COUNCIL OF STATE ELECTIONS REACHING ACRIMONIOUS LEVEL ...In Upper West (PAGE 16)

THIS year’s elections to the Council of State in the Upper West Region is gradually reaching an acrimonious level.
This follows accusations and counter–accusations that some of the contenders are using the district assemblies structures to manipulate the electoral college.
Some of the candidates are being accused of trying to use the name of President J.E.A. Mills in the selection of those expected to form the electoral college.
Snippets of information gathered by the Daily Graphic, showed that if the situation was not handled maturely, some of the candidates might resort to the law courts to ensure that the selection process was transparent and acceptable to all the contenders.
The election is being contested by five personalities. They are a 69-year-old retired civil servant, William Gangnir; Paschal Dere, a development worker, 49; Naa Seidu Braimah, Naa S.D. Gore and Kuoro Buktie Limann, both rulers of Goli and Dorimon respectively.
With Paschal Dere, standing for the third time in his attempt to represent the region, would have tough challenge from Kuoro Buktie Limann, who is the immediate past Upper West Regional Member of the Council of State, and Na Seidu Braimah, a newcomer in the contest.
In the last election in 2005, Mr Dere lost by a single vote margin to Kuoro Limann. Campaigning on the theme: “Nurture the youth, give the youth the chance,” Mr Dere told the Daily Graphic that his vision was to galvanise the youth for what he termed “Youth Economic Empowerment Project”.
He promised to avail his expertise at all times of the assemblies when given the nod in order to accelerate the development process of the region.
He urged the first-time contenders to brace themselves as there was going to be a paradigm shift from the senior citizens era to the youth.

STUDENTS UNION CALLS FO CALM AT SAYEEYU (PAGE 20)

.THE Upper West Region branch of the Bunkprugu Yunyoo Students Union has appealed for calm among the various factions in the recent clashes in Sayeeyu, a suburb of Nakpanduri in the Northern Region.
The appeal followed a clash between the Bauk and the Tanmung clans in the Bunkprugu Yunyoo District.
In a statement signed by the President of the union, Mr Patrick Yenteeb, the union expressed regret that despite the efforts of the union in collaboration with religious and opinion leaders, the two factions still saw each other as adversaries.
“In fact after both factions had pledged their support towards peace, we were dismayed to hear of the unfortunate incidence where a number of houses were burnt with an old lady being killed.
“We therefore deem this situation as unfortunate and call on all well-meaning people from the district, especially prominent and educated people from the respective clans, to make concerted efforts to talk to their own people to lay down their arms,” the statement added.
It also condemned the reportage of the incident in certain media circles, which the union described as misleading and unethical.
The statement, therefore, called on the media to be very circumspect in what they fed the general public.
“We want to invite those interested in resolving conflicts to contact the union and other opinion leaders, since we have a researched document on the causes and resolution of conflict,” the statement concluded.

YOUTH WANT RAHMAN AS WA MCE (PAGE 14)

A Group calling itself Youth for Development of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Wa Constituency of the Upper West Region, has called for the nomination of Mr Mitiu Rahman as the Wa Municipal Chief Executive MCE.
The group said Mr Rahman, a tutor at the Nusrat Jahan Teacher Training College in Wa, had demonstrated enough commitment to the cause of the party in the Wa Central Constituency.
“He has also been a dedicated member of the NDC and was the constituency secretary from 2001-2005,” it added.
Led by Mr Abdul Musah, the group told the Daily Graphic that being youthful, full of exuberance, easily approachable, coupled with his remarkable leadership qualities, Mr Rahman was the best person to accelerate the development agenda of the municipality.
“We must stress that, if nominated and approved by the assembly, Mr Rahman will bring his managerial and leadership competencies to bear in the high office of MCE for effective development,” said the group.
It, therefore, hoped that President J.E.A. Mills would nominate Mr Rahman as the MCE for Wa.
The group took the opportunity to thank the President for nominating Mr Mahmud Khalid as the Upper West Regional Minister designate, and pledged to work with Mr Khalid in the pursuit of his development agenda.

SET UP COMMITTEE TO FIND OUT WHY NPP LOST (PAGE 13)

THE Wa Central Constituency Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Mujeeb Rahman, has appealed to the hierarchy of the party to set up a research committee to find out why the party lost in the 2008 elections.
This, he said, would serve as a guide towards the next general election scheduled for 2012.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he wondered why the party lost in constituencies that had hitherto been voting for the NPP.
“We must research into this and come out with appropriate strategies, which would serve as the blueprint towards our move to recapture power,” he added.
Mr Rahman said 2008 had gone with its challenges and, therefore, called for serious analysis and excellent strategies.
He warned that any move that would lead to the disunity of the party would be rejected by the youth in the party.
On who leads the NPP in the next general election, the Wa Central Constituency secretary said the constitution of the party must be used in the selection of the next flag bearer.
“We should allow the constitutional process to be used, rather than making pronouncements that have the potential for breaking up the party,” he advised.

WA UDS STUDENTS THREATEN DEMONSTRATION BACK PAGE, JAN 24)

STUDENTS of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) have threatened to embark on a peaceful demonstration to protest the suspension of Mr Alphonse Naab.
Mr Naab is the President of the Central Students Representative Council (SRC), and he was on November 28, 2008, suspended by a letter issued by the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sagary Nokoe.
The letter cited the use of abusive language by Mr Naab. As one of the reasons given for his suspension, it was said that he granted unauthorised radio interviews, which tarnished the image of the university.
Following the suspension, some student leaders have called for the total boycott of lectures on Monday, January 26, 2009, in solidarity with the SRC president, after which there would be a peaceful demonstration through the principal streets of Wa, and then a petition presented through the Regional Co-ordinating Council to President J.E.A. Mills.
To avert the intended action, the management of the Faculty of Integrated Studies (FIDS), Wa Campus, has started meeting students at all levels, urging them to exercise restraint.
At a meeting with students in level 300, management of the faculty, led by Professor Abraham Beriyuu, tried to explain to students the consequence of their intended action.
He said the suspension of Mr Naab was not meant to be a punitive measure, but rather a corrective one.
"Nobody has any malice in the issue. The issue has currently taken a legal dimension," he told the students.
He warned the students of the consequences, but the students, in response, shouted: "We are ready."
For his part, the Dean of the Faculty of Planning, Dr Francis Bacho, who tried calming the students, reiterated efforts made by the management of the faculty to explain issues pertaining to the suspension of the SRC president to the hierarchy of the SRC, but things did not work out as expected.
He attributed the current situation on campus to an information lapse.
"Based on what I have heard, the right information is not being told the students. The SRC president has not been sacked, but suspended," he added.
Dr Bacho advised the students body to verify from university authorities whenever they were not sure of any issue.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, pleaded with the students to reconsider their position.

NDC SUPPORTERS POUR OUT TO WELCOME MILLS (PAGE 13)

SUPPORTERS of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region reaffirmed the stronghold accolade of the party in the region when they poured out in their numbers to welcome the party's flag bearer, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, to Wa.
Prof Mills, whose visit was preceded by that of the former President and founder of the NDC, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, came on the heels of that of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Prior to his arrival, enthusiastic supporters of the NDC met the convoy of Prof Mills on the Wa-Jirapa road and led it through the Wa Market area to the rally grounds.
From teenagers to potential voters and the very old supporters and sympathisers of the NDC from all walks of life kept faith with their most-loved party as they followed the flag bearer through the principal streets of the town.
The crowd was so thick that the police and other security personnel on duty had a hectic time controlling it and in what is gradually becoming a ritual during visits of presidential candidates to the Wa municipality, some motorcycle riders who rode recklesslessly were involved in accidents and were rushed to the hospital.
On arrival at the rally grounds, Prof Mills was greeted with thunderous cheers and responded with the "yereseseamu" symbol, which was simultaneously replicated by the supporters.
Addressing the crowd, a former Regional Minister of the Upper West Region, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, told the crowd that "We are only asking for a change".
He said the NPP had left all the schools, electricity projects and road projects in the Upper West unattended to and, therefore, they must change the government for the NDC to come and continue with its good works.
The National Womens Organiser of the NDC, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, asked the people to examine their lifestyle and see if there had been any improvement since the NPP came to power.
She said the NPP used that message in the past elections, but because it realised it had failed Ghanaians, it was not using it anymore.
She stressed the need for the people of the Upper West Region to give the NDC the chance to come and improve their living standards.
For his part, Prof Mills promised to re-construct the roads linking the Upper West and the Upper East regions as well as the one linking the Upper West to the Northern Region.
He assured them of a truthful, honest and sincere leadership when he became President, and thanked the people for the overwhelming reception accorded him and his entourage.
That, he said, was a clear manifestation that come December 7, 2008, the NDC was going to win the elections.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL OF NPP SHAKES WA

For the first time in sixteen years, the campaign trail of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) shook the foundations of Wa, the Upper West regional capital, with a rally held at Timdamba JHS park.
The rally, which attracted a large crowd, also ignited the hitherto low key political activity in the region and close to an hour after the rally, Wa experienced one of its worst vehicular traffic jams, especially between the roads from the Wa central market traffic lights through to the junction linking the main Wa-Kumasi road.
Around 12 noon, supporters of the NPP and other sympathisers clad in the party colours, could be seen in almost every part of the municipality, many of them on motorcycles.
Others also sat on top of vehicles fixed with musical gadgets and danced through the principal streets to the rally grounds where they waited anxiously for the flag bearer and his running mate.
Then came the moment they were all waiting for, when Nana Akufo-Addo, followed by his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, drove in open top vehicles with smiles on their faces as they waved to the crowds amidst cheers from their supporters.
After a brief Muslim prayer, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mohamadu Abdul Aziz, set the ball rolling and told the supporters why they had gathered there and why they should vote for the NPP on December 7, 2008.
A Minister of State at the Office of the Attorney General and parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the Lawra/Nandom Constituency, Mr Ambrose Dery, educated the crowd on the ballot paper.
He said the NPP is number one on the ballot paper and that they must be vigilant and always look out for the elephant emblem.
The crowd roared when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo preceded his speech with some youthful dance. He stressed the need for all to guard the peace the country was enjoying.
He said politics and elections were about different ideologies and choices and not about war and, therefore, as pacesetters in violence-free democratic elections on the continent there was the need to prove to the entire world that Ghana could also hold democratic elections devoid of violence.
He reiterated his resolve to improve conditions through the Northern Development Authority, which would be supported with seed money of one billion cedis.
This, he said, was the only way to bridge the widening development gap between the north and the south which had compelled most of the youth from the north to migrate to the south to seek non-existing jobs. Nana Akufo-Addo addressed a similar rally at Tumu in the Sissala East District.
Other speakers included Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Godfrey Bayoung Tangou and Mr Yaw Boakye Agyarko.