The Oti Regional Organiser of the NPP, Abubakar Salifu aka Oti Abu has explained that Since 1992, the NPP’s believe in national cohesion has informed its choice of always having both Christians and Muslims pair up to lead the country’s development.
This decision has proven to pay off in many ways, particularly in ensuring the policies implemented by the NPP government are more inclusive and fairly spread.
He noted that “If today, you have residents in the Zongo Communities sent to Cuba to study medicine on scholarship and many others in key positions in the NPP government, that is proof that, Nana Addo and Bawumia are the safest hands for Ghana’s development.”
He made the statement when Oti Regional executives of the Governing New Patriotic Party interacted with members of the Zongo Community in the Buem constituency of the Oti Region.
The government’s spokesperson on governance and legal affairs, Mr. Herbet Krapa who also joined the campaign team, expressed gratitude to the Zongo community and traders for the warm reception which could not be compared to times past.
He also thanked them for commending the good policies of the NPP, particularly the Free SHS programme, NABCO and the Planting for Food and Jobs programs which is securing the future of the youth.
He said the residents are right for admitting “it is not the best to keep voting for the NDC since 1992 and have nothing to show for it. If we all (Zongos) agree the One-way voting style has not helped us, it is time to change the voting pattern towards the NPP’s Presidential Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo and Lawrence Aziale, the parliamentary candidate, so they can do more to improve the Zongos”.
The Oti Regional Women’s Organizer, Olivia Glago appealed to the women to consider the future of their children, especially the girls, who have been given the opportunity to reach higher in life through free SHS.
She noted that, the support from MASLOC to female traders in the district will be expanded next year so, they can improve their businesses.
The team which was was also at the Jasikan Market appealed to the traders to vote massively to retain the Nana Addo and elect an NPP MP for the first time to attract more development to the area.
On their part, the Leaders of the Zongo Community appealed to the government to situate the proposed Islamic Secondary School in Jasikan since there is a 50-acre land dedicated for the purpose.
The Oti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Evans Dapaah, has indicated that President Akufo-Addo and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has shown genuine concern towards the development of Zongo and inner-cities than the opposition has done.
For him, the Zongo and inner-cities who had more faith in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have always had their fingers burnt and taken advantage of at the expense of the parochial interest of the NDC.
He said, fortunately, the evidence is clear for residents in the Muslim communities across the country to judge for themselves who really have their interest at heart.
“Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr. Bawumia have shown courage and good faith by ensuring the Zongo communities got their fair share of the national cake as against the lip service of the NDC,” he observed.
He therefore urged the residents of Zongo and Muslim communities across the country not to truncate the development that they are enjoying under the Akufo-Addo led government by voting massively to secure their future.
Mr. Dapaah made the statement when he and his executives interacted with members of the Zongo Community in the Buem constituency of the Oti Region.
The team also included the government’s spokesperson on governance and legal affairs, Mr. Herbert Krapa who has relocated to the region to beef up the party’s campaign.
The interaction is one of the many held in several communities in the Oti Region in fulfillment of Mr. Krapa’s promise to support the NPP to canvas for votes to elect Akufo-Addo and NPP parliamentary candidates in the December elections.
Mr. Dapaah who also led the team to campaign at the Jasikan market mentioned that for the “First time in the history of Ghana, the governing NPP, established a dedicated Ministry, thus Ministry for Zongo and Inner-City Development and instituted the Zongo Development Fund dedicated to the transformation of the Zongos and Inner cities.”
“This is a novelty. It is the first of its kind. A clear proof that the Zongo and Muslim communities are dear to the President and Dr. Bawumia the Vice President,” he observed. Such show of love and care must be replicated as enshrined in the Holy Quran and Bible. Because both Islam and Christianity preach gratitude, he added.
He assured the people that should they massively for President Akufo-Addo and Mr Lawrence Aziale to confirm them for the next four years, the area will benefit from Islamic Model schools.
In the Buem Constituency, the District Chief Executive, Lawrence Kwami Aziale who is the NPP candidate is contesting Kofi Adams, the former National Organizer of the NDC for the parliamentary slot.
It appears the dominance of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party in many constituencies of the Oti Region has come to an end as residents are saying “the days of voting for symbols are long gone.”
According to residents of the Krachi East Constituency, since the constituency was created 16 years ago, the first 12 years had always been a vote for the NDC’s Presidential and Parliamentary candidate, Wisdom Gidisu, yet they have had little to show for it. However, after voting for Michael Yaw Gyato, the current NPP member of Parliament in 2016, they have a seen a drastic transformation in their constituency and their lives.
The residents were speaking at separate electoral areas in the constituency during an interaction with the government’s spokesperson on governance and legal affairs, Herbert Krapa and some executives of the NPP in the Oti Region as they intensify their campaign to secure at least 5 parliamentary seats in the region.
One of such residents at Tokorano is Salifu Abdul Wahab who stressed that “The days of voting for NDC irrespective of the candidate are over.”
He likened the performance of the NDC and NPP candidates with the preparation of soup saying “We have tasted two soups; one by Gidisu aka ‘Top in Town’ and another by Michael Gyato aka ‘Adwumawura’ and have realized that Gyato’s soup is nicer.
“Even with leftover meat (four-year mandate), he has given us a nice soup, so we are confident when we give him cow meat (another four years) come December 7th, he will prepare for us a more nutritious soup.” He added
He berated the former MP, Gidisu who lost to the incumbent, Gyato in 2016 for wasting 12 precious years achieving nothing for the constituency .
Foriwaa Dora, Trader at Kparekpare
“No development for 12 good years as MP. If we take Gidisu round the constituency to point out his initiatives, he will have nothing to show. Worst of it all, despite the high youth unemployment in the area, Gidisu sends all his investments to Hohoe in the Volta Region and other parts of the country” Salifu Abdul Wahab lamented.
Wahab, who is an Arabic teacher and aid to the Imam of the area, said, even in the Zongo communities, Gidisu has lost touch with them and is unable to face them because he has constantly promised and failed them.
Another resident Dienipanim Kwesi, alleged that, former MP Gidisu failed to fulfill his promise to support them put up a maternity clinic despite promising to use his common fund to do so. In the end, the community contributed to have the project done.
Foriwaa Dora, a trader who has lived in Kparekpare for 30 years regretted not voting for the NPP all this while, because the transformation they had seen after voting for the NPP MP, Michael Gyato is overwhelming.
She indicated that “At first we did not know, If we were blind before, now our eyes have been wide opened by Mr. Gyato and the NPP. We have seen through the lies of the NDC who have abandoned us for many years but will come around only during elections to share gifts and money to lure us. Never again. We will vote massively for Gyato and Nana Akufo-Addo to do more for us.
She noted that under the visionary leadership of the President Nana Akufo-Addo, the perennial water challenge has halted after the provision of boreholes for their community. “As women we owe the NPP government a lot of gratitude because our plight has hugely been reduced,” she stressed.
Diana Mohammed a nurse at Kparekpare further explained that for all the 12 years they voted for Gidisu, not once had he attempted to solve their problems.
She recounted that they had to walk for close to an hour to fetch water every day and there are days when they had queued at dawn and fought over water from the only bore hole in the area, however, all that has ended under the NPP.
Herbert Krapa, Government spokesperson on Legal Affairs addressing Tokurano Community
The area had bad roads and did not have network coverage and electricity, but in less than four years that the NPP took power they have been given all that. She recounted how ironic it was to see the NDC’s candidate and his team campaigning in their community one evening with lights provided by the NPP and receiving phone calls made possible by the community network set-up provided under the NPP administration.
For many residents, voting for Gidisu and Mahama will be a grave mistake, because “Gidisu has had 12 years to prove his worth, same as John Mahama who has had 8 years (as Vice President and President). What can they do now that they could not do when they had the opportunity,” Diana asked?
The Oti Regional Organiser of the NPP, Abubakar Salifu popularly referred to as Oti Abu thanked the residents for appreciating the good deeds of President Akufo-Addo and the MP, Micheal Gyato and promised that next NPP government will complete their roads and bring them more development.
Mr. Herbert Krapa, who has moved camp to support the NPP’s campaign in the Oti region, was overwhelmed by the testimonies of the people.
He urged them not to keep the good news to themselves but spread it in the whole of the constituency for others to know that it is only the NPP that can transform their constituency and the Oti region.
The Chief government spokesperson has been campaigning in the Oti region for the last couple of weeks in what has been described as an intensified final push for the seats in Oti.
Meanwhile in the Biakoye and Buem Constituencies, residents of Jasikan, Worawora, Nkonya among many others expressed similar sentiments about their disappointment in showing blind loyalty to the NDC and their candidates and vowed to vote based on issues and tangible development in this election.
The government’s spokesperson on governance and legal affairs, Herbert Krapa has stressed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is the flag bearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will perform better than the victory predicted for him by the University of Ghana.
The survey done by the Political Science Department of the university predicted a 51.7% win for the governing NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo as against 40.4% for NDC’s John Mahama.
The survey also placed Ghana Union Movement (GUM) candidate, Christian Kwabena Andrews third with 1.4%.
However, Mr. Krapa insists, the record of the NPP government dwarfs that of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama in all facets of the national economy.
The survey by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana has been even charitable to the NDC because “we believe President Akufo-Addo would do far better than their projection” he stressed.
Mr. Krapa made the assertion when he responded to the survey on Accra based GhoneTV. He noted that as a government “We welcome the findings of this survey because it represents the sentiments of the broad majority of the Ghanaian people and echoes their expectations for the coming elections.”
He said, fortunately, both candidate John Mahama and President Akufo-Addo have had the opportunity to lead Ghana as head of state, hence “this election is about track records”, he said. The records are in favour of the President by a very huge margin “we in the NPP are happy because President Akufo-Addo’s track record, while evident for all to see, has provided the solutions to the problems Mr Mahama left behind as his track record.”
Responding to a question whether the NPP has done its own independent polls, Mr Krapa said “we are happy with the results we see on the ground. President Akufo-Addo has worked hard for which reason he is receiving global commendation and we do not think the Ghanaian people who are direct beneficiaries of his policies and vision, see things any differently. They would not want to rock the boat and they won’t change a leader who is doing so much for them.”
He said in the area of energy, the situation of erratic power supply otherwise referred to as “Dumsor” which gave Ghanaians sleepless nights, collapsed business and left many jobless is now a thing of the past. It negatively affected all aspects of Ghanaian life, from industry to education, to small businesses, health and the economy as a whole. He reiterated that “President Akufo-Addo promised to end dumsor when voted to power and he did.”
Mr. Krapa who is also a legal practitioner noted that “Ghana’s economy under John Mahama had crushed and was ailing on its knees to the point he had to run to the IMF for help. President Akufo-Addo promised to take Ghana out of IMF and he did”
He recounted that, Unemployment under John Mahama was so high that frustration forced the youth to form Unemployed Graduates Association. Under Nana Akufo-Addo’s ‘Agenda for Jobs’ promise, teacher and nursing trainee allowances has been restored, backlog of graduate nursing and midwives has been cleared while the economy has been opened up to allow the backlog of civil and public servant unemployment left behind by Mahama to also be cleared. NABCO and the president’s industrialization agenda through 1 District 1 Factory has also employed many more people.
Free SHS which was campaigned against by Mahama and the NDC as well as Experts has today provided opportunity for over a million students and as a result of the success of the Free SHS programme, “today, those who said it was not possible to achieve, are claiming credit for.” He stated
Notwithstanding, Mr Krapa noted that “The verdict is out there and on the thumbs of the Ghanaian people. On December 7 the people of Ghana, who are the ultimate referees will tell us who instituted free SHS and who was against it. Today, thanks to the vision of President Akufo-Addo, the financial burden of school fees has been lifted off the shoulders of parents and school enrollment has increased astronomically.”
In conclusion Mr Krapa said “the mother and grandmother of all polls is coming in a few days, and the NPP is confident that the Ghanaian electorate will vote resoundingly to retain President Akufo-Addo and the NPP to power to continue with the good work they are doing for them. The UG poll he said reflects what is coming but it would be even bigger than predicted.”
Peter Boamah Otokunor, NDC Deputy General Secretary who also responded to the survey, rubbished the poll and said it lacked credibility and was sponsored by the government.
He said Mahama would win the elections by an overwhelming majority.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Mr. Edward Oduro-Kwateng has cautioned newly trained personnel of the Ghana Police Service not to allow themselves to be influenced in conducting their official duties else they will be exposed.
He warned that “the police system will expose you if you allow personal feelings, animosity or friendship and political affiliation to influence your official duties. The system will reject you if you dare desire instant gratification.”
He however explained that the calling as a police officer is an honourable one and does not set them apart from society hence the need for them to comply with the laws they are to enforce and ensure that it shows in their appearance and deportment to inspire confidence and respect to the police service.
DCOP Oduro-Kwateng was speaking at the passing out parade of 179 general police recruits of the Ho Police training school in the Volta regional capital, Ho under the command of parade 2I/C Benedicta Botchway.
DCOP Kwateng who was also the reviewing officer of the parade noted that the batch is the 6th batch of recruit’s intake since the government gave clearance for eight thousand 8,000 young men and women to be recruited into the service.
He also noted that “training and retraining expands the knowledge base of employees for that reason the current administration has resolved to commit more resources towards training and retraining of persons.
According to him a total of 1,924 constables who had their training in 2019 were all encamped and given a three week advanced training on High Risk Operation by Formed Police Unit (FPU), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT).
He also noted as political tensions are increasing, the training were timely as Ghana prepares for the December 2020 presidential and parliamentary election and the police are not oblivious of the enormous task ahead.
Mr. Kwateng has however called on the youth not to allow themselves to be used as puppets to foment trouble and he also cautioned politicians to not insulate the youth and cocoon them with their party identity to perpetuate violence.
He however assured that the police service is ready to unmask and strip any riotous mob or fugitives of political colonation and swiftly bring such individuals to answer the very crimes they have committed without fear or favour .
Meanwhile, the 179 recruits were taught practical police duties, criminal laws, criminal investigation law and evidence, arts and decrees, first aid, professional policing ethics as well as muskerty, physical training, foot and rifle drills among others.
The Volta regional police training school has produced the overall best recruit in academics and overall best recruit in person of G/R Sabu Martin Kwarase with a total score of 1,981 representing 90.05% out of 2,200. G/R Komladza Wonder emerged as the second best recruit in academics and Azubrire Clifford as the best recruit in drill.
The deputy minister of the ministry of Trade and Industry Hon. Ahonkah Lindsay expressed certainty that Ghana stands to benefit immensely from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement with its rich natural resources.
He noted that Ghana will be positioned as the hub for trade and export in Africa as well as promote Ghana as an attractive investment destination and actively promote foreign investments.
Mr. Ahonkah noted that Ghana would have the opportunity as the secretariat to hold regional and continental meetings and other events under AfCFTA bringing together investors, tourists among others from the African and non-African countries to Ghana which will boost the tourism, transport, hospitality and other sectors of the economy.
He however noted that the private sector being the engine of growth in the country must take advantage of the AfCFTA program as the government will ensure that they are equipped and well informed about the agreement in order to participate and contribute to the GDP of the economy.
The deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Mr. Samuel Dentu said, the national export development strategy is expected to rapidly increase the non-traditional export revenue from the current US$2.9 billion to US$25.3 billion by 2029.
He noted that the strategy driven by the GEPA is aligned with the government’s industrialization program to help the re-orientation of the raw materials to a value added product to move Ghana onto the industrialized economy.
Mr. Dentu said this at the Volta regional edition of the regional conference on the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA agreement and the national export development strategy (NEDS) in Ho the Volta regional capital.
He noted that one reason for the regional conferences is to bring the good news to the business community across the country about the opportunities provided by AfCFTA and the national export development strategy in order to maximize the opportunity to increase trade within Africa with a collaborative effort.
He however mentioned that each district in the country is expected to develop a specific exportable product to provide the needed raw materials to feed the factories established across the country under the 1D1F adding that, GEPA is ready to support business and exporters in the Volta region to make out of what they produce.
The Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Ken Kponor said, the NCCE has collaborated with the security services to reassure the public of their protection by the security services going into the election.
Speaking at a parade to end of the route march by the security services in the region, he also noted that, the operation is to demonstrate to those who may want to cause trouble before, during and after the election that the security personnel are ready to arrest and handle perpetrators under the laws of Ghana for a smooth and peaceful election.
He advised the public to go out on the Election Day to exercise their electoral right peacefully and return home to wait for the results on the radio, television or online.
He also added that those who wish to return to the polling station later in the day for the counting should ensure they do not do anything to destabilize the electoral process.
The route march by the Ghana security services in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Electoral Commission (EC) was embarked across all the regional capitals in Ghana ahead of the 2020 general elections.
The Volta regional Public Relations Officer PRO of the Ghana Police Service Cpl Prince Dogbatse has assured residents of the Volta region of their safety before, during and after the December 2020 election.
He made the statement on behalf of the security services in the Volta region at the end of a route march by the security services in the region in conjunction with the Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civic Education and National Ambulance service ahead of the December 2020 election.
He noted that the route march duped “operation Tafia Lafia” was to send a signal to the public that the security services are ready to protect the citizens, integrity and peace of the country before, during and after the election.
He noted that, “security is not only about the police. We are ready and that is what we demonstrated to the public today through the route march to send a signal that no one should cause trouble.”
Responding to the issue on the deployment of personnel to the region to put fear and panic in the citizens, he explained that the personnel who embark on the “operation Tafia Lafia” are all from the regional capital specifically and their mission was to call for peaceful election and to reassure the citizenry of their safety but not to cause fear and panic among the citizenry.
Cpl Dogbatse however cautioned the public against activities that will jeopardize the smooth operation of the election procedures as well as destruction of life and property.
Over 500 security personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Prisons Service, National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the National Intelligence Bureau together with the National Ambulance Service took part in the “operation Tafia Lafia” route March in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
The march which started from the Jubilee Park – Ho Tech Univ – Ahoe Roundabt – KK House Traffic – Guinness Ltd – Tralfagar Junction- Redeem Church Junction- Barracks Road – Lizzdee Shopping Mall Junction- Zongo- Royal Hosp Junction- Market Road- Ola Traffic- Civic Centre- VRCC- CEPS Traffic- Goil Junction- Sokodie Road – UHAS Roundabout – Gbogame Roundabout, ended at the Police Regional Headquarters.
The director of operations at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) Mr. Alexander Dadzawa noted that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a market opportunity for Ghana to help reduce the exportation of primary materials to African and non-African countries which reduces the percentage of the GDP rather than increasing it.
He explained that in 2019 Non-Traditional Export (NTE) products were exported to 155 countries including non-African countries of which US$836,511,513 of non-traditional goods were exported to ECOWAS countries representing an increase rate of 12.75% from the previous year whiles the market destination takes 28.8% share of the total market.
He also added that the European Union market destination takes 38.18% of the market shares by consuming US$1.11 billion of non-traditional exports with -3.43 percent growths while other African countries absorb US$144,943 at a growth rate of 237.91% in 2019 compared to 2018.
Mr. Dadzawa also noted that, the population of the 53 African countries under AfCFTA is about 1.2 billion people and the GDP to be generated is $1.3 trillion which will boost the economy of the African countries.
He mentioned that one main strategic objective of AfCFTA will be to increase intra-African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade within the African continent.
Adding that, being more professional and result driven oriented will increase the contribution of non-traditional exports to GDP growth with consequent significant increase per capita income to achieve the globally competitive value-added products and services as well as achieving US$25.3 billion by the 10th year of the NEDS in 2029 and ensuring substantial increase in manufactured goods and services component of Ghana NETs.
Mr. Dadzawa explained that, Instead of the usual exportation of raw materials with a low GDP, Ghanaian investors must begin to add value to their produce and not less than 2.5 million products are expected to be exported.
He further explained that the national export strategy was developed in response to the opportunities that comes with the AfCFTA project and it is built on three (3) pillars thus expanding and diversifying the supply base value added industrial export products and services, improve the regular environment for export and to building and expand the required human capital industrial export development and marketing to solve any challenge ahead.
Mr. Dzadzawa noted that government initiatives such as the One District, One Factory 1D1F, One Region, One Park 1R1P, Strategic Industries Initiative, SME Development and Promotion of Standards are some interventions put in place to enhance the industrial productive capacity of the economy.
Present at the conference was the deputy Volta regional minister Rev. Avuletey, officials from the Ghana standards board, food and drugs authority, stanbic bank as well as personnel from the Ghana security services in the Volta region.
