www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFz-oYHTke8

Editor’s Note: This is a predated interview conducted by Atto Commey before Nana Agyeman Konadu Rawlings lost the NDC primaries to President Atta Mills, and the Arab Spring.

Credit: Atto Commey

He said almost two years that President John Atta Mills was sworn into office he had not been able to initiate any meaningful policies and programmes that could alleviate Ghanaians from the current economic hardship. Nana Akufo-Addo said due to that the Ghanaian electorate would show the NDC government the exit in 2012.

 He said this when he addressed party supporters in some communities as part of the campaign towards the forthcoming by-election at Atiwa.
Some of the communities he visited where he introduced the Parliamentary Candidate of the party, Mr Kwasi Amoako Attah, to the electorate included New Jejeti, Abakoase, Subiriso, Awosoase, Osoroase, Asunafo and Abomosu. Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghana under the NPP government witnessed good and quality leadership, which brought a lot of development and economic growth to the country.

He said what the NDC was doing now was to continue the good policies and programmes the NPP government initiated and implemented. Nana Akufo Addo therefore called on the Ghanaian electorate to return the NPP to power in 2012 to come and continue the good policies they started.
He also urged the electorate at Atiwa to be vigilant and report any stranger who would attempt to vote in next week’s by- election to the police.

Mr Amoako-Attah on his part said he had contributed immensely to the development of the area and appealed to the electorate to vote for him to continue the development projects his predecessor, the late Kwasi Ankamah, started.

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 Tagging the campaign as; “Forging Unity in the NPP Family in the Service of Our Great Nation; A Mission for Modernisation,” the renowned Heart Surgeon urged members of the NPP to unite and move away from the looming disaster “of our great party being hijacked for the pursuit of personal ambitions and self-seeking adventure.”

Prof Frimpong-Boateng, Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, called on the party’s delegates to elect a selfless, competent, dynamic and technological inclined aspirant, which he stood for as the party’s flagbearer for Election 2012.  He stressed: “I offer to lead our great party to a new era to rediscover the spirit of our founding fathers which includes unity and commitment to service as well as sacrifice. I offer leadership to a new era of disciplined and sustained fight to make corruption and aberration, and a pursuit of a few misguided individuals not a norm or national pursuit in Ghana.”  

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said: “Given dedicated leadership and a return to our tradition of service and sacrifice for the nation, we can recapture power in Election 2012 and resume the task of rebuilding the nation to bring hope to the citizenry.”  He entreated NPP delegates to consider the deteriorating state of national development, rapid illusion of the “Better Ghana agenda” of the ruling National Democratic Congress and make a wise choice.

 Prof. Frimpong-Boateng noted that, when voted as flagbearer, he would forge a united front to embark on a mission of modernisation and new era of peace and social progress through the use of science and technology.  “This nation has been endowed with more than a fair share of natural resources to enhance the livelihood of the people out of poverty, hunger and disease, yet we lack a selfless, focused and a determined leadership,” he said. 

 On his leadership qualities, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, former Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, noted that when given the mantel, issues relating to victimisation, monetary coercion, personal antagonism would be a thing of the past.  He said; “We would put an end to the desperations of young Ghanaians who trek across the Sahara to seek the proverbial greener pastures in mostly desert countries in North Africa and thus exposing themselves to the risk of dying from hunger and thirst in the Sahara desert.” 

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng called for attitudinal change among delegates and asked them to concentrate on issues that had a bearing on their survival.  He appealed to supporters of aspiring flagbearers to eschew any form of violence which was likely to mar the beauty of the 2010 NPP Presidential primaries.  Prof. Frimpong-Boateng noted that with such an attitude, rich experience, knowledge and vision, he could contribute in changing Ghana so that Ghana would become a better place for the youth, children, grand children and generations yet to come. 

He said: “Ghana needs leadership that is credible, competent and inspiring. I seek the NPP leadership because I am concerned about the youth of this country”.  “I want to inspire the young Ghanaians to seek virtue in sacrificing to work for the future of our country”.  Mr Kwame Pianim, a Founding Member of the party, described the aspirant as a “new generation politician” whose knowledge in technology was unrivalled.

He said Prof Frimpong-Boateng is trained and well cultured in Ghanaian culture and traditions and should be given the nod as the party’s flagbearer.  Other leading members of the party, including Nana Ohene Ntow, former General Secretary, Mr Haruna Esseku, former National Chairman, and a large number of party supporters attended the launch with some holding placards praising the achievements of Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
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Dr Annor said the NPP was firmly rooted in democracy and that the party would prove to Ghanaians that it was the cradle of democracy and therefore the only solution to the country’s economic issues.  Addressing the opening of a GHC 20,000 office for the New Juaben South Constituency in Koforidua, he urged all to close their ranks and work in unity to achieve victory in 2012. 

Dr Annor told the hundreds of supporters at the ceremony that what was needed were hard work and unity of purpose to realize their victory dream of 2012.  He said the need for the NPP administration had been felt more than before as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in it’s almost two years in power had proved not equal to the task.

Dr Annor called on the leadership and the rank and file of the party to stop any blame game on the perceived internal wrangling of the party and to resolve to unite for a common front and purpose.

 Ms Beatrice Boateng, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, said the NPP could only win through hard work and commitment to the ideals of the party.  She urged women to move from playing the back role to the frontiers to ensure that they would not be left out in the 2012 victory that was destined for the party.

Mr Samuel Awuku, the spokesperson for Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), said after two years in power, many NDC supporters had regretted that they voted for the party.  He said that was a good signal for the NPP victory in 2012 and urged the supporters and leaders of the party to close their ranks for victory in 2012.

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Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I am honoured and delighted by your presence here this morning and I thank you most sincerely for honouring my invitation.

I asked you here today to for a discussion on how to restore hope in Ghana. Yes, I have picked up my nomination forms to contest for the position of Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the 2012 elections.

I thank the Ghanaian people, particularly the 4,480,446 who voted for me in 2008. Should my party, by the grace of our Lord, place their hope of returning to Government in 2012 in me again, I pray and hope that I can begin, not from zero, but by first banking on you – the nearly four and a half million Ghanaians who voted for me in 2008. My message to you is that my party and I will need your active support to convince new undecided voters and a good number of the other four and a half million people who thought they were voting for a better Ghana to vote in 2012 for the president and the party they can trust to deliver with competence and decisiveness for all of Ghana – myself and the NPP. But, before that, there is that important task of winning the confidence of my party delegates.

The NPP has done a lot of reflection since 2008. We have not been complacent. Shortly after the 2008 elections, the Party set up a committee to inquire into the defeat and make recommendations for the future. We have followed that with a series of reorganisations from the polling station level to the national leadership level. Going by our Party’s constitution, the National Council has now set August 7, 2010 as the date to elect the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the Party. We have expanded our electoral college by 4,700%, from the 2,293 who voted for 17 of us in 2007 to some 115,000 who will vote to choose a new flagbearer from a maximum number of five contestants next August.

By this, the NPP has taken a giant step in deepening internal party democracy and mobilising the grassroots of the Party. No other political party on our continent has shown such bravery in extending decision-making powers to their foot soldiers – to the men and women who actually do the door-to-door campaign. Shall I take this opportunity to urge our friends in the other political parties to emulate this example.

Reflecting on the problems that affected the NPP’s chances in 2008, some of us championed the expansion of the Electoral College. This has broadened the decision-making powers to include the over 105,000 polling station executives across Ghana. I am proud of my contribution towards the expansion. I congratulate all who supported the process and campaigned throughout the country for the expansion.

Thankfully, the polling station executives of the NPP have now been recognised and empowered as a very important arm of the party leadership. In moving for this sweeping organic expansion, my colleagues and I were mindful of another important thing: bringing power to the youth who form the base of our party. If you look at the end result, the aim has been achieved. Young men and women who would not normally have taken part in the decision-making process of our party can do so today. The enthusiastic involvement of the youth in the affairs of the party is critical to the party’s growth and success. That is why I shall continue to unfold programmes for the economic, social and political development of the youth in my party and the youth in Ghana, as a whole.

After falling short of winning the presidency by less than 0.5% of the total votes cast in 2008, I have had to do a lot of reflection myself. I have listened to my party members and I have heard and seen the suffering of the majority of Ghanaians. There is every indication that the income of the majority of Ghanaians has fallen in just over one year of a ‘Better Ghana’ and it continues to fall. This is after workers’ pay enjoyed an average of 20% increase in real terms from 2003 to 2008 under the NPP. But, should we be surprised?

Despite the systematic attempt to denigrate President J A Kufuor’s eight-year record, we in the NPP are satisfied that he laid a solid record of achievement in virtually all aspects of our national life.

For example, in 1992, with a population of 15.34 million people, the number of poor Ghanaians was estimated to be 7.93 million. By 1999, one year before the NDC lost power, Ghana’s population had gone up to 18.21 million, 7.19 million Ghanaians (39.5%) still lived below the poverty line of $1 a day.

By, 2006, after just five years under the NPP, with a population of 22.24 million, the number of Ghanaians living below the revised poverty line of $1.25 had fallen to 6.34 million, from 39.5% to 28.5%. It went further down in 2008 to less than 26%. These figures are from the World Bank.

But, as a result of the economic policies adopted by President Mills and his government, the World Bank is now estimating that half a million more Ghanaians will fall below the poverty line by this year alone.

Thus, under the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda, Ghanaians are for the first time in almost a decade, going to get poorer. We are hamstrung with a government that appears to be incompetent even at managing and maintaining the economy the NPP bequeathed to them. They have succeeded in turning a growth rate of 7.3% that they inherited to between 3-4%. We are moving backwards; slowly but surely. Ghanaians are yearning to feel Prof Mills’ presidency and not just his residency at the Castle.

Statistics released last Friday from the Bank of Ghana make grim reading. Data from the Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) which is used in gauging the pulse of the economy, shows the decline in economic confidence deepening during the first two months of this year, implying a slowdown in the pace of economic activity. According to Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, “the factors contributing to the declining index were: [low] imports, tourists spending, private sector transfers to social security, consumer spending (derived from VAT collections) and commercial banks’ credit to the private sector.”

What it means is that Ghanaians no longer have enough money to spend on consumer goods and local manufacturers simply don’t have the demand to import the requisite capital inputs. While the Governor of the central bank is telling us that transfers to SSNIT has fallen, the Minister of Information is propagating that 1.6 million mystical jobs have been created from the halo of a better Ghana in just one year.

The fact of the matter is that the economy of Ghana is shrinking. Hence, you cannot create jobs (except 1.6 million phantom ones!). With a declining economy can government revenue grow? Well, unless through increasing taxation and tolls. Bad officials must be dealt with according to law. However, the President should stop blaming hardworking CEPS officials for revenue declines and direct his anger positively at dealing with the fundamental problem of growing the economy.

But, the root of the matter should be tackled. When they meet at the top level they only plan persecution. This is a government of witch-hunting. There are clear signs that the Mills government is embarking on a series of politically motivated prosecutions. Their intention is to dismember the NPP. They will not succeed!

At the lower level, they are at each others throats. They are fanning ethnic and chieftancy conflicts. Under this era of the Asondwehene, the peace of our nation is threatened. Investor confidence is eroded. Why would the economy not shrink?

We need to restore hope. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my basic motivating factor today. If by the grace of God I have the chance, I will bring back hope and restore the kind of confidence that we need to move our nation forward.

It is of course refreshing to know that headline inflation has now dropped to 13.2%. The basic economic principle of demand and supply means you can beat inflation simply by reducing the purchasing power of the people – by impoverishing the people.

The relative stability this year, helped by strong commodity prices for our exports and reductions in both public and consumer spending, has been achieved by factors other than the competence of the present administration. It does not demonstrate imaginative or competent economic management. Any Senior High School economics student can stabilise an economy by choking it off, which is exactly what the NDC has done.

The challenge of economic management is to maintain stability while growing the economy even in the face of a global economic crisis. The entire economic policy of the Mills-Mahama government has been premised on a false understanding of the actual state of the economy. We were first told that the size of Ghana’s economy was around $16 billion and the fiscal deficit was about 15% of that, an ailment which called for appropriate remedy of very tight fiscal discipline. Just recently, both the International Monetary Fund and the Ghana Statistical Service came out to say that in fact Ghana’s economy could be twice as large and may be more than $30 billion. This immediately cuts the percentage of the nation’s fiscal deficit by half. So Ghanaians have been forced to suffer based on false statistics and the obsession of a new government to make its predecessor look bad.

Petroleum prices and electricity tariffs are about to go up, while there are no signs of corresponding increases in workers wages and salaries. This, ladies and gentlemen is not the better Ghana that I-Care-for-You Mills promised. The first 16 months of the Mills-Mahama government has been characterised by incompetence, lies, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. There is a general state of insecurity in the country driven by the NDC foot soldiers and an unchecked culture of “It’s my government so I can get away with it.”

Barely a week goes by these days without news of violent acts of lawlessness being committed by members of the ruling NDC in one part of the country or the other. Toll booths are confiscated; NHIS and NYEP offices locked up and their staff forcibly sacked and locked out. The control of public toilets these days has become the ultimate symbol of power and authority under the reign of the Asomdwehene – the King of Peace. Law and order has broken down. Ghanaians are living in fear. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the era of the Asomdwehene, the King of Peace.

From day one, the NDC has poisoned the business/investment climate by lying about the economy, lying to voters, and lying to their own foot-soldiers. Ghanaians are broke. Ghana is breaking. Who must fix it? Who can fix it? Who will fix it?

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope this explains why after nearly 35 years of being in the frontline of Ghanaian politics, this 66-year-old, short and not so handsome young man still has the energy and passion to lead Ghana to a new and exciting future. The very challenges, hardships and oppressive environment that motivated 33-year-old Akufo-Addo to help organize and lead the PMFJ’s mobilization of the people against the obnoxious Union Government concept of the Acheampong regime in 1977/8 were the very same ills that motivated 51-year old Akufo-Addo to help lead the Kume Preko demonstrations of 1995. It is this same motivation that is driving me to lead the battle to recapture power for the NPP and for the good of Ghana in 2012. Yes, I still believe in Ghana.

Ghana needs a bold and decisive leadership: A leadership that is sincere and not condescending; A leadership that sees evil, hears evil and acts against them; A leadership that can bring back self-confidence in the Ghanaian people; A leadership that believes in Ghana and in the manifest destiny of this blessed land of ours. This is why I am still in the race to lead my party to lead Ghana. Insha Allah, it shall come to pass.
God willing, I intend to begin my national tour of all 230 constituencies in Ghana tomorrow beginning with the Central Region. Apart from appealing to the 115,000 delegates of the National Congress for their votes on August 7, I intend to use this national tour to listen to the party people, especially the five polling station executives in each of the more than 21,000 polling station areas nationwide, their accounts of the opportunities and challenges facing our great Party. What we need to do to prepare and equip ourselves sufficiently for Victory 2012. I want to share ideas with them on how best to improve the Party’s fortunes in every corner of the country.

As we celebrate the 18th anniversary of the NPP, I want to thank the grassroots activists of the Party for their hard work, unwavering loyalty and commitment to the cause of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition. Ours is a tradition born out of struggle to wage an uncompromising battle for the establishment and maintenance of liberty, justice, responsibility and prosperity.

From 1947, right through the years of dictatorship to the Fourth Republic, the rank and file of our tradition stood firm in their conviction to uphold, defend and promote the party and its principles of rule of law, multi-party democracy and individual freedom. Even though, the individual expectations of many of you, our foot soldiers could not be met during the eight years of positive change under President J A Kufuor, you showed your patience and higher understanding of democracy and the challenges and opportunities of a developing economy in a fiercely competitive multi-party democracy. Those of us in leadership position of the party shall forever be grateful to you.

I also want all of our members and activists to consider the imperative of unity for victory 2012. I know that I do not have to convince anyone of the supreme need for unity. Indeed, any time I have had the privilege of interacting with our grassroots activists, they have pressed home the need for the NPP to forge and present a united front, for united we stand divided we fall. Let me say that I fully subscribe to this important, principled value of political party organization and wish to assure our teeming supporters that, as I have always done, I will continue to strive to maintain and build on the unity that is so critical to our party’s organizational and electoral success. We must work together, because we dream together; we must think together and strategize together; we must stay together and win for all; we must protect each other, because we suffer together; and we must trust each other if we are to stick together. We are one party, one family with one goal: Victory 2012! NPP, Ghana ani da mo so!

I hope to convince our grassroots, through the power of my positive campaign, to assert their wisdom and the supreme authority granted them by the party’s constitution, to vote for the most appropriate person to lead the party into victory in December 2012 in order for us to begin the process of fixing the nation and binding us closer together after January 7, 2013.

I have done a lot of reflection since our defeat in 2008. As a human being, I assure you that I have examined myself; I have examined my strategies. I assure you that I have come out stronger for future leadership. I believe I am standing on the brink of a great victory for our great party and I ask all party faithful to give me the desired push for a sweet victory in 2012.

My soundings in the party tell me that there is broad support for my candidature from all sections within the party, young and old, men and women, from the established figures of the party, emerging figures, through the polling stations and constituencies across the country. I am assured by this broad support that I therefore represent the best prospect for uniting the party. I believe that this broad support within the party is a reflection of the broad support I enjoy within the Ghanaian population.
I am appealing to all my supporters not to resort to any negative campaign. We have a positive story to tell. Let us keep it clean and healthy.

The NPP believes in the supreme dignity of humankind. We shall continue to defend and promote the economic and social rights and freedoms of every individual in a multi-democratic and liberal economic environment, where access to success and prosperity is opened to all.
These are my first steps to bringing back hope!

God bless you!
God bless the NPP!
And, God bless mother Ghana!

Source: Myjoyonline

The party warns that the “consequence would be unpleasant for the Bawku area, unpleasant for the adjoining neighbours, and ultimately, unpleasant for the country as a whole.”

In a statement signed by its national chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the NPP said the surge in violence in Bawku and its surroundings since the NDC came into government is no coincidence and that it is a pattern seen in several parts of the country.

According to the NPP, “Since January 2009, the NDC government has abandoned the policy of even-handedness and provided tacit support for Kussasis acting under the umbrella of the NDC government to visit violence on not just Mamprusis, but anybody perceived to be a leading member or supporter of the NPP in that neighbourhood.

“This attitude of government has emboldened thugs and trouble makers to attack innocent citizens at will and with impunity. And they continue to roam the streets with their chests out. The government has chosen to look the other way while the situation deteriorates alarmingly.”

Recounting the recent killing of the NPP’s constituency chairman, Amadu Danladi, the NPP said it condemns in no uncertain terms the blatant display of one-sidedness by the government and the escalating violence in Bawku, urging the government for both moral and constitutional commitments, to “retract from this unhealthy support for criminals and trouble makers, arrest and prosecute suspects, and signal to all residents of Bawku that government can be a mediating mother in the conflicts of that area.”

Below, read the full statement from the NPP signed by National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey:

MURDER OF AMADU DANLADI, THE MISIGA POLLING STATION CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY IN THE BAWKU CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY

On the night of Thursday, 15th April 2010, at approximately 8.00 pm, supposedly under curfew hours, the late Amadu Danladi, the Misiga polling station chairman of the NPP was attacked in his home and shot to death. His wife was also shot several times and is seriously wounded. We continue to pray for her as she battles to hold on to life.

It is important to state that this attack on our brother’s life was not the first. He has been the victim of several attacks by his political opponents in recent times. In February 2010, his cattle was invaded and destroyed. Not satisfied with the difficult life into which this unprovoked attack brought upon him, his opponents decided this time to take his life altogether.

Ladies and gentlemen, the surge in violence in Bawku and its surroundings since the NDC came into government is not coincidence. Indeed, we are seeing this pattern in several parts of the country.

In the specific case of Bawku, the area saw relative peace over the period preceding January 2009. It was not through any extraordinary skill of the then NPP government at peace keeping that made this possible. It was simply the result of the even-handed and sincere manner in which the then government related to the issues of the area.

Since January 2009, the NDC government has abandoned the policy of even-handedness and provided tacit support for Kussasis acting under the umbrella of the NDC government to visit violence on not just Mamprusis, but anybody perceived to be a leading member or supporter of the NPP in that neighbourhood.

This attitude of government has emboldened thugs and trouble makers to attack innocent citizens at will and with impunity. And they continue to roam the streets with their chests out. The government has chosen to look the other way while the situation deteriorates alarmingly. We all saw the video footages and still pictures of unauthorised armies being trained in guerrilla camps in the Upper East Region. When their cover was blown and the matter came into the
open, only one person was arrested. His name was Sulemana Yusif Assanna. It is of immense interest that Mr Assanna is the son of the NDC Constituency Chairman of the area. He was immediately transported to Accra.

Was he brought to Accra to be investigated? That was what everybody thought. But it turned out that he was actually brought to Accra to be freed quietly. And he was freed quietly without a statement from him. All of this happened under the full watch of Hon Cletus Avoka, the then NDC Minister for Interior.

As a signal to the violent elements in the NDC across the country that they could always count on the protection of the NDC government in whatever they do, Mr Assanna has now been employed as a national security personnel at the castle, the seat of government.

There have been countless attacks in Bawku, some of them resulting in the deaths of the victims. Many of them have been publicly discussed. But the sad attack on the late Amadu Danladi, the NPP polling station chairman of Misiga is very similar to the attack on the NPP constituency vice chairman Alhaji Bukari Kiri last year.

Alhaji Bukari Kiri’s house and farm premises were attacked and burnt to ashes. He lost 54 cows and 200 sheep, and his award-wining grain barn was razed to the ground. The once Best Farmer for the municipality now has to struggle to feed himself and his family.

Ladies and gentlemen, if government maintains its unhealthy support for thugs and bloodthirsty criminals, those who have been at the receiving end of the violence in Bawku and elsewhere but have been denied state protection may rise to protect themselves. The consequence would be unpleasant for the Bawku area, unpleasant for the adjoining neighbours, and ultimately, unpleasant for the country as a whole.

Already, commercial activities have completely come to a halt in Bawku. Food markets have closed down, and economic activities completely disrupted in that part of the country. This means people who are healthy cannot come out and work for their livelihoods. In the longer run, the development in the area would slow down, and it would cost the state considerable infusion of resources to restore the current state of development.

We condemn in no uncertain terms the blatant display of one-sidedness by the government of our Republic and the escalating violence in Bawku. There is both moral and constitutional burden on government to retract from this unhealthy support for criminals and trouble makers, arrest and prosecute suspects, and signal to all residents of Bawku that government can be a mediating mother in the conflicts of that area.

The Mills administration should not refuse this advice. In the end, when the Bawku society may have been torn apart by conflicts, the NDC may boast of having stood loyally behind its “allies” in the clashes of that area, but the blood of the many who would have lost their lives in these conflicts would forever be on the hands on those who had a responsibility to offer protection but did the opposite.

We take this opportunity to express our fervent hope that the wife of the late Amadu Danladi survives the gunshots she received in the attack on their household. We further extend our condolences to the loved-ones and survivors of all those who have lost their lives in these conflicts, and also to those whose lives have been broken or traumatised by violence visited on them by their fellow human beings.

Thank you.

Jake Obetsebi Lamptey
National Chairman

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Vice President Mahama made the call when he addressed the Muslim community in the Sunyani Municipality as part of a day’s official visit to the Brong Ahafo Region on Sunday.  The meeting attracted chiefs of the various ethnic groups, Imams and other Muslim hierarchy in the region.

The Vice President said his recent comments on the party’s foot soldiers was not meant to undermine them, but to let them understand the realities on the ground. “Some people who did not understand what I meant thought I was snubbing the foot soldiers who, helped us to come into power, but my utterance was more or less an appeal for them to listen to the leaders just like other Ghanaians.”

He called on the Muslim leaders to educate the youth against the use of violence and other unorthodox ways of pressing home their demands and rather seek dialogue with the authorities. “It is extremely difficult for us to satisfy the over four million Ghanaians who voted for the party within one and half years. We are all born differently, but God has a way of satisfying us and I know at the appropriate time we shall all be served.”

Vice President Mahama also called on potential pilgrims to forward their documents early enough to the Hajj Committee to avoid delays in the processing of their travelling documents.  He said the Committee would soon present their report to government for appraisal and gave the assurance that measures would be put in place to improve the Hajj in future.

Alhaji Baba Gausu, Secretary to the Chief Imam of Sunyani commended the government for organising a successful Hajj last year.  He appealed to the government to extend the protocol allotment of tickets to chiefs since the concentration had been always on Imam.  Alhaji Gausu also appealed to the government to help construct satellite mosques in the municipality since a number of Muslims had to travel long distances to worship on daily basis.
GNA

He said since he took office as minister there was no day he did not hear complains about acts likely to undermine peace and security from the youth.  Mr. Asabigi made the remarks in Tamale on Wednesday during a two-day retreat programme, organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) and the German Development Service (DED), which aimed at taking stock of the performance of the two organisations and how to improve on it.

 He said political opponents of the NDC had taken advantage of the unruly behaviour of the youth to mock at the government.  Mr. Asabigi tasked the youth to channel their energies towards productive ventures such as the re-packaging of the National Youth Employment Programme and the Savannah Agriculture Development Authority.

He said the ILGS had over the years contributed significantly to the decentralisation process by educating civil society groups and local government practitioners on the policy.  Mr. Asabigi said it would be suicidal for any poverty-focused nation to downplay the three core issues of education and training, research and consultancy and information mobilisation and dissemination. 

Dr. Callistus Mahama, Deputy Director of the ILGS said the institute’s centre in Tamale was facing perennial infrastructural problems and had therefore started a 300 classroom- block project, while seeking financial assistance to expand its frontiers.  He said the institute would introduce four masters’ degree programmes, relating to local government by December this year.

Ms Annette Turmann, DED Co-ordinator on Decentralisation said the organisation would always work closely with the people at the community level to facilitate development.  She said the German Development Services had since 2004, collaborated with the ILGS in Accra and Tamale in areas of research, education and capacity building, decentralisation and local governance and local economic development.

Mr. Richard Kambootah, Head of Programmes at ILGS said the development of local development-related literature, organisation of client-focused short courses and sponsorships of staff are future areas for consideration.
GNA

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 The assembly women are said to have taken this decision because of the frustrations they face in the discharge of their duties, as well as the over politilisation of the assembly system and other socio-cultural factors, and the excessive demands made on them by people in their electoral areas.  

Mr. Alhassan Awal, Director of Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), disclosed this at a forum organised for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Tamale on Tuesday.  NORSAAC is a gender based advocacy organisation that seeks to ensure the adequate representation of women in decision making both at the local and national levels.

Mr. Awal expressed the concern that if the trend of females declining to contest for the district level elections continues, then the Northern Region which is already disadvantaged would witness a drastic reduction of female participation in politics and in matters of gender that affect them.  He observed that the gender desk offices in the assemblies were also loosing their recognition and attributed it in part to political interference.

Mr. Awal said in view of this NORSAAC in collaboration with other CSOs were among other things putting in place measures to monitor the 2010 district level elections, as well as providing logistical support for women interested in participating in the elections.  The Organisation, he said, was also lobbying with the Regional House of Chiefs to increase female representation in the assemblies to at least 20 percent.

Madam Hafsah Sey Sumani, Programmes Coordinator of NORSAAC, said the situation whereby out of the 20 district assemblies in the Northern region only one woman had been elected as a District Chief Executive.  She therefore urged CSOs to facilitate regional campaigns on women’s participation in leadership and decision making to get more women elected into the assemblies and other top public offices.

GNA