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Challenges faced during DLEs unfortunate, EC must take responsibility – CODEO
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has described as unfortunate, challenges that bedevilled the District Level Elections held nationwide on Tuesday, December 19.
CODEO blamed the Electoral Commission (EC) for not living up to its task and urged it to do better.
Reports of non-functioning of the Biometric Verification Device (BVD) used for verification and delays in the distribution of voting items to some centres hampered the process in some areas.
In an interview with Citi News, the National Coordinator for CODEO, Albert Arhin said the Electoral Commission must take lessons from this process.
“I saw some places where, for example, if the candidate’s name is Arhin, they put maybe Kofi or Kwame there, which shouldn’t have been the case. That is putting somebody’s name under a different picture or something. These mistakes should have been corrected by sending people. If for example if you are printing for a particular region or a district, the district director should have been there with the team to be doing some of these corrections.”
“So that is managerial. Because we have been having some of these experiences we should have taken a cue and learnt our lessons so we don’t repeat these mistakes. But whether we like it or not the blame still lies on the doorstep of the EC because they are the ones running this show.”
The National Democratic Congress also stated that the EC must take responsibility for the turn of events in the elections.
Mustapha Gbande, Deputy Secretary of the NDC said “Election management is not cast in stone. It is about the experience, it is about consultation, it is about dealing with people who know the work better than you to help you build a solid, transparent, dependable, credible system that will give a free and fair election to the people of Ghana. These mistakes are avoidable.”
“Someone must take full responsibility beyond apologising. She has messed up an election system that we all saw clearly and cautioned her and she didn’t listen. When we were speaking she said the NDC is accusing her. And today we are at the same root and you are saying we should let go.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
The First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, has announced that the government will soon launch a Free Primary Health Care Programme aimed at improving access to healthcare across the country.
She said the initiative, which will be launched by her husband, John Dramani Mahama, will provide free primary healthcare services at facilities such as the Anyima Health Centre.
Mrs. Mahama made the announcement during the commissioning of the newly renovated Anyima Health Centre in Anyima, Brong Ahafo region.
According to her, the programme is expected to increase the use of health services, support early detection of diseases, reduce healthcare costs for families and improve the overall health and productivity of citizens.
“My husband, President John Dramani Mahama, will soon launch the Free Primary Health Care Programme, which will provide free care at facilities like the Anyima Health Centre,” she said.
Handing over the facility to the community, the First Lady urged health workers who will serve at the centre to treat patients with dignity and compassion.
She encouraged them to work towards ensuring zero maternal mortality and zero infant mortality at the facility.
Mrs. Mahama further called on residents of Anyima to take full ownership of the health centre by keeping it in good condition and making good use of its services.
She appealed to traditional leaders in the area to help protect the facility so that it can continue to serve the health needs of the community for many years.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for stronger action to promote gender equity and create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining staff at the Presidency of Ghana to mark International Women’s Day.
The celebration was held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Promoting Equity for Every Woman in the Workplace” and focused on recognising the achievements of women while reflecting on the work needed to ensure equal opportunities.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended warm wishes to women across Ghana and noted that women have always played key roles in the country’s communities and economic activities.
According to her, women in the past served as healers, traders and queen mothers who contributed to leadership and governance in traditional societies.
She explained that Ghana’s cultural history shows that women have long provided knowledge, leadership and innovation to help develop communities.
The Vice President however noted that current disparities require society to examine systems and structures that may have limited opportunities for women.
She stressed that advancing gender equity will require deliberate actions and the mentoring of young women to prepare them for leadership roles.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recognised women whose work takes place in markets, streets and small trading spaces across the country.
According to her, these women form the backbone of local economies and continue to demonstrate resilience despite the difficult conditions they face.
She commended women working at the Presidency for their dedication and leadership and reaffirmed the need to promote respect, fairness and opportunity for every woman.
The Vice President further called on both men and women to work together to break barriers and ensure that women can fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
