WHITE DOVE ENDORSED PRESIDENT MAHAMA AT SPECIAL CONGRESS GROUND

 The sudden appearance of a white dove which settled for a while on the shoulders of the President during the Special Delegate’s Congress in Kumasi has been given different interpretations by some keen observers.

 Whiles some said the dove which settled on the right shoulder of President John Dramani Mahama, during the event of the National Democratic Congress at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, was a good omen which foretold a resounding victory for the party in the upcoming December Elections, others said the dove which flew in from nowhere and perched on the President and was later seen ambling about in front of the dais where the leadership was seated, was a mere superstition which held no special significance.

 A couple of weeks ago, a similar incident occurred when a white dove sat on the vehicle of the wife of the late President Mills, Dr Mrs Naadu Mills, when her late husband’s remains was being carried to the burial site and many who witnessed the incident expressed the feeling that such things did have spiritual significance and should not be simply dismissed.

 Middle-aged Madam Margaret Oteng, a trader at the stadium, said “the spirit of President Mills has come back to the President to imbue his successor with the spirit of courage to continue with his good work of peace and unity.”

 Opanin Kwame Ohemeng, an NDC supporter, said in the Bible, the dove signifies the Holy Spirit, which Christians believe symbolizes truth, light and love.

 He said the incident is also a reminder to President Mahama to espouse those similar virtues to unite the party and the people of Ghana for a peaceful poll in December.

 Miriam Agyei, a 32- year old second-hand clothes seller at the Kumasi Central Market, however, expressed an entirely different view saying, “I don’t believe in these things they are just unfounded superstitions.”

PRESIDENT MAHAMA ENDORSED AS LEADER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

President Mahama has been endorsed as the flag bearer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) which was held at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on this day of 30^th August, 2012

He won by 99.5% of votes cast by the delegates after the voting which was very transparent, free and fair. This special congress of the National Democratic Congress has boosted the nation democratic credentials as the beacon of democracy and hope of the African Continent in this current democratic dispensation.

President Mahama polled 2767 out of the 2781 total votes cast whereas

Fourteen delegates voted “No” to object to President Mahama becoming the flag bearer of the NDC in the upcoming general elections in December 2012.

Eleven ballots were declared invalid. This special congress of the National Democratic Congress was necessitated by the passing away of the leader of the party His Excellency the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

FAMILY MEMBERS OF GAMBIA'S PRESIDENT WIFE NOT HAPPY WITH MARRIAGE

Some family members of Mrs. Nora Jammeh, formerly called Munira Yahaya, the young Ghanaian lady who got wedded to the Gambian president Yahaya Jammeh secretly in the Kumasi Metropolis on 26^th of August 29, 2012 at the Golden Tulip Hotel are reportedly not happy with the marriage. According to some of the aggrieved family members of the lady, Mr. Jammeh is a dictator and has no respect for human rights. Some of them cited his recent execution of nine people who were on death roll in the tiny West African Nation and his hatred towards the international community especially the United States of America and Great Britain. They however admitted the lady is 22 years and that Mr.Jammeh did not violate any law and that they are only hoping that the lady will have a happy and a succeful marriage with the dictator as they described him to be but if it happens otherwise, they said the mother of the lady will take full responsibility as she masterminded alone to give the girl to the dictator.

GAMBIA'S PRESIDENT SECRET WEDDING IN GHANA EXPOSED

The Gambian President, Alhaji Sheikh Prof. Dr. Yahaya Abdul Aziz Jamus Junkung Jammeh, reportedly tied the knot with a 22-year-old charming Ghanaian lady in Kumasi last weekend. Mrs. Nora Jammeh, formerly called Munira Yahaya, a graduate of Sunyani Polytechnic, was engaged to the Gambian president two weeks ago in The Gambia, which was followed by the secret wedding at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi last Sunday. The Gambian president was not present at the function but was represented by H.E. Huseini Yaba, the Gambian has oversight responsibilities in Ghana.
 Three leading officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, whose names are being withheld, reportedly played vital roles in the organization of the successful wedding ceremony. The wedding was low key because the Gambian president did not want the media to make so much noise about him and his pretty-looking bride.
 But the matter, which had been kept secret for almost 48 hours, finally found its way to the public domain on Tuesday morning following investigations by Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye, Morning Show Host of Kessben FM in Kumasi.
 Having been briefed about the wedding ceremony by his sources, Omanhene posed as a former teacher of the new wife of the Gambian president. The Kessben FM programmes manager, speaking on phone with Mrs. Jammeh, congratulated her on a successful wedding and later asked why she did not invite her former teachers including him to the wedding ceremony.
 Mrs. Jammeh, who sounded excited, responded that she was kept indoors for two weeks where she was groomed for the big event, so she directed other people to invite dignitaries on her behalf, saying it was not her intention to exclude her former teachers in the big event.
 The new wife of the Gambian president disclosed that the wedding ceremony went smoothly as planned, adding that she would be traveling to her new husband in Gambia by today Wednesday.
Nora Jammeh could not state whether her parents would be accompanying her to the Gambia, hinting that they might stay back in Ghana whilst she leaves to join her husband.
 When Omanhene asked Munira whether she had personally met her husband President Yahaya Jammeh, she replied that they met in the Gambian about two weeks ago when they had their engagement ceremony.
 On whether she would further her education now that she had got married to the Gambian president. Mrs. Jammeh said plans had been made in advance for her to continue her education in the USA soon.
 Meanwhile, information making the rounds in Kumasi indicated that president Jammeh when he was serving as a soldier, offered help to the mother of his new wife, who was then a Ghanaian living in the Gambia.
 Nora Jammeh’s mother was so touched by the benevolence of the Gambian leader that she promised to give her pretty daughter in Ghana in marriage to him when the little girl became ripe for marriage.
 Nora’s mother since then kept constant touch with President Jammeh and she finally kept her promise by offering her beautiful daughter to the Gambian leader in marriage this year. The latest marriage was the fourth for the Gambian leader who recently executed nine people on death row in his country. The Gambian leader first got married to Tuti Faal Jammeh, but his marital relationship with her ended prematurely.
  After the departure of Tuti Faal, Jammeh married a Moroccan lady, Zeinab Suma, who is now the first lady, adding Alima Sallah, the daughter of the country’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY WILL DETERMINE WHO WINS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN DECEMBER-NCCE

A nationwide survey conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has revealed that Ghanaian voters regard honesty and integrity as key qualities required from a leader in the forthcoming elections. The study solicited the views of 7,491 respondents to rank the best qualities of a good leader and in answering this, as high as 4,761 ranked honesty and integrity as the best qualities they expected to find in a leader. In addition 3,608 respondents stated fairness as the other quality, while handsomeness, as well as wealth, trailed as the least expected from voters. The report made interesting reading as the educational background of respondents revealed that many of them who had basic educational qualification (l, 782) ranked honesty and integrity as the best qualities as those with secondary education numbering 1,207.
The nationwide survey also sought the views of the respondents on the issue of corruption which had 239 responses (45.3 per cent) urging punishing corrupt officials severely to serve as deterrent to others.
The respondents also called on the government to strengthen state institutions that deal with corruption issues in the country.
Also, responses were given to the enforcement of corruption laws in the country with some suggesting that the government should embark on a vigorous public education on the dangers and negative side of corruption. Others were of the view that the government ought to pay appropriate wages, which would enable leaders to lead exemplary lives, in order to curb corruption.
The respondents also urged the government to review the assets declaration laws for people in authority.
The study, on the topic: "Election 2012: Matters of Concern to the Ghanaian Voter" was carried out in March 2012 with the main purpose of identifying the important matters that were of concern to the Ghanaian voter with the view to informing issues-based campaigning towards the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Some of the specific objectives of the study were to provide political parties with issues that voters would like them to address, analyse matters of concern based on gender and age and identify whether there were any differences among voters.
The study involved 7,497 respondents. Out of the number, 3,665 (representing 48.9 per cent) were males while 3,782 (representing 50.4 per cent) were females. The same pattern was maintained across most regions except the Greater Accra, Eastern and Northern regions where more females than males responded to the questionnaire. Age differentials of respondents also confirmed that young persons constituted an emerging critical group in democratic development in the country. A total of 2,107 (constituting 28.8 per cent of the respondents) were people from 21 to 30 years. They were followed by a youthful age group of between 31 and 40.  The largest proportion of the respondents had basic education as their highest attainment. A questionnaires instrument was developed and used to capture the primary data which entailed 25 questions, both closed and open ended. The questionnaires were administered by 230 research assistants in both English and local languages. A sampling gap of three and five for sparsely and densely populated communities respectively was observed. The study covered four electoral areas in each of the 230 constituencies.
The data was coded and entered into computer and analysed by the NCCE Research Department using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The survey also revealed that education was ranked as the most important issue of concern to the voter.

I WILL NOT TOLERATE LONG SPEECHES DURING THE CONGRESS-ASIEDU NKETIAH

The General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress Johnson Asiedu Nketia has laid the ground rules for Thursday's National Delegates Congress which will endorse President John Mahama as the flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress. He will not countenance on long speeches on the day of the Congress and warned he will cut off any individual who goes beyond the allocated time to him or her.
The Congress themed: “Advancing a Better Ghana Agenda; working for you” will have over 2000 delegates converging at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday for the endorsement.
Already, delegates have begun trooping to the venue of the Congress.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia also confirmed the party founder Jerry John Rawlings as well as representatives of political parties who will address the congress.
“We expect everybody to stick to the programme religiously” he said.
After outlining the specific time for the delegates and guests to arrive, the NDC scribe minced no words in cautioning speakers to stick to their time.
“…We will receive solidarity messages, address by the former president, the founder of the party, and then you have address by the president.
“By 11:00 am we would have brought all the speeches [to a close]. If you exceed your time [because I am ultimately responsible for the outcome of the Congress] I will cut you off," he warned.
He made the comments shortly after receiving the nomination forms of President John Mahama.
The forms were submitted by Communications Minister Haruna Iddrisu.
In submitting the forms, Iddrisu said the President would rather have delegates vote at the Congress of the NDC to make a determination of his bid to represent the party as flag-bearer in the 2012 elections.

ALLIANCE FOR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE TELLS ELECTORAL COMMISSION'S BOSS TO RECIND DECISION OR RESIGN

The pressure Group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, to resign from his position.
The group has also admonished the EC to rescind its decision to create 45 new constituencies or face series of mass demonstrations.
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, the General Secretary of AFAG, Arnold Boateng said Dr. Afari Gyan must listen to the concerns raised by civil society groups about the creation of the new constituencies.
“We are giving them two weeks to unconditionally rescind its decision and also for the EC Chairman to honorably resign as the Commissioner if he cannot stand up to the challenge. Failure to do so, AFAG and the good people of Ghana will demonstrate to show that in this matter of national concern, the voice of the people matters,” he said.
According to him, AFAG suspects the EC chairman is “being pushed because looking at the hard position he has taken over the issue, it means he is either being pushed or he has been pushed in a very tight position where he cannot maneuver.”
Boateng described Dr. Afari Gyan, as a man with a listening ear, “and we have known him for the past 16 years. He has been a very reasonable and understanding person but in this case, he is proven difficult. So he should take a decision now before we strike.” He added