, the figures don’t matter to me, what is important to me is the issue of non-credibility the EC claims the current register does not possess and its (EC) technical reasons to have a new register,” he said.

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“They can say 65 per cent of Ghanaians want a new register but as to whether the 65 per cent people are right or wrong in wanting a new voters’ register that they cannot say,” he added.  

Out of the 27,500 Ghanaians randomly sampled to partake in the survey, 17,843 Ghanaians representing 64.9 percent were in favour of the compilation of a new voters’ register.

The remaining 9,654 representing 35.1 per cent were against the compilation a new voters’ register.  

Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has threatened to put an injunction on the 2020 elections if the Electoral Commission (EC) goes ahead with the compilation of a new Voters Register.

According to Hassan Ayariga, it will be appropriate if the EC engages the parties on the matter and conducts a public forum on the new Voters Register.

“We shall place injunction on the 2020 election if the EC goes ahead with the new Voters Register because the worst register we had was in the past but now we have the best with biometric features,” he said.

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Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr Ayariga said some of the reasons given by the EC for the new register were not justifiable.

“The EC is expected to encourage democracy, the rule of law in terms of voting and acceptance of electoral results to make sure we have a free and fair election.

“They are also to ensure we [citizens] believe in democratic principles so if they want to force the new register on us, does it mean they don’t believe in democracy themselves?” he quizzed.

He called for a good database system which will allow free transfer of citizens’ information to save taxpayers’ money.

The politician is of the view that, pastors ought to be praying for the nation and not specific political parties.  

“Pastors shouldn’t be praying for NDC or NPP to win, that’s a wrong way of praying. They should pray for a leader for the nation irrespective of the political party such individuals may come from,” he said in an interview on Metro TV monitored by Adomonline.com.

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“They should not pray for NDC or NPP; calling them to pray for them is not necessary. They shouldn’t use the podium for partisan politics,” he added.

Answering to whether it was okay for pastors to pray for the President, Mr Ayariga answered in the affirmative, saying that it was necessary because the President is the head of the country and his spirit controls the country.

He revealed that even his personal wife prays for the President.  

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“My wife prays for Akufo-Addo every morning, she prays that God gives the President wisdom to rule the country. At such moments, she is not praying for my political opponent but for the president because whether I like it or not he is the President,” he said.

Mr Ayariga’s comments are in relation to the penchant of some men of God to pray for specific political parties as well as giving prophecies concerning their victories in general elections.