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‘Outcome of primaries indicates NPP’s non-performance’
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has observed that the outcome of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) parliamentary primaries over the weekend was as a result of the non performance of the government.
At the polls in 101 constituencies, 40 sitting Members of Parliament including 11 parliamentary committee chairmen, four vice chairmen, two regional ministers, a minister of state and three deputy ministers of state all lost their seats to their contenders.
Addressing the media in Accra yesterday, Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Officer of the NDC said the decision of the NPP delegates was an invitation to the larger Ghanaian voter to show the government the exit in the December polls.
“The results that emerged from the NPP primaries reflect the dissatisfaction of NPP supporters and Ghanaians at large with the abysmal performance of the Akufo-Addo government.
“The defeat of so many incumbent Members of Parliament especially those in parliamentary leadership and government shows that the NPP delegates voted for change and passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence in their own government,” Mr Gyamfi said.
According to him, the opposition party’s checks have revealed that many first-time MPs lost their seats because no developmental projects have been undertaken in their constituencies in the last three and half years.
“The one million dollar per constituency which were promised has become a pipe dream. So these first-time MPs could not undertake any significant developmental projects in their constituencies for the benefit of their constituents,” he added.
He said the MPs Common Fund which fills in for government shortfalls in the local area has been in arrears for more than two quarters.
“So the non-performance of the Akufo-Addo government is what affected most of these first-time incumbent MPs per our checks and that is a testament to the monumental failure of President Akufo-Addo and his government.”
On the defiance of Covid-19 preventive protocols during the primaries, Sammy Gyamfi said it was sad, cruel and reprehensible for President Akufo-Addo who promulgated the law that has led to arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of pastors and other Ghanaians to turn around and supervise the violation of same by his party folks and officials with impunity.
“This is unacceptable and abominable particularly at a time church and mosque gatherings have been restricted to not more than 100 attendees and duration of one hour and at a time Ghanaians who have been found of not wearing face masks are being subjected to all manner of degrading and inhumane treatments.
“The recklessness and the lawlessness displayed by the NPP during their primaries coupled with the selective application of the law on Covid-19 preventive protocols by our law enforcement agents make the imprisonment of Ghanaians who were convicted for breeching public gathering restrictions under EI 64 is totally unjustifiable and unfair.
“People have gone to jail for this and we believe that we must all hold President Akufo-Addo to these same standards; either than that, then we have no business imprisoning people in this country.
“We must as well release the pastors and citizens who have been imprisoned as a result of the enforcement of this very law because nobody is above the law in this country.”
Source: Ghanaian Times
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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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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