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PARLIAMENTARY LEADERSHIP MEETING ENDS INCONCLUSIVE

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The meeting between the Speaker of Parliament and leadership of both the NDC and NPP has again ended inconclusively.

A similar meeting Tuesday could not resolve contentious issues and another meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, January 13.

According to GBC’s parliamentary correspondent Bubu Klinogo, the issue of which party forms the majority could not be determined because of the failure of the independent MP for Fomena Andrew Amoako Asiamah to officially write to the speaker indicating which side he wants to sit with to do business.

According to our correspondent, the leaders are expected to meet again Thursday before the House reconvenes on Friday, January 15.

UGANDAN ELECTION: BOBI WINE TAKES ON MUSEVENI

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A 38-year-old pop star is challenging one of Africa’s longest serving leaders in Uganda’s hotly contested election.

Robert Kyagulanyi, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, says he represents the country’s younger generation, while Yoweri Museveni, 76, says he is standing for stability.

The campaign has been marred by serious violence, which has seen dozens of people killed.

The government has ordered a block on all social media.

President Museveni says this was because Facebook had banned several accounts which backed his ruling party.

Ugandan police say they will deploy officers on rooftops of the capital Kampala on election day, while armoured vehicles have started patrolling the streets.

Polls open at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT), with results not expected before Saturday.

President Museveni is seeking his sixth elected term in office after 35 years in power.

Campaigning had been banned in the capital Kampala, and several other districts. The opposition says this is because it is popular in those areas, but the government says it was to prevent the spread of Covid-19

Opposition candidates – including Bobi Wine – their supporters and campaign staff have been arrested on several occasions.

The police say the deployment to shopping malls and other high-rise buildings comes after opposition activists commanded protests from rooftops in November, when more than 50 people were killed after Bobi Wine was arrested.

Observers from Africa but not the US
The US announced on Wednesday that it was withdrawing its election observers after most of its accreditation requests were denied

The US ambassador to Uganda Natalie Brown said in a statement that without observers, the presidential and parliamentary elections would lack “accountability, transparency and confidence”.

She added that numerous Ugandans had also not received their observer accreditation yet.

The European Union’s offer to send electoral experts has not been taken up either.

In response to this criticism, Mr Museveni’s spokesman Don Wanyama tweeted that there were observers from the African Union and East African Community.

“I don’t remember when Uganda last sent election observers to the US,” he added.

The government has previously said the election would be free and fair.

Bobi Wine has called on voters to remain at polling stations on Thursday and use their mobile phone cameras to record the tallying process in an effort to prevent vote rigging.

On Wednesday, telecoms companies told their customers that they had blocked all social media and messaging apps indefinitely, following an order from Uganda’s Communications Commission.

DONALD TRUMP IMPEACHED FOR THE SECOND TIME

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The US House of Representatives has impeached President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” at last week’s Capitol riot.

Ten Republicans sided with Democrats to impeach the president by 232-197.

But his trial in the Senate will not happen until after Joe Biden, a Democrat, is inaugurated as the new US president next week.

Mr Trump, a Republican, is the first president in US history to be impeached twice.

The Democratic-controlled House voted on Wednesday after two hours of impassioned debate as armed National Guard troops kept watch inside and outside the Capitol.

The FBI has warned of possible armed protests planned for Washington DC and all 50 US state capitals ahead of Mr Biden’s inauguration on 20 January.

In a video released after the vote in Congress, Mr Trump called on his followers to remain peaceful, without mentioning his impeachment. “Violence and vandalism have no place in our country… No true supporter of mine would ever endorse political violence,” he said, striking a sombre and conciliatory tone.

What was Trump charged with?
Impeachment charges are political, not criminal. The president was accused by Congress of inciting the storming of the Capitol with a speech on 6 January to a rally outside the White House.

He urged his supporters to “peacefully and patriotically” make their voices heard, but also to “fight like hell” against an election that he falsely told them had been stolen.

Following Mr Trump’s remarks, his supporters broke into the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to suspend certification of election results and take shelter. The building was placed on lockdown and five people died in the melee.

The article of impeachment stated that Mr Trump “repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were fraudulent and should not be accepted”.

It says he then repeated these claims and “wilfully made statements to the crowd that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in lawless action at the Capitol”, leading to the violence and loss of life.

“President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government, threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperilled a coequal branch of government.”

Last week, 139 Republicans voted against accepting the result of the 2020 election and Mr Trump’s defeat.

What did lawmakers say during the debate?
Members of Congress made statements for and against the vote in the same chamber where they hid under chairs and donned gas masks as rioters tried to force their way inside last week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said on the House floor: “The president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country.

“He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love.”

Democratic congressman Julian Castro called Mr Trump “the most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office”.

Most Republicans did not seek to defend Mr Trump’s rhetoric, instead arguing that the impeachment had bypassed the customary hearings and calling on Democrats to drop it for the sake of national unity.

“Impeaching the president in such a short time frame would be a mistake,” said Kevin McCarthy, the House’s top Republican.

“That doesn’t mean the president’s free from fault. The president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters.”

Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, accused Democrats of recklessly dividing the country to pursue a political vendetta.

“This is about getting the president of the United States,” said Mr Jordan. “It’s always been about getting the president, no matter what. It’s an obsession.”

Among members of the president’s party who voted to impeach him was the third-ranking House Republican, Liz Cheney.

The Wyoming representative, who is the daughter of former Vice-President Dick Cheney, said of the Capitol riot that “there has never been a greater betrayal by a president

MAHAMA PRAYS THE COURT FOR TELEVISED ELECTION PETITION HEARING

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The 2020 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will make an application to the Supreme Court to request for a live broadcast of the hearing of his petition challenging the results of the 2020 polls.

The notice said, “that counsel for and on behalf of the petitioner shall move this Honorable Court for an order directing live transmission of the whole of the proceedings in this petition upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit, and such for further or other orders as the Honorable Court may deem fit.”

The motion is expected to be moved at 9.30am on Thursday, January 14, 2021, when the hearing of the Election Petition begins.

On Wednesday, December 30, 2020, lawyers for Mr. Mahama filed a suit at the Supreme Court following the party‘s audit of the 2020 Presidential results “and extensive consultations with the National Executive Committee and Council of Elders of the party” to challenge the 2020 election results.

In a statement, the NDC said the petition details “serious violations of the 1992 Constitution by the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson and Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa in the conduct of their constitutional and legal responsibility.”

The petition seeks among others, a declaration from the Supreme Court to the effect that, “the purported declaration of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election on the 9th day of December 2020 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

Mahama also wants the court to annul the election result and order for another poll to be conducted between himself and President Akufo-Addo.

Meanwhile, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the election petition, describing it as “incompetent, frivolous and vexatious”.

“That in the circumstance, the petition is incompetent, frivolous and vexatious and discloses no reasonable cause of action in terms of 64(1) of the constitution.”

The Electoral Commission (EC) has also indicated to the Supreme Court that John Mahama’s petition must be thrown out because it is “incompetent.”

NEW MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

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New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, who served as ministers in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s first term, but lost their seats during the election have limited chance of being re-appointed in his second term, highly placed sources at the Office of the President said.

According to deep throat sources within corridors of power, the affected MPs-cum-ministers have been informed of the president’s decision ahead of the announcement of the composition of the new government.

“The directive also affects regional ministers whose regions performed abysmally during the election. They know they are on their way out,” the source told livingavenuegh.com.

Livingavenuegh.com understands lobbying behind the scenes has been intense as the president releases his ministerial list in the coming days.

Fresh faces
Sources at the Office of the President reveal that Ghanaians can expect fresh faces in Akufo-Addo’s new government.

For example, even though yet to be confirmed, reports have it that the immediate past education minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who is the MP for Manhyia South, will take over from the newly elected MP for Hohoe in the Volta Region, John Peter Amewu, as Energy Minister.

At the same time, Amewu will move to the Ministry of Railways Development as the substantive minister.

The former deputy education minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum could be elevated to become the substantive minister.

The MP for Okere (Eastern Region), Dan Botwe, moves from the Ministry of Regional Reorganisation and Development to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, while Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Kwaku Ofori Asiamah will retain their portfolios as the Ministers of Agriculture and Transport, respectively.
Some NPP supporters are also rooting for Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame to be made the substantive minister in the Office of the Attorney General.

New entrants
The new entrants and former deputy chiefs of staff Samuel Abu Jinapor, newly elected as the MP for Damongo, and Francis Asenso-Boakye, the new MP for Bantama, have been tipped for the Lands and Natural Resources and Works and Housing portfolios, respectively.

The National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery and Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah have all been tipped to retain their jobs.

Also expected to retain their positions are the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

FOMENA MP OFFICIALLY DECLARES SUPPORT FOR THE NPP CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT

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The Member of Parliament for Fomena constituency, Andrews Asiamah Amoako has joined the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus in the 8th Parliament.

This was contained an official letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin on Wednesday January 13, 2021.

In the letter copied to livingavenuegh.com, Hon. Asiamah Amoako also the Second Deputy Speaker said he will be transacting business in the House with the NPP.

This official letter makes the NPP Majority and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament.

I CAN NEVER AND EVER THREATEN THE PRESIDENT – BULLDOG

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Artiste Manager, Bulldog has explained into details his comment on United Television last Saturday about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo refusal to pay customers of gold dealership firm, Menzgold.

The artiste manager making a submission on UTV’s United Showbiz said that suggestions that customers invested at their own peril hence, cannot hold the government responsible for the inconvenience caused them is unacceptable.

“We’ll get our monies back else Nana Addo will run; he won’t finish his 4 years. I’m telling you. He won’t finish his 4 years,” he said.

The comment has however been widely spread on social media with many indicating Bulldog threatened the President of Ghana.

However, making another appearance on the ‘Best Entertainment Show’ on Okay FM Monday morning, Bulldog said his comment has been taken out of context.

To Bulldog, he was not threatening the President but drumming home the need for the government to pay the Menzgold clients.

“We were talking about the Menzgold issue last Saturday on UTV and my thing about Menzgold is not a hidden agenda. I was a customer of Menzgold which I have a lot of money there. I’m part of over 800, 000 people who got their cash locked up there so I’m aggrieved and anytime the issue comes up, I speak with passion and highly emotional. I can’t actually hide it until the right thing is done.

“So, the issue came up for discussion which I indicated the money will come else the President will run. I meant the pressure we will give him would surely amount to him giving directive for our monies to be paid. We can even decide to march to the Jubilee House in a very peaceful protests or we won’t stop talking – that was the run I meant and not the interpretation people are giving all over

CAF CLEARS GFA BOSS TO CONTEST EXECUTIVE COUNCIL POSITION

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Caf’s has strongly endorsed Ghana Football Association (GFA) chief Kurt Okraku’s impeccable personal record by clearing him to stand election for the body’s Executive Council election in March.

Africa’s football governing body carried out thorough eligibility checks on the highly-rated Ghanaian administrator and approved his candidature for the election in Morocco.

The Governance Committee of CAF this week checked all the personal records of Okraku to ensure that he is a person of high integrity to occupy a position with the Cairo-based body.

The exhaustive checks by CAF have revealed that Okraku’s personal record is spotless and will help enhance the image of Africa’s football governing if he ascends to the organisation’s board.

With this decision Okraku will now face Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou for a place on the Caf Exuctive Committee from the Wafu Zone B.

Okraku will be vying for the position to replace Nigeria’s Amaju Pinmick who will now be fighting for a Fifa Council position for Anglo-phone Africa group.

Despite being in his positions as the Ghana FA chief over just over one year, his awe-inspiring performance has won him many hearts among several federations across Africa.

His legendary organizational skills as well as his football marketing background that has swept Ghana with the #BringBackTheLove campaign to revive the country’s game has also been noted by the continent’s aficionados.

Okraku’s knowledge and contacts is highly needed at this time that African football is at its lowest ebb as he is the only person with pure academic education at the highest level in football and proven track record.

Among the top African football officials today he is the only one with an MBA in football management from the prestigious University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

He managed one of the top clubs in Africa football, Accra Hearts of Oak, before setting up a third division club in Ghana, Dreams FC, before it to rose to the Premier League and a force in the country.

The decision by the Governance Committee of CAF will give Okraku the chance to demonstrate what he can do for African football.

The Governance Committee is one of CAF’s four independent bodies. It is made up of eminent jurists from the continent, recognized for their expertise and moral probity.

It is chaired by Michel Brizoua-Bi (Côte d’Ivoire), Vice-President Happi Dieudonné (Cameroon), and Maya Boureghda (Tunisia), Monica Musonda (Zambia), Tumi Dlamini (South Africa) as members.

In accordance with article 44 of CAF statutes, the Governance Committee scrupulously analyzed the candidatures received on the basis of the report drawn up by an international and independent company of investigation services, specialized in the controls of ‘integrity – an international partner firm in particular of FIFA – as well as the information provided by the candidate concerned through an eligibility questionnaire.

PRESIDENT CAN APPOINT HOLDING MINISTERS – MARTIN KPEBU

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A private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, says it is legal for a newly-sworn in president to appoint interim ministers until substantive ones are duly nominated, vetted, and approved by Parliament.

His comment follows the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu saying that President Akufo-Addo is acting unlawfully for allowing some of his first term Ministers hold onto their ministerial positions without following the legal process.

Mr Iddrisu cited the Supreme Court Ruling of the J. H Mensah versus Attorney General 1997 and argued that there is nothing like holding or acting ministers unless they have been nominated by President, and the legislature has vetted and approved them.

However, citing the same Supreme Court Ruling of the J. H Mensah versus Attorney General 1997, Lawyer Kpebu said, the NDC MP got it wrong.
He stressed that to avoid the situation of a vacuum in governance the apex court has granted the power to the executive to appoint holding ministers.

“The clear provision of the law, per the interpretation of the Supreme Court is that the President has power to appoint some persons to act as acting ministers pending nomination vetting and approval of substantive ministers.

“But it makes sense that naturally, the President should be given sometime to organise a new government, so in the interim some people should be giving the power to act,” he stated.

The legal practitioner further noted that until someone challenges the ruling of the Supreme Court in the 1997 case, the citizenry is bound to heed to it.

President Akufo-Addo in a letter on Monday, charged some former ministers to maintain their respective positions pending the appointment and subsequent approval of new ministers for his second term in office.

These former ministers include Ken Ofori Atta, the former Finance Minister; Alan Kyerematen, who was the Trade Minister; Alima Mahama, the former Local Government Minister and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, former Information Minister.

 

Source: myjoyonline

ASPIRANTS APPEAL SC DECISION ON PETER AMEWU

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Some residents of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) dragged Hohoe MP-elect John Peter Amewu and the EC to the Ho High Court.

They contend by not being allowed to vote in the just-ended parliamentary elections, their rights have been breached. They secured a 10-day injunction against the gazetting of John Peter Amewu as the winner of the polls.

After the hearing, the Court on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, issued an order restraining Peter Amewu from holding himself out as Member of Parliament -Elect for Hohoe Constituency.

Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame then filed an application at the Supreme Court urging it to restrain the Ho High Court from hearing the matter.

He maintained the SALL residents do not have voting rights in Hohoe since the Supreme Court has already ruled that the area falls within the Oti region.

The Apex Court, therefore in a unanimous decision on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, ruled that the Ho High Court erred when it granted an injunction against the gazetting of John Peter Amewu who has now been inaugurated as MP.