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Young Parliamentarian’s Forum Visit Ashaiman Municipality
The Young Parliamentarian’s Forum, as part of its project to tour all 276 constituencies in Ghana, began its first visit to the Ashaiman ghetto.
The purpose of the visit was to educate and sensitize the youth particularly those in the ghettos on mental health and the devastating effects of opioid addiction, as well as to explore how best the team can support them.
The President of the Forum, Jocelyn Quarshie, together with the Vice President, Hon. Davis Ansah Opoku, said the visit was not just an educational outreach but a step towards real change.
They stressed the importance of connecting directly with the youth to understand their struggles and find practical solutions.
Madam Jocelyn encouraged the young people to stay away from drugs, noting that drug abuse only leads to destruction. “It’s time to take charge of your future and make better choices,” she advised.
Deputy Clinical Psychologist to Parliament, Mrs. Patricia Benson Gaskin touched on the effects of drug abuse and outlined available support mechanisms.
Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Freeman Tsekpo commended the team for the initiative they have undertaken and appreciated their decision to engage with the youth in the ghettos.
He expressed excitement about the team’s willingness to descend to the level of the “ghetto boys” to interact with them. “We are excited that the team is willing to help create opportunities for these young people to earn a living and find meaningful work,” he said.
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Oil funds for ‘Big Push’ will be efficiently used, Mahama tells PIAC.
President John Dramani Mahama has assured members of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) that oil revenues earmarked for his proposed $10 billion “Big Push” infrastructure initiative will be efficiently disbursed and managed.
The President gave the assurance during a courtesy call by the PIAC members. Led by its Chairman, Mr Constantine K.M. Kudzedzi, the Committee members visited to congratulate the President on his recent election victory and discuss matters concerning the management of Ghana’s oil revenues.
President Mahama outlined his government’s ambitious plan to invest $10 billion over the next five years, allocating $2 billion annually, into priority infrastructure projects across the country.
These projects will target key sectors, including roads, major bridges, education, and health infrastructure, as well as areas vital for boosting productivity in the agriculture sector.
He specified that agricultural projects under the “Big Push” would encompass irrigation schemes, construction of farmer service centres, and support for agribusiness development.
The President stated that the primary sources of funding for this significant policy initiative would be petroleum revenue and minerals royalties.
Commending PIAC for its vital role, President Mahama praised the Committee’s efforts in monitoring and ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilisation of Ghana’s petroleum revenues.
He highlighted PIAC as a commendable model for other countries seeking effective oversight mechanisms.
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Ablekuma Re-run: Court dismisses NPP’s Akua Afriyie’s 10-day interim injunction application
Barring any last minute development, the Electoral Commission (EC)will on Friday, July 11, 2025, conduct fresh elections in 19 polling stations in the Ablekumah North Constituency, Greater Accra Region.
This was after the High Court in Accra dismissed a 10-day interim injunction application filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), candidate, Akua Afriyie to stop the EC from conducting elections in the affected polling stations.
The NPP is challenging the decision by the EC to conduct election in the Ablekumah North Constituency because the Commission had earlier told Parliament that it was going to collate results of six polling stations to declare the winner of the election which was held on December 7, 2024 and contested by Mrs Afriyie of the NPP and Mrs Awurabena Aubyn, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the 2024 Parliamentary election.
Earlier, the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Justin Frimpong Kodua, told journalists at a press conference that the NPP would boycott the election, if the EC fails to rescind its decision to re-run polls in 19 polling stations.
Meanwhile, the NDC had proposed that the elections be conducted in 37 polling stations instead of the 19 the EC settled on.
The Ablekumah North Constituency parliamentary election was characterised by violence and irregularities, with the NDC and NPP trading accusations allegations against the EC.
They argue for instance, that the EC, which was expected to be a neutral umpire in the exercise had been compromised.
Both Mrs Aubyn and Mrs Afriyie are still claiming they won the election, but neither of them had been sworn to represent their constituents, seven months in the life of the ninth of Parliament.
It remains to be seen whether the EC would be able to conduct the election without any incident, as previous attempts at relocation with enhanced security were unsuccessful.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
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