PANIC GRIPS NPP AS APPIAH KUBI STORMS AKROPONG

Captain Kojo Tsikata with Yaw Appiah Kubi

 By Duke Tagoe

Yaw Appiah Kubi, a Social Democrat and an aspiring Member of Parliament is causing waves in the Akropong constituency of the Eastern Region amongst both the NDC and NPP supporters. Indeed the young political activist who served as an assemblyman in the Osaebrom electoral area is seen as a fresh entrant into the political scene whose exploits as a clean, honest and ''can do politician has been unparalleled in the district since the inception of the District Assembly concept.

The aspiring parliamentary candidate for the NDC slot has promised to deliver the constituency to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming general elections of 2016, a feat which has never happened since 1996 when the NPP first took part in the parliamentary election in that constituency

Big wigs of the party are believed to be gearing up to put their weight behind his candidature should he win the primaries of November 7.

Mr Appiah Kubi has followed the party since his days at the Central University College and is believed to have studied at the feet of giants like Captain Kojo Tsikata, Dr Omane Boamah, Mr Ato Ahwoi, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Mr Kojo Twum Boafo and the late Professor Ansa Asamoah.

According to the former Assembly Member, he would exploit the huge potential of the Public-Private Partnership initiatives of government as well as the potential of the community to bring potable water to Akropong and its surrounding environs and this he started as an Assemblyman when he mobilized the community and private sector to bring cheap water to the people of Akropong.

Mr Appiah-Kubi has called on the teeming youths of the NDC across the country to mobilize an unprecedented number of votes to knock out the NPP’s flag bearer in the elections of next year.

In an interview with this reporter, he explained that the World Bank and other development partners of Ghana have absolute confidence in the administration of President John Dramani Mahama adding that the foundations have been laid for the take off and the absolute transformation of the Ghanaian economy.

“The Mahama fever has not only caught Ghana but the entire region of West Africa. President Mahama has become a beacon of hope for young men and women in Ghana and in Africa” he said.

According to the NDC parliamentary aspirant President Mahama is at the forefront in the fight against terrorism and was instrumental in bringing peace to La Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia and in Burkina Faso following the ouster of Blaise Campoare and the recent attempted coup by the Presidential Guards. He revealed that the Ghanaian President led the way in drafting a road map for peace in that country.

Asked about his stance on the recent bailout of the government by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) he explained that “Europe was bailed out after the Second World War for infrastructural development and it continues to do so.”

According to him even Portugal and Greece have all been bailed out adding that Ghana is a member of the IMF in good standing and nothing must prevent the Mahama administration from seeking a bailout from them.

In reference to some historical event in Ghana he said that “Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the Republic of Ghana, borrowed from International banks to build the Akosombo Dam in order to kick start the industrial revolution that was bitterly truncated by the predecessors of NPP and even more disturbing, in spite of the fifty percent increment in the price of fuel, water and electricity tariffs and the privatization of strategic national assets in the first year of the Kufuor government in which Akufo Addo served as Attorney General and Foreign Minister, the NPP still managed to hang a chain of HIPC around the neck of Ghana”

In a sharp rebuttal to claims made by the NPP that the NDC has borrowed excessively from the World Bank and the IMF, he said that although the NPP are quick to refer to the United States as an economic power house, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has warned that the United States will not be able to pay its bills and to provide water and electricity for its people if the US Congress does not increase the country’s debt ceiling by November 3.

He argued that in spite of the assurances by the NPP to wean off its mouth from the breast of the World Bank, it still took loans from them and had nothing to show for until it left power.

He made reference to the construction of school buildings, major road networks, the development of the agricultural sector and a stable economy as some of the aims of the recent bailout sought by the Mahama administration.

Nana Yaw is believed to be entering the race with an immense knowledge and experience in Local Government and grassroots mobilization.

Little doubt remain that Yaw Appiah Kubi is on his way to winning the parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akropong constituency on November 7.

IVORIAN OPPOSITION BOYCOTTS ELECTION

Officials of the FPI mmets in Accra

By Duke Nii Amartey Tagoe

Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), the largest opposition party in La Cote d’I voire, has called for a boycott of the general elections scheduled for 25^th October.

They are also calling for an end to the state of terror and tyranny by the Western backed regime of Alhassane Quattara, the immediate release of all political prisoners and a halt to the detention of President Laurent Gbagbo.

On the 11^th of April 2011, rebel groups loyal to Ouattara supported by a combined team of French and UN soldiers and some armed mercenaries from Burkina Faso kidnapped President Laurent Gbagbo at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.

A few days before Gbagbo was abducted, more than 1000 people in Duekoue had been slaughtered by the by Alhassane Quattara’s armed rebel group, The New Forces, as they moved from the North to South.

The abduction of the Ivorian President was followed by a series of demonstrations in many West African states with many human right campaigners calling for an end to the persecution and human right violations.

Speaking at a forum held in Accra, Emile Guirieoulou, a former minister of Public Service and Employment and Chairman of FPI coordination in Exile explained that credible elections could not be held when more than a hundred thousand (100,000) Ivoirians are spread across refugee camps in the sub-region with another thousand supporters of the FPI believed to be languishing in gaols across Ivory Coast.

According to Damana Picas, Vice President of FPI in charge of Youth, “credible elections cannot take place whilst genuine reconciliation has not been achieved. He cautioned that “Majority of Ivoirians recognize Gbagbo as their leader and it is impossible to achieve genuine reconciliation in La Cote d’Ivoire under the given circumstances so as long as peace talks have not started and Gbagbo is being held in The Hague against the wishes of the people.”

A former Finance minister, Kone Katina bemoaned the crackdown of press freedom and condemned the privatization of state banks to French finance corporations. He is convinced that the privatization of state owned institutions will only create troops of jobless youth and deepen the poverty of the indigenous people.

The Ivorian people have also suffered shocking exploitation of their resources under the regime of Alhassane Quattara. Former Minister of Forest and Water, Lazare Kofi, has revealed that more than 125,000 acres of land cultivated by farmers have been grabbed or taken over by foreign multinational corporations.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr

Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr. Editor of The Insight and Convener of the Socialist Forum assured the FPI of the full solidarity of progressive forces in Ghana.

He said the struggle of the FPI is a continuation of the African revolution which was initiated by great Africans like Amilcar Cabral, Sekou Toure, Patrice Lumumba and Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

“We are fully conscious of the consequences the people of La Cote d’Ivoire are facing and we are aware that these conditions have been imposed on the people of La Cote d’Ivoire by the French colonialist and other imperialist forces acting in collaboration with the local forces of reaction in La Cote d’Ivoire.

“Your struggle is like our struggle and it is like the struggle of the patriotic forces in Africa. It is a struggle to assert our sovereignty. It is a struggle to assert the fact that African resources ought to be exploited to the benefit of all African people,” he pointed out.

He said President Laurent Gbagbo is not facing trial because he is a criminal, but because he is an African patriot who dedicated his entire life to the liberation of African people from poverty and squalor.

“This is a struggle for the freedom of President Laurent Gbagbo, it is a struggle for the freedom of all those who have been unjustly imprisoned by the reactionary forces in La Cote d’I voire adding that he continued detention of President Laurent Gbagbo is intrinsically liked with the attempt of foreign forces to take control of African resources and to exploit those resources for the benefit imperial power,” he added.

According to him, so many things which are strange have happened in La Cote d’Ivoire. He explained that although all the human rights organizations in the world testify to the fact that the rebel forces ( New Forces) led by Alhassane Quattara committed heinous atrocities, it is rather the  legitimate government of La Cote d’I voire and it leaders who have been arrested and imprisoned and not the rebel forces.

 Mr Pratt said that the continuing trial of President Laurent Gbagbo by the International Criminal Court when the court itself had come to the conclusion that there is no evidence to warrant the trial and conviction Gbagbo is a travesty of justice.

Editorial

EBOLA

Newly confirmed cases of the Ebola Virus disease has been reported in Liberia claiming one life and leaving two others in severe conditions.

Between the years 2014 and early 2015 the virus has claimed the lives of more than eleven thousand people in West Africa.

We are deeply worried that in spite of the assurances from the Ministry of Health of Liberia and the World Health Organisation, the virus can still be found lurking in the dark.

Hundreds of cattle have also been reported dead in remote areas of the country raising suspicion that the virus can be transmitted through other agents.

We call on health authorities in West African states and in Ghana especially to maintain vigilance and monitor the situation in order to avoid any major outbreaks.

We acknowledge the contributions of Cuba and several other countries which are in the forefront in the struggle to rid Africa and West Africa from the scourge of the Ebola virus.

The struggle is not over but we shall surely win.