The 2020 Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for Ayawaso North Constituency, Alhaji Osman Manaf has successfully undergone a vetting exercise for the position of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in the Municipality. According to the MCE, he is confident that he will win the position and transform the lives of the people in the Municipality. In an exclusive interview with Thinknewsonline.com, Alhaji Manaf said "I have undergone a successful exercise. I have tough contenders but I am confident, I will be the next MCE of the Municipality" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations It will be recalled that the 2020 NPP PC contested the recently held Parliamentary elections but lost to the incumbent. Alhaji Manaf believes that although he might have lost the Parliamentary elections, that cannot deter him from contesting other elections. "The people have been crying for long. They need lots of infrastructures, jobs among others. They have cried for a long time. This is the time to give out what is due them" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that 7 personalities are in contest for the position of MCE in the Municipality. It is also emerging that the incumbent, Aminu Mohammed Zakari was part of the seven that were vetted. Presiding Member at the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly, Augustine Ofori-Gyebi said "Hon. Manaf has got what it takes to serve the Municipality. He has done a lot and there is more he will do when given the nod. He is not a selective person. He treats all equally and that is a hallmark of a leader" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws Mr. Ofori-Gyebi appealed to the contestants to work hand-in-hand to transform the Municipality after the final winner is announced. "Change is coming and Alhaji Manaf will certainly bring that change to the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly. Insha Allah" he added. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Some scores of Twitter users have taken to their handles trolling the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) over infrastructure believed to be built by Former President Mahama and his NDC government. In series of tweets sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, ANNAN PERRY ARHIN @AnnanPerry tweeted "Npp are trying very hard to steal pokuase interchange from John Mahama,unless they kill all NDC members #JohnMahamaBuiltIT" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws Kingly_Royal1 @Royal1Kingly also tweeted "Let it be known that the Dome Kwabenya Community SHS #JohnMahamaBuiltIT #NDCTWITTER" John Dramani Mahama @JDMahama2 tweeted "The New Academy Hall at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School was also built by Me; John Dramani Mahama #JohnMahamaBuiltIT" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures ANNAN PERRY ARHIN @AnnanPerry again tweeted "#JohnMahamaBuiltIT kejetia market after their naked demonstration and also tried to credit the chief for this but all is well John Mahama" Kingly_Royal1 @Royal1Kingly added "Do you know that the Millenium City School in Mamprobi #JohnMahamaBuiltIT #NDCTWITTER" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒏 𝒀𝒂𝒐 @citizenyao said "60-bed Ketu North District Hospital at Weta in the Volta Region – JM’s Achievement It is still not in operation till date. #JohnMahamaBuiltIT" Below are embed tweets: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A young man believed to be a Nigerian sadly lost his life after he was allegedly poisoned by his friends at his own birthday bash. The man, reported to be in his late 20s, was hospitalized shortly after his birthday celebration which was attended mainly by his friends. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws A video from the occasion that has gone viral on social media captured the moment his friends came to share his joy with him in his house as he clocked another year of gratefulness to the Lord. The young man is seen in the video with smiles all over his face with his two friends by his side, as they cut the birthday cake. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures One of the friends who stood on his left is seen taking money from his wallet and pushing it into the celebrant’s pocket. Part of the video also saw him on the hospital bed as he struggles with breath. He passed while still on admission after which the doctor’s diagnosis proved he was poisoned. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations Watch the video below: Credit: GHPage.com

The Criminal Investigations Department at the Cape Coast Regional Police Command says it has arrested one person in connection with the killing of a headteacher, Yaw Eyifa Gorman. Mr. Gorman was shot dead immediately he parked his vehicle after returning from a census training workshop on Saturday, May 22, 2021. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations An eyewitness, Steven Essoun, who narrated the incident to Citi News said the perpetrator did not burgle anything from the deceased. “It happened around 7:45 pm when everyone was in their room. We heard the sound of his car when he arrived, and immediately we heard some unusual loud sound. We thought it was a burst tire or a knockout. Then we heard people shouting for help”. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures Steven Essoun said residents came out of their homes only to find the deceased sitting in his vehicle unconscious with bullet wounds to his head. The headteacher was then rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. According to police, the suspect currently in their custody is assisting in investigations. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws “Police intelligence has led to the arrest of one suspect in relation to the above murder case. The suspect is in custody assisting with investigations. Details will follow,” a police notice said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Information about the said suspect is yet to be made public. Below are some pictures: Credit: Citinewsroom

Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kwabena Annim has hinted that the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is set to embark on a 30-day education campaign to sensitize the public on the population and Housing Census 2021. According to him, as part of the campaign, political heads such as Former President Kufuor, John Dramani Mahama, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. S.K. Bagbin among some traditional leaders and parliamentarians have vowed to support the exercise. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations Addressing Journalists on Sunday, he said “As part of the campaign, there will be statements from; former Presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama, coincidentally representing the two major political parties, advocating for the census to be conducted in a nonpartisan manner. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin, advocating for the census as a national exercise and not a government activity” Mr. Annim also hinted that 85,000 census officials have been earmarked to receive vaccines. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures With the widespread of covid-19, the Ghana Statistical Service says the exercise will be conducted in Strict Adherence to COVID-19 protocols. He said “Ghana Statistical Service in conjunction with the Ghana Health Service will vaccinate approximately 85,000 census officials starting 31st May 2021. Class sizes for training have been reduced from pre-COVID numbers to allow for social distancing” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws Thinknewsonline.com has also gathered all census officials will be screened daily for health and safety, provided masks, and sanitizers and trained to keep at least 2m from the respondent. The Government Statistician also stated that census materials have been dispatched to eight regions. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures “After securing storage space for logistics in all 272 statistical districts, GSS is dispatching census materials to the districts. These include; Training materials for approximately 76,500 prospective Field Officers to be trained from 31st May to 9th June. Logistics to be used for data collection from 13th June to 11th July. Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for census officials and Publicity, education and advocacy materials for the public education campaign” he added. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Roads and Highway, Kwesi Amoako Atta has hinted that 6,000km of roads are set to be completed out of the over 11,000km programmed. According to him, the road program includes; Critical, Cocoa, Town, Asphalt, Sinohydro, Donor, and other projects. Addressing Journalists in Accra, he said “On the critical roads program, as part of the government’s year of road program, 81no. critical roads of total length 2,167.2km were identified in all the 16 regions of the country for rehabilitation at a cost of GHc7, 827billion” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations He added that the projects include; Upgrading of Navrongo-Naga Road (km0-km35) in the Upper East Region with a length of 35km has 20% of completion The Roads Minister also explained that upgrading of Wa-Bulenga-Yaala Road (km6-km37-lot 1) in the Upper West Region with a length of 31km has been 41% completed. “Rehabilitation of Nkonya Wuropong-Kwamikrom Road (21km) (Kpando-Worawora Road)(km 21+000 – 42+000) – lot 1 in the Oti Region with a length of 21 has seen 50% progress. Rehabilitation of selected roads in Ayawaso Central in the Greater Accra Region which is 5kn has seen 65% progress” he averred. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures Highlighting on the Cocoa roads, he stressed that Have to Hohoe in the Volta Region of 53km in length has also seen 33% progress. On Town roads, the sector Minister explained that upgrading of Tepa Town Roads phase 1 in the Ashanti Region of 5.0km has had 55% progress. Speaking on the Asphalt overlay program, he said “The Ministry of Roads and Highways has programmed to undertake 1,500km of asphaltic overlay in major towns and cities across the country including hospitals, schools, courts, police barracks, army garrisons, and other security services compounds” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws Speaking on the transport sector improvement project (TSIP) under the donor partner road program, he revealed that three (3) lots in the upper west region (sod-cutting performed in May 2011) of 670km is worth $32million. On other donor partner road program, the sector minister said “Rehabilitation of Dome to Kitase of 24km has design review on-going from a Kuwait funding worth $24million. La Beach road completion project-lot 2 of 10km has seen 10% having a CDB funding is worth $50.76million. Highlighting on the bridge program, the sector minister mentioned that 129 bridges are set to be built. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures He said “50No. Czech Bridges Program – bridge components are currently being fabricated in Czech Republic. The first batch of 21 bridges has arrived in the country. 14No. Contractors have started work on the substructure. Dikpe, Iture and Ankobra Bridges. Dikpe: Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contractor has submitted preliminary designs and set up site camp. Iture and Ankobra Bridges: EPC Contractor has submitted preliminary designs. Bridge over River Pra at Twifo Praso (GoG) - is at substructure level. One (1) abutment completed; the other abutment is at pile cap level. The two (2) center piers are at 50% completion. Overall physical progress is 35%” On the footbridge program, he said “Funding has been secured for 14no. Dutch Footbridges at different locations in the country. The locations include Abeka Lapaz, Presec-Legon, Kawukudi Central Mosque, etc. 6No footbridges on the Madina Pantang Road have been completed” Speaking on the interchange program, the Minister stressed that 20 interchanges are set to be completed. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Former Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of Africa Public Policy Institute (APPI), Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye has stated emphatically that he has nowhere endorsed anyone as the 2024 flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). He issued a rejoinder to some publications suggesting that he (Michael Oquaye) said "Bawumia should be NPP's 2024 Flagbearer". According to him, he granted an interview on Monday, May 17, 2021, to Okyeman TV's host, Raymond Kumah and that interview were not about flagbearship of the party. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations He stated that: “It centered on NPP and what it stands for from ancient to modern, including Ghana's Digitisation Progress. It must be emphasized that no comparison was made with any of those interested in flagbearship. It featured President Kufuor prominently in specific areas. No endorsement was suggested to me and I did not endorse anybody.” Hon. Prof. Michael Oquaye also stated that when he was asked about the progress of Ghana's digitization initiative under Dr. Bawumia, he answered by indicating categorically that, "It will be fantastic if we are able to continue with this digitization, automation and ICT. This complements the good work being done by Hon. Ursula at the Ministry of Communications." According to him, he considers Dr. Bawumia as an 'A Plus' performer so as other NPP stalwarts, including Hon. Kyerematen, Dr. Akoto, Hon. Ursula, Dr. Prempeh. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures “These are all excellent material and I will continue to say so in context. The Trade Minister is today a global authority on International Trade, Business and Investment. The headquarters of the Africa Trade Organisation, etc., exemplify him. Also, Dr. Akoto complements development in our agro-based industry for our food both home and abroad. His work stands unprecedented in Ghana. The brilliance of Hon. Ursula in the application of ICT for national development must be spoken about, entirely without prejudice. She is also 'A plus'. Similarly, Dr. Prempeh is managing the challenges in the Energy Ministry just like he did in the Education Ministry and we are all looking up to him and other brilliant stars which we the elders are proud of.” The rejoinder noted that, similarly, while he was going to deliver the Re Akoto Lectures, some well-wishers called to say his involvement might be misinterpreted as support for one particular aspirant but undeniably, the story about the good NPP tradition must be told. He stated that “we should be able to extol the President's men and women to show what the NPP is doing and is capable of. If the NPP fails to tell the world about the great achievements of President Akufo-Addo and his Ministers, we shall be heading for disaster in 2024.” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws He however cautioned the party against pitching people against each other saying, “Let us not be pitching people against each other and I will never do this. To have misconstrued and misrepresented the comment on Ghana's digitization progress as an indication for a particular individual to be the Flagbearer of the NPP in 2024 is not only inaccurate but complete falsehood.” He called on the general public to disregard the misleading publication in the media. Credit: Modern Ghana

Former Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that Midfielder, Bruno Miguel Fernandes has got what the team has really needed in the last few years. According to him, the Portuguese is a fantastic lad. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations In an interview monitored by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "His shots from always outside the box are always a threat and he's got the thing that United have really needed in the last few years, his ability to make a pass in the final third. It opens up defenses and I think that's important" He added that Bruno Fernandes is scoring important goals for the club. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures "Even when he is taking his penalty kicks, he is very very confident about them and I can't even think if a goalkeeper's got anywhere near his penalty kicks. So he's calm" Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah has described the conduct of the Director of Operations at the Ministry, Lt. Colonel Frank Agyeman, and three (3) police officers on Citi Fm Journalist, Caleb Kudah on May 11, 2021, as inappropriate. According to him, the conduct also contravenes the Ministry's standard operating procedures. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "An investigation Committee was set up by the National Security to investigate a report of the arrest of Mr. Caleb Kudah of Citi FM on May 11, 2021. The Committee established that the conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman (Director of Operations) and some police officers at the Ministry on the said day was inappropriate and contravened the Ministry's standard operating procedures" He also added the Journalist's unauthorized entry into the premises of the Ministry of National Security was unlawful. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures The statement further revealed that the secondment of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman (Director of Operations) at the Ministry has been reversed. It added that the officer is to report to the Chief of Defence Staff for further investigation and appropriate action. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws "The three (3) police officers involved have been withdrawn and are to report to the Ghana Police Service for investigation and disciplinary action" The National Security assured the general public and particularly all media practitioners that the Ministry will expeditiously investigate any complaints against any personnel of its agencies. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has revealed that the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) will provide funds to the existing commercial banks and other qualifying financial institutions to provide long-term lending and other innovative products that are presently lacking in the system. According to him, the bank will therefore complement and strengthen the operations of existing financial institutions. Addressing Journalists following the government's signing of a €170m loan agreement with the European Investment Bank in Brussels, he said "DBG is not similar to the existing commercial banks that we have in the country. It is a non-deposit-taking Wholesale bank. DBG will neither give retail nor direct business loans, like the former Bank for Housing and Construction, NIB, ADB, and the like. It will rather provide funds to the existing commercial banks and other qualifying financial institutions to provide long-term lending and other innovative products that are presently lacking in the system. The bank will therefore complement and strengthen the operations of existing financial institutions" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations He added that since independence, this is the first time the country is establishing a bank of this nature adding that it is a model along the lines of the German Development Bank – KfW, which played a pivotal role in the post-World War II reconstruction and transformation of the German economy. "Through DBG, Government will be able to further strengthen its support to the private sector to spearhead economic growth and transformation. DBG is an instrument to ensure long term finance to the private sector on a sustainable basis" Ken Ofori-Atta also stressed that the government, therefore, expects DBG to be a financially sustainable institution that is able to raise long-term funds from the domestic and international capital markets and from international financial institutions, based on its own balance sheet. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures He mentioned that the government is taking pains to ensure that DBG has a strong governance structure with professional and independent Board and Management stressing that a process to select the Board and Management on a competitive basis is currently underway. Explaining the need for a new bank and not the use of one of the existing state banks, he said "Work on the DBG started in 2018 with a Task Force of industry experts established by Government to recommend the best approach to establish a modern and dynamic development bank. Based on the recommendation of the Task Force, the Government decided to set up DBG as a new non-deposit-taking-wholesale-bank under the Companies Act" Ken Ofori-Atta mentioned that DBG, as a wholesale and non-deposit-taking bank requires no branch network and minimal staff. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws He also stated it will therefore be very costly – financially and in terms of closure of branches and employment loss – to try to convert ADB or NIB into a viable modern development bank. "The advantage we foresee of a greenfield approach is that one gets to start from a clean slate, with no legacy financial, governance, and other issues. This allows us to focus on the future and move straight into setting up DBG equipped with modern and sound design principles. The greenfield approach also has the potential to attract more private and international institutional capital as we have witnessed with EIB’s €170 million facility. It also Government’s plan to attract other shareholders, both domestic and international, so as to increase DBG’s capital base and also reduce the government’s share over time" Touching on transformational development banks, the Finance Minister said "Ladies and gentlemen of the media, despite the unsuccessful experience in Ghana and in many African countries, development banks have been instrumental in driving economic transformation elsewhere. Many industrialized countries have development banks or similar institutions to provide investment finance to their SMEs or to encourage investment in new and promising, but risky economic activities" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures He cited the Japan Development Bank, Korean Development Bank, Development Bank Singapore, Brazilian Development Bank, KfW (Germany), and Development Bank Nigeria as Examples of the Transformational Development Banks. On the capitalization of the DBG, he said "As I indicated in my last press briefing on 9th May 2021, the bank will be launched in July 2021. We are aiming to establish DBG with an initial Government of Ghana equity contribution of $250 million of which US$200 million has already been paid. We aim to increase DBG’s lending capacity by raising additional funds from domestic and international private and institutional investors. The World Bank is providing US$250 million, KfW is providing EUR 46.5 million, we are also talking to the AfDB to play part in the establishment of the bank" Mr. Ofori-Atta mentioned that DBG will pay back the loans that Government has taken on its behalf from the international financial institutions. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures He stated that the government, therefore, sees its contribution to DBG as investments that should be paid back hence the professional management of the bank. Highlighting what is next for DBG he again said "As I indicated in my last press briefing on 9th May 2021, the bank will be launch in July 2021 as part of one of the core pillars of the Ghana Cares program aims to achieve the following: · Economic transformation that requires that entrepreneurs in key productive sectors have access to long-term finance at affordable interest rates. Analysis done as part of the background technical work for establishing DBG found that in Ghana, agriculture and manufacturing receive around 4 and 8 percent respectively in bank lending, and only about 15 percent of bank loans exceed 5 years in tenure" Ken Ofori-Atta explained that the launch of DBG this year, will address fundamental financing constraints likewise provide loans with tenures of up to 15 years, with a focus on key transformational sectors—agribusiness, manufacturing, ITC, tourism, and housing. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Director of Elections for the opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has explained that the party has decided to boycott IPAC temporarily due to the bastardization of that revered body by the Jean Mensah/Bossman Asare-led Electoral Commission. According to him, the framers of the 1992 Constitution in their wisdom created the Electoral Commission as an independent institution to perform its constitutional functions without the control of any person or group of persons. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations Addressing Journalists in Accra on Thursday, he said "The independence given to the EC under the 1992 Constitution is based on the presumption that the Electoral Commission will at all times perform its duties conscientiously in the ultimate interest of Ghana. However, this does not mean that the Commission is not accountable to the people and can therefore decide to act whimsically or capriciously in ways that undermine our democratic experiment" He added that the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission has misinterpreted the independence to mean arrogance and non-accountability. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures The Director of Elections further noted that it is sad that the Supreme Court of the country endorsed such irresponsible conduct of the EC and allowed them to get away with the embarrassment they caused the country in the 2020 general elections. He noted that one unique convention of Ghana’s electoral system which has become an international best practice is the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) adding that the rationale for IPAC, is to create a platform for consensus-building on major issues affecting elections with key stakeholders involved in elections. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws "Over the years, IPAC has served Ghana well as a platform where ideas are shared on various issues before the EC takes substantive decisions on critical electoral matters. Indeed, to promote transparency in our electoral process, IPAC has been involved in the drafting of Constitutional Instruments on elections as well as procurement processes of the EC under previous Chairpersons. IPAC is supposed to serve as a platform where political parties participate in all electoral activities throughout the electoral cycle, such as, voter registration, an exhibition of the voter's register, printing of ballot papers, observing the voting process at all polling stations through polling agents as well as collation of results at both the constituency and national levels" Mr. Ankrah stressed that since the June 2018 ouster of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her two (2) deputies and their subsequent replacement with Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare, all these best practices have been thrown to the dogs. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures "The current leadership of the Electoral Commission has turned IPAC from a consultative and consensus building platform to an information sharing platform where the EC only comes to impose its decisions on IPAC without room for meaningful deliberations and exchange of ideas. It became so bad to the point that the EC even announced publicly that IPAC had agreed to the decision to compile a new register for the 2020 elections when the issue of a new register had not even been discussed at the said meeting" "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Jean Mensa-led EC appears to be in a world of its own. The Commission appears to be tickling itself and laughing. The Electoral Commission has for the first time in our history conducted elections that leaves doubts on the mind of Ghanaians and other observers on the credibility of the elections. The Commission declared wrong results and even after issuing an unsigned press release to subsequently correct same, the figures still do not add up. Instead of taking advantage of the election petition to clear itself of the mess caused, the EC failed to mount the witness box to testify and explain to Ghanaians how it arrived at its results" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/eradicating-poverty-coastal-development-authority-unveils-kayayei-empowerment-policy-pictures He hinted that the issues coupled with the non-equitable voting arrangement at IPAC meetings are the reason the NDC has taken a principled position to boycott IPAC until the right changes are effected to ensure fair and meaningful deliberations at IPAC. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has hinted that some parts of Accra will be experiencing load-shedding from May 27 to June 11, 2021. According to ECG, the exercise is due to the reconstruction of a section of GRIDCo’s transmission lines along the Winneba to Mallam stretch. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "The Kasoa Bulk Supply Point which is nearing completion and sponsored by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the auspices of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), will require a re-construction of a section of GRIDCo’s 161KV Winneba to Mallam transmission lines and tie-in-works. This exercise will lead to a shortfall in the transmission of power to Accra during the peak load hours,” The statement further revealed that the exercise which starts from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am will have over 40 communities placed in three different groups having blackouts. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures It also revealed that the outage will be experienced by just one group each day until the end of the exercise. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that some communities which will be affected by the exercise include; Cantonments, Golden Tulip, Ashale Botwe Old Town, Max Mart, Teshie Tebibiano among others. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws The ECG has however explained that the intended power outage comes days after a similar one in communities that receive electricity from the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point ended. Areas that were affected by the previous exercise included Awoshie, Nsakina, Dansoman, Ashalaja, Tuba, Abossey Okai, Dansoman, Tuba, Pokuase ACP Estates, Amasaman, Taifa, Ofankor, Kokrobite, Fadama, Israel, and Abeka market. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Below is a copy of the timetable: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith