Politics

Starting this year, anyone desiring to serve the Electoral Commission (EC) in the capacity of an electoral officer must have a higher educational background.

EC Chairman, Charlotte Osei, says this measure is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process which has been a subject of debate in the country.

According to her, such persons would be made to take an oath before a magistrate so that in the event they foul the law, they would be punished.

Senior lawyer with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Nana Ato Dadzie has said President John Mahama simply exercised executive power by freeing the Montie 3.

He said suggestions that the president ought to have borne in mind restrictions on his powers in the constitution in taking the decision were not grounded in law.

The restrictions, found in Article 296 of the Constitution, he maintained, relate only to discretionary powers.

Accra, Aug. 23, GNA – Trade volume between Ghana and China by the end of May 2016, has hit $2.4 billion, Mr Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has stated.

He said in 2015 the trade volume between the two countries reached $6.6 billion.

Although the general trade by 18 per cent in 2015 due to global price decline, Ghana was ranked 6th in Africa in terms of trade volume with China.

President John Dramani Mahama has remitted the four months prison sentence handed to the Montie FM host, and two panelists who were convicted of contempt by the Supreme Court and jailed.

This was after a petition signed by top government officials and NDC functionaries, was presented to the President asking him to pardon the three, who are affiliated to the ruling party.

President John Mahama says government may place a cap on interest rate if plans to secure a single digit inflation next year fails.

Ghana last recorded single digit inflation in January 2013, recording 8.8 percent. Inflation for July 2016 was 16.7 percent.

The President who gave the hint at the 15th edition of the Ghana Club 100 said a further decline in inflation will prevent government from placing a cap on the rising interest rate.

“Inflation has begun to fall and it is our expectation that we will end the year at about 14% and achieve single digit next year.

The first direct commercial flight on Friday August 19, 2016, took off from the upgraded Tamale Airport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj.

President John Dramani Mahama bid the first batch of 500 prospective Pilgrims from the three regions of the north farewell, ahead of their departure.

The rest of the Pilgrims have been scheduled to depart from the Tamale Airport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday August 20th, and Sunday 21st August.

President John Mahama has taken a swipe at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing it as a party that lacks visionary leadership.

Mahama said just as the NPP’s tradition undermined Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, their present leadership is working hard to mislead the public into thinking that the massive investments in infrastructure is a misplaced priority.

Mr Mahama was addressing hundreds of supporters at Kokompe near Takoradi as part of his campaign in the Western region.

Elubo (W/R), Aug 17, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama, has asked the electorate to renew his mandate in the December 7 polls, to enable him complete the numerous development projects initiated by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He said four years is woefully inadequate to transform a country, adding that his second term in office would enable him to complete all the projects dotted across the country.

Takoradi, Aug. 19, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has said indigenous small-scale businesses have received one billion dollars worth of contracts from petroleum companies since the commencement of commercial production of crude oil in the country.

He said the award of contracts to local enterprises was in compliance with the country’s Local Content and Participation Policy which had created over 7,000 jobs aimed at ensuring that the hydrocarbon resources benefited Ghanaians.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has cancelled his trip to Ghana.

The 92-year old African leader was expected to deliver a presidential lecture at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, on the occasion of the Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize.

Organizers of the event, Millennium Excellence Foundation, say the cancellation is due to reasons beyond their control.

But sources at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Ghana, who want to remain anonymous, have told Citi News the trip was cancelled due to domestic political issues in Zimbabwe.