A look back into some political activities in 2019 (3)
Compiled by Albert K. Salia
Politics
We bring you the concluding part of our review of major political activities in 2019.
Electoral Commission abrogates IT contract with vendor — Sept. 13, 2019
The Electoral Commission (EC) has abrogated an information technology system contract with its vendor because not only has the vendor left the security and management solely in its hands but it is also very expensive.
The Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, explained that although the vendor had total monopoly over the system and could shut it down at any time, the EC was required to pay $56 million for upgrade, $ 4 million yearly as maintenance fee and $1.5 million for Internet service delivery.
Mrs Mensa made the disclosure when she led members of the commission and some management members to interact with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on September 13, 2019.
She said the commission was in consultation with others for a more efficient system that would cost half of the $56 million upgrade fee.
Government publishes Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Enquiry Report and White Paper — Sept 14, 2019
The Government has submitted for gazzetting and publication, the report and white paper on the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Enquiry.
According to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, this is in accordance with Article 280 Clause 3 of the 1992 Constitution.
The Commission of Enquiry was established on February 8,2019 by President Akufo-Addo to make a full, faithful and impartial enquiry into the circumstances of, and establish the facts leading to the events and associated violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election held on January 31,2019
EC to hold ‘trio’ elections on December 17 — Sept. 27, 2019
The Electoral Commission (EC) will conduct three elections consisting of District Assembly Members, Unit Committee Members and a Referendum on Sunday, December 17.
Across polling stations nationwide, there will be three ballot boxes and screens and each voter will be given three different ballot papers separately.
The elections of the District Assembly members and the Unit Committee members form the critical core of the country’s decentralisation process by way of helping to exercise political and administrative authority in the district, provide guidance, give direction to, and supervise the other administrative authorities in the district.
The referendum, which is also seeking the amendments to Articles 243(1) and 55(3) for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the introduction of political party participation in the local elections, have been presented to Parliament to be passed. Dr Serebour Quaicoe, the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency explained that each electorate on the day would be required to vote on the three themes separately.
Anguish, joy herald NPP primaries — Sept 30, 2019
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries held in the ‘orphaned’ constituencies last Saturday ended in mixed fortunes for government appointees who had hoped to contest next year’s parliamentary elections on the party’s ticket.
While some of the appointees were successful and earned the mandate to become parliamentary candidates, others were rejected by the delegates.
The appointees, made up of ministers, deputy ministers and municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) who had in the past not vied for positions, entered the race to earn the right to become parliamentary candidates in next year’s general election.
I’ll review Free SHS within 90 days in office — Mahama — Oct. 13, 2019
Former President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that he will review the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s flagship Free SHS Policy within his first 90 days in office if elected president in the 2020 general election.
He noted that he would engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the policy was made better.
Speaking at a meeting with the leaders of the Ghana National Council for Private Schools (GNACOPS) in Accra
on Wednesday, he noted “within the first 90 days after I take office as the president of Ghana, I will call for the arrangement of a very broad stakeholder and consultative meeting on the way forward for a better free SHS.”
We will review NHIS policy to cover all ailments — CPP — Oct 10, 2019
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has pledged to review the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) policy to cover all ailments when voted into power in the 2020 national elections.
It said appropriate measures would be put in place to ensure there was free medical screening for all Ghanaians, as well as institute pragmatic policies and programmes which would focus on the preventive aspects of the health system.
It would also ensure that the vulnerable, including people in poor communities, had access to free, affordable and quality healthcare services so as to build a strong and healthy human resource base for sustainable national development.
Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, the 2016 presidential candidate for the party, made this known in Bolgatanga at the regional delegates’ congress which was organised to elect new regional executives.
NPP to hold parliamentary primaries on April 25, 2020 — Oct 21, 2019
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has planned to hold parliamentary primaries in areas where it has sitting Members of Parliament (MP) on April 25, 2020.
The NPP has I69 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) out of the total 275 seats in Parliament. The party has already elected more than 95 parliamentary candidates who will contest on its ticket in orphan constituencies [areas the party does not have sitting MPs].
The April 25, 2020 date would also be used to elect a flag bearer for the party for Election 2020.
Two more political parties receive final certificates — Nov 21, 2019
The Electoral Commission’s list got longer as two new groups aspiring to contest in the political race were given the green light to operate.
The two — Ghana Union Movement (GUM) and Power Unity Party (PUP) were handed their final certificates of registration on November 21, 2019 as part of a partial fulfilment of Section (8) sub-section (2) of the political parties Act 574.
This brings to 26 the total number of registered political parties.
President Akufo-Addo calls off December 17 referendum for lack of broad national consensus — Dec 2, 2019
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called off the holding of the Referendum of December 17, 2019, citing the lack of a broad national consensus among key stakeholders and the populace.
President Akufo-Addo has, thus, instructed the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, who is spearheading the process on behalf of government to abort the process, and see to the withdrawal of the bills for the amendment of the Constitution, both in respect of article 243(1) and article 55(3).
Addressing the nation on Sunday [December 1, 2019], President Akufo-Addo indicated the attainment of a broad consensus, for him, on a matter as important as the amendment of an entrenched provision of the Constitution, is critical.
Emile Short chairs EC's 21-member Eminent Advisory Committee — Dec 3, 2019
The Electoral Commission (EC) has launched a 21-member Eminent Advisory Committee to enhance engagement and interactions between it and the public as Ghana prepares for the 2020 general election.
The committee, chaired by a former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short, is part of the EC's new approach of maintaining an open door that invites and responds to the concerns and interests of the citizenry.