Mr Alhaji Seidu Haruna, the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Wenchi constituency in the Bono Region retained the seat for the party in the parliamentary elections.
He polled 26,549 votes to beat his two challengers, Mr Kojo Frempong, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate who had 20,942 votes, and Mr David Kusi, an Independent Candidate who secured 191 votes, as contained in the Electoral Commission (EC)’s certified results on the parliamentary elections.
Alhaji Haruna retains Wenchi constituency parliamentary seat for NDC
Police investigate attack on Owusu-Ekuful’s office and residence
The Police have initiated an investigation into an incident where a gang of about 15 men reportedly invaded and vandalized the office and residence of Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitalisation.
During the attack, several items were stolen, including three motorbikes, a pickup vehicle, and a 32-inch Samsung television, among others.
In a media briefing on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, stated that a Crime Scene Management team had already visited the scene to collect evidence to support the investigation.
She further revealed that a targeted, intelligence-led operation was underway to apprehend the suspects and ensure they face justice.
Meanwhile, the Police leadership has been in close contact with Hon. Owusu-Ekuful, and additional security measures have been put in place at her office and residence to ensure her safety.
Police deny alleged kidnap of NADMO Director-General.
The Ghana Police Service has dismissed rumors on social media claiming that Mr. Nana Eric Agyemang Prempeh, Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has been abducted.
In a media briefing on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, dismissed the kidnapping claims as false, saying that the Police had been in contact with Mr. Prempeh.
She stated that the Police were providing him with the necessary security support due to his role as the Parliamentary Candidate for the Ahafo Ano North Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
ACP Ansah-Akrofi urged the public to ignore the false reports and treat them with the contempt they deserved.
NPP office at Kasoa not vandalised—Police
The Ghana Police Service has denied claims circulating on social media that the New Patriotic Party office in Kasoa has been vandalized.
In a statement, the Police urged the public to ignore the false reports, describing them as unfounded and baseless.
“The NPP office at Kasoa has not been vandalised. Please ignore the false claim,” the statement said.
2024 WASSCE: WAEC scanners failure disrupts post-examination process
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that the scanners used for processing objective cards have malfunctioned.
“Scanning of the objective cards which was scheduled for November 1 to November 30, 2024, is yet to be completed due to the breakdown of scanners used for the process.”
A statement issued and signed by Mr. John K. Kapi, Head of Public Affairs at WAEC National Office, revealed that the council is currently awaiting the release of additional funds from the Ministry of Education (MOE).
This funding, part of an outstanding balance of GHC118 million, is needed to repair the malfunctioning scanners used for scanning objective cards.
The statement further indicated that the release of these funds would allow the scanning and other post-examination processes to proceed without disruption.
In an update on post-examination activities for the 2024 WASSCE for School Candidates, WAEC appealed to its examination officials and suppliers to remain patient, assuring them that payments for services would be made promptly once the necessary funds are received from the MOE.
The statement also urged the public to disregard information circulating on social media about the dates for the release of results.
“The results will be released as soon as the challenges being experienced with the post examination activities are resolved.”
WAEC began the administration of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates on August 5, 2024.
The examination concluded successfully on Friday, September 2024. Marking of the essays and other practical components began on Friday, November 7, 2024, and was completed on Friday, November 29, 2024.
‘We are determined to working together to build the Ghana we want’
President-elect John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians of his determination to building the Ghana everyone yearns for.
“We are determined to working together with you to build the Ghana we want, and I am certain that we shall win the battle,” he said.
Mr Mahama said this in his victory speech Monday night at his Cantonment Office in Accra, few hours after the Electoral Commission had declared him winner of the December 7 Presidential Election.
“We intend to work together to restore the shattered confidence in our politics and governance system”.
He reiterated the opportunity for a new beginning that the election and its outcome represented, which would write a new chapter of the collective story for Ghanaians.
“We need to consciously set the tone for the new direction in which we will be travelling,” the President-elect said.
“I want those words, my brothers and sisters, to be a reminder to all of you, a reminder to me and to every individual who has just been elected or re-elected that no matter what office you hold, no matter what your political affiliation is or has been in the past, the one thing we share in common is the nation Ghana,” he said.
“We want a much better Ghana…a Ghana that works for everybody and not just a few people. We want a Ghana that considers the well-being of all its citizens and affords them each the ability to live a life of dignity, a life of limitless opportunity”.
Mr Mahama said from the head porter (kayayo) to the managing director, to the market women, the bankers, the teachers, security personnel, nurses, doctors, the pastors, the drivers, the tailors and seamstresses, they were all essential to the functioning and forward motion of the country.
“Ghanaians, the people of this soil, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, are in fact the nation’s greatest resource.”
“This country, this land, is not for one person or for one family or for one tribe or ethnic group. This country, this beautiful, resilient and resource-rich country that we so love, Ghana, is for all of us.”
“This is our home, but it is not enough to just be born here and to die here. We must also to be able to live here with satisfaction.”
The Ghanaian must be able to love, to dream, to laugh, to eat and dance and drum and share all aspects of his or her culture handed over by the ancestors, the President-elect added.
He noted that his administration would create sustainable and well-paying jobs through the 24-hour economy initiative.
“The most basic needs of Ghanaians such as affordable housing and health care, food and clean water, safe work and fair wages must be met.”
Inauguration of Joint Presidential Transition Team slated for Wednesday, December 11
The inauguration of a Joint Presidential Transition Team has been slated for Wednesday, December 11.
“We agreed on an early inauguration of a joint transitional team as early as Wednesday the 11th of December,” President-elect John Dramani Mahama said on Monday.
Mr Mahama made the disclosure in his victory speech a few hours after the Electoral Commission had declared him the winner of the Presidential Election with 56.55 per cent of the valid votes cast.
He said he had received a call from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who graciously extended his congratulations to him.
The duo had the opportunity to discuss matters related to the joint transitional team.
“I conveyed my sincerest regards to him and expressed my readiness for us to work together to ensure a smooth transition in the best interest of the Ghanaian people,” the president-elect said.
Police investigate attack on Owusu-Ekuful’s office and residence.
The Police have initiated an investigation into an incident where a gang of about 15 men reportedly invaded and vandalized the office and residence of Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitalisation.
During the attack, several items were stolen, including three motorbikes, a pickup vehicle, and a 32-inch Samsung television, among others.
In a media briefing on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, stated that a Crime Scene Management team had already visited the scene to collect evidence to support the investigation.
She further revealed that a targeted, intelligence-led operation was underway to apprehend the suspects and ensure they face justice.
Meanwhile, the Police leadership has been in close contact with Hon. Owusu-Ekuful, and additional security measures have been put in place at her office and residence to ensure her safety.
Speaker Bagbin congratulates President-elect John Mahama
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama on his victory in the December 7 polls.
In a statement, Speaker Bagbin noted that Ghanaians had courageously and resoundingly reset the presidency to, in turn, reset the nation.
“Congratulations, Your Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, president- elect and Commander in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
“The God almighty who brought you back will be your guide at this critical time that our nation is at its lowest point.”
“Again, congratulations!”
Tema Central parliamentary results in limbo after hours of collation
After 48 hours of close of polls, the expectation of the Tema Central electorates has been dashed as the Electoral Commission is yet to declare the winner of the seat.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is eager to retain the seat, which has been its stronghold since the formation of the constituency in 2012, holding the seat for three terms.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is also determined to add the seat to its numerous ones captured in the Greater Accra Region.
That led to some tension in the constituency as both parties were bent on taking the seat.
On Sunday there was chaos at the Chemu SHS, which served as the collation centre for the constituency, as NDC supporters insisted that their candidate, Ms Ebi Bright, be declared the winner, giving the security a tough time.
Reinforcements of police officers were sent to the collation centre to maintain order.
Collation was subsequently postponed to Tuesday as announced by Mr Manasseh Ofosuhene Asante, the Tema Metro Electoral Officer, noting that the postponement was an agreement between the Commission, the police regional commander, and parliamentary candidates due to the volatile situation.
The collation exercise, however, had to be done on Monday after the EC gave a directive for all collations to be conducted.
The Tema Regional Police Command, which was serving as the new collation centre, saw bigwigs of both the NPP and the NDC trooping to the place to give support to their candidates, Mr Charles Forson, and Ms Ebi Bright, respectively.
After several hours of collating, the parties could not agree for a declaration to be made as of 1930 hours Monday.
This was because of some pink sheets, which the NDC and the independent candidate said they did not have copies of, even though the NPP agent had copies.
While the NPP side demanded that the figures from the said pink sheet be added to the total, the NDC disagreed and called for the declaration of the result, advising the NPP to go to court after the declaration.
The presiding officer of of the said polling centre was, thus, asked if he pasted a copy of the said result at the centre, which he answered in the negative.
Based on that, Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamakpor, Member of Parliament for South Dayi, who had been at the collation centre since morning, quoted the constitutional instrument for the election, which stated that a copy of the result should be pasted at the polling station, which the presiding officer did not, therefore, the figures from that centre could not be added.
The Tema Metro Electoral Officer, however, stressed that “not pasting it does not invalidate the result.”
The delay in declaring the result led to the supporters of the NDC rushing into the collation centre. The police, therefore, had to move the EC officer, pink sheets, and laptops to a safe place.
