The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has appointed Dr. Donald Agumenu as Director of Special Duties ahead of this year's General Election. Mr. James Gunu, Volta Regional Secretary of NDC said Dr. Agumenu's nomination and subsequent approval was considered at the Functional Executive Committee meeting held on 25th February 2024. 'It is a great pleasure to inform you Dr. Donald Cog Senanu Agumenu about your appointment as the Director of Special Duties for the National Democratic Congress, Regional Secretariat,' the letter stated. The Regional Secretary said the Party was expecting the former Special Aide to late President Jerry John Rawlings to 'use your rich experience to help strengthen the Directorate for the Party to win the 2024 General Election.' Dr. Agumenu said he viewed the appointment as one that carried a special burden of helping to achieve the 'Ghana We Want for socio-economic development and meaningful livelihoods for our people'. Ghana goes to the polls later this year to elect parliamentarians and a new president for the next four years. The electoral dynamics demand all political parties to maintain a good showing nationwide, especially in their traditional strongholds, Volta for the NDC, and Ashanti for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). Source: Ghana News Agency GOBABIS: Executive Director (ED) in the Office of the Prime Minister, I-Ben Nashandi on Wednesday said the government is making use of technology to accelerate their assignments, including the delivery of drought relief food to affected communities. Nashandi made the remarks at a three-day annual plan development workshop for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, taking place at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region. The ED said the use of technology would improve the delivery of food assistance under the drought relief programme, adding that his office has observed that the logistics of extending services at times leads to delays. 'We want to make sure that we undertake assessments because the rain this year is a bit challenging. Since last year there have been predictions that we will be having an El Niño phenomena that will have an impact on our food production and food security in particular,' he said. The grass condition in most parts of the country has not improved and this has necessitated his office to assess the si tuation before the current drought relief programme ending in March lapses, he said. Nashandi said his office has thus put concrete interventions in place to assist the most vulnerable communities. 'Key to assisting is the timely delivery of that assistance, and that is what we are planning to do. Among other things, we are also going to review our administrative operational procedures and ensure effective coordination between offices in ministries and agencies and making sure that correct information reaches people appropriately,' he expressed. The ED also said his office has urged farmers to de-stock as early as possible while their livestock are in good condition, saying that it will become very challenging to sustain the animals throughout the drought. Source: The Namibia Press Agency
Minor dies after hit-and-run accident
ONIIPA: The Namibian Police Force in the Oshikoto Region opened a case of culpable homicide against a driver of a white light truck that drove over and killed a seven-year-old boy. According to the region's crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Wednesday, the incident occurred around 15h00 on Tuesday at Onamulunga village on the B1 road between Onethindi and Iihwali village in the Oniipa Constituency. The deceased was identified as Hiskiel Davids from Onamulunga village and a case of culpable homicide read with failing to stop after causing an accident has been opened against the suspect. 'It is alleged that the suspect of a white light truck motor vehicle with an unidentified private registration number and a black loading box hit a pedestrian, who is a school learner, who was crossing the road from school,' said Ekandjo. He added that the suspect failed to stop after causing the accident. The truck was allegedly headed from the direction of Omuthiya towards Onethindi. T he victim was rushed to Onandjokwe State Hospital but succumbed to serious head injuries upon arrival at the hospital. An autopsy will be conducted and the next of kin are informed. Source: The Namibia Press Agency
Mbumba to deliver SONA on Thursday
KEETMANSHOOP: President Nangolo Mbumba is expected to deliver the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday. A statement issued by the NA on Wednesday indicated that the SONA is delivered during the committee stage of debates on the annual Appropriation Bill in the NA. According to the statement, the address is in accordance with Article 32 (2) of the Namibian Constitution that states that, 'In accordance with the responsibility of the executive branch of Government to the legislative branch, the President and the Cabinet shall each year during the consideration of the official budget attend Parliament. During such session the President shall address Parliament on the state of the nation and on the future policies of the Government; shall report on the policies of the previous year and shall be available to respond to questions.' This is the first time President Mbumba delivers the State of the Nation Address, which was initially going to be the last SONA of the late President Hage Geingob. Mbumba was sworn in as President on 04 February 2024, following Geingob's passing on the same day. Source: The Namibia Press Agency
Power Outages: ECG is misinforming the public – John JinaporOutapi mayor raises concern over theft of manhole covers
Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Ranking Member, Energy Committee of Parliament, says the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is misinforming the public over the ongoing power outages in parts of the country, otherwise known as 'dumsor'. 'The widespread load shedding is a result of financial issues, not technical glitches as claimed by the ECG,' he said. '…The ECG is misinforming us of the real issues of the recent power outages. Instead, they are attributing these outages to overloaded and faulty transformers, which is not the case.' Mr Jinapor said this on Tuesday when he addressed a section of the media in Parliament House, Accra. 'We have been monitoring the situation and just yesterday, we laid hands on the PURC's cash waterfall mechanism Validation Report for January 2024.' 'I can confidently but sadly confirm to you that the current load shedding is not technical, it is financial. It is due to mismanagement,' he told the media. Mr Jinapor, a National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, alleged gross abuse of the cash waterfall mechanism and mismanagement of funds, challenging the narrative by the company. Source: Ghana News Agency OUTAPI: Outapi Mayor, Selma Asino-Shaumbako, has expressed dismay over the theft of the town council's sewer manhole covers by unknown individuals. In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, Asino-Shaumbako expressed concern about the theft, not only because it is stolen property but also because open sanitary manholes pose a serious danger to the town's inhabitants. 'As a council, we are dealing with an issue where thieves have taken the sewer covers, which now poses a danger to our people,' she said. The mayor pleaded with residents to refrain from such actions, since they cause the town's development to be delayed and funds meant for future development in the town to be diverted. According to Asino-Shaumbako, the matter was reported to the police and is under investigation. Moreover, she indicated that the council is busy replacing the covers and urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities, either at the Outapi Police Station or the council office. Source: The Namibia Pr ess Agency
Election 2024: NDC Volta appoints Dr Agumenu Director of Special Duties
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has appointed Dr. Donald Agumenu as Director of Special Duties ahead of this year's General Election. Mr. James Gunu, Volta Regional Secretary of NDC said Dr. Agumenu's nomination and subsequent approval was considered at the Functional Executive Committee meeting held on 25th February 2024. 'It is a great pleasure to inform you Dr. Donald Cog Senanu Agumenu about your appointment as the Director of Special Duties for the National Democratic Congress, Regional Secretariat,' the letter stated. The Regional Secretary said the Party was expecting the former Special Aide to late President Jerry John Rawlings to 'use your rich experience to help strengthen the Directorate for the Party to win the 2024 General Election.' Dr. Agumenu said he viewed the appointment as one that carried a special burden of helping to achieve the 'Ghana We Want for socio-economic development and meaningful livelihoods for our people'. Ghana goes to the polls later this year to elect parliamentarians and a new president for the next four years. The electoral dynamics demand all political parties to maintain a good showing nationwide, especially in their traditional strongholds, Volta for the NDC, and Ashanti for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). Source: Ghana News Agency