We have solid record in Volta region-NPP replies Mahama

Mr. Amewu (M) addressing the press

The Leadership of the opposition New Patriotic Party in the Volta region has defended the party's development  records  in the region during  the eight years tenure of the Kufour -led government between 2001 and 2009.

According to the NPP, the Volta region under the President Kufour’s administration, has witnessed monumental development projects and programmes in various sectors including roads, education, water and health among others. 

The party  was reacting to comments by President Mahama that, the NPP has nothing to show in terms of development in the region during their tenure in power. The president at a durbar of Chiefs and people of Anlo last weekend also stated that, the NDC party is responsible for all the massive projects that the Volta region since the inception of the fourth republic.

But addressing the press in Ho on Wednesday, the regional chairman of NPP, Mr. John Peter Amewu described the President’s claims as false and diversionary, citing  the ‘massive infrastructure development at the Ho Polytechnic, extension of potable water to more than 15 towns and villages within the southern sector as well as the construction of the Keta Sea defense project’ as some of the projects the NPP executed in the region.

Nkwanta South NDC youth protest delay in Approving new DCE

Aggrieved youth locking up the party office

Some aggrieved youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nkwanta South constituency of the Volta region have locked the party's offices in protest over delays in appointing a a substantive  DCE for the area. 

The youth clad in red apparels also burnt lorry tyres to express their anger against the party's regional executives and the Volta regional minister, Helen Ntoso for their seemingly inaction on the issue.

The Nkwanta south district has been without a substantive Chief Executive since November 2014, following the gruesome murder the then DCE, Peter Kojo Kenyenso.

Though,President Mahama in November last year  nominated Alfred Okanya for the position, his confirmation by the assembly members is still pending as a date is yet to be fixed for the exercise.

The situation, according to the aggrieved youth is retarding  the rapid development of the district.

Let's work to retain President Mahama- John Dumelo to NDC youth

John Dumelo with some NDC supporters 

Popular Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo has hit the grounds running for President Mahama re-election campaign, charging the youth wing of the NDC to work hard to secure a second term for the president in the November 7, general elections.

Addressing enthusiastic supporters in the Volta region during a health walk dubbed 'Walk for JM' on Monday at Hohoe, Mr. Dumelo said, " I'm glad that you have all joined in the walk, that's the same way we will walk to maintain this present government."

NDC chairman blames officials for misleading President on Hohoe roads

One of the abandoned town roads

The Volta regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwadwo Gyapon Kudjoe has blamed officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and Urban roads Department for misleading the president on state of road works in the Hohoe municipality.

President Mahama in his recent state of the nation address in parliament, listed several road projects, he said are progressing steadily  in the Volta region, including the Ve-Golokwati to Hohoe and the Hohoe township roads.

An assertion, which angered some  residents, ostensibly because  the contractors have abandoned the projects many months ago with very little work done. 

The roads and highways minister, Inusah Fuseini who also defended the president's assertion, quoting 68 percent of work done, had  to virtually eat humble pie, when he visited area last Wednesday and realized the reality on the grounds is far different from what is on paper.

NDC Primaries: Four MPs tumble, Seven new faces join ticket inVoltaregion.

Four incumbent members of parliament tumbled in the just ended parliamentary primaries of National Democratic Congress in the Volta region. 

They include. Hon. Joe Gidisu, MP for Central Tongu and former minister for roads and highways, who was beaten by Mr. Gabby Hotordze with almost 5000 votes in a three man contest. Hon. Gidisu polled 3,123 votes as against Mr. Hotordze’s  8,088 votes.

In the  North Dayi constituency, Hon. George Loh set the record as a one term MP, as he was toppled by a female aspirant, Joycelyn Tetteh, a student of the University of Cape Coast. She polled 3,037 votes as against Mr. Loh’s 2,207 votes.

Hon. Edem Asimah also suffered defeat in the South Dayi constituency, where he Lawyer  Rockson Defeamekpor, who polled 2,422 votes, as against Mr. Asimah's 1,585 votes.

The 4th causality was the Incumbent MP for Biakoye, Hon. Emmanuel Bandua also lost to Nyanpon Aboagye.

In all, Seven new faces have made their way onto the NDC's ticket for the 2016 general elections. They are include Charles Agbeve for Agortime/Ziope, and Angela Alorwu-Tay (DCE) for Afadjato South.

Below is the list of winners in the NDC primaries in Volta region.

NDC suspends disqualified Ketu South MP aspirant

         Koku Anyidoho, Deputy NDC General Secretary 

The Volta regional branch of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended one of the disqualified parliamentary aspirants for the Ketu South constituency Jim Yao Morti.

The party in a statement Wednesday said the decision has become necessary following the “unacceptable” behavior of Yao Morti and his supporters after his disqualification from the upcoming primaries.

Morti is in court seeking to place an injunction on the Saturday primary in the constituency.

According to the writ, he said he met all laid down requirements stated in the NDC’s guidelines for the election, hence could not understand his disqualification.

“Even though no communication has been channeled to the plaintiff directly, the plaintiff got to know that the reason for the delay and actions of some of the executives of the 1st Defendant [Fifi Kwetey] to stall his candidature is to assist the 5th defendant who has lost touch with the constituency,” the writ stated.

The NDC goes to the polls on Saturday to elect its Presidential and parliamentary candidates for the 2016 elections.

Credit: StarrFMonline 

Mahama climax ‘changing lives’ tour in Volta region ahead of primaries

President Mahama will climax his 'changing lives, transforming Ghana' tour with a 2days visit to the Volta region, the 'world bank' of the governing National Democratic Congress. 

As part of the visit which begins today, the president will commission one of the community day Senior High Schools in the Nkwanta South district  and later inspect work on the Hohoe-Pepesu section of the eastern corridor road project at Jasikan.

He will then have a meeting with regional party executives and MMDCEs at the residency in Ho later Wednesday  evening.

President Mahama is also expected to commission the permanent campus of the university of health and allied sciences at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho on Thursday morning, before meeting with members of the Volta regional house of Chiefs.

The visit will be climax with a mammoth rally at the Ho jubilee, where president will address thousands of party supporters in the region ahead of Saturday's presidential and parliamentary primaries of the party.

Disqualified Ketu South NDC aspirant drag party to court

One of the two disqualified aspirants in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary race in the Ketu South constituency of the Volta region have drag the party to court over his disqualification.

Mr. Jim Yao Morti, through a suit  at the High court in Accra, is seeking among other reliefs an injunction on the November 21 primaries in the constituency.

According to the writ,  Mr. Morti said he met all laid down requirements stated  in the NDC’s guidelines for the election, hence could not understand his disqualification.

He noted that, a petition brought against him during his vetting about him selling a rented car in Togo was raised during which he “provided satisfactory answers to that effect and even provided the necessary documentation to alleviate the issues raised.”

His vetting was however  referred to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for redress, but has since had no communication from the party concerning his disqualification or otherwise.

Mr. Morti however believe the action of the NDC national executive committee is breach of his fundamental human rights and an attempt to give the incumbent MP, Mr. Fiifi Kwetey the lee way to contest unopposed. He is therefore praying the court for a perpetual injunction on the parliamentary primaries in the constituency until his name is included on the ballot paper.

“The NEC has not till date, come out with a decision of the his candidature and also not communicated same to him or the general public,” yet has not been cleared for the primaries.

“Even though no communication has been channelled to the plaintiff directly, the plaintiff got to know that the reason for the delay and actions of some of the executives of the 1st Defendant [Fiifi Kwetey] to stall his candidature is to assist the 5th defendant who has lost touch with the constituency,” the writ stated.

Photos: Late Biakoye DCE laid to rest

The mortal remains of the late Chief Executive of the Biakoye district in the Volta region, Nana Louis Akatah has been laid to rest on Saturday.

Nana Akatah, who died on May 24 this year at the Margaret Marquart hospital after a short illness, was buried in his hometown Akposso-Kabo.

Dozens of mourners, including NDC party functionaries and MMDCEs in region attended a requiem mass held on a local basic school park to pay their last respect to the 62 years old educationist cum grass-root politician.

The Volta regional minister, Helen Ntoso in a tribute described the late Nana Akatah as a 'gentleman' who was diligent in his duties.

She also noted Nana Akatah, who was the first substantive DCE for Biakoye, with its capital at Nkonya-Ahenkro, didn't enjoy his position due to the protracted land dispute between the people of Nkonya and Alavanyo, which has led to sporadic attacks.

Mr. Michael Adjaho, DCE for Agortime-Ziope, who also double as Dean of Volta MMDCEs said the death of their colleague was a big blow to them, stating that ' in less than a year, we've lost two of our hard working colleagues. Early this year we buried our former colleague DCE for Nkwanta South, Peter Kenyenso who was gruesomely murdered in November last year and here we are, today burying another colleague."

‘Wakye is our favourite’-Ho Prison Inmates declare

Wakye in a pack Photo (C) facebook.com/Ndamoah

Inmates of the Ho Central prisons may have their freedom curtailed, but not their insatiable love for Wakye, Yes! wakye; that indigenous delicacy rich in protein.

The inmates who unambiguously declared their unflinching love for the local food, prepared by boiling beans and rice together with other ingredients, shouted “We want Wakye”, when asked by the chief Prison warden about the food they will like to eat as their next meal, at recent durbar held in the prison yard.

Just when the chief Warden, Deputy Director of Prisons, Victor Agbelengor assured them of their wish, the entire prison resounded with a thunderous applause and chants to signify their excitement and gratitude.

One of the inmates, sum up their insatiable love and crave for Waakye, to our reporter at the durbar saying “Wakye is our food and we don’t care eating it every day.. It’s very delicious.”

So whenever you consider donating food items to the Ho prisons, make wakye ingredients number one item on your list or better still serve them wakye with its accompaniments and you will leave a lasting memory in their minds.

Murdered Nkwanta-South DCE buried on Assembly Premises

The remains of the murdered Nkwanta-South District Chief Executive, Peter Kojo Kenyenso was on Saturday laid to rest at the forecourt of the district assembly premises at Nkwanta.

Hundreds of mourners including, Politicians, traditional leaders and business Executives trooped the Nkwanta R.C School Park to pay their last respects to a man, who was brutally shot dead by unknown assailants in the evening Monday, November 3 last year his residence.

A government delegation led by the Local government Minister, Julius Debrah, MMDCEs, MPs and leading members of the governing NDC party including Dan Abodakpi was present to mourn with the Kenyenso family including his wife and three kids

Several tributes poured in for the 50 year old local politician, with many describing him as ‘affable and energetic’ man with unbridled ‘passion and dedication’ towards the development of his area.

Eastern Corridor Road Is Death Trap – Greenstreet

Ivor Green Street of CPP

Convention People’s Party (CPP) General Secretary Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, has charged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to stop the propaganda and fix the eastern corridor road it had repeatedly promised to.

He said the major road which connects the south-eastern part of the country to the north, is “a death trap” and sympathized with the people living along that stretch of the road.

He told DAILY GUIDE that on his way to the north to assess the ongoing CPP constituency executive elections, he used the road to see for himself what had actually been done. He said he was surprised at the way some government communicators presented a different picture about the same carriage way.

“Asikuma to Kadjebi is like a death trap. The road is in a terrible condition. Nothing has been done over there,” he lamented.

‘It will take miracle for me not to Win’- Abodakpi

The former Ghana Ambassador to Malaysia and a contender for the national chairmanship position of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Dan Abodakpi has stated that, he is optimistic of annexing the chair from incumbent Dr. Kwabena Adjei at the party’s upcoming delegate congress.

The congress scheduled for October 24, 2014 also has the current first vice national chairman and national coordinator of NADMO, Mr. Kofi Portuphy vying for the chairmanship slot.

But Mr. Abodakpi, who took his campaign to the Volta region over the weekend, told journalists in Ho that, his chances in the contest are ‘extremely’ bright, and “it will take miracle for me not to win”.

According to him, his message of reconnecting the party to its grassroots through a transformational leadership is permeating the hearts of the party’s delegates, who he believes will give him the nod on the day of congress.

The NDC is expected to go to congress on October 24, 2014 to elect new national executives and persons have declared their intention to contest various

Mr. Abodakpi who was also a one time Member of Parliament for the Keta and a former Minister for Trade and Industry in the NDC Rawlings government, said his transformational leadership agenda will ensure the revival of the party structures especially at the branch level, to make it vibrant and attractive for every member feel part of. This, he said would engender members to contribute towards the running of the NDC, instead of only relying on political appointees to finance the party.