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Pull the brakes, stop the hypocrisy and comply with party laws – Boakye Agyako tells NPP
Former Energy Minister, Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, has expressed worry over happenings in thing the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, the recent recurrence of violence among some factions of the party leaves much to be desired.
Mr Agyarko believes these incidents are a culmination of built-up disregard for party regulations that have been brushed under the carpet for too long.
Speaking on Accra-based Peace FM, he insisted that the wanton disregard for view and hierarchy has allowed the chaos to fester, leading to the unfortunate developments now unfolding.
He said the NPP’s National Executive Council (NEC) has a crucial role in forestalling any further disturbance.
“National Executive and national council must stop the indifference, the hypocrisy. We know people are breaking the law, but we seem unconcerned,” he said.
For instance, in the New Abirim constituency, a fierce fight broke out at the Dodoworaso polling station on March 1, 2022.
The NPP Youth Organiser in the area sustained cutlass wounds amid the incident during the recent polling station election.
Frank Ayim was attacked by one Alfred believed to be close to the MP for the area.
Issues such as these do not sit well with Boakye Agyarko, who has already expressed interest in leading the party into the 2024 general elections as a flagbearer.
He wants the NEC and national council to “pull the brakes and recognise that what is going on will not help us.”
“Wisdom is not the preserve of a few. But, if we all discuss the situations from the bottom up, we can bring change,” he said.
While preferring solutions, the former Minister believes that focus must be channelled into assessing the party’s new direction to keep the party away from soiling its image.
The distribution of nomination forms for prospective contestants in polling station executive elections turned chaotic at the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Manhyia North constituency in the Ashanti Region last month.
The February 20 incident started when supporters protested a decision by the constituency executives to sell the forms to them when they had already been paid for by Benard Antwi Bosiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party.
Although the executives explained that Chairman Wontumi paid for 1000 forms to be given to incumbent polling station officers, the prospective polling station executives refused to accept this explanation.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
