NDC Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu constituency, John Abdulai Jinapor says former President John Dramani Mahama is widely known for solving the excessive power fluctuation in Ghana, 'Dumsor' before leaving office. According to him, claims that the NPP government inherited 'dumsor', a persistent, irregular, and unpredictable electric power outage and managed to solve it in their first term is untrue. Ghana’s national power outages reached a crescendo between 2014 and 2015 during the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama era. To arrest the situation, the then Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration entered into several Take-or-Pay contracts that have compelled Ghana to pay GH¢12 billion for power. However, the PPA appears to be now biting the country’s economy harder. Recently, the World Bank reported that these PPAs have contributed significantly to the economic woes of Ghana. Currently, Ghana has an installed power capacity of about 5,000 megawatts and dependable capacity of about 4,700MW with the all-time high peak demand of 2,700MW. John Jinapor, who served as deputy Minister for Power during Mahama's era, said there are documents to back former President Mahama's interventions in completely solving the situation. He said in Neat Fm's morning show, Ghana Montie that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has admitted that Mr. Mahama solved the infamous 'dumsor'. Credit: Peace Fm

Presidential Hopeful for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says he is confident that the party will 'break the 8' by winning the upcoming December 2024 general elections. According to him, a collective effort can help the NPP to achieve such a dream. Speaking at the NPP Headquarters on Friday after submitting and filing his Presidential nomination form, he said “The major task, as we can see, is that you are doing it so well. May God bless you and continue to keep you so that you will look after this process in the interest of our party because we are all one and we are going to break the 8.” “I have just filed my nomination forms to contest as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 Presidential Elections. I believe this is the first step to our victory in 2024, by the Grace of God,” he said to loud cheers from the supporters" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth. I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education, and public service delivery amongst others" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an education system tilted towards STEM, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, digital and vocational skills to cope with the demands of fourth Industrial Revolution" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we cater and care for the the poor, vulnerable, excluded and sick people" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we attain food security in the shortest possible time through the application of science, data, Artificial Intelligence, Satellite, Internet of Things (IOT) and irrigation to commercial farming. We will also complete the ongoing digitalization of data on all farms across the 16 regions" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we maximize the benefits from our natural resources like gold and lithium through policies like, value addition, setting up an LBMA certified gold refinery, enhancing the gold for oil policy, and dedication of specific gold concessions to the Bank of Ghana to enhance their accumulation of gold reserves" “Together with you, I want to see Ghana as an industrialized nation. I want to entrench and enhance the current strategy of industrialization that we have embarked on and introduce new technology like digital manufacturing for the manufacturing of spare parts, syringes, and other equipment" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with robust fiscal discipline in the management of our public finances to sustainably and significantly reduce bank lending rates" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an empowered local business sector, especially startups and SMEs to drive investment and growth. We will transform the SME landscape by providing unique identifiers and using technology to help them access new financing and markets. I also want to provide incentives to the private sector to replace government in the provision of a significant amount of infrastructure and many other services" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with a developed and efficient credit system through credit scoring by credit reference agencies by leveraging on integrated databases across banks, DVLA, NIA, Digital Address systems etc. to enable workers buy furniture, cars, TVs, fridges and homes (mortgages) on credit at lower cost" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with energy self-sufficiency at reduced cost through solar and other renewables with the application of market efficiency to the energy market" “Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an enhanced focus on private and public investment in tourism, creative arts and sports" “This is not an exhaustive list and in due course we will have a chance to lay out a comprehensive Manifesto for Ghanaians.” Leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has set November 4 as a day to elect its flagbearer. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Presidential Hopeful for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called on delegates to elect him as the Flagbearer to lead the party to the 2024 general elections. According to Dr. Bawumia, he has shown unflinching loyalty to the party and current Akufo-Addo led-government in rain and shine hence the need to elect him as flagbearer for the 2024 race. Addressing Journalists and party supporters at the party's headquarters in Accra on Friday after submitting and filing his Presidential nomination forms, he said "I have shown unflinching loyalty to our party and government in rain or shine. The Presidential Hopeful also told the gathering that he has defended the party in its good and bad times. He stressed that with discipline and faith in God Almighty, one can fulfil his or her potential. He reminded the party supporters that he had risen through the rank and file of the party and hence deserve the flagbearer crown. Party supporters did not disappoint as they stormed the NPP headquarters to show their love and support to Dr. Bawumia. Watch some videos below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that former Assemblyman for Nogokpo-Ativuta Electoral Area, Christian Kwame Amuzu has allegedly committed suicide. According to sources, the late 69-year-old man was said to have showed no signs of wanting to take his life. It is emerging that late Christian Amuzu hanged himself in his living room on Wednesday afternoon. His wife, Madam Amuzu raised an alarm on seeing the lifeless body of her late husband hanging, raised an alarm of which drew people to the scene. Remains of the late Assemblyman has since been deposit at the morgue. Police says it has commenced investigations in the alleged suicide. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minority in Parliament says it has noted with serious concern the decision by President Akufo-Addo to attack the person of former President Mahama during the commissioning of the 161kv Bulk Supply Point at Accra Central, which President Mahama initiated. Accordingto the Minority, the Mahama led government in 2014 requested for grant aid from Japan to construct the 161kv Bulk Supply Point to be located in the Central Business District of Accra, to adequately and reliably meet the high electricity demand in the area, which was growing at a rate higher than the system average of 10% per annum. In a communique signed by Ranking Member (Mines and Energy Committee), John Abdulai Jinapor, he said "We wish to emphasise that all the necessary, regulatory, financial and technical approvals were secured under President Mahama, with actual construction works commencing in 2016 before he handed over power to the current administration. This can be verified from the 2017 and 2018 GRIDCO Annual Reports as well as the “2015 Preparatory Survey Report on The Project for Power Supply To Accra Central In The Republic Of Ghana” published on the JICA website" The Minority added that it is therefore surprising that rather than commending his predecessor for initiating the New Bulk Supply Point, described as a gamechanger by the current GRIDCo Board Chair. "President Akufo-Addo rather chose the occasion to make baseless, inaccurate and unfounded allegation against former President Mahama" "If President Akufo-Addo truly wants to know who ended Dumsor, he may want to consult his own Vice-President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumiah who is on record to have stated that Mahama ended Dumsor" "If President Akufo-Addo cannot recognise the enormous contribution of President Mahama in the energy sector, the least he could do was to refrain from such unwarranted attacks, particularly at a programme to commission a project which is the brainchild of President Mahama, as the saying goes “you do not bite the hand that fed you” The Minority ssys it wishes to caution in the strongest terms possible that it will no longer tolerate such unwarranted and pedestrian attacks on President Mahama by this non-performing government in a desperate attempt to tarnish his image. "It is an incontrovertible fact that President John Mahama laid a solid foundation in the Power Sector, with a clear vision of exporting Power as evidenced by the completion of the 330kv Kumasi – Bolgatanga Transmission Project, which has enabled Ghana to export power to neighbouring Burkina-Faso" It stressed that on the contrary, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumiah led government, having added no value to the sector, will go down in history as the worst Government as far as the Power sub-sector is concerned. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Two South African clubs are in pursuit of the services of former Asante Kotoko coach and Black Stars assistant Maxwell Konadu for the 2023-24 season, and GHANAsoccernet.com can report. Konadu is wanted by the newly promoted South Africa Premier League side Polokwane City, but they face a battle with Black Leopards FC for his services. Leopards, who were relegated to the third-tier, are back in the second-tier after they bought the status of All Stars, as reported by iDiski Times, even though the deal is yet to officially announced. Konadu is currently handling Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities FC, having been in charge since his appointment in September 2021 after leaving Kotoko. GHANAsoccernet.com understands that Konadu's contract with Cities allows him to walk away from the club if he receives an offer elsewhere. "We have been talking to three clubs, and two of those have made official offers," Konadu’s advisor in South Africa, Teboho Pule, told iDiski Times. "The first team that has made an offer was Black Leopards, and the second one is Polokwane City. We are kind of negotiating on that right now to choose because these offers are different in their own rights. "The one of Black Leopards is for the head coach position, and that of Polokwane will be for the coach to come and add his expertise in their technical team. "The other club that I’m not mentioning is because we are yet to receive a formal offer from them, but we have been engaging with them." Konadu has vast experience in the coaching field, having been an assistant of the Ghana senior national team from May 2012 to March 2019 and also from September 2021 to February 2022. The former Ghana international and Kotoko player was the assistant coach when the Black Meteors team team won the All African Games in 2011. Credit: Ghanasoccernet

Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi says empowerment of women directly leads to positive transformation of communities at the local, sub-regional, regional and global levels. She made these remarks at the maiden annual womwn in mining conference held in Accra. In a speech read on her behalf, she said "As one of the objects of WIMG, there is no doubt that the empowerment of women, particularly, economic empowerment, directly leads to positive transformation of communities at the local, sub-regional, regional and global levels" She added that all stakeholders in the mining industry such as government, regulators, investors, local communities, academia, and CSOs must continue to work together to channel more resources and build the expected capacity for the empowerment of women in our mining industry. "As chairperson of the Minerals Commission, I must admit, that there is a lot of responsibility on the regulator, to ensure the country achieves its targets with respect to the proportion of females working in the mining industry" "It is very important to add that we do not just want to rake up the numbers of women along the peripheries, but also ensure that more women take up key managerial roles in the Ghanaian mining industry" She stressed that research shows that mining companies with higher proportion of women in the workforce are doing very well. "Indeed, with the wide acceptability of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria in the extractives industry, it has become even more pertinent for companies to reflect on such issues and take bold measurable steps in that regard" "Through the selfless efforts of female professionals and female-oriented civil society organisations, such as WIMG, it has become abundantly clear that women can and are indeed, playing very important roles in Ghana’s mining industry" On her part, President of Women in Mining, Dr. Georgette Sakyi-Addo, she said "As the President of WIM-Ghana, I am honoured to stand before you today and witness the coming together of passionate individuals who are dedicated to driving positive change in the mining sector. This conference is a testament to the industry’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and empowerment" "The theme of our conference, 'Future Fit Responsible Mining – The Female Factor,' encapsulates our belief in the transformative power of women in mining. We need to embrace new technologies, AI and sustainable practices" "Today, we acknowledge the remarkable achievements of women who have shattered barriers, Catherine Kuupol, Metallurgy Manager - Goldfields Ghana, Genevieve Tettey, Vicky Bleepony, Celestine Allotey, Joyce Aryee and Alexandra Amoako Mensah whose thesis led to recent Lithium discovery etc have blazed trails, and left an indelible mark on the industry. Their resilience, intelligence, and unwavering determination continue to inspire us all" She hinted that a recent study sponsored by the Ford Foundation and commissioned by women in mining Ghana, revealed that issues such as sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and lack of effective female leadership still plague the industry. "How do we find solutions to such issues? I believe continuous engagement is at all levels is key to resolving and brining attention to some of these issues" She noted that the conference would provide a platform for engaging discussions on crucial topics such as diversity and inclusion, talent development, opportunities in the mining industry, policies and frameworks around gender, the role of women in sustainable mining, and how the industry can further support and benefit from their contributions. "To our Industry partners, the Ghana Chamber of Mines, our Platinum sponsors: Minerals Income Investment Fund, The Minerals Development Fund, Goldfields Ghana, we are grateful for your generous support and tireless efforts in making this conference a reality" "I also want to express my deepest gratitude to Lindiwe Services, Women in Mining Ghana Volunteers, without your dedication and unwavering support, this conference would not have been possible" There were series sessions with great panels who share wonderful ideas on how women could aspire for topmost positions in various institutions in the country. Story by: Bella Bridgette Aborjoe

Municipal Environmental Officer at the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Victor Acquaye has engaged in dialogue with some food vendors from Tema Station (a popular business centre) in Accra on food safety methods. According to him, the dialogue was not only to educate the food vendors of personal hygiene among others but also seek their views on how to improve market and boost sales. In an interview with Thinknewsoline.com, Mr. Acquaye said "Today, we have met with some food vendors from Tema Station. The idea is to have a dialogue where we will educate them on hygiene and then they will also tell us what some of their challenges are. There are public health laws and bylaws on food" "We need them to buy in and understand the process by which we can transform the way we display our foods and also its condition" Mr. Acquaye tasked the food vendors to underscore the need to protect, preserve, package well and make good money" "It is sad to see people go to malls and big places to buy all they need when they can get them from the market at cheaper prices but since the food vendor has failed to observe any health issues, he or she loses a customer or even potential clients" He stressed that artisans will be employed to design systems "We are in June, so let's say, we will give them a timeline of three months so they can go and deliberate, come back and report what their challenges are to Authorities" Mr. Acquaye added that he is hopeful the project will commence in September. He noted that once the markets are improved, it will help reduce the high rates of cholera and diahorrea. "The soil is already charged with food pathogens therefore, it important for all to welcome this initiative and let us not only save lives but have clean markets." The food vendors commended the Municipal Assembly for the initiative. They appealed to the Municipal Environmental Officer at the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to put things in place and not make only empty promises. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A former Deputy Attorney-General, Mr. Joseph Kpemka has argued that there is no form of ambiguity in Article 66 clause (1) of the 1992 Constitution. According to Mr. Kpemka, the above-cited constitutional provision clearly specifies who qualifies to be president. His assertion was in reaction to a suit filed by the Editor- in- Chief of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, Mr. Ken Kurankye who is seeking an interpretation of Article 66. Mr. Kurankye contends that upon a proper interpretation of the constitutional provision, the only person who qualifies for two four-year terms is a sitting President. Mr. Kpemka however noted in an interview with Alfred Ocansey on TV3’s Ghana Tonight, on 13th June, 2023 that, “Ken seeks to know if the 8 years should be consecutive or not, which the Constitution is clear on, that not to be more than 8 years. So, if you have been a president for less than 8 years, then you qualify.” He added that, “The Constitution is so clear on it. An example is the late President Mills’ case where former President John Mahama had the chance to rule as a President still within Mills tenure for 6 months, then stood and served for 4 years. But if President Mills had served for only one and a half years then President John Mahama’s 4-year term as a President would have ended his chance to be eligible and barred him from contesting in any elections as a president.” According to Mr. Kpemka, the Supreme Court has the mandate to interpret the law which will bring finality to this particular issue since it has come up a number of times. It would be recalled that on Monday, June 12, 2023, the Editor- In- Chief of the Daily Searchlight, Mr. Ken Kurankye sued former President John Dramani Mahama over his eligibility to contest in the 2024 elections. Mr. Ken Korankye, is seeking a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 66(1) of the 1992 Constitution, Mr. John Mahama is not qualified to contest in the 2024 presidential election. Credit: 3news.com

The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) says the use of Ghana Cards for registration is the only way to rid the voter register of age-old problem of minors and foreigners. Director of Electoral Services Dr Serebour Quaicoe said the opposition of this resolve by the EC notwithstanding, the Commission is convinced the use of Ghana Cards will reduce drastically the number of minors and foreigners on the register. He was speaking at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Department of Political Science of the College of Humanities of the University of Ghana, Legon on Thursday, June 15. The discussion was themed: ‘Electronic Technology and the Future of Election in Ghana’. Dr Quaicoe expressed satisfaction in the Commission having solved, to a large extent, the issues of impersonation, multiple registration and multiple voting. “But how do we address the issue of registration of minors and the registration of foreigners?” he sought. The former Ashanti Region Director of Elections said most often than not, the political parties are heavily behind these infractions but later accuse the EC of allowing such infiltration. “The Electoral Commission thinks that one way of addressing the issue is to use the Ghana Card,” he stressed. “There has been a lot of arguments and we are still battling it out and we are still insistent that let us use the Ghana Card so that it will address the issue of minors – because your date of birth is on the Card – and the citizenship, which is also on the Card. “That is also a way to reduce drastically the registration of minors and foreigners.” A move by the EC to lay a constitutional instrument (CI) in Parliament to have the Ghana Card as the sole document for registration for the 2024 elections was in September last year opposed unanimously by the House. The Minority led the opposition as members of the caucus believed the use of the Ghana Card as a sole document will disenfranchise many voters. The Commission was, therefore, asked to amend the CI, which is expected to be laid before the House soon. Credit: 3news.com

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has said that it has the power to arrest any person reasonably suspected to have committed corruption or corruption-related offenses. “The general public is advised, that in the exercise of its police powers, the Office of the Special Prosecutor can arrest without a warrant, any person it reasonably suspects of having committed corruption or corruption-related offenses,” the OSP tweeted after the Human Rights Court 2 in Accra slapped an interim injunction on it and its agents or assigns from executing the arrest warrant issued for former Presidential Staffer Charles Cromwell Onuawonto Bissue. The warrant was issued on Tuesday, June 13 following the refusal by lawyers of the former Secretary to the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) to honour OSP’s invitation. Charles Bissue, a former Western Region Secretary for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had gone to court to demand documents backing the OSP’s invitation to him over the investigations of corruption and corruption-related activities on illegal mining. Nonetheless, the OSP issued the arrest warrant. “If you have an information concerning this person, please contact the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” it said in a notice posted on its website on Tuesday, June 13. But Justice Nicholas MC Abodakpi of the Human Rights Court 2 following an application by the lawyers of Charles Bissue on Thursday, June 15 made an order for interim injunction, restraining the OSP from, inter alia, publishing notices purporting that Mr Bissue is wanted. This is to be in force pending the determination of the substantive matter. The case was adjourned to Thursday, June 22. Credit: 3news.com

Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Peter Mac Manu is making a case for the Ghana Card to be used as the sole document for voter registration. In his view, the Ghana Card has a system to check age fraud and also deal with foreigners who attempt to take part in Ghana’s elections. Contributing to a discussion on the use of technology at a forum held at the University of Ghana on Thursday, June 15, he said “We have a voter registration that is to be taken which we have accepted to be technology based. But the issue of who qualifies to be on a register is still a matter that needs to be settled. “I think that the use of other means like the guarantor system is fraught with violence at the polling station and we should not encourage that in this modern technological era when we have Ghana Card, a solid technology behind that to eliminate age cheating in elections and registration and foreigners registering on our register. I think the use of Ghana, however difficult it is, we must encourage it.” It is recalled that the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa earlier told Parliament that the use of the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for voter registration would ensure a credible voter roll. She said it would also prevent minors and foreigners from getting onto the electoral register to vote. Briefing Parliament on the Constitutional Instrument (CI) that was seeking to make the Ghana Card the only document for voter registration, on Tuesday, February 28 Madam Jean Mensa said “The use of only Ghana Card will ensure and guarantee the credibility of the register and elections, prevent enrolment of minors, prevent foreigners from voting, eliminate the guarantor system which is prone to abuse.” “The Ghana Card will not be used for voting in 2024, it will be used to register,” she said. However, Parliament on Friday, March 31 rejected the Public Elections (Registration of Voters ) Regulations, 2023 Constitutional Instrument (CI) proposed by the EC. Credit: 3news.com