Nana Konadu Rejoins NDC?

Contrary to reports that the Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings’ led National Democratic Party (NDP) has joined forces with the ‘Let My Vote Count Alliance’ to marshal support for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Co in court, The Al-Hajj can authoritatively report that the former first lady is on her way to her mother party, the National Democratic Congress. This new development which has sent many political pundits trying to solve the puzzle that lay deep at the heart of what many could possible describe as a historic political theatrics of the century, was stamped upon by a very close associate to the former first lady. According to a source at the Ridge residence of the former first couple, the NDP leader’s decision to rejoin the NDC was not the least in doubt; that some serious and deep-thinking went into it, especially considering the constant bashing the umbrella party received from leading members of the NDP. “Nana Konadu left the NDC because she was not satisfied with regard to their commitment to the principles on which the party was formed and the treatment meted out her husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings. Now that there is an improvement along those lines under the leadership and Presidency of John Mahama, it is natural that she retraces her root with the spirit of forgiveness, dedication and service” the source noted The source noted that ever since President Mahama assumed the leadership role of the ruling NDC, the party has gone through a “dramatic change,” a development which could probably be the driving force wooing her back. “It is true that the leadership of the NDC has not changed, it still has the same people but significantly, the raison d’être of Mrs. Rawlings departure from the NDC to lead the NDP has evaporated…her decision to sign another pact with the NDC is not predicated on the prospects of wealth or power, but rather is one of courage and commitment given that her spirit can best be at home in a structure she helped to build.” What is not clear, however, was whether Mrs. Rawlings will disband the NDP and rally its supporters back to the NDC; now that she claims “President Mahama has brought great improvement and unity in the party after the demise of late President Mills”. The wife of the founder of the NDC, in 2011 resigned from her position as the party's Second Vice-Chairperson to contest the late President J.E.A Mills for the NDC flagbearership at Sunyani, which she managed to garner a mere 3.1% of the votes as against the late President’s 96.9 percent. Subsequently, speculations became rife thatnshe was polishing herself to run for President on the ticket of NDP, a breakaway party from the NDC; a report the office of the Rawlingses vehemently denied. In a dramatic move, the wife of the NDC founder in less than 48 hours to a delegate congress by the NDP in Kumasi to elect a flagbearer resigned as a member of the NDC, a move that added much credibility to speculations that she may accept to run for President on the party's ticket. Her resignation also came days after former President Rawlings indicated in an interview with Joy News, he will support his wife should she decide to contest the December 7, 2012 election. After weeks of speculations and rumor mongering, it was later confirmed that Mrs. Rawlings would contest as Presidential candidate on the ticket of the NDP, but her dream was dashed prematurely due to the party’s inability to properly fill out her nomination forms, as a result she was caught by the deadline for submission of nomination forms to the Electoral Commission. Though political pundits argued the NDC could suffer at the polls as a result of the formation of the NDP, the umbrella party managed to secure a first run victory by polling 50.70% of the total votes cast to beat its closest opponent, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party who polled 47.74 percent. It has been widely reported in the media that ever since President John Mahama assumed the leadership of the NDC, he has been making frantic efforts to unite the NDC. Al-Hajj

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Man Beheaded At Bunso

A man believed to be in his late 40s was beheaded on Sunday by an unknown assailant. An eyewitness told Adom News the man was murdered in cold blood in his house near Bonsu Junction in the Eastern Region. The eyewitness gave the deceased name as Mr. Duah. He added that the man met his untimely death upon arrival home from church. It is still not clear why someone would behead Duah but information reaching Adom News indicated that he had a quarrel with one of his two wives over a property they both rented out to a bank and some stores at Bonsu sometime ago. But sources said the wife was not at home when the murder was committed. Meanwhile, Kyebi Police have taken custody of the remains of the deceased and have arrested one person in connection with the alleged murder. The police confirmed the gory story to Adom News but said they were interviewing witnesses before making any official statement. Adom FM

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GMA Threatens Strike, February 11 Deadline

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has warned that public sector doctors will withdraw their services on February 11, if the Fair Wages and National Labour Commission fail to address the discrepancies associated with the migration of doctors unto the Single Spine Salary Structure. The GMA said this after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday said it has instructed their members to only attend to emergencies and in-patients beginning, February 11, 2013 In an interview with Citi News, the General Secretary of the Association, Dr Frank Serebour said doctors will eventually withdraw all services including emergency care as well as in-patient care from February. “We have actually instructed are members to standby and we have given them clear instructions as to how they are supposed to go according to what the NEC has already decide upon.” “It is not something that came out of the blue; we have been at this issue for almost one year now. And we have indicated that right from the time that we migrated to the Single Spine Salary Structure in December 2011; there was an issue with the market premium because the Fair Wages and Salries Commission and the Ministry of Finance decided to fix the market premium on their own.” According to the GMA the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Fair Wages and Salary Commission unilaterally decided to suspend and subsequently recover payments of conversion difference to doctors and other health professionals resulting in reduced pension contributions. This GMA has said is in clear contravention of the ILO Convention, the Labour Act 2003 and the Government white paper on SSSS implementation. Dr Serbour said “the National Labour Commission has either deliberately or intentionally or whether they don’t have the capacity to deal with the issue. The commission is supposed to within 14 days solve the issues after all the complaints we made in May 28, 2012.” “And up to date the issues have not been resolved.” “Our SSNIT contribution has gone down against the international.labour law; our pension contribution on the Single Spine is lower than before and that is not acceptable. This issue has been before the National Labour Commission for close to four months now and they have not done anything about it”, he lamented. Citifmonline.com

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Raymond Archer: Mahama Is Making A Smart Change...Doesn't Want To Fade Out "Old Folks"

Editor-In-Chief of the Enquirer newspaper, Raymond Archer has said Prez Mahama is being smart with his ministerial appointments by keeping the "old folks" in the system to help the new ones in executing various projects to bring a transformation. According to him, the President has given all indication that he is forging a new path forward to bring about change and so there is the need for God to guide him. He has prayed for knowledge and a sense of direction for His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama . “It looks like there is change in the making and my only prayer is that the Lord will guide him and he will allow himself to be guided to manage this change that he has begun”, he said. Speaking as a panelist on Radio Gold’s current affairs programme, Alhaji and Alhaji, Raymond Archer said looking at the President’s ministerial list, he doesn’t want to fade out all the "old folks" (people who have served the NDCgovernment for a long time) and that is why he is maintaining the likes of Hon. E.T. Mensah. Raymond Archer indicated that such people will help the new ministers with their expertise so that the change that the country is looking for will come quickly. “The President is making a very smart change; still keeping the guys who have been there in the system for long like E.T. Mensah to help in the transition...I am happy that there are still some old faces who can help the process, the President with his transition”, the Editor intimated. Raymond Archer also added that those who are criticizing the President for his choice of ministers should be allowed to do so and not be condemned. According to him, those who agree and disagree with the President, all ‘help to make the change complete’. “I think the best we can do is to pray that everything goes well, criticize when we feel we are not comfortable and we criticize not because we hate, but because it is part of the process and demand from the President that the change that he has promised will be achieved”, he added. Peacefmonline Via: http://wp.me/p2b54R-4Lb

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Minority Leader Denies Plot To Replace NPP National Chairman

Minority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Minority Leader, Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu has dismissed media reports that he and some other minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members in Parliament are plotting to replace the NPP National Chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

He described the said publication by an Accra based newspaper as a calculated attempt to divert the attention of NPP supporters from the ongoing election petition filed at the Supreme Court.

“That alleged skimming was unknown to me and it was a figment of the imagination of the writer; wherever he concocted that plot from; reading between the lines I think the obvious intension is to divert the attention of the teeming masses of the party’s supporters and sympathizers from the matter that is with respect to the court case and also to divide the rank of the NPP.”

He implored Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and all NPP supporters to treat the publication with the contempt that it deserved.

“My advice to all of us is that we should remain focused and not be destructed by such publications, we need unity, unity lies strength.”

The Minority Leader thus challenged the media to be circumspect in their reportage saying, “There are very decent newspapers in Ghana and it is a shame that there are people calling themselves editors and churning out publications that do not seem to respect any of the tenets of journalism.”

He stressed, “With all the freedoms given to the media, it is very disappointing when people abuse these freedoms in their bid to cause mischief.

Source: Citifmonline
Via GhanaReporters