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NPP holds balloting for Presidential Primaries
Balloting of presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday took place at a closed door meeting with officials of the Electoral Commission (EC), and the NPP Election Committee, at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
All the 10 presidential aspirants, who were recently approved by the National Council, following the recommendation of the Vetting Committee of the party, were present to participate in the exercise.
This is ahead of voting by the special delegate, on August 26, 2023, to elect five of the 10 aspirants to contest the NPP flagbarareship for Election 2024.
Ballot papers would be printed by the EC, and supervised by nominees of the aspirants.
Mr Kennedy Agyapong, MP, Assin Central, picked the first (1) position, followed by Mr Alan Kyerematen, Mr Joe Ghartey, Mr Kwadwo Poku, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Mr Addai Nimo, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Mr Kyerematen Agyarko, while Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia picked the last position.
Addressing journalists after the balloting, spokesperson for the NPP Election Committee, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markins, said the exercise was successful and all aspirants were excited about the process and arrangement towards the election.
He said the elections would be conducted by the EC, and as well takes the responsibility of printing of the ballot papers and all security arrangement during the voting exercise.
Mr Afentyo-Markins, Deputy Minority Leader, and MP Awutu Senya, said the committee took the opportunity to engage the aspirants on matters of concern, and build consensus on the nagging issues raised by some of presidential aspirants.
He stressed that the ballot papers would not be printed by the party, but the EC with the representative of the aspirants, who would supervise the whole process of the elections.
Mr Afentyo-Markins said the aspirants had been briefed on the type of pictures needed by the EC for printing the ballot papers, while the notice of polls would be communicated to party members in due time.
He said the party had also agreed to do proxy voting, which had been accepted by the aspirants, stressing that, deadline for proxy is September 2, 2023, while the lists of delegates would be given to the aspirants in due time.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
Ghana Tourism Authority is leading Ghana’s participation at ITB Berlin, which opened in Berlin with a vibrant national pavilion highlighting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, tourism destinations and investment opportunities.
March 5 has been designated as Ghana Day, a special platform to promote Ghana’s languages, cuisine, Kente, festivals and business prospects to the global tourism community. The stand has already drawn strong interest with traditional arts and crafts displays, immersive multimedia presentations and popular Ghanaian snacks.
Seven private-sector players are exhibiting alongside government officials as part of efforts to deepen trade partnerships, expand market access, and attract investment across the hospitality, heritage tourism, ecotourism, and creative arts sectors.
Ahead of the official opening, the Ghana delegation also engaged young Ghanaian investors in Germany in collaboration with V Afrika-Verein and the Ghana Embassy, strengthening diaspora investment linkages and highlighting opportunities within the tourism value chain.
Ghana’s coordinated presence at ITB Berlin 2026 reinforces its strategy to position the country as the Gateway to Africa and a competitive destination for leisure travel and global investment.
The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has expressed concern over delays in the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, warning that the situation is stalling development across the country.
On his facebook page, he described as a matter of urgent national importance, the Minority Chief Whip pointed to what he sees as a growing crisis of unpaid contractors, abandoned projects, and halted infrastructure works in many districts.
He noted that several communities are grappling with half completed schools, unfinished health facilities, abandoned markets, deteriorating roads, and stalled sanitation projects.
According to him, many contractors who have executed projects for district assemblies have not been paid, forcing some construction firms to demobilise from sites while workers lose their jobs.
He stressed that the District Assemblies Common Fund is not a discretionary allocation but a constitutional requirement under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, intended to support development at the local level.
In his view, years of delayed releases and accumulated arrears have weakened district development financing and disrupted projects meant to improve living conditions in communities.
He further argued that some payments made in recent years were largely the settlement of old debts rather than funding for new or ongoing projects, a situation he believes has affected contractor confidence and local economic activity.
He described the issue as more than a budgetary challenge, characterising it as a development emergency and a governance concern.
He therefore urged the appropriate authorities to pay outstanding DACF arrears, settle contractors who have completed their work, and ensure that transfers to districts are automatic and predictable.
He maintained that decentralisation can only succeed when district assemblies receive adequate and timely funding to carry out development projects.
He emphasised that stalled projects directly affect ordinary citizens, since they rely on such infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, and economic activities.
He called for renewed attention to grassroots development, insisting that national progress should not be concentrated only in major cities but extended to all communities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
