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NewsTranscript
00:00 Thank you so much for staying on MJO News.
00:03 This is News Desk, I'm Benis Abubayidulansa.
00:06 Coming up, 15 people lose their lives
00:09 while attempting to flee in Kwantis' chieftaincy dispute.
00:12 Also, the political season is fast approaching.
00:20 What's the right time to choose a running mate?
00:22 We'll speak to a political scientist.
00:29 We've also got an analysis on what the Finance Minister's
00:32 absence in Parliament for the 2024 budget debate
00:36 could mean for its acceptance by the House.
00:39 And we've also got some business news updates
00:46 in this package for you.
00:47 Kindly stay with us.
00:48 (upbeat music)
00:51 We're coming to you live from our studios
01:07 in Kokumlemle here in Accra, Ghana,
01:09 live on DSTV and GoTV,
01:12 and around the world via myjoyonline.com.
01:15 We start off on a rather disturbing note
01:17 as 15 people have lost their lives
01:20 while attempting to flee the chieftaincy dispute in Kwanta.
01:24 They were aboard a minibus headed to home
01:26 when an accident occurred.
01:29 Their minibus collided with a heavy duty truck.
01:32 Let's get an update on this from our DOOM News'
01:34 Aubrey Mpong Owusu.
01:35 Hello, Aubrey Mpong.
01:37 The rather sad news we're hearing
01:39 about some people who've lost their lives
01:41 in an attempt to flee a conflict.
01:45 Tell us more about how this happened.
01:47 - Well, really, there was an accident
01:52 that happened in the hotel region.
01:57 And what we get is some of the residents
02:02 of Kwanta, Southier, were in the past
02:06 in the attempt of fleeing out of the area
02:08 when the conflict started.
02:11 But the contact we have been able to reach
02:16 or to see or to follow on any news publications
02:19 or story that was just coming out was indeed true.
02:22 We've been able to get a lot of contact,
02:26 but to me, where we've been able to arrive
02:29 was that the boat was already departing from Kwanta.
02:32 But rather, I'm going to say,
02:34 that when it was due to--
02:35 - I'm sorry, Aubrey Mpong, I'm struggling to hear you.
02:38 Can you speak up a bit?
02:40 Did you say that your findings are that this
02:43 may not be linked to the chief justice dispute?
02:47 - Yes, indeed.
02:48 That is exactly what I'm saying.
02:50 That it's not linked to the chief justice dispute yet.
02:53 Because our search from the general consulate
02:57 we sought, we could get some of the contact,
03:00 shows that, although there was an accident
03:04 and there was a report that,
03:05 but there was a contact that was established
03:08 to say that those accidents that occurred,
03:13 or that there has been no accident,
03:15 it was a blimey of Kwanta
03:17 and it was a conflict with the way it formed.
03:19 We've been able to reach some of the security officers
03:21 that we were working with.
03:23 They said, no, it never had any potential
03:27 as of yesterday, till this morning.
03:30 - So do we know where the people were moving from?
03:34 We know the accident occurred in Hulme,
03:36 but where was the vehicle coming from?
03:39 - By our findings, it shows that the bus
03:42 was probably from Abujase, somewhere they can't,
03:44 they are clean.
03:46 So that is what we got to know about our finding
03:50 that the bus was probably from the Abujase
03:55 to the Votare.
03:56 - Okay, so they are not coming from in Kwanta?
03:59 - Not yet, that we don't know.
04:00 - All right, so the latest is that the news going round
04:05 that these people who were involved in that accident
04:07 that who were coming from in Kwanta
04:09 has not yet been established or confirmed
04:12 by any of the security forces
04:15 and your investigation is pointing to something else.
04:20 - Yes, what I'm saying is that the Kwanzaa Police
04:24 is trying to get to know where those people
04:27 were travelling from, if they were from Kwanzaa South
04:30 or any of the Kwanzaa Police here.
04:33 - All right, so--
04:34 - So, what we've been able to establish
04:39 is that the people were not actually travelling from here.
04:41 But we've been able to see that maybe those
04:44 that were involved in the bus,
04:45 maybe they were coming from somewhere--
04:50 - Right, all right, so once we don't have concrete information
04:55 we can leave it at that and not veer off into speculations.
04:59 But what do we know about what led to the accident?
05:03 15 lives have been lost at the moment.
05:06 How exactly did the accident occur?
05:08 - Actually, it happened in a new regime
05:13 which is the border security regime.
05:15 And one of them, that the bus was travelling from
05:19 Abu Dhabi, and when I think in attempt of the
05:22 defense industry or something,
05:25 something that we can establish,
05:25 so I've not been there myself,
05:27 so I can't talk much about the accident.
05:29 - Right.
05:30 - I think what I can establish.
05:31 - Thank you for joining me, Aubrey Mpong.
05:33 Aubrey Mpong is with our sister station at DUM-FM.
05:37 We'll try and iron out the gray parts
05:40 of this particular story and subsequently
05:43 give you the full details as they are, factually.
05:48 Meanwhile, the National Peace Council is asking
05:51 the IGP and security agencies to strengthen investigations
05:55 underway with the required resources
05:58 to assure affected families and the Ghanian public
06:02 of speedy justice.
06:03 Chairman, Reverend Dr. N.S. Njugunjevi
06:04 spoke earlier on the AM show.
06:06 - I think the issue of the creation of small arms
06:11 is a very serious issue in our country.
06:13 If you look at the number of arms that are in homes
06:18 and in the hands of the youth,
06:20 it is a very worrying situation.
06:22 And that is what is spilling up into all of these things.
06:25 And some of our research in the north,
06:28 in the past, most young people would want to get a bicycle
06:31 or motorbike and they think that it's come
06:33 to a certain level of status.
06:36 Now it's not motorbikes, it's guns.
06:38 So everybody's trying to buy a gun.
06:41 And that is a very worrying situation for our country
06:43 with so many young people holding guns across the country
06:46 that that leads to these things.
06:48 So with the least provocation,
06:50 somebody picks up arms and starts shooting.
06:54 So we have to do collectively everything we can
06:57 to stop these things and bring them to some level
07:01 of control as much as we can.
07:04 And I think that everybody is needed
07:06 as far as this whole project is concerned.
07:09 Guns, there's a need to find some regulation.
07:12 Are these guns registered?
07:14 Where are they coming from?
07:16 Who is selling them?
07:17 And why is it so easy for people
07:20 to lay hands on these things?
07:23 These are issues that I believe the police must come in
07:25 to help us.
07:27 Maybe the immigration services may have to also
07:30 up their game in terms of border controls
07:33 and how they search through these things
07:35 because there are too many of them coming in.
07:37 - Away from security issues,
07:40 Speaker of Parliament, Alban Baglin,
07:42 on Wednesday, deferred the second day
07:44 of the 2024 budget debate
07:46 until the finance minister, Ken Oferiyata,
07:48 or his deputies appeared before the House.
07:51 The Speaker's decision followed an argument
07:53 by former minority leader, Harunai Drissou,
07:56 that the debate must not proceed
07:58 because the minister was absent.
08:00 There was a counter appeal from the minority leader,
08:03 Dr. Atufosun, for the debate to proceed.
08:05 - Proceed to the budget debate now.
08:09 We'll start with statements until we see evidence
08:14 from the political leadership of the ministry
08:18 present in the House.
08:20 Then we can go to the budget debate.
08:22 So let's handle statements now.
08:24 We need them to be available,
08:27 note the submissions of members,
08:32 take them serious, and make sure that
08:34 they are factored into the management of our economy,
08:41 particularly the implementation of the 2024 budget.
08:47 So please, since we have some two statements available,
08:52 we could take that now.
08:53 We have the whole day to handle the budget.
08:57 We will still, if we get time, also take questions.
09:03 So Honorable Dafin Okor, don't lose hope.
09:07 You may be heard today asking your questions.
09:12 (silence)
09:14 - That was the speaker's decision
09:20 after he heard the argument of the former minority leader
09:24 and the minority leader.
09:25 Let's now get onto Zoom and speak to Dr. Rashid Draman
09:28 of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs.
09:30 Thank you so much for your time, Doc.
09:32 I mean, what do you make of this?
09:34 Do we really need the finance minister to be there?
09:36 He's done his work.
09:37 He's presented the budget statement to the House.
09:41 Now the House has the responsibility to debate
09:44 and approve or otherwise the financial statement.
09:48 Does he need to be there
09:50 or do his deputies need to be there at all?
09:52 - Times, perhaps absence of the minister
10:00 might not be a big issue, but we are in abnormal times.
10:08 Our country is currently going through very serious
10:11 challenges and I would have thought that,
10:15 I mean, this is a budget that is supposed to give,
10:18 I mean, most of us and our compatriots some relief.
10:23 And if there's any period during which the minister
10:28 of finance and his deputies have to be in parliament,
10:31 this is that period.
10:35 So, I mean, it's very difficult to understand.
10:40 I don't know what kind of difficult circumstances
10:46 taking the minister away,
10:49 but I would have thought that, I mean, whatever it is,
10:53 perhaps maybe some scheduling would have to be done
10:56 in such a way that, you know, the minister is in the House
11:02 because there is some comparison that has been made
11:06 with, for instance, many years ago
11:09 when Honorable Bauer Reidy was minister for finance.
11:14 During this period of debate on the budget,
11:18 he will sit in the House and take notes
11:20 and respond appropriately.
11:23 So I think that that's the context.
11:26 And I mean, beyond that,
11:30 I think there's, yesterday we saw in the House,
11:35 you know, how the House was virtually empty.
11:39 I mean, during a period like this,
11:42 I mean, it beats my imagination.
11:44 - Right, Doc.
11:45 So, I mean, just not to cut you short,
11:48 but just by way of information,
11:50 we are told that the finance minister
11:52 is out of the country.
11:54 We know where we are with trying to get the second tranche
11:57 of our IMF support.
12:00 And so he is in negotiations outside the country.
12:04 That's equally important, citing what you just spoke about,
12:08 the current state of our economy
12:10 and the need for all these interventions.
12:12 Also, much later, though,
12:15 we were told that the numbers picked up.
12:17 I agree that the numbers initially
12:19 were quite terrible to report on.
12:22 So the question here is,
12:23 this is more of a moral argument, isn't it?
12:26 Because the minister didn't necessarily
12:29 breach any standing orders of the House.
12:32 - No, no, clearly, I mean,
12:34 the minister didn't breach any standing orders.
12:36 I think it's more of, you know,
12:39 looking at our context
12:41 and looking at what we are dealing with as a country.
12:46 And so, yes, I think that that is where,
12:49 I mean, the argument is.
12:50 And I mean, these budget discussions,
12:53 I mean, the timing of the presentation of the budget
12:56 and all the discussions that follow
12:59 are things that were programmed, you know, ahead of time.
13:03 And I believe that the minister and his team
13:06 were part of, you know, selecting this period.
13:11 So whatever it is, I think, like you said,
13:16 it's not a legal argument.
13:18 I think it's more of, not even moral,
13:21 but an argument that is tied to
13:25 the kind of extenuating circumstances
13:27 that our country is dealing with at the moment,
13:31 which requires that, you know, we get all the answers,
13:35 parliament gets all the answers,
13:36 all the clarifications and so on.
13:38 And I think the minister and his team
13:43 that can provide these answers.
13:45 - Right, much later, though,
13:47 we know that the debate resumed.
13:49 The day before, one of his deputies was in the house.
13:53 And so something, this is much ado about nothing.
13:56 I mean, the argument is the minister has done his job.
14:00 You have to do your job of scrutinizing the documents
14:04 and approving it or not.
14:05 - Well, I mean, yes, not necessarily much ado about nothing
14:11 because the budget is a very important,
14:13 if not the most important policy document of the government.
14:17 And the most important policy of every country.
14:20 And I believe that, you know,
14:24 in dealing with the budget
14:26 as well as other documents before the house,
14:30 the availability of information,
14:32 the transparency of information are all critical.
14:36 And members of parliament ask questions
14:38 and those questions need to be answered.
14:41 And I believe that that's where the presence
14:45 and the availability of the minister and his team
14:50 would have made a big difference.
14:52 So that we don't get into the realm of speculation.
14:56 We don't get into the realm of, you know,
14:59 people interpreting and giving meaning to things
15:02 really that are not, you know,
15:06 sometimes we can overblow things in our country.
15:11 Somebody could take an issue that is really not relevant.
15:16 And because all the answers have not been provided,
15:21 then, you know, the debate begins to take a different turn.
15:26 So that is why, you know, it's important,
15:30 not only for the minister,
15:31 I think it was we are questioning
15:34 the absence of the minister.
15:35 Most importantly for me, what is more important
15:38 is the seriousness of the members themselves
15:40 to show up on time.
15:42 I mean, and not, you know, to get a situation
15:44 where like you have seen the numbers picked up.
15:47 No, I mean, the numbers have to be present
15:51 at 10 o'clock in the morning,
15:53 when this process is beginning.
15:56 - Right, and on the issue of absenteeism,
16:00 I mean, you have been speaking over the years about this.
16:05 Organizations like UDKRU have come up with reports
16:08 talking about absenteeism in parliament.
16:11 And it still seems to be a problem.
16:13 We're going into an election year.
16:14 We're likely gonna see the house getting, you know,
16:18 very few numbers represented
16:19 because people will now begin to focus on
16:23 either getting reelected or helping the party
16:28 win the general elections and all that.
16:30 What's your, do you have any fears
16:35 about what parliament is going to look like
16:38 in the coming days?
16:39 - The issue of absenteeism, I think parliament has lost it
16:46 because I have said over and over,
16:49 we have taken an approach, which over the years,
16:53 I mean, not only, I think beginning
16:55 from about the fifth parliament up to this time,
16:58 speaker after speaker, and then eventually we saw
17:03 in the eighth parliament, I mean, this parliament,
17:05 when a number of MPs were sent to the privileges committee
17:10 and so on for breaching that provision
17:15 of their standing orders.
17:17 But I mean, when we sum it up all,
17:20 it looks like the approach in dealing with this legally
17:25 has failed.
17:27 And I have said that maybe we might need to rethink this
17:32 and perhaps take the approach that some countries
17:35 have taken, the realistic approach some countries
17:37 have taken in the Scandinavia and other places
17:41 where, you know, they hit you where it bites most.
17:46 That is, you know, you are absent,
17:50 you lose some of your financial entitlements.
17:55 That is if you are absent without, I mean,
17:59 having gone through the right processes
18:02 that parliament has laid down.
18:05 Because, you know, I would just, I mean,
18:10 not imagine a situation where in this parliament
18:13 or in any future parliament, where members can come together
18:17 and say, we are expelling our own.
18:19 So really this issue has to be looked at,
18:24 I mean, very, very carefully.
18:26 I know when some of us say this,
18:29 because I remember this, I mean,
18:31 matter of financial kind of sanctions and so on.
18:36 Some members disagree with that.
18:39 And I have had instances when I've gotten into discussions
18:45 with members of parliament for saying something like this.
18:49 But, you know, you need to show up and do your job.
18:52 And if you don't, I think we need to find a way
18:57 to make sure that, you know, some sanctions are meted out.
19:01 Otherwise, this is going to get, only get serious.
19:05 Particularly like you rightly said,
19:07 I mean, with elections coming,
19:08 until parliament is dissolved,
19:11 members of parliament have to show up and do their job
19:13 because they are taking salary for all this time
19:17 until they are no longer members of parliament.
19:20 - Doc, I appreciate your time this morning.
19:23 Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your thoughts.
19:25 Dr. Rashid Draman is with
19:27 the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs.
19:30 And we've been talking about the absence
19:33 of the finance minister and his deputies in parliament,
19:37 which led to the speaker deferring
19:39 the second day of the debate
19:43 until we had a deputy representing.
19:46 And later the debate was resumed, but still in parliament,
19:51 the speaker again has summoned
19:53 the ministers for national security and interior to appear
19:57 before the defense and interior committee of parliament.
20:00 Today, he wants them to brief the committee on actions
20:04 being taken by government to forestall a clash
20:08 between the Mo and Wangara ethnic groups
20:11 in the Kintampo North municipality.
20:14 - Minister for national security,
20:19 the minister for the interior,
20:24 as the first authorities to come to this house
20:29 to brief the committee on defense and interior.
20:35 This is an urgent matter
20:41 that should be handled with dispatch.
20:44 I think tomorrow should be okay for the two ministers
20:48 and their commanders to appear before the committee
20:53 early tomorrow morning by 9 a.m. to brief the committee.
20:58 It's an urgent matter.
21:01 The National Security Council,
21:07 through their regional office,
21:11 should immediately intervene
21:12 because the chief agency institution
21:16 is one of the cornerstones of the peace and security
21:21 of our country, and we hold that institution dearly.
21:26 And we should do everything to prevent that institution
21:32 from falling into disarray.
21:35 But this, I think, is a simple matter.
21:38 The president of the Wangara community
21:42 is the president of the Wangara community in Ghana.
21:47 That is what the statement says.
21:50 Not just in the Kintampo traditional area, in Ghana.
21:55 And so they have a festival,
21:58 which is an annual festival they celebrate
22:02 called Kulubi Festival within the period.
22:05 The paramount chief of Mu,
22:12 and we know how key the Mu tribe is in Ghana,
22:18 even though a lot of them are rather in Cote d'Ivoire.
22:23 It's a very important tribe.
22:26 The paramount chief of the Mu
22:29 and the president of the Mu traditional council
22:33 is deciding to perform some rituals.
22:38 That one is not an annual festival
22:42 because that festival is the Benkadi.
22:47 The Benkadi Kulubi Festival.
22:50 And there's a period for celebration,
22:53 but it is just to perform some rituals.
22:57 It's a belief that if that is done,
23:02 some police could intervene to try to prevent accidents
23:08 and other criminal activities within the area.
23:13 So they don't have the same, to me, importance.
23:18 - This is your election headquarters.
23:23 And as you may be aware, we are fast approaching 2024
23:27 and the season is heating up,
23:29 but what's the right time to choose a running mate?
23:31 A year or some months to an election?
23:34 This question has become paramount
23:36 because former president John Romanyu Mahama says
23:39 the NDC will choose its running mate
23:41 for the next election in 2024.
23:46 This is in response to calls
23:48 from some traditional authorities
23:49 in the Esunafun South area
23:52 for him to consider their MP, Erick Okuku, for the position.
23:56 Already the queen mother of the Bunu traditional council
23:58 made similar calls for a Bunu native
24:02 to be chosen for that role.
24:04 Mr. Mahama, one of his public engagements
24:07 in the Ahufu region said the party's looking forward
24:09 to taking that decision next year.
24:12 (speaking in foreign language)
24:16 (speaking in foreign language)
24:21 (speaking in foreign language)
24:25 Presidential candidates and national executive
24:33 and our council of elders.
24:36 (speaking in foreign language)
24:40 (speaking in foreign language)
24:43 (audience cheering)
24:54 (speaking in foreign language)
25:09 (speaking in foreign language)
25:13 - Well, basically saying that the party has a time
25:18 when it makes these decisions.
25:19 And once that decision is made,
25:21 the person will be outdoored.
25:22 He ended by asking that, you know,
25:26 they should look up to God and see what God will do
25:28 or see what the Lord will do.
25:30 We've been joined by political scientist, Dr. Asa Asante
25:33 for more on this.
25:33 Good morning for your time once again, doc.
25:36 A lobbying has started even on the other side
25:39 of the new patriotic party.
25:40 And when you get onto social media,
25:42 people who love the party, who support the party
25:45 have begun putting up pictures one or two year
25:49 throwing their support behind certain personalities.
25:53 We've got just about a year
25:55 to the December 7th elections in 2024.
25:59 Would you say that it is the right time
26:02 to let the people know who the running mates
26:06 of these flag bearers are?
26:08 Is it even relevant at all?
26:09 - Hello.
26:13 - Hi doc.
26:14 - Yeah, Benyam.
26:15 - Right, did you hear my question please?
26:17 - No.
26:18 - I was asking, I was just basically talking about the fact
26:21 that the lobbying has started even on social media.
26:24 We see people putting up photos of certain personalities,
26:27 especially in the NPP.
26:29 You know, they believe that they would be a good option
26:33 for running mates for the party.
26:35 But I'm asking, we've just got barely a year,
26:38 I mean, just about a year
26:39 to the December 7th elections in 2024.
26:43 Would you say it is even relevant
26:45 to start having that conversation now?
26:47 - It is relevant because you want to see
26:50 the whole team put together
26:52 and come here on the course of campaign to win the election.
26:56 So people are interested so that they know
26:59 what is it that is in store for them.
27:02 - Right.
27:03 And doc, I mean, previously people had actually suggested
27:07 that we know running mates before we even select
27:12 who a flag bearer should be,
27:14 because they believe that it is so critical and important
27:18 that if we know who you are pairing with,
27:23 it may or may not influence
27:26 whether people will choose you or not.
27:28 But once they choose you and then you make a decision,
27:32 well, they can't have much say about that.
27:35 There are others who've actually gone beyond
27:37 the running mate to suggest that we actually should know
27:41 who your key ministers will be before a major election,
27:45 'cause all those influence our outlook
27:48 on what your agenda and vision is
27:51 and whether you'll be able to execute it as you say.
27:53 - I think all these questions are legitimate,
27:56 but if you ask me, from my point of view,
28:00 some of them are unnecessary,
28:01 that you want to know who the ministers will be,
28:04 you want to know the running mate
28:08 before even the flag bearer is selected,
28:10 these are unnecessary.
28:12 They are just overselection matters.
28:14 But it's important to state here and now
28:17 that yes, the running mate factor is critical
28:20 for a number of reasons,
28:21 but you want to know who will pair with the president
28:25 if that individual wins the election
28:27 to become the president, you want to know.
28:30 How popular is he?
28:31 How competent is he?
28:33 Does he have what it takes to rock show that
28:35 with anybody who emerged victorious
28:38 as a running mate from other volcano parties?
28:40 And above all, you want somebody who could step
28:43 into the shoes of the president
28:44 in case we don't have the president anymore.
28:47 So these are some of the considerations.
28:49 And once you are talking about a vice president,
28:53 you are talking about the second highest office on the land.
28:56 And so obviously, people will begin to just look
28:59 for positions and all that, it's normal.
29:02 But these things are selected based
29:04 on accepting tactical considerations.
29:07 You don't want to go and pick the candidates
29:09 from a place that your party is not popular.
29:13 You are just wasting your time.
29:15 You are not going to achieve anything.
29:17 So you always play around your strongholds
29:20 and swing areas to make impressions.
29:24 Even though we have not seen any scientific study
29:26 on what votes do running mates bring to the table,
29:31 but we are also aware that it's a very important factor
29:38 in deciding who people vote for during elections.
29:43 So this discussion is critical at this time.
29:47 - So there are some who say in making a defense
29:51 for vice president Dr. Mahmoud Bamiya,
29:54 when anyone raises the argument
29:56 about his involvement in this government
29:58 and how this government has not lived up to expectation
30:02 and that it may affect him.
30:03 Well, they say he's not the captain of the ship.
30:06 They say that he doesn't have the ultimate responsibility.
30:10 Does that not then suggest that,
30:12 I mean, it may not necessarily be
30:15 that these running mates are very influential
30:19 apart from the fact that when the president is not available
30:22 or if something happens,
30:24 unfortunately that it happened with former president Mills,
30:26 the president don't have to be the president.
30:28 Do we see vice presidents been giving enough opportunity
30:33 to make decisions within the government structure?
30:38 There are some who've even suggested
30:40 that this vice president has been sidelined
30:42 by his own government.
30:45 I have no knowledge as to whether he's been sidelined
30:49 or not because I'm not part of the party
30:52 and I don't know what goes on.
30:54 But what I know is that before a cash incident
30:59 with rolling the vice president position was very powerful.
31:02 He had a lot of functions until that defense came
31:06 and then the amended and reused
31:08 the vice president position,
31:09 country dropping from that time onward,
31:13 the vice president position has been reduced.
31:17 If you look at vice president position all over the world,
31:21 the vice president takes instructions from the president.
31:23 And but with the reduction of the vice president position,
31:27 his powers have come down so drastically.
31:29 But there's nothing wrong with the president saying
31:31 that I'm going to give you a lot of work to do
31:34 so as to tap what is under your sleeve
31:37 and make my government better.
31:38 That is what we saw under Ecuador
31:41 who gave all information about the vice president
31:45 about his competence and the rest of them.
31:47 So one would have thought that given all that he has said
31:50 about him and all that we are going to see much
31:52 in terms of what economic improvement and all that.
31:55 The story of the economy today is too open
31:59 for all of us to see so I don't want to belabor the point.
32:03 So those who are arguing that we don't even need that,
32:06 we can be his own man and the rest of them,
32:09 they are legitimate questions.
32:11 So we need a vice president.
32:12 We need in other words, we need a running mate
32:14 who when in fact he wins the election
32:16 will become the vice president
32:18 and we can ask that person to do a lot of work.
32:22 This vice president that we have,
32:24 in spite of all the noise he made
32:26 about the economy and all that,
32:28 and given the fact that we are where we are
32:30 in terms of our economic forward march,
32:34 then there are more questions for him to answer
32:38 on the day of what campaign and the rest of them.
32:40 But that is not to suggest
32:42 that we don't need a vice president.
32:43 We need a vice president for very good reasons
32:45 which I have already alluded to.
32:48 - You made a point about what influences a party's decision
32:53 on who a running mate should be,
32:55 talking about what their stronghold is,
32:58 what they're likely to get from that person's home region.
33:02 I've seen for example on social media,
33:04 people advocating a certain personality in the NPP
33:09 because they believe he's a strong Ashanti,
33:12 he has links to main share,
33:14 and he can garner votes within the Ashanti region
33:17 to compliment what they believe Dr. Balmian
33:20 will bring on the table.
33:22 But do you think that we should still be playing up
33:26 the gender card here?
33:28 We know last year the NDC went with the choice
33:33 of a female as a running mate.
33:35 Should these two parties be really considering
33:38 that at this point?
33:40 - Why do you think we don't need women?
33:43 I would have loved to see even women in all positions.
33:49 Men have taken charge for a very long time.
33:51 If we should have all women as well, why not?
33:54 It brings the best.
33:56 Women can contribute their quota effectively
33:59 towards the development of this country.
34:00 If anybody doesn't know about that,
34:03 that is his or her own problem.
34:05 But I believe women are equally competent
34:08 and even more competent than some men
34:10 and the rest of, if natural.
34:12 So I want to see more women into positions of authority,
34:17 but these things, it's not just gender,
34:20 but there are a lot of factors that go into it.
34:23 So beyond gender, there are other factors.
34:25 You can go and bring a male or female,
34:27 but if the person is not competent,
34:29 of course you are wasting your own time.
34:31 If the person is not popular, just for gender sake, no,
34:35 it will not bring you anything.
34:36 So this position you consider based on a number
34:39 of good reasons and it's for tactical reasons.
34:41 Once you bring the person, you know that at least
34:45 you are sure of certain success
34:48 in certain areas of political life.
34:50 And that is the strategy.
34:51 So the gender can be fine,
34:53 but other considerations are also important.
34:56 If we all of them, you'll be able to know
34:58 the right candidate to put out.
35:00 At the end of the day, all that we want is a human being
35:03 who will be able to deliver the public good.
35:06 - Doc, finally, I mean, you are a political scientist,
35:09 you work within this space.
35:10 Are there any names that have come to your attention
35:13 from both sides?
35:14 Whether it is through what people are saying publicly,
35:19 anything you'd like to say about that before we wrap up?
35:22 - Oh yes, people have mentioned names like Professor
35:25 Dean Nana Okorajiman.
35:27 - Okorajiman.
35:30 - Okorajiman, sorry.
35:31 We have had names like Mr. Deborah.
35:36 We have had names like Kodjoe Poku and the rest of them.
35:41 They are all competent, but I believe that some of these,
35:45 we can see a number of them.
35:47 We can say things about them, how good they are.
35:50 But the real decision lies with the party
35:55 and then the flag bearer,
35:57 when they put their heads together.
35:59 And based on their research findings
36:02 about who is suitable for this position.
36:03 Remember, this election is not just done
36:06 for the sake of it.
36:07 They go through, they go to the field,
36:09 take data, talk to people,
36:11 and then they do all their analysis and temptation.
36:14 So the one who is fit for the job is the one they select.
36:17 I will support anybody who will be able to deliver the good
36:20 in any political party.
36:22 But at the end of the day, we want that person,
36:24 when he takes over, he will be a good addition
36:28 to the party's choice.
36:29 That is the way to go.
36:30 - I appreciate your time this morning.
36:32 That's Dr. Kwame Asa Sante.
36:33 He's a political scientist with the University of Ghana,
36:37 Lagon.
36:37 This is your election headquarters.
36:39 Stay with us.
36:39 We will be bringing you more on elections as the season
36:44 gets heated up ahead of the 2024 elections.
36:50 Away from the elections,
36:54 drone news checks have revealed 95.4 million Ghana cities
36:59 was paid for the upgrade of the Shidiye Kenyasi Road
37:02 in the Arafa region last year.
37:04 Newmont Ghana Gold Limited made the payment
37:06 following a collaborative agreement
37:08 with the Ministry of Roads and Highways
37:10 for the road to be fixed.
37:12 It's among a list of poor roads in that area
37:15 that led to the shedding of tears by the Gossumanheni
37:19 when former president John Mahama visited his palace.
37:22 Nanaia Ojima, who followed the Building Ghana tour
37:26 to the Arafa region, put the spotlight on that road.
37:30 - You are a sales business.
37:32 I don't like you.
37:35 You are a bad person.
37:38 You are a bad person.
37:40 You are a bad person.
37:43 - The letter cited by Joy News is in response
37:46 to an invitation by the Kenyansi community
37:49 to the mining firm operating in its catchment
37:52 to answer questions on the road.
37:54 According to the letter, Newmont Gold on July 18th, 2022
37:59 entered into an agreement for 70.3 million cities
38:04 to fund construction of the 8.2 kilometer road
38:08 with Kufijob Construction Limited as contractor.
38:11 It's further stated that the mining company
38:15 subsequently fulfilled its obligation,
38:18 but the worsening economic condition in 2022
38:22 and the depreciation of the city
38:24 led to an upward adjustment of the contract sum
38:27 at the cost of $1 million per kilometer.
38:31 Works stalled as reiterated
38:34 by the Kenyans traditional council.
38:36 (speaking in foreign language)
38:40 A trip of the John Mahama convoy
38:48 to Kenyansi through Shidim was bumpy and dusty.
38:52 It took much tact for the drivers who were new to the road
38:56 to navigate their way through the pothole riddled terrain
39:00 despite riding in long cruises.
39:03 It currently remains unclear
39:05 where money paid for the construction is sitting.
39:08 (speaking in foreign language)
39:12 (speaking in foreign language)
39:16 - Former minister for the region,
39:39 Eric Opoku, attempts an answer.
39:42 (speaking in foreign language)
39:46 At a town hall meeting,
39:55 the former president who was distraught by stories heard
39:59 assured the necessary moves will be taken
40:02 to get the contractor to site when elected.
40:05 (speaking in foreign language)
40:09 (crowd shouting)
40:13 (speaking in foreign language)
40:17 - Earlier, some sub-chiefs of the Gosu Mahene
40:41 Nana Kwe Sibu Sumpra I prevented the public
40:45 from seeing the tears of the traditional ruler
40:47 when John Mahama paid a courtesy call to his palace.
40:51 (speaking in foreign language)
40:55 (speaking in foreign language)
41:08 (speaking in foreign language)
41:12 - The chief recounted how present government
41:17 halted a list of road projects
41:19 after assuming office for auditing.
41:22 (speaking in foreign language)
41:26 (speaking in foreign language)
41:30 (speaking in foreign language)
41:58 At Gosu, construction of a dual carriage road
42:01 has halted for unknown reasons.
42:04 The contractor, after the construction of drains
42:07 and other civil works, has abandoned the site,
42:11 leaving some equipment behind.
42:13 This has become a worry to many,
42:16 including these dressmakers along the dusty road.
42:20 (speaking in foreign language)
42:24 (speaking in foreign language)
42:28 The Gosu Palace, situated along the road,
42:52 has its fair share of the dust pollution.
42:55 (speaking in foreign language)
42:59 Ending his tour of the region,
43:21 John Mahama assured the roads will be of concern
43:25 to his government when successful in the election.
43:29 (speaking in foreign language)
43:33 For JOYNE News, Nnene Ojima, Afu Nijo.
43:51 - That's Nnene Ojima there,
43:52 here in our studios in Kokoble,
43:54 I'm Bernice Abubayedu-Lunsa.
43:55 Coming up shortly in business,
43:56 government has been advised to prudently allocate resources
44:00 to reduce waste in the 2024 budget.
44:04 We've got details of that Tuesday.
44:06 (dramatic music)
44:09 - Hi, welcome to business.
44:13 My name is Darrell Kwau.
44:15 Government has been advised to prudently allocate resources
44:17 to reduce wastage in the 2024 budget.
44:20 According to Chief Executive of DLX Finance, Ken Thompson,
44:23 government has failed in managing the economy
44:26 and the only way to ensure proper utilization
44:29 of resources going forward is to intensify advocacy.
44:32 He spoke at the Top Business Leaders Meeting
44:34 organized by BNFT.
44:36 - The Minister for Finance presented the budget statement
44:42 and economic policy for the 2024 financial year
44:46 to Parliament on 15th November, 2023.
44:50 The budget statement was under the theme,
44:52 pursuing growth and development
44:54 within a stable macroeconomic environment.
44:57 However, financial analyst Ken Thompson
45:00 has described the budget as an overestimation
45:03 of what the country can spend.
45:06 - But we should only spend what we can afford.
45:08 I mean, we're increasing expenditure for 176,
45:11 I think 176 belongs to what, 200 billion?
45:14 And the government is increasing salary
45:17 for public service workers by 20%.
45:19 And come on, come on.
45:22 Which country has become successful
45:25 when public sector employees are paid more
45:26 than the private sector?
45:28 The government has shown itself incapable
45:30 of allocating resources.
45:32 Take any sector, health, transport, education,
45:35 light manufacturing, just name it.
45:38 All governments over time have shown
45:42 that they're incapable of providing the resources
45:44 they are given and all the money that has put in there
45:47 has gone to waste.
45:48 Compare financial services,
45:50 compare all those industries to those in the private sector.
45:52 So we need to advocate for the government
45:57 to implement measures that support the system.
46:01 But they're not gonna do it because we ask them to do it.
46:04 They're gonna do it because we push,
46:05 we talk about, we advocate for it,
46:07 we fight for our children.
46:09 That's when it's gonna happen.
46:10 - The Business and Financial Times
46:11 organized the Top Business Leaders meeting,
46:14 which saw some business leaders spanning various industries.
46:19 Chief Executive Officer of BNFT, Dr. Godwin Akwe,
46:23 explained the rationale behind the event.
46:26 - When you look at the Western world,
46:31 the business community is that which, you know,
46:35 shapes government policy and ensures that the government
46:40 does what it's supposed to do.
46:41 In Ghana, I don't think we take
46:46 the business community very seriously.
46:49 So we came by this critical mass of business leaders,
46:54 come together, sit and deliberate on issues
46:58 that we think next year, that's 2024,
47:01 it will help impact on business positively.
47:06 - The Top Business Leaders meeting was under the theme,
47:09 Economic and Business Outlook 2024,
47:12 Perspectives from Business Leaders.
47:14 - Now, the agric sector will soon experience
47:18 digital transformation through the
47:19 Planting for Food and Jobs program, phase two.
47:22 Speaking at this year's Rice Festival held in Accra,
47:24 Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture,
47:27 Daryl Fimpong-Addo disclosed that the registration
47:29 of farmers onto the PFJ2 digital platform
47:32 will commence on the 1st of December.
47:35 This, he says, will help effectively manage
47:37 and market crops.
47:39 - In Ghana, the use of mechanized systems
47:42 of land preparation and farm activities
47:44 have gained prominence, which has resulted
47:47 in reduced drudgery and removed some bottlenecks
47:50 in agricultural value chain.
47:52 However, the incorporation of digital platforms
47:55 to monitor farms have seen a slow adoption process.
47:59 But the Ministry of Food and Agriculture says
48:01 the Planting for Food and Jobs phase two
48:04 will change the narrative.
48:05 Daryl Fimpong-Addo is Deputy Minister.
48:08 - The program seeks to shift from direct input subsidy
48:12 to a smart agricultural input credit system
48:14 linked to structural market arrangements.
48:18 The registration of farmers to commence
48:23 the beginning of the PFJ2 will be launched,
48:25 will start from 1st December,
48:29 and it will be launched in Taqwa
48:31 during the celebration of this year's Farmers' Day.
48:34 Because it's upon the registration that your farm,
48:37 your beautiful five-acre farm,
48:41 will be captured on the platform.
48:43 And at that point, you are going to get
48:46 every input that you require to keep your farm in shape
48:50 for you to become a commercial farmer.
48:52 From that day.
48:53 So once your farm is captured, Nana,
48:56 everything that you do on the farm
48:59 is known by the district's officers,
49:03 the regional officers, and at the national level.
49:05 So we know when your farm is doing well
49:09 or when your farm is failing.
49:11 So that you can be assured of your output.
49:16 And after the deductions,
49:17 you'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
49:21 - Meanwhile, the Ghana Rice Interprofessional Body
49:24 is calling on government to develop the inland valleys
49:27 to promote rice farming in Ghana.
49:30 President of GRIP, Nana Eje Ayeye II,
49:33 believes this will double production
49:36 and increase job opportunities.
49:38 - We, the farmers, or the actors in the rice industry,
49:43 realized that it's a big industry, a huge one,
49:49 that if well-organized, like I said earlier on,
49:54 we're going to create a lot of jobs.
49:55 And we are, honestly speaking, sick and tired
50:00 of doing the media, talking every day, every day, every year.
50:04 We come around and talk and nothing happens.
50:06 This time, we are very specific.
50:09 We are asking government to develop the inland valleys.
50:14 The inland valleys is producing
50:16 over 300,000 metric tons a year.
50:19 If you develop the inland valleys
50:22 to produce twice in a year, we double production.
50:25 That is why it is important we have this rice festival
50:30 and for us to be able to let the whole world
50:35 or the whole Ghana know that the rice industry is lacking
50:39 and we need a push to get it to the top.
50:42 - 65% of rice consumed in Ghana is imported.
50:46 Hence, increased investments in the sector
50:49 will revolutionize the sector.
50:51 - And that's all for business.
50:55 Back to you, Bernice.
50:57 - Thank you so much, Darrell.
50:58 And that will be it for this edition of Newsdesk.
51:01 Thanks for joining us.
51:02 There's more news when you log on to myjoyonline.com.
51:05 Also, we are very interactive on social media, Joy News.
51:09 On TV is our name, on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
51:14 Do stay with us.
51:15 We are your most credible news source.
51:17 Much later at 12, I'll be back with the news.
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