Throughout his career, he has bridged divides that others found too wide — from bringing hope to underprivileged communities and persons with disabilities, to championing gender equality, youth empowerment, and grassroots development.

His belief is simple: Ghana works best when everyone moves forward together.

Time and again, Dr. Bawumia has shown that political affiliation should never be a barrier to human compassion or national progress. His unwavering commitment to interfaith harmony has strengthened bonds between Christians and Muslims, fostering a climate of mutual respect that enriches Ghana’s democratic fabric.

That spirit of unity came into sharp focus in the heat of the 2024 general elections.

While the nation watched closely, his calm, peace-first approach reassured Ghanaians that the stability of the country was — and would always remain — his top priority. It was a defining moment that proved his politics is anchored in patriotism, not personal gain.

And now, that same quality has shone through once more.

Following the recent helicopter crash involving President John Dramani Mahama, Dr. Bawumia put aside political rivalry and personally visited him to console and wish him well.

It was an act that resonated deeply with Ghanaians — a reminder that before titles and party colours, we are one people, united in shared humanity.

Source: Ernest Arhinful

Monetisation of politics has entrenched itself so deeply in our political culture that it now threatens the very foundation of democratic governance.

From internal party contests to national elections, money has become the primary currency of political power—not ideas, not competence, not public service.

Delegates, in many instances, demand financial and material incentives as a matter of routine. This expectation has trickled down to the general electorate, where voters increasingly see financial inducements as a condition for exercising their civic right to vote. What was once considered electoral malpractice is now seen by many as the political norm.

Meanwhile, the real cost of this corrosive system is paid by ordinary citizens. Hospitals lack modern equipment and essential supplies.

For the vulnerable, these facilities often serve not as places of healing but as transit points to the next world. In parts of the country, children still learn under trees—despite the unprecedented inflow of financial resources under the previous administration—resources that could have transformed lives if spent wisely.

A Clear Example: The Akonta Mining Saga

The Akonta Mining scandal is a glaring example of how monetised politics leads to leadership failure, dysfunctional governance, and the collapse of institutional integrity. Despite operating illegally in a protected forest reserve, the company received public defence from high-ranking political figures, sending a clear message: political connections can override the rule of law.

This case typifies the state capture syndrome—where power is used not to enforce laws but to protect vested interests. Regulatory bodies were either silent or complicit. Law enforcement took no decisive action. Institutions meant to uphold environmental standards crumbled under political pressure. It revealed, in plain sight, the dangerous intersection of business, politics, and impunity.

Regulating Political Financing

There is an urgent need to ban vote buying and all forms of inducement. But that’s only one part of the solution. What’s needed is a comprehensive overhaul of how political financing is regulated in this country. This includes:

• Transparent campaign financing laws with strict disclosure requirements.

• Spending limits for candidates and parties to level the playing field.

• Independent enforcement bodies with the power to investigate and sanction violations.

• Public education to challenge and change the mindset that sees inducement as entitlement.

A Clear Mandate to Reset

President John Dramani Mahama has been given a resounding mandate to reset the nation—to clean up governance, restore accountability, and redirect national resources toward meaningful development.

That mission will be impossible if the monetisation of politics remains unchecked. The stakes are clear: either we confront this threat head-on, or we allow it to permanently undermine our democracy and development.

The urgency to act has never been greater. To succeed in the reset agenda, we must dismantle the structures and culture that allow money to dominate politics. That means real reform—not talk, not tokenism. The future of our democracy depends on it.

“The most important thing in politics is communication. You need to let the people understand what you do and see that you are actually working to gain their trust,” he stated.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show on February 17, Mr. Opoku noted that communication often weakens when a party assumes power, as many key communicators take up government appointments.

He called for the training of more communicators to effectively share government policies and achievements with the public.

“When a party is in power, there is often a breakdown in communication with the masses, as many communicators take on government appointments. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce more communicators to effectively share what the government is doing.

“In addition to government positions, we must also communicate our policies to the public and explain how we are implementing them. Politicians need to be genuine and act in good faith, always prioritizing the best interests of the people,” he added.

On the government’s recent decision to halt public sector recruitment after December 7, he questioned the timing, arguing that if funds were available, recruitment should have been done earlier rather than leaving the financial burden on the next administration.

“As politicians, we should stick to our budgets and exercise financial discipline. Last-minute recruitment after losing an election creates unnecessary challenges because economic hardships affect all Ghanaians, regardless of which party is in power,” he said.

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The Ahwoi, Marfo, Woyome, and Jinapor families illustrate how political fortunes can be a family affair. With a blend of adept manoeuvring, generational loyalty, and the occasional public spat, these “happy and lucky” brothers have turned blood ties into a strategic advantage, ensuring that someone in the clan always has a seat at the table—no matter which party reigns supreme.

Few sibling groups command as much respect (and at times, wariness) as the Ahwoi brothers. They are, in many ways, the original blueprint for political fraternities in the Fourth Republic. Rising to prominence during the era of Jerry John Rawlings, they played substantial roles in the PNDC and subsequently the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

From governance advisory to grassroots politicking, they brought an enviable mix of strategic thinking and institutional memory to the table. Their staying power, despite multiple shifts in political winds, proves that while parties may come and go, smart networking and policy acumen can grant near-immortality in Ghanaian politics. Each brother carved out his own niche—some in academia, some in bureaucratic corridors—yet collectively bolstered the family brand. It is a master class in how to turn sibling synergy into enduring political capital.

If the Ahwois exemplify siblings uniting under a single umbrella, the Marfos prove that straddling political divides can be just as lucrative—perhaps even more so. Adjei Marfo is often associated with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and, by extension, the NDC after Ghana’s transition to multiparty democracy. Though he may not have hogged the spotlight, his PNDC-era connections and quiet counsel kept him relevant long after the country adopted constitutional rule.

Meanwhile, Yaw Osafo-Maafo rose to national prominence on the other side of the aisle. A distinguished engineer from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he utilized his technocratic prowess to excel under President Kufuor, serving as Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2005, and later as Senior Minister under President Nana Akufo-Addo from 2017 to 2021.

His legacy as a champion of fiscal reforms and a results-oriented leader secured him a front-row seat in the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Despite being at ideological loggerheads, the two brothers share a thread of mutual benefit, ensuring that when one party stumbles, the other might rise—and the Marfo name remains firmly embedded in Ghanaian political life.

No conversation about influential families in Ghana would be complete without mentioning the Woyomes. Their story weaves through high-profile financial and legal sagas, proving that controversy can sometimes amplify a family’s enduring influence. Media coverage, courtroom drama, and financial entanglements have kept the Woyome name on front pages, but they have shown resourceful resilience by never fully vanishing under legal scrutiny.

Through alliances, well-timed philanthropic gestures, and a knack for behind-the-scenes negotiation, they continue to preserve and even enhance their standing. They provide a compelling lesson in the art of political survival, illustrating that with the right connections and strategic manoeuvring, it is possible to stay afloat long after many would have predicted total downfall.

The Jinapor brothers offer a more amiable example of siblings on opposite political benches, embodying a kind of cross-party détente rarely seen in heated Ghanaian politics. One is firmly anchored in the NDC, the other in the NPP, yet they openly celebrate each other’s successes.

This genial dynamic keeps the family name untarnished by partisan warfare and secures their long-term relevance. If the NDC loses ground, the NPP takes charge, ensuring that at least one Jinapor remains in a position of influence—and the family collectively reaps the benefits.

What unites the Ahwois, Marfos, Woyomes, and Jinapors is a deeper recognition that politics in Ghana is not merely about party lines, but about relationships, legacy, and strategic positioning.

Whether siblings unite under one party or hedge their bets across party aisles, the aim remains the same: safeguard and advance the family’s collective interests. By maintaining a presence in multiple camps, they minimize the risk of being politically sidelined. Their diverse skill sets—ranging from finance and legal expertise to grassroots mobilization—make them indispensable to current and future power players alike. Consistent reinvention and adaptation to shifting landscapes have turned longevity into an art form for these families.

Ghana’s political sphere is as complex as it is captivating, and few narratives illustrate its intricacies better than these siblings who navigate that space together or apart. Whether standing shoulder to shoulder or operating from rival party headquarters, these “happy and lucky” brothers show that blood ties can transcend even the fiercest ideological battles. In a system where alliances can make or break careers, having a brother on the other side might just be the shrewdest insurance policy of all.

However, a worrying trend is growing in the beloved country, where major national issues are being politicised. If this continues, it can divide the country, slow development, and weaken national unity.

National issues, ranging from economic crises, educational reforms, healthcare, and infrastructure development to environmental conservation, should be approached with a sense of unity.

These issues affect all of us as Ghanaians, regardless of our political affiliations.

However, when these issues are politicized, the focus shifts from finding collective solutions to engaging in partisan debates that serve the interests of the two major political parties in the country rather than the people.

This often results in policies aimed at winning political votes, especially in election years rather than fixing the actual problems bedevilling all.

Sometimes major national concerns are viewed through a partisan lens, dividing the country along political lines, with one side blaming the other instead of having useful national discussions.

Such polarization threatens the social fabric of the nation, and becomes a battle of “us versus them,” instead of seeing ourselves as one people with a common enemy.

Instead of fighting the enemy, we fight and destroy ourselves. Discussions become less about facts and solutions and more about which political party can score political points.

Sometimes projects in certain communities are deferred or not done because of their affiliation to a particular party.

For Ghana to continue progressing as a beacon of democracy and development in Africa, it is essential to reduce the politicization of national issues.

These matters should go beyond party politics and be addressed with a sense of shared responsibility.

Here are some steps that can help achieve this:

Firstly, national issues should be discussed in forums that encourage constructive, non-partisan debate. Creating spaces where political leaders, civil society, and citizens can discuss national challenges without political interference finding solutions that work for all.

Secondly, our state institutions, such as the Judiciary, Security Services, Electoral Commission, and anti-corruption bodies, must remain independent and strong.

When these institutions are free from political influence, they can serve as neutral arbiters of national issues, ensuring that decisions are made in the national interest rather than for a particular political party, which will not remain in power forever.

Additionally, political parties must refrain from micromanaging or interfering in the operations of state institutions.

Political power is not permanent, and those who meddle in state affairs may face consequences when they find themselves in opposition.

Individuals entrusted with leadership roles in our institutions must remain strong and resolute, resisting any attempts to be manipulated or swayed by personal gain.

When state institutions operate independently, it fosters public trust and contributes to national unity, rather than division and polarization.

Furthermore, the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) should intensify the education of all on the importance of national unity and the danger of excessive politicization.

More education on national cohesion should go on in our schools so that our children would assimilate the importance of national dialogue and cohesion.

The NCCE should engage the services of religious bodies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and traditional authorities. When citizens understand that national issues require non-partisan solutions, they are less likely to be swayed by divisive political rhetoric.

Lastly, the media as the fourth estate of our governance system plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Media houses set the agenda for discussion each morning.

They should promote balanced and factual reportage on national issues, avoiding the temptation to frame every issue as political.

It would be better if certain national issues were discussed by politically neutral individuals, rather than staunch party supporters, to help educate and inform the public. Objective and unbiased reportage can help to depoliticize sensitive issues and foster informed public debate.

Bringing my discussion to an end, it is imperative we know that our future depends on how well we manage our national issues without extreme obnoxious partisan interference. Inordinate politicization of national issues risks deepening division in the country, delaying progress, and undermining the national interest and development.

As a nation, we must learn to prioritize the common good over selfish political interests. It is only through unity, accountability, and cooperation that our beloved country can overcome its challenges and build a brighter future for all especially the generation unborn.

I conclude with the words of Dr. Chuba Williams Okadigbo “If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind.”

Source: Rev. FR Stephen Kofi Sakpaku (sonnichristus@yahoo.com)

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In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Sonnie Badu said, “This side of Africa, we don’t understand politics very well, and one ex-president advised me that I should not enter into politics because I can be killed.”

When asked about his potential support for a political party in the 2024 elections, Badu said remained non-committal.

However, he emphasised his willingness to perform for any politician who compensates him.

“If a politician pays me, I will come and sing for them. I have six children, and I have to feed my kids.”

Badu also reflected on his December 2023 domestic accident, which resulted in the loss of two toes.

He expressed disappointment over online allegations that he fabricated his injury for attention.

“It was heartbreaking that people were trolling me on social media, claiming I was faking my injury for traction. But then again, it’s quite normal that people fake things for engagement on social media.”

The “Okokroko” hitmaker who has performed globally, revealed that the accident has affected his hearing.

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Speaking at the GBA’s 2024/2025 annual general conference, President Yaw Acheampong Boafo criticized the current system, arguing that it disproportionately favours individuals from privileged backgrounds who can afford to pursue their education without financial aid.

Mr. Boafo stressed that scholarships should be awarded based on genuine merit, financial need, and relevance to critical fields of study and research.

He described the practice of awarding scholarships to politically connected individuals as “immoral and troubling,” emphasizing that it deprives brilliant but needy students of opportunities.

The GBA president also pointed to reports of corruption, nepotism, and political favoritism in the scholarship process.

He condemned the practice of awarding multiple scholarships to the same individuals, while others who desperately need financial assistance are left out.

Mr. Boafo further questioned the practice of allocating scholarships in foreign currency for studies abroad, particularly for programs that are available at local universities.

The GBA is calling for a comprehensive review of the government scholarship system to ensure it is fair, transparent, and accountable.

“In my view, government scholarships should be based on real merit, the economic and financial needs of beneficiaries, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the relevance of the studies to critical areas of development,” he stated.

“It is unacceptable that scholarships are awarded to individuals with political ties who are already from wealthy backgrounds, while deserving, underprivileged students are overlooked. Reports of corruption, nepotism, and political patronage in the scholarship process are deeply concerning.”

“It is also troubling that scholarships in foreign currencies are granted for studies abroad when similar programs can be pursued locally. We need a thorough review of the scholarship distribution process to ensure fairness and prevent waste,” he added.

Source: Adomonline

In a statement, the CDD called for immediate reforms to address the escalating costs of political campaigns and the subsequent grand corruption within the government.

To confront these issues, the CDD urged presidential candidates and political parties to commit to critical reforms within their manifestos to reduce the financial burdens of politics and tackle corruption at its core.

The CDD emphasised the need for comprehensive new legislation and a robust regulatory framework to govern campaign and party financing.

Specifically, the CDD proposed that this new framework should establish clear guidelines for donations and expenditures, ensuring transparency and accountability.

“Reducing the cost of politics and curbing corruption at the source is crucial. The increasing monetization and rising costs of politics are corrupting the electoral process and fueling pervasive grand corruption in government.

“The current system governing campaign and party financing is wholly inadequate. There is an urgent need for new, comprehensive legislation to regulate the sector. This new regulation must set clear parameters for party and campaign donations and expenditures, establish an official campaign period of three to six months, standardize and regulate internal party electoral processes and financing, and create an enforcement body for the new rules.

“Comprehensive legislation on party and campaign financing should be passed, establishing clear rules for capping donations and expenditures for both internal and external party processes.”

Additionally, the CDD called for the swift passage of the long-pending Conduct of Public Officers (COPO) bill, which has been stalled for over a decade.

This bill is intended to close loopholes in the public sector and promote transparency and accountability.

“One of the primary drivers of public sector corruption is the abundance of opportunities for corrupt officials and their collaborators to exploit weak internal controls in public services to siphon public funds.

“Numerous public ethics prohibitions, such as influence peddling, conflict of interest, and nepotism, have not been adequately codified. The passage of the long-overdue Conduct of Public Officers (COPO) bill will help close this loophole, which is exploited daily by public officials to avoid accountability.

“However, the bill in its current form requires significant improvements, particularly in strengthening its asset disclosure provisions and introducing new rules on unexplained wealth.”

Source: Adomonline

According to him, the practice does not promote growth and development for the country.

His advice comes amidst the country’s preparation for its general election on December 7, 2024.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr McKorley stressed the need for unity and a focus on national interests above partisan politics.

“I speak my mind, I stand for Ghana. Whatever we do, we have only one country; we cannot play politics with this country,” he said.

The Executive Chairman further criticised the cyclical nature of governance in Ghana, where new administrations often target businesses that were successful under their predecessors.

This unjustified targeting, Dr McKorley believed is a strategy to undermine existing businesses and create new ones aligned with the current regime.

“We cannot be in a country where one government comes and tries to kill the business of a businessman from another government, and another government will come, and when this government thinks your business was thriving under the previous government, they try to kill it and create another one, and the cycle continues,” he observed.

Dr McKorley also condemned the “winner takes all” mentality that he believes has plagued Ghana’s political landscape, arguing that it hinders the country’s development and prosperity.

“We can’t run a country where ‘the winner takes all syndrome’ continues, then we will continue to languish as a country,” he stated.

Source: Myjoyonline

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In an interview with DJ Slim on the popular entertainment radio morning show, Daybreak Hitz, Bolton shared his insights on the risks musicians face when they involve themselves in politics.

Bolton, well-known for the hit song “Odo Filla” by Abrewa Nana, reflected on his own experience during the 2000 elections. He recounted how his group, VIP, was approached by a political party to create a campaign song.

“We did it in the past and it didn’t go well,” Bolton recalled. “In 2000, the NDC approached us with the confidence that they would win the elections and paid handsomely for a victory song. We even had Nana Konadu and her children in the studio during the recording. It was a full-on party song.”

However, when the party lost the election, VIP faced significant backlash, and Bolton himself received criticism for his association with the party.

“We all know what happened. NDC lost, and then VIP started getting bashed. I got some flak from that as well,” he noted.

Additionally, Bolton advised musicians to steer clear of political affiliations if they wish to maintain a long-term career.

“I don’t think it’s worth it as a musician. If you want a long-term career, try to stay out of politics because your fan base spans all political views. You risk alienating a portion of your fans, and it’s your fan base that keeps you going.”

He elaborated further, “You might get some decent cash at the moment, but you could end up losing much more than the value of that money. I would advise any musician to stay away from politics.”

“We must preserve the sanctity of the Constitution of the Republic and we must do so professionally,” he added.

He said as the country approached the peak of the electioneering season in the upcoming December polls, “We will continue to support our sister security services to ensure that peace prevails for development to thrive in our country.”

Brig. Gen. Asare gave advice at the inauguration ceremony of a self-help one-storey facility for young soldiers at the Mauyoung Barracks at Apremdo in the Western Region.

The facility has 14 one-chamber self-contained rooms for the young soldiers, completed within two years.

The barracks regeneration project across all garrisons was a classic example of the commitment of the government and higher headquarters to provide suitable accommodation to service personnel, Brig. Gen. Asare said.

The Command had benefitted from this project with 28 x 2 bedroom accommodation units in Myohaung Barracks and 4 x 2 Bedroom units at Sefwi-Wiawso.

He spoke against the poor maintenance culture that had left many state facilities dilapidated.

”Let us maintain the building properly for future generations to also benefit from it. If we are not able to take good care of the limited facilities and logistics at our disposal in the face of the prevailing scarce resources, we will be doing more harm to future generations than good,” he said.

He urged the soldiers to continue to work together and remain professional in their duties.

“I believe your professionalism is what has endeared you to the development partners gathered here today.”

Brig. Gen. Asare said the collective effort and support of the public and private sectors were needed to meet some of the logistical challenges of the Ghana Armed Forces.

“What we are seeing today does not only bridge the perceived gap between the Armed Forces and the public but also strengthens our collective commitment to the defence and development of Ghana.”

Lieutenant Colonel Bondah, the Commanding Officer of the 2BN, was happy at the fortitude of the officers who were commissioned to complete the building.

He was grateful to the Command Head, development partners and the team for a job well executed.

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“We are committed to resolving youth unemployment. Our focus is on ensuring that our beneficiaries are at the heart of everything we do” he said.

He made this known during the YEA Beneficiary Forum in Kumasi on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday.

His statement follows accusations by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding ineffective solution to youth unemployment in the country and alleged unnecessary expenditures in duplicate ministries.

But Mr. Agyepong refuted the claims, arguing that, all programmes are aimed at creating jobs for the youth.

He said the YEA recently launched its Artisanal Trades and Vocation Module to create a minimum of twenty thousand sustainable jobs by the end of the year.

Mr. Agyepong noted that, the Agency has structured an exit plan for beneficiaries.

“Creating sustainable employment for our youth is more critical than ever,” he stated. “Our initiative includes various vocational training programs such as brick molding, business support, and agriculture.”

The YEA plans to collaborate with private sector players under a public-private partnership (PPP) to enhance its vocational training efforts.

This model, he noted aims to equip over twenty thousand youth with startup tools and entrepreneurial skills by the end of 2024.

“Each beneficiary will receive quality startup tools and undergo training in entrepreneurship,” Agyepong explained.

“Our goal is to prepare them for self-employment and ensure they deliver high-quality products and services” he added.

Play attached audio for more

Youth unemployment has long been a national concern in Ghana, viewed as a significant threat to security.

The YEA’s initiatives are designed to complement existing government efforts to address this pressing issue.

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The PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, aka Jandor, picked Ms Akindele as his running mate in the 2023 general election.

During an interview on Arise TV’s Perspectives show, shared on YouTube Saturday, the mother-of-two spoke about political career.

The 46-year-old said: “So getting into politics was a big one for me. I enjoyed it, and I will do it again. I run a studio which I’ve been running since 2000.

“I’ve been producing and working with many people, from crew members to cast. I have a  Jenifa Foundation where we help nurture talent, and I bring on board many young talents.”

“We train them in filmmaking; they’re always on set, whether in the hair department, makeup, lights, or camera. It’s something I love doing—empowering young people and nurturing talent.

“Some say Auntie is so strict, but she draws you closer when she’s strict, next to me. I love to uplift people; I can do it even better if I get into a larger space.

“For me, to have been doing it for years, let me try something big. Many young people complain, ‘We don’t have this’ or ‘This is going wrong.’ Let me come in to represent the youth. That is why I wanted to do it.

“And that’s why I got into politics. Yes, I enjoyed every part of it. It was quite challenging, but I enjoyed every part of it. I felt so good representing the young people. It was challenging.”

She stated that changing Nigeria couldn’t be achieved in a day or four years, but political officeholders could plan startup initiatives.

Challenges

Ms Akindele recounted how she was accused of running for deputy governor because of popularity, money, and other personal gains.

She stated that during her campaign, she learned that people were going through a lot, hence the need to stand up for them.

“I love that private sectors are coming in, supporting the government. That is why we should focus more on supporting the government. Criticism is good, but how can you also support it? As a youth, how can you help yourself? What is that special gift in you that you have? You need to stand up and do something for yourself. So, getting into politics was a big one for me,” she said.

Reflecting on her challenges during the campaign, she said, “You had to hit the road, keep talking to people, and keep persuading them that you could do it. You had to delve into their issues and uncover the real problems people were facing—not just surface ones.

“That’s when you realise people are enduring a lot in the country. You had to jot it all down and brainstorm how to offer solutions. It wasn’t something that happened overnight. You couldn’t just come in and declare, ‘I’m this, I’m that.’”

Jenifa Foundation

Furthermore, Ms Akindele maintained that she established the  Jenifa Foundation to nurture young talent and build youth skills for a better Nigeria.

“Jenifa is so passionate about young people. In  Jenifa’s diary, she has a salon; she’s always bringing in people. Jenifa believes in nurturing talent. I created the Jenifa Foundation, where we bring up young people. We train them in skills acquisition and vocational skills acquisition.

“We train them in filmmaking, which is more practical, and believing makes them believe in themselves. Confidence is essential. When people tell you you can’t do it, you must prove you can. You’re going to get a lot of negatives, a lot of no’s. People are negative out there,” she added.

She urged young, talented individuals to focus on pursuing their dreams amidst the storm.

According to her, they needed to be more sensitive about information consumption and shun procrastination, which she described as a big problem.

She thanked God and her fans, acknowledging that she initially doubted the movie’s potential for broad acceptance.

Ms Akindele highlighted that her upcoming film ‘Finding Me’ explores the journey of self-discovery for individuals.

“Who are you? What do you want? How do you want to live your life? Do you want to live your life based on what people say, based on what the family says? That is what ‘Finding Me’ is all about.”

Ms Akindele, a lawyer, announced that she will be venturing into biopics and epic movies in     2026.

This, he explained is because he has achieved his aspiration in football.

Nyanktakyi served as the President of the Ghana FA from 2005 until 2018. The former Wa All Stars owner was forced to leave office due to the Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ expose in 2018.

Under his tenure, Ghana qualified for its maiden World Cup qualification in 2006 and also played at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in South Africa and Brazil respectively.

The exposé saw the 55-year-old banned from football-related activities by FIFA until he was recently cleared.

“Politics is the ultimate. In all we do…you need political guidance,” he said when asked about his decision to go into politics in an interview with Onua TV.

“I have excelled in sports. You can’t mention three or four people who are famous in sports in Ghana without adding me. I have reached the pinnacle of my career in sports. Apart from Ohene Djan, no one has ever reached where I did in sports. No Ghanaian has served on the FIFA Council. I was the second person after Ohene Djan in the 1960s” Mr. Nyantakyi stated.

He explained that, the desire to make an impact with the acquired knowledge is the rationale behind the decision to go into politics.

“I want to use the knowledge, experience and connections that I have acquired for political influence and help the people of this country. That is what motivated and encouraged me to see if I can help in that regard” he added.

Meanwhile, Kwesi Nyantakyi has formally communicated his decision to contest for the parliamentary seat at Ejisu following the death of Member of Parliament, John Kumah.

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Speaking in an interview on TV3’s ‘New Day’, the Aso hitmaker noted that his decision includes not doing a song for any political party.

“I am completely out of politics. I am Ghanaian,” he said when asked if he would campaign for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in this year’s general election. 

Kwabena Kwabena has been very vocal about his support for the governing New Patriotic Party in the past and was very instrumental in the party’s campaign that saw its election into power in 2016.

Meanwhile, the award winning musician who has Tokro, Bue Kwan, Adult Music, Tuamudaa, and Afraid to Lose You among his repertoire of love songs is set to collaborate with beautiful songstress, Becca at the Vita Milk Love Night set for the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Valentine’s Day, Wednesday, February 14.

On a night to celebrate love and create good memories, Kwabena Kwabena promises patrons a beautiful love story with her performances at the concert.

Other artistes who will also add spice to the night are R2Bees, Efya, Camidoh, S3fa, Lasmid among others.

In a recent interview with Evening Standard UK, Wizkid revealed that he chooses not to delve into politics because he believes that the Nigerian masses are more preoccupied with their daily struggles to make ends meet.

According to him, the average person on the streets is primarily concerned with survival and providing for their basic needs, rather than engaging in political discussions.

“I don’t like to speak about politicians in Nigeria. People in the streets care about themselves and what they are going to eat. They don’t give a f*ck about nothing else,” Wizkid expressed candidly.

Instead of getting involved in political commentary, the talented ‘Essence’ singer shared that he prefers to channel his energy into making music.

For him, music serves as an escape from the turmoil of political chaos and provides solace to both himself and his fans.

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Speaking in an interview on Joy Prime’s morning show on Wednesday, the musician mentioned that he was even tagged as an unbeliever by some pastors.

The musician, however, says he recorded these songs with the intention of inspiring and encouraging young people.

“You do a song for a political party, and other people say they don’t want to work with me anymore because they feel I belong to that political party, and so they don’t want to have any business with me. But it’s me getting an inspiration to do a song and encourage the youth out there, and some radio presenters sit on the radio and push the agenda that Nacee has fallen with the defence that I now sing secular music because of the ‘Boys Boys’ song.”

“It became an agenda, and some pastors said that it’s not good to call me to perform in their church; he’s an unbeliever,” he explained to Roselyn Felli.

This, he said, almost broke him down because he was exhibiting his God-given talent, and he began to blame God for everything that happened.

The ‘Efata Wo’ songwriter further indicated that some musicians he helped build their studios even sold him out to those who wanted to due business with him.

That notwithstanding, Nacee said he does not blame any musician for their actions because he believes human beings are naturally created to be ungrateful.

However, after several thoughts and prayers, he decided to compose ‘Aseda’ [Thanksgiving] to appreciate God for making him sail through all the challenges he has faced throughout his music career.

But according to the minister, ‘Aseda’ was recorded in 2015, a year after the criticism and negativity started, but was not released owing to financial difficulties.

Asked if he has regretted ever releasing such secular songs, he said, “Years ago, if you asked me this question, I would say I’ve regretted, but today, not all.”

This is because he believes that life is full of ups and downs and that humans are prone to negativity and challenges, which strengthen one’s desire to strive to be successful in their endeavours.

Two months after the release of ‘Aseda’ in April, the song is currently the number one song in Africa with 3 million, 4 million, and 2 million views on Boomplay, Audiomack, and YouTube, respectively.

Nacee has also featured in some secular and political songs, including “Boys Boys” ft. Guru, “Baby You’re Fine” ft. Obour, and “Onaapo.”

He has worked with Samini and others.

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The actress in an Instagram post on Friday expressed gratitude to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“I thank Mr. Tonte Ibraye the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Rivers State for nominating me as his running mate.

“We are looking forward to investing massively in social protection, creating a social value system for young people, increasing women’s inclusion in our governance system, supporting small businesses and strengthening our traditional institutions to be active players in the drive to bring sustainable development to the good people of Rivers State.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AMB. KING TONTO (@tontolet)

“I am glad to be a proud member of the #RiversRescueMission2023. Please get your PVC and join the movement. You are the Future and The future is now! TonteTonto2023,” Tonto Dikeh said in an Instagram post.

Ibraye won the ADC governorship ticket during the primary elections in early June.

The vice-chairman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Abuja chapter defeated Dr. Warmeth Wright and Joyce Barida in a primary election organised by the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Ibraye, an advocate for maternal, newborn, and child health, polled 187 votes out of 188 votes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AMB. KING TONTO (@tontolet)

A representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Emmanuel Isong, who monitored the exercise, described it as free and fair.

Ibraye called for full implementation of the Electoral Act in all processes leading to the general election, especially the enforcement of the provision for electronic transmission of results during the poll.

Addressing the delegates, he said: “One thing I must tell you is that, you have made history today. It will no longer be business as usual.

“I believe some of you are aware some people will contest and they go to the ruling party to endorse them. I must assure you that I will not use your votes to trade with anyone.”

According to him, those at the grassroots are disgruntled over what they say is the neglect by the party leadership.

To save the NPP from total collapse, Musa Superior said he wants to be the General Secretary to motivate the grassroots.

He made the comment on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem programme Friday.

The immediate past Municipal Chief Executive of Tamale who faces stiff competition from about five other contenders including incumbent, John Boadu said he is the best bet for the NPP.

Given his political experience and organisation skills, Musa Superior said he has the magic wand to help the NPP break the eight.

“Right now I want to fix the party, it doesn’t matter whether I want to do one term or not” he stated.

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According to her, incumbent governments shares the national cake for family friends and cronies.

Ms. Nelson made this assertion on Adom TV’s weekend entertainment show dubbed: Ahosepe Xtra with host Black I.

The actress who once led a demonstration against the erstwhile Mahama government over power crisis known in local parlance as ‘dumsor’ said she has lost hope.

“This country politics is family business. It’s a cycle and it will happen over and over again” she bemoaned.

Yvonne Nelson is currently promoting her latest movie, Fifty Fifty, which was produced by YN Productions.

Actors Majid Michel, Anthony Woode, and John Dumelo are A-list actors starring in the movie which is set to be premiered on May 21, 2022 at the Silverbird Cinemas in Accra.

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General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has issued a stern warning on how important his name is to him.

Despite his love for politics, General Mosquito as he is affectionately called, says he ventured into the space to make a name for himself and not to acquire wealth.

In view of this, he will not treat lightly attempts by anybody to drag his name and reputation in the mud in his line of duty.

“I am not into politics to make money but to make a name so the little name I have if there is a deliberate attempt to destroy me, I will sell even my last smock for a legal tussle,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM.

He recounted a defamation suit he initiated years ago out of which the Accra High Court ordered that he be paid GH₵250,000 as damages.

It had been reported that Mr Nketia used his position as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bui Power Authority to divert building materials for his personal building project – an accusation he denied.

He was vindicated after he initiated the court action.

To serve as deterrence and a reminder, he decided to name the house Kwasia bi nti to wit ‘because of some fool’.

Play the attached audio below for more:

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It’s unclear if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is behind the shirts but it is quite obvious the decision sprung up after Mr Mahama’s assertion.

Earlier, speaking on a Techiman-based radio station, Akina FM, Mr Mahama stated that the 2020 elections showed the NDC that elections can only be won at the polling stations, thus, they will not let their guards down.

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“We were clearly robbed but we accepted the verdict for the sake of peace, but I want to state here that the next elections would be won or lost at the polling station.

“So at the polling station, it will be ‘do or die’. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done.

“We will do everything to ensure that the election is free and fair. We will not cheat the New Patriotic Party and we don’t expect anyone to cheat us either, let the elections be peaceful and fair,” he added.

The actor, who joined the Young Democratic Party when he began his political career in 2014, made this known during an interview with BBC Igbo on Friday.

According to him, Nigerian politics is a dirty game characterised by violence, rigging, bribery, corruption, and other manipulations perpetrated by politicians.

“I tried doing politics but what I was required to compromise was almost like selling your soul. I’m principled. The day my people summon me to serve, then I come out. If there’s a jungle on earth, it’s Anambra politics. It’s a different game,” he said.

The actor further said he does not want to be a puppet in the hands of any godfather, fearing that the game could consume him in the long run.

“I know that if I foray into politics, it’s either it consumes me or I get what I want.

“However, I don’t want to be desperate or have a godfather play me around like a puppet. I don’t want to stain myself,” he added.

He is one of the few actors who diverted into politics. His counterpart, Yul Edochie, is still thriving in the career.

Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, he said he considers endorsing political parties as he does any other product endorsement – business.

The ‘Mea’ hitmaker, who revealed that he has never voted, said that he doesn’t have enough reason to choose one party over another, as such, his relationship with any party that wants his endorsement will be solely contractual and from the business standpoint.

His endorsement, however, does not equal support for the party, Kelvyn Boy added.

Kelvyn Boy told Mercury Quaye, host of the show, that he does not identify with any political party because he does not know enough about any of their policies to make an informed decision.

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The Afrobeat artiste added that he is more concerned about making money to take care of himself and his family than being affiliated to one party.

His comment comes after two artistes Sarkodie and Samini made their support for the incumbent government and its party known on Monday, November 2.

Samini tweeted his support, writing he was choosing to vote for a leader he believes has a “hopeful” future for the country.

Sarkodie also released his new song ‘Happy Day’ featuring Kuami Eugene alluding to Akufo-Addo’s achievements and calling for another term for him as President.

After receiving backlash, Sarkodie tweeted that his statements did not mean he was endorsing the New Patriotic Party.

In a latest interview on Drive Time on Joy FM, he said the idea of politics crosses his mind 50% of the time and maybe one of his future aspirations.

His educational background and decades of consistently being in the creative arts industry are reasons he touted will make him a better candidate and leader.

“I have studied, I have worked in the industry for 23 years consistently, I have a Master degree, I’m still pursuing my education. What will I do with all that knowledge and all that experience?

“I must get to a point where I share it with younger people and the best place to share it is at that place where policy is made, that place where implementations are made,” he said.

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For what he terms as “role modelism”, the artiste believes he has the capabilities of impacting in the lives of the younger people and his ‘Made in Ghana’ advocacy can attest to that fact.

However, if his political ambitions never see the light of day, he was hopeful come what may he will pass on his knowledge by any means possible.

Stonebwoy is doubtful any independent candidate will survive in the general election, adding “it is somewhat a waste of time”.

Making it clear his comment is no disrespect to any candidate, the artiste said he is obliged to speak the hard truth.

“I think I understand my space enough to know that being an independent candidate is a waste of time. If there is a ship already going, join one ship and add whatever you want to add. You might think being an independent candidate will survive but I think you have to join the foundation to build yours,” he explained.

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He said this in an interview with Metro TV when the host asked if he would venture into politics when he is above 50.

He said politics is about serving, and he has done more than that with his music and foundation which reaches out to the less-privileged.

The veteran actress, in an unequivocal language, stressed the need to abstain from supporting a political party because the damage it causes supersedes the profit as an entertainer.

She explained that the only time one can benefit from the party is during campaign times and when they lose, they will not consider to look at you as someone who belongs to them.

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And if you are in the movie industry, those doing movies will not use you because they will say people will not buy their product; they will avoid you.

They will say your time has passed. I think the money you will get from them is only when you are campaigning I will advise young ones to be very careful and remain neutral.

She climaxed her advice with this: I did experience that. It’s just recently that they started using me.

But, reacting to her statement on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz 103.9 FM, host of U Sey Wetin, Don Tsegah, said though Maame Dokono may be right, some musicians like Kwabena Kwabena and Shatta Wale have survived such fates, hence it’s dicey.

According to Hajia Samira, though women bring a different and unique leadership style, they have not been empowered economically for the political front.

Speaking on the International Women’s Day edition of Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Hajia Samira stressed she was not satisfied with women’s participation.

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“Women deal with compassion in governance which make them unique while men focus on strength but it seems society has a different perception about women when they are in power,” she lamented.

To her, the traditional roles of women sometimes become a hindrance to women who may need the validation and permission of their husbands to venture into politics.

She further stressed that “women are found in such places not because they don’t want to but because politics is expensive, unforgiving and brutal.”

Meanwhile, she urged woman’s participation must be encouraged to bring about the vital diversity Ghana requires.  

The actor says in spite of the the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School policy, there are a number of unfulfilled promises the party made while in opposition.

“It [FHS] hs been very loud out there and that is what is making people think they’ve done well. There are lots of promises I think should be executed by the end of the tenure… lets see how it goes,” he told Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz, monitored by Adomonline.com.

The NPP made a number of assurances in the round up to the 2016 general elections, including promises to provide free Senior High School education, one factory in every district and one dam in every village in the three regions of the north.

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The government has already rolled out the Free SHS programme, which has already been rolled out whilst at least 173 factories are reportedly ready to be rolled out as well.

Political watchers have said the promises contributed significantly to their victory in the elections.

But rating the government’s delivery so far, Koo Fori, who has debunked rumours of being a card-bearing NDC member said: I will score them between 30-40 per cent out of 100; they made lots of promises and I’ve not seen even half of them accomplished.

When Andy asked if he thought the NPP would win again, Koo Fori answered: Ghanaians will decide if they will retain power. I am only talking for myself.

Especially with the roads, I heard this morning that the Vice [President] is declaring this year as year of roads which I think they are going to tackle, he added.

About 200 of the aggrieved customers from Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country, who massed themselves in a VIP bus, raided NAM 1’s residence at Trassacco in Accra to demand their monies.

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Reacting to the incident on Instagram, NAM 1, who described the situation as unfortunate, added that the incident was instigated by political parties.

The embattled gold dealer also admitted: “We are dealing with a commercial challenge and we’re very resolute, committed and focused to overcome.”

Minister for Special Development Initiatives, Ms Mavis Hawa Koomson, has said she was branded a whore when she first entered the political circles. 

According to her, although she was disturbed and could not stand the insults, she came to realise it was part of politics and then decided to forget about them. 

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“When I first came into politics and got roles in government, I was immediately branded a prostitute. The accusations were too much and I became very worried, but along the line I stopped worrying because I realised my fellow female politicians were also being attacked in the same way,” she said.

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Ms Koomson, speaking in an interview on Adom TV on Friday with Nana Yaa Brefo, said people who wanted her downfall were surprised to see her rise in the political circles despite their numerous accusations against her.

“Many people are surprised to see me rise this far, they don’t understand why ‘that woman’ from Salaga or Bimbila should rise to this level,” she noted.

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She expressed gratitude to President Nana Akufo-Addo for his continuous encouragement saying, that is what has brought her this far.

Listen to audio above:

Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

Deputy Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Daniel Titus-Glover, has revealed his next line of work after officially ending his political career.

The Tema East Member of Parliament says he will go into farming which he considers to be among the most lucrative jobs any person could venture into.

He, therefore, urged the youth to get involved in farming rather than look upon it with disdain.

“When I quit politics I will venture into farming, it’s very lucrative and I wish the youth will go into it. When I become a farmer, I will have a big farm and ensure that I farm to the benefit of others,” he said on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem on Monday.

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Aside the financial gains, the MP believes farming is also a major source of employment for the large unemployed Ghanaian youth.

Ghana marked the 35th Farmers’ Day celebration to recognise the farmers, fishermen and other agricultural workers who have excelled in the year under review.

Farmers’ Day is marked on the first Friday of the month of December every year, and is observed as a national holiday.

This year’s National Best Farmer is Mr Charles Gyamfi from the Tano North District in the Ahafo Region. 

“I don’t vote for presidential candidates because they are all my children,” he said during the launch of a book by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure.

He explained voting would be choosing one over the other which he remains unwilling to do.

Ghana’s 1992 constitution bars chiefs from active participation in partisan politics.

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Section (1) of Article 276 states: “A chief shall not take part in active party politics, and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.”

But the Omanehene of Essikado appears to have gone one more step to debar himself from exercising a fundamental democratic right to vote.

Despite the constitutional rule prescribing an apolitical posture for chiefs in partisan matters, several have found the regulation to hard to keep. Photo: Nii Ayi Bonte at a Greater Accra House of Chiefs meeting

Chiefs who have openly endorsed presidential candidates

In 2016, the Chief of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, assured then President Mahama of at least 80 per cent of the total votes in the Brong Ahafo Region in the 2016 general election.

November 25, 2016: The Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bonte during the inauguration of the Accra Faecal Treatment Plant declared support for NDC Presidential candidate John Mahama. Speaking in the Ga language, he said he would abdicate his stool if Mahama loses the 2016 polls.

In the same year, the Chief of Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region also assured President Mahama of 50 per cent of the total votes in the region.

President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, Nayire Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai, prayed for the then President Mahama to retain the seat.

President Mahama received the endorsement of the Omanhene of Yeji, Nana Pemapin Yaw Kagbrese, for a second term in office.

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The chief of Bassa, Nana Owusu Sekyi III, in the Brong Ahafo Region, also endorsed the candidature of President John Mahama ahead of the 2016 elections.

The Chief of Odumase No. 1, Nana Kwasi Yeboah, called on Ghanaians to extend President Mahama’s mandate.

Nana Saafo Attara II, the Adontenhene of the Dodo Traditional area in the Volta region gave a resounding endorsement to President John Mahama during his ‘Accounting to the People’ of the Volta Region.

The Chief of Tuobodom in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II, declared his support for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Paramount Chief of the Tumu Traditional Area, Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI, endorsed the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo

Nana Akufo-Addo was also endorsed by the Chief of Garu, Naba Asuguru Akuntam Wini

The Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigiri Azoka Abugrago II, on the visit of NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Add said “this is the proper endorsement I want to make Nana Nketsia V says to avoid being tagged as a sympathiser of party A or B, he would rather not vote.

A chieftaincy analyst, Dr. Obiri Yeboah has explained why chiefs tend to openly declare support for a political candidate.

He said traditional leaders who endorse presidential candidates are engaging in gambling.

He said they do so because they want development projects for their communities. He described open declarations as a gamble.

According to him, the inability of chiefs to provide social amenities to their constituents is at the heart of pledging allegiance to a particular party or candidate.

“It is very difficult to decide not to be partisan because the people are all looking up to the chiefs to solicit social amenities from those who hold the purse and it is the presidential aspirants who hold the purse,” he said in an interview with Joy

The announcement was made via his Twitter account, as he responded to a tweet from a fan who talked about how much he misses Banky W the singer and clamored for some more music.

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Banky W tweeted back at the fan, disclosing his plans for an album and appreciating the massive love he still has from his fans across the country.

The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has advised the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop its incessant noise over the distribution of 307 procured ambulances for healthcare delivery in the country.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday, the Health Minister explained that, a pre-deliberate inspection of the ambulances needed to be undertaken by the suppliers of the ambulances before distribution across the country.

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The Minister expressed surprise at the attitude of the Minority and accused them of engaging in dirty politics.

 “Sometimes I try hard to understand our opponents; all they know is to do dirty politics even with health issues. I am shocked at their attitude, we need to undertake certain processes before we can take ownership of the ambulances and so we cannot rush. We are yet to do pre-deliberate inspection and that is what we are currently working on,” he clarified.

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“When they (NDC) received the ‘Aayalolo’ buses, didn’t they park them because they were waiting for branding? And they want us to rush, we didn’t bring the buses to use them for funfair,” he jabbed.

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In September 2019, President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the arrival of the first batch of the 307 ambulances to be distributed to all 275 constituencies in the country.

The buses, numbering 48, have since been parked at the forecourt of the State House, as government awaits the delivery of the remaining 259 ambulances.

He said he is not in bed with any political party in the country.

According to the renowned man of God, political tags on him by some members of the Ghanaian society are deliberate attempts to limit his access.

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“People say things with passion and conviction about you but I am not in bed with any party or politician”, he explained in an exclusive interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday.

Archbishop Duncan Williams stated the church is there to provide guidance to the government and politicians.

 “I don’t believe the pulpit must be used for attacks or insult on those in authority but to tell politicians and government the truth”, he said.

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Speaking on the role of the church in partisan politics, the man of God said “the role of the church is to be the light and the salt on the earth and that is to speak truth to power”.

To Archbishop Duncan Williams, “we must have an understanding of our various callings and gifting with no need for rivalry”.

Source: Adomonline.com

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, says campaigns become very cheap if politicians lead campaigns with their own teams.

According to him, monetisation of politics is self-inflicted which was created by politicians themselves because of lack of confidence.

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“We (politicians) have created this monetisation of politics. This is because people do not believe in themselves and they think that they need some external forces to assist them. If you decide to lead the campaign with your team, it becomes much cheaper but if you decide to leave the legwork for others, you will pay more,” he said on Joy News’ AM Show, Tuesday.

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Describing politics as an expensive venture, Mr Chaie posited that per his experience, it is not about how much money (resource) one has but about the marketability of the person and how sociable the person is.

“It has do with the individual and how he/she wants to execute the campaign because there are people who believe that in order to have a successful campaign there is the need to splash cash. People sometimes put money in the hands of people to campaign for them. They only show up when they go to difficult areas and the constituents are demanding to see the MP or leader,” he stated.

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Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

According to Mr Mahama, his interactions with some Ghanaians across the country during his campaign tour ahead of the NDC’s primaries only exposed disappointment in the Akufo-Addo government.

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“Go to the people and find out if they feel those promises have been achieved; the people are disappointed. For many of the things government talks about, the electorate does not see how it will benefit them,” he stated.

In an interview on Accra-based Radio Gold, Mr Mahama said the president’s perception that he has fulfilled his campaign promises is only a mirage.

“Let them continue to live in the fool’s paradise and say they have achieved their promises. Go around to the populace and see if Ghanaians are happy with what they have done. They continue to say they are digging dams but in essence, what they are doing is a dugout. That’s what they are called in the villages.”

The Akufo-Addo government recently revealed it had fulfilled over 40 campaign promises so far.

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They made mention of the restoration of nurses and teacher trainees allowances, implementation of the free senior high school education, introduction of the paperless system at the port, the creation of six new regions, Planting for Food & Jobs programme, among others.

The President also during the 2019 state of the nation address to parliament on Thursday, 21 February 2019, stated about 79 factories are under construction and operation under the One District-One Factory programme, with various development projects being undertaken in all the 275 constituencies as part of the $1 million-per constituency programme.

“Our elections are fast becoming a very expensive venture and we constantly have to rely on development partners to fund this, thereby compromising our independence,” Mrs Mensa stated at the 17^th International Affairs Symposium in Accra.

The Symposium, which was attended by heads of over 30 election management bodies (EMBs) from across Africa, was on the theme: “Building Innovative Strategies for Better Electoral Systems Globally”.

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It was organised by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies, United Kingdom, in collaboration with the EC and the Centre for Democratic Development.

“In 2016 for example, the cost of elections in Ghana was $12.03 per voter, compared to $9.33 per voter in Nigeria (2015) and $5 per voter in Tanzania (2015),” Mrs Mensa said.

“How can EMBs streamline their processes to reduce cost? What avenues and expertise exist to help EMBs audit their processes while maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of their systems?”

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She said another important challenge that EMBs faced was that of institutional capacity building and vendors taking over and owning the biometric database of EMBs.

“This is a worrying trend especially in developing countries that are striving to become more independent,” Mrs Mensa said.

“How can EMBs build the capacity of their staff particularly in the area of ICT, to ensure that their day to day administrative processes and the maintenance and management of their database are not hijacked by vendors?” she quizzed.

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Mrs Mensa said five months into her assumption of office, she and her team had already had the experience of conducting a referendum.

“Just a month ago we conducted a referendum to decide on whether or not to create six additional regions. The elections, which were largely successful, witnessed the majority of Ghanaians voting yes in favour of the creation of six new regions,” she said.

She said the Commission was expanding its activities and structures in those new areas.

“Again at the institutional level, we are reflecting on the lessons learnt from the recent referendum as we prepare for the district level elections and another referendum in the last quarter of this year,” Mrs Mensa.

“We believe that the challenges and opportunities, experiences and lessons from these elections and referenda will adequately prepare us for our Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December 2020.”

She said the heads of EMBs were the midwives that births a democracy; adding that: “It provides legitimacy to our leaders and democratic institutions and, therefore, needs not only to be maintained but more importantly fortified.”

She said it was of utmost importance that EMBs were strengthened to ensure that citizens respected the processes that elect their leaders as being free, credible and transparent.

Mrs Mensa said it was essential that political parties freely participated in the electoral process and crucial that the right of citizens to express their preference is protected and guaranteed.

“We the EC of Ghana are committed to these ideals,” she said.

She said recently, they restored the founding principles of the EC, namely transparency, fairness and integrity and that they were determined to abide by these principles.

Mrs Mensa said while the EC had made significant progress towards perfecting its systems and processes in the last two decades, there was more room for improvement.

She cited that more work must be done to address the high costs of elections and the challenge of building institutional capacity.

The minority in parliament has been urged to stop the discussions and commentaries on the murdered investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein-Suale.

Member of Parliament for  Mpraeso,  Seth Kwame Acheampong has accused the minority group of failing to do proper checks before pointing accusing fingers at colleague MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.

He believes the commentaries interfere with the ongoing investigations into the murder of the Tiger Eye PI journalist who was shot by unknown assailants.

READ ALSO: I’m not against National Cathedral – Kabila reacts to Court ruling

Ahmed Hussein-Suale, a  lead investigative journalist with Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye PI  team was assassinated on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at Madina.

He was shot three times – twice in the chest and in the neck by unknown assailants on a motorbike.

The Minority in Parliament insists Kennedy Agyapong should be arrested for inciting the public to harm the late journalist.

READ ALSO: Takoradi Kidnapped girls: suspects misleading police [Audio]

A former Deputy Interior Minister and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga told a press conference that Mr Agyapong should be prosecuted for his actions.

“We call on the law enforcement agencies to promptly cause Mr Agyapong’s arrest and prosecute him for his actions,” he said at a minority press conference on Monday.

But Mr Acheampong has fired back at the minority, describing its stance as interference in police investigations.

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“Ghana’s security is intact. The minority must know when to make such comments on security. Their stance is very slippery. They should just allow the police to work because interfering won’t solve the matter,” he said on Adom FM’s Morning Show “Dwaso Nsem” Tuesday.

According to the NPP MP, such comments are unwarranted at the time police and other investigative bodies have launched investigations into the murder of the late journalist.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Bosiako, has chided the former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu over his decision to contest for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential primaries.

Mr Bonsu, deemed as a friend of former President John Dramani Mahama, shocked many when he declared his intention to join the flag-bearership race of the NDC.

READ ALSO: Ban BoG Governors from establishing banks – Asantehene

The former Kumasi mayor joins other party stalwarts such as former President John Dramani Mahama, and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Prof Joshua Alabi.

His announcement brings to twelve (12), the number of people who have so far given indications to lead the NDC for election 2020.

But his announcement, according to Chairman Wontumi, was not surprising because the NDC was losing relevance in Ghana’s body politic.

He said Kojo Bonsu has committed what he calls acts against traditional leaders in the Ashanti Region and has been punished spiritually thereby rendering his political life useless.

 READ ALSO: Touching: First words of bride whose husband died on their wedding day

“Kojo Bonsu is completely dead. He has been killed spiritually by some smaller gods in Kumasi and that is why he was unable to work well as a major. Unlike Asiedu Nketia who is on life support, he (Bonsu) is dead politically. He won’t even resurrect from the dead should we try to.

READ ALSO: Pregnant woman arrested for assaulting niece

“What achievement can he boast of as the then mayor of Kumasi how much more a presidential candidate. He should just find somewhere and hide because there is nothing he can do politically” he said on Accra based Neat FM monitored by Adomonline.com.

Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, says she might consider being a politician in the future.

The actress who was speaking in an interview with Sammy Forson on Joy FM’s “Personality Profile”, Thursday, said she saw herself as a politician.

She has also stated that she believes she has what it takes to win votes from the residents Dansoman, the suburb in Accra where she grew up.

According to her, she lived most of her life there and that would be the best place to start her political career.

READ ALSO: Forget the gimmicks; we truly kiss in movies – Yvonne Nelson

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“I will; perhaps Odododiodio [constituency]; I am just joking. ..maybe soon because I grew up in Dansoman and that will be a perfect place for me. When the time is right, I would know. I am just taking my time…” she said when she was asked about where she would start her political career.

According to the musician who seem to have more enemies in the music industry, he is cut out to encourage the youth to be serious about their lives and make themselves proud and that is what he will continue to do in his life time.

Shatta Wale, is once again in the news after being hurled with stones by fans at concert held in Shukura, Accra

In a post on Facebbok, the ‘enter the net’ hitmaker said “Am just used to the lies and fake people ,my fans alone are bigger than any political party in Ghana..The youth in this country must get rich and i will help to awaken the serious ones..#champioooooooon”.

Just days after the August 8 Kenyan presidential election, with the opposition crying foul and the death toll from clashes between police and protesters steadily mounting, international election observers pronounced their initial verdicts on the 2017 polls.

It was an assessment guaranteed to please the ruling party, the country’s business community, as well as international investors with huge stakes in East Africa’s biggest economy.

The election was fair, the international observers declared in their first assessments, before proceeding to hail Kenya as a beacon of democracy in the continent.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the Carter Center’s observer mission in Kenya, noted that “Kenya has made a remarkable statement to Africa and the world about its democracy and the character of that democracy. Don’t let anybody besmirch that.”

Former Ghanaian President John Mahama, who led the Commonwealth observer mission, said the East African nation’s voting and counting system appeared “credible, transparent and inclusive” and that Kenya had “the potential to be the most inspiring democracy in Africa.”

Overriding opposition leader Raila Odinga’s claims that the poll had been rigged, the country’s election commission, the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission), declared the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta, the winner with 54 percent of the vote. The international community promptly accepted the results of the vote, with world leaders such as US President Donald Trump calling Kenyatta to congratulate him on his victory.

Haunted by the bloodshed following the contested 2007 elections — which killed more than 1,200 people – international observer missions in the aftermath of last month’s poll appeared focused on maintaining order. When the opposition candidate’s call for a national strike triggered a heavy-handed police response that killed at least 28 people — including a baby and a nine-year-old girl – some of the statements by international observers appeared more focused on chiding Odinga for being a sore loser than on shedding light on the allegations of irregularities.

“Anybody who has a grievance knows what he should do. No Kenyan blood should be shed because somebody is aggrieved with the electoral process,” said Mahama, without naming the aggrieved person in question, but leaving little doubt about his identity. Kerry even cited his own 2004 US presidential defeat to George W. Bush. “I know what it’s like to lose an election,” said Kerry at a press conference in the capital, Nairobi, before adding, “But you gotta’ get over it and move on.”

‘A problem with the election observer industry’

That’s precisely what most Kenyans and outside observers believed would happen in a country bedeviled by rampant corruption and low levels of trust in the judiciary. Odinga himself initially expressed no confidence in the judiciary before finally relenting and taking the case to court.

So when Kenya’s Supreme Court ruled this Friday, September 1 that the August 8 election had not been “conducted in accordance with the constitution” and declared it “invalid, null and void,” the historic decision caught everyone by surprise.

“A just ruling should not be such a shock, but this ruling was completely unexpected,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, who served as Amnesty International’s East Africa Regional Director during the August election and is currently Open Society’s incoming Africa director. “I think with this ruling, the Supreme Court has redeemed itself.”

The same, unfortunately cannot be said for international election observers, according to Wanyeki. “It shows there’s a problem with the election observer industry. They focus too much on the pre-electoral process and the process of voting. The problems are always with the counting and the tallying. They don’t focus on that enough, they don’t have the resources to look into that,” she explained.

‘Some of them just have big names’

While welcoming Friday’s ruling, Odinga too called for a re-examination of the role of the Kenyan election’s international observers, who put the country’s stability ahead of the election’s credibility and, he said, had “moved fast [in order] to sanitise fraud.”

It was not the first time the Kenyan opposition had criticised the international monitors. Days after the election results were announced, a member of Odinga’s political alliance, NASA (National Super Alliance), called for a vetting of foreign monitors to check if they had any relationship with the government.

“Some of them just have big names but have nothing to offer on matters of observing the elections,” NASA deputy chief agent James Orengo told the leading Kenyan daily, The Nation.

Former African statesmen such as Mahama and South African Thabo Mbeki, who led the African Union observers mission, came in for particular criticism. “I have a lot of respect for Mr. Mbeki as he is a statesman and a patriot, but the African Union should have vetted him before sending him to Kenya,” said Orengo.

At a Nairobi press conference days after the results were declared, senior Kenyan trade union activist Francis Atwoli was excoriating in his comments to the press. “You don’t just visit one primary school where voting takes place and make a conclusion that everything is right. I have been an observer in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana, and my experience is that one needs to do a lot of background checks on the electoral system of that particular country before making the final conclusion. The observers did not do their work properly,” he said.

‘Their attitude is condescending, neo-colonial’

A familiar sight during elections in numerous African nations as well as other countries emerging from conflict, international election observers have to fulfil a difficult job, often in dangerous places. Critics accuse them of flying in days before the elections, watching the voting process at scattered polling stations, then holding a press conference at a hotel in the capital at the end of the day before flying back home.

But Roland Marchal of the Paris-based National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) urged moderation. “I think we have to be fair,” said Marchal in an interview with FRANCE 24. “We have to understand that their mandate is to verify, not to monitor. So, basically what they did was to make sure before the elections that the legalities are enforced and on the day of the election, they made sure that people could cast their vote freely. Beyond that, they weren’t really involved, or they were too few to have a precise vision of what went right and what went wrong — specially in the processing of the results from the local polling stations up to the national headquarters of the electoral commission.”

Odinga’s camp maintains that irregularities — including unsigned and fake tally forms, hacked servers and deliberate miscounting — had affected around one-third of the 15.5 million votes cast.

A new, $24 million system, which was supposed to scan tally sheets and post them online immediately, broke down across the country. In addition, a court registrar’s report found that the IEBC failed to provide Odinga’s alliance full court-ordered access to its servers, which was necessary to back up the opposition’s allegations of hacking.

Responding to the criticisms against international election observer missions, the Carter Center said Friday that Kerry’s mission had noted that “the electronic transmission of results proved unreliable.”

But in his comments to the press shortly after the election, Kerry stressed that, “In the end let me emphasise: it is the paper ballots and the accounting process established by the IEBC that tell the story of this election, not the electronic transmission of those numbers.”

The rush by international election observers to declare the 2017 election free and fair shocked Kenyan civil society activists, many of whom have faced increasing levels of harassment and threats since the August 8 election.

“I feel a real anger about the way they treat us. I’ve had diplomats say to my face that, speaking in the light of history, this election was an improvement [from past elections]. I’m sorry we do not live in history, we live in the here and now and we have a right to free and fair elections,” said Wanyeki. “Their attitude in condescending, neocolonial and by saying things are improving, they’re treating us like small children. Hopefully this ruling is like egg on their face.”

Just days after the August 8 Kenyan presidential election, with the opposition crying foul and the death toll from clashes between police and protesters steadily mounting, international election observers pronounced their initial verdicts on the 2017 polls.

It was an assessment guaranteed to please the ruling party, the country’s business community, as well as international investors with huge stakes in East Africa’s biggest economy.

The election was fair, the international observers declared in their first assessments, before proceeding to hail Kenya as a beacon of democracy in the continent.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the Carter Center’s observer mission in Kenya, noted that “Kenya has made a remarkable statement to Africa and the world about its democracy and the character of that democracy. Don’t let anybody besmirch that.”

Former Ghanaian President John Mahama, who led the Commonwealth observer mission, said the East African nation’s voting and counting system appeared “credible, transparent and inclusive” and that Kenya had “the potential to be the most inspiring democracy in Africa.”

Overriding opposition leader Raila Odinga’s claims that the poll had been rigged, the country’s election commission, the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission), declared the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta, the winner with 54 percent of the vote. The international community promptly accepted the results of the vote, with world leaders such as US President Donald Trump calling Kenyatta to congratulate him on his victory.

Haunted by the bloodshed following the contested 2007 elections — which killed more than 1,200 people – international observer missions in the aftermath of last month’s poll appeared focused on maintaining order. When the opposition candidate’s call for a national strike triggered a heavy-handed police response that killed at least 28 people — including a baby and a nine-year-old girl – some of the statements by international observers appeared more focused on chiding Odinga for being a sore loser than on shedding light on the allegations of irregularities.

“Anybody who has a grievance knows what he should do. No Kenyan blood should be shed because somebody is aggrieved with the electoral process,” said Mahama, without naming the aggrieved person in question, but leaving little doubt about his identity. Kerry even cited his own 2004 US presidential defeat to George W. Bush. “I know what it’s like to lose an election,” said Kerry at a press conference in the capital, Nairobi, before adding, “But you gotta’ get over it and move on.”

‘A problem with the election observer industry’

That’s precisely what most Kenyans and outside observers believed would happen in a country bedeviled by rampant corruption and low levels of trust in the judiciary. Odinga himself initially expressed no confidence in the judiciary before finally relenting and taking the case to court.

So when Kenya’s Supreme Court ruled this Friday, September 1 that the August 8 election had not been “conducted in accordance with the constitution” and declared it “invalid, null and void,” the historic decision caught everyone by surprise.

“A just ruling should not be such a shock, but this ruling was completely unexpected,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, who served as Amnesty International’s East Africa Regional Director during the August election and is currently Open Society’s incoming Africa director. “I think with this ruling, the Supreme Court has redeemed itself.”

The same, unfortunately cannot be said for international election observers, according to Wanyeki. “It shows there’s a problem with the election observer industry. They focus too much on the pre-electoral process and the process of voting. The problems are always with the counting and the tallying. They don’t focus on that enough, they don’t have the resources to look into that,” she explained.

‘Some of them just have big names’

While welcoming Friday’s ruling, Odinga too called for a re-examination of the role of the Kenyan election’s international observers, who put the country’s stability ahead of the election’s credibility and, he said, had “moved fast [in order] to sanitise fraud.”

It was not the first time the Kenyan opposition had criticised the international monitors. Days after the election results were announced, a member of Odinga’s political alliance, NASA (National Super Alliance), called for a vetting of foreign monitors to check if they had any relationship with the government.

“Some of them just have big names but have nothing to offer on matters of observing the elections,” NASA deputy chief agent James Orengo told the leading Kenyan daily, The Nation.

Former African statesmen such as Mahama and South African Thabo Mbeki, who led the African Union observers mission, came in for particular criticism. “I have a lot of respect for Mr. Mbeki as he is a statesman and a patriot, but the African Union should have vetted him before sending him to Kenya,” said Orengo.

At a Nairobi press conference days after the results were declared, senior Kenyan trade union activist Francis Atwoli was excoriating in his comments to the press. “You don’t just visit one primary school where voting takes place and make a conclusion that everything is right. I have been an observer in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana, and my experience is that one needs to do a lot of background checks on the electoral system of that particular country before making the final conclusion. The observers did not do their work properly,” he said.

‘Their attitude is condescending, neo-colonial’

A familiar sight during elections in numerous African nations as well as other countries emerging from conflict, international election observers have to fulfil a difficult job, often in dangerous places. Critics accuse them of flying in days before the elections, watching the voting process at scattered polling stations, then holding a press conference at a hotel in the capital at the end of the day before flying back home.

But Roland Marchal of the Paris-based National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) urged moderation. “I think we have to be fair,” said Marchal in an interview with FRANCE 24. “We have to understand that their mandate is to verify, not to monitor. So, basically what they did was to make sure before the elections that the legalities are enforced and on the day of the election, they made sure that people could cast their vote freely. Beyond that, they weren’t really involved, or they were too few to have a precise vision of what went right and what went wrong — specially in the processing of the results from the local polling stations up to the national headquarters of the electoral commission.”

Odinga’s camp maintains that irregularities — including unsigned and fake tally forms, hacked servers and deliberate miscounting — had affected around one-third of the 15.5 million votes cast.

A new, $24 million system, which was supposed to scan tally sheets and post them online immediately, broke down across the country. In addition, a court registrar’s report found that the IEBC failed to provide Odinga’s alliance full court-ordered access to its servers, which was necessary to back up the opposition’s allegations of hacking.

Responding to the criticisms against international election observer missions, the Carter Center said Friday that Kerry’s mission had noted that “the electronic transmission of results proved unreliable.”

But in his comments to the press shortly after the election, Kerry stressed that, “In the end let me emphasise: it is the paper ballots and the accounting process established by the IEBC that tell the story of this election, not the electronic transmission of those numbers.”

The rush by international election observers to declare the 2017 election free and fair shocked Kenyan civil society activists, many of whom have faced increasing levels of harassment and threats since the August 8 election.

“I feel a real anger about the way they treat us. I’ve had diplomats say to my face that, speaking in the light of history, this election was an improvement [from past elections]. I’m sorry we do not live in history, we live in the here and now and we have a right to free and fair elections,” said Wanyeki. “Their attitude in condescending, neocolonial and by saying things are improving, they’re treating us like small children. Hopefully this ruling is like egg on their face.”

“I think we are still growing as a people and our democracy is still being deepened. I think people are sensitive to issues concerning democracy.
“You come out and speak for a political party which is your right and people turn to attack and blackmail you. I think we all have our interest and mine does not lie in politics.”
Nevertheless, the actor, who is popularly known as ‘Pusher’, for his role in television series ‘Things We Do For Love’ stated that if the people in his constituency show belief in him to pick up a political role as a leader in his constituency, he will consider the numbers and then think about it.
“I will look at the number of people calling for me to pick up a political role, think about it and then I will make a decision,” he said.