Day: May 14, 2023

The Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mrs Queenstar Pokuaa Sawyer, has been elected unopposed as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the 2024 elections.

Her main contender, Mr Eric Turkson, was disqualified by the party.

This is the fourth time Mrs Sawyer would contest the election on the ticket of the NDC.

Mrs Patience Shebrah, the Agona East Director of Elections, who supervised the polls, held Mrs Sawyer’s hand to declare her the candidate-elect by law.

For the presidential primary, Mr John Dramani Mahama polled 997 votes, representing 99. 6 per cent, to beat Mr Kojo Bonsu, who obtained four votes.

The total valid votes cast were 1,001 by 1,013 delegates while 12 ballots were rejected.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs Sawyer thanked the delegates and the party for the opportunity to contest for the fourth time running.

She said the confidence reposed in her was enormous and pledged to work extra hard, without complacency, to enable her and the presidential candidate, John Mahama, to win in 2024.

‘The massive votes Mr Mahama received will reflect in the 2024 elections,’ she said.

The MP said the people of Agona East would continue to support the party by voting for her and former President Mahama.

‘The good people of Ghana are eagerly waiting for the general election to massively turn out to cast their ballots for the NDC to win to reverse the economic hardship on Ghanaians,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr James Agalga, the Parliamentary Candidate-elect for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Builsa North Constituency of the Upper East Region, says the contest among aspirants in the just ended primaries has reactivated and repositioned the Party for power in 2024.

He, therefore, urged Party delegates and supporters to close their ranks and focus on the elections in 2024, as there was no individual winner or loser in the just ended primaries.

‘The winner in this contest is the National Democratic Congress. As for the primaries, it is nothing but a spring board to success for the Party in the upcoming elections,’ he said.

Mr Agalga, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, who was re-elected as the Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in the 2024 general elections, said this in his victory address to delegates and supporters of the Party.

‘The fact that there was competition here, I can say we have been able to reactivate the Party and positioned it in the manner that makes us prepared and ready to retain the seat and also deliver victory for Former President Mahama in the 2024 elections.’

Mr Agalga, who is the incumbent MP for the area and the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Select Committee of Parliament, polled 547 votes to beat Mr Simon Awog-Badek and Professor Godwin Awabil who polled 165 and nine votes respectively.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Four incumbent Members of Parliament in the Upper East Region have been booted out and lost the endorsement to be reelected to parliament in 2025.

They are two-time MPs Mr Edward Bawa, MP for Bongo and Mr Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, MP for Garu.

The rest are Mr Thomas Adda Dalu, MP for Chiana-Paga and Mr Samuel Tangombu Chirigia who is affectionately called STC, MP for the Navrongo Central.

In the Bongo Constituency, it was all about ‘Bawas’ affair as Mr Charles Bawadua, a legal practitioner and former Executive Secretary of the Labour Commission polled 535 votes to beat the incumbent and Professor Ephraim Nsoh Avea, an educationist who polled 509 votes and 75 votes respectively.

For the Garu constituency, Dr Thomas Winsom Anaba, a former Medical Director of Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) polled 250 votes to secure a ticket for the parliamentary election in 2024 ahead of Mr Alalzuuga who had 160 votes and Mr George Akudugu Mbawin who had 246 votes.

In the Chiana-Paga constituency, the incumbent polled 300 votes to lose to Mr Nikyema Billa Alamzy, a businessman who secured 488 votes.

The incumbent for the Navrongo Central constituency lost his bit to return to Parliament after polling 447 votes which was less than the 475 votes that Mr Simon Akibange Aworigo, a businessman polled.

In the Talensi constituency where eight people contested, Mr Daniel Mahama Dung polled 250 votes to beat his closest contender Mr Zinekena Solomon who had 183 votes.

In the Zebilla constituency, Mr Ebenezer Alumire Ndebilla was elected parliamentary candidate after he polled 450 votes to beat six other contestants while in the Binduri constituency, Mr Issifu Mahmoud, a legal practitioner secured 441 votes to beat Dr Robert Kuganaab-Lem who had 361 votes.

However, five sitting MPs retained their candidatures ahead of the 2024 general elections and are Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, MP for Bolgatanga East, Mr Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, Dr Kurt Nawaane, MP for Nabdam, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, MP for Pusiga and Mr James Agalga, MP for Builsa North.

Meanwhile, three other incumbent MPs including Mr Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central, Dr Clement Apaak, MP for Builsa South and Madam Lydia Akanvariba, MP for Tempane went unopposed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nigeria is set to develop the implementation strategy for Food System Transformation Pathway in order to boost security and reduce unemployment among youths and women.

Dr Sanjo Faniran, who is the National Convenor of the UN Food Systems and Director of Social Development, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, disclosed this in Abuja.

Faniran said that the strategy would address the questions of poverty, inadequate supply of nutritious food and non-consumption of minimum dietary diversity in the country.

He said it would also address stunting, chronic malnutrition, underweight, anaemia and diet-related noncommunicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, stroke and cancers, among others.

Faniran said that the national food systems transformation aimed to achieve some goals by 2030 as well as promote sustainable food trade, increase women’s empowerment in Agriculture Index Score, and increase Environmental Performance Index score.

The food system pathways aim to improve the productivity and sustainability of the food system while promoting health and nutrition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing socio-economic development in Nigeria.

The implementation of these pathways requires a multi-stakeholder approach and engagement at all levels to ensure that the objectives are achieved.

To this end, he said, the ministry would hold a zonal workshop involving stakeholders in Kano on Monday and Awka, Anambra on Thursday on the development of the strategy.

He said that the workshop would be in collaboration with Kano State Government, World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, IFAD, GAIN and AGRA.

The Kano consultation workshop is to harvest input from all the Northern States towards the development of a robust and inclusive implementation of the strategy.

Faniran said that consultation workshops would be used to harvest input of stakeholders, especially state actors in the Food System Value Chain, to strengthen and ensure an inclusive and jointly-owned Plan, taking into consideration various professional, technical and socio-economic positions of the stakeholders.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Nigerian musician, Victor Ukoh, also known as Veecil, has dropped a single titled, ‘Black Energy’.

This is contained in statement issued by the artist’s publicist, Kemi Israel, on Saturday in Abuja.

Israel said that Veecil, in the song, featured talented rising Nigerian artists such as Syemca, Layzee Ella, and The Majeek.

“Black Energy” showcases Veecii’s versatility and creativity as a music producer.

“He creates a sweet fusion of Afrobeats and Soul, as he enlists these gifted artists who delivered catchy melodies and relatable lyrics on the track.

“This song serves as the lead to his first ever body or work. His passion for music emerged at an early age.

“He started with his proficiency as a drummer before transitioning to the piano, where he honed his craft and gained a deep understanding of music production.

“Veecii is no stranger to the music scene, having received numerous accolades and recognitions, including an award for his outstanding contribution to “Make Music Lagos 2021,” Israel said.

According to him, Veecil’s talent as one of the contestants in the inaugural season of “Stardom Nigeria”, was adjourned one of the best in the highly acclaimed reality TV show.

“With his exceptional talent and passion for music, Veecii is undoubtedly one to watch”.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The African Tourism Board (ATB) has named Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), as its global ambassador, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The ATB is a leading Pan-African tourism development conglomerate comprised of influential stakeholders around Africa, Europe and the Americas.

It is a non-profit body acting as a strategic partner among African countries to develop market and implement tourism programmes that meet the emerging needs of local industries and the international tourism market.

Kangiwa, in a statement on Sunday, said that the announcement was made during the annual Tourism and Transport summit in Abuja recently by Mr Cuthbert Ncube, President of the ATB.

“My appointment is expected to lead to rapid growth in intra- and inter-Africa business partnerships and sustainable platforms for ATB members, stakeholders, tourism destinations and African host communities.

“This will add momentum to the drive for achievements of ATB’s vision and founding objectives,” he said.

Kangiwa is a popular cultural and sports tourism investor, professional and government administrator.

He is currently the substantive President of Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) – the official Polo regulator in Nigeria – established during the colonial period.

The NPF is the national body recognised to regulate all polo activities within and outside the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria