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Kumawu by-election: EC dismisses notice of poll circulating on social media
The Electoral Commission (EC) has described as fake the a notice of poll circulating on social media platforms claiming to be related to the upcoming Kumawu by-election.
The notice, which has been widely shared purported to be an official announcement from the EC has the photos of two independent candidates, wearing kente cloth and the said candidates have the symbol of a bird.
However, the EC in a statement issued on Sunday clarified that no such notice has been issued by their office.
While categorically indicating that the story is untrue, EC urged the public to disregard it.
“For the information of the Public, both Independent Candidates presented photographs of
themselves in kente and a picture of a bird as their symbol to our District Officer in Kumawu.
Based on this, a draft Notice of Poll, bearing the photograph of the Independent Candidates with
similar names, attires and symbols was prepared and submitted to the Commission for approval.
“It was neither approved by the Commission nor gazetted. A notice of poll becomes legal and
binding only after it is gazetted. The version circulating on social media was never gazetted. It
was a mere draft reflecting the photographs and symbols presented to the District Officer,” parts of the statement read.
The EC further noted that it had to apply the Public Elections Regulations and assign the second independent candidate a hoe as his symbol after he refused to heed advice to change his symbol.
“When this anomaly came to the notice of the Commission, the second Independent Candidate
was advised to change his symbol since he was the last to submit his Nomination Form. He
refused to do so causing the Commission to apply Regulation 14(1) (b) and (c) of the Public
Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127.”
The EC assured the public that they are actively investigating the origin of the fake notice and will take appropriate action against those responsible for its creation and dissemination.
They also reiterated their commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana and emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
The Commission further urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious or misleading information related to elections to the appropriate authorities.
As the Kumawu by-election approaches, the EC reassured voters and stakeholders that they are fully prepared to organize a smooth and credible electoral process.
It emphasised their commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the will of the people is accurately reflected through legitimate and lawful means.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
