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NDC will not withdraw from Election 2020–Ofosu Ampofo clarifies
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ofosu Ampofo, has affirmed that the party will not withdraw from the 2020 general election despite the ‘belligerence’ of the Electoral Commission (EC).
However, he noted that the leadership of the party would not look on unconcerned to be cheated by the commission and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Ampofo explained that the party was going to apply all means possible to prevent the EC from going ahead with the compilation of a new voters’ register and insisted that “the National Democratic Congress will not withdraw from the 2020 general elections, we will take part in the elections and we are also going to ensure our smooth victory.
“There’s no iota of truth in the EC’s statement in response to our press conference,
we have engaged the Electoral Commission and they are deliberately planning to disenfranchise eligible voters, anyone calling on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to boycott the December polls is a nation wrecker,” he posited and indicated that “having been part of the nation’s democratic dispensation, it will be a sacrilege for them to boycott any election”.
Reinforcing the NDC’s position against the compilation of a new voters’ register, Mr Ampofo stressed that “the ‘noise’ being made by the NDC against the compilation of a new voters’ register is for the protection of lives and property.
“The peace, unity, stability, national cohesion and tranquility of Ghana is important to us, so the Election Management Board should reflect and listen to voice of reason, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, there are fears Ghana’s case count may rise astronomically if the Electoral Commission is allowed to have its way.
“Why is the EC running away from its own document it used for the 2016 elections? They want to endanger the lives of the citizenry to satisfy their pay masters, this notwithstanding, if the EC ignores all our warning and goes ahead to compile a new voters’ register, the NDC will not boycott the elections.
“We are a democratic party so we won’t do what the New Patriotic Party did when it boycotted the 1992 parliamentary elections which affected the country’s body politic,” Mr Ampofo said. -adomonline.com
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
