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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
Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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Traders have returned to the streets of Accra, occupying pavements and stretches of some roads after the last major decongestion exercise.
The exercise, which was aimed at restoring order in areas like Kingsway, CMB, Rawlings Park, Tudu etc, have now been defeated.
From Kingsway to Rawlings Park, traders display several wares including, footwear, herbal medicines, plastic products, fresh fish, second-hand clothing, and vegetables, among others.
Local Evangelists are also not left out as they scramble for spaces on the streets.
Pedestrians, therefore, find it difficult to move around when shopping, due to the human and vehicular congestion created by the traders.
In an interview with The Spectator, Auntie Abigail, a trader, said her return to the streets was to sell more, and she saw nothing wrong with it.
Hajia, who deals in wholesale items, indicated that they were unable to make sales as their colleagues move to the pavement and since customers don’t want to come inside, they prefer to buy from them.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has given traders a grace period to go back to their shops.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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