Diaspora News of Monday, 19 November 2007

Source: charles n. nkansah on behalf of ndc canada

NDC Canada Chapter Launched In Montreal

NDC Canada Chapter has been successfully launched here in Montreal, Quebec. The program attracted NDC loyalists and faithfuls from across Canada, the United States, Ghana, as well as friends of the NDC and Ghana from across the globe.

The Chapter which serves as the coordinating body of all its branches in Canada was formed on July 15, 2007 and was subsequently approved by the Functional Executive Council (FEC) on August 9, 2007. The Chapter will also among other things pursue the following goals among other things:

• Educate the Ghanaians living in Canada, particularly the youth in Canada on what the NDC stands for and the reasons why Prof. John Atta Mills is the New Leader for a New Ghana.

• Mobilize and galvanize the support of all with a renewed vigor and strength towards winning the 2008 general elections and beyond in Ghana.

• Mobilize support materially or financially towards funding the party’s activities.

• Create a platform for Ghanaians living in Canada to discuss topical issues concerning Ghanaians living in the Diaspora such as the NDC’s position on the Representation of the Peoples Amendment Law (ROPAL).

Welcoming the delegates to Montreal, the Chairman of Quebec Branch, Mr. Oduro-Bonsu said, the dream of NDC Canada Chapter has become a reality today as a result of total commitment and hard work of NDC members and he urged members to work with unity so as to propel Prof. John Atta Mills and the NDC to victory come December 2008.

Lawyer Joachim Norman, the 1st Former Honorary Counselor of Ghana spoke on the topic: Development of Human Rights in Ghana. He said the development of every nation depends largely on civil and political freedom of the people as well as access to basic needs of the people. He said Ghana has the potential and can do better.

Delivering the keynote address, Hon Kofi Attor, Director of International Relations said, the NDC has come out with new guidelines regarding the formation of Chapters in the Diaspora. He said Canada Chapter is yet another manifestation of party’s aim of broad participation. He urged all those who were against this idea of creating new Chapters to rather get on with the job and stop obstructing the party’s believes.

Launching in the NDC Canada Chapter Executives, Hon Samuel Ofosu Ampofo National Organizer of NDC thanked Ghanaians for keeping the flag of the NDC and Ghana flying hundreds of miles away from home. He said Ghanaians are bleeding under the wrong choices of the NPP government to the extent that even drinking “pure water” in Ghana has become a privilege for the rich. He lamented the sky rocketing corruption in Ghana, high cost of living, lack of jobs for the people, the breeding of nepotism and tribalism in President Kufour’s Ghana today. He urged Ghanaians to reject the NPP and her abuse of Ghanaians and vote massively for a New Leader under a New Ghana, Prof. John Mills come December 2008. He swore in the following as NDC Canada Executives:

1. MR. KOFI SORDZI - CHAIRMAN

2. MR. FREDERICK TAY - GENERAL SECRETARY

3. MRS. STELLA ODURO-BONSU - TREASURER

4. MR. CHARLES N. NKANSAH - PROPAGANDA SECRETARY

5. MR. YUSIF B.B. MORO -INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

6. MR. GILBERT AGYEI - ORGANIZER

7. MR. NII OKAI ROBERTSON - DEPUTY ORGANIZER

8. MRS. EUNICE A. DANSO - WOMEN ORGANIZER

9. MS. BRIDGET AMEGASHITSI - DEPUTY WOMEN RGANIZER

10. MR. KWASI NUMAH - FINANCIAL SECRETARY

COUNCIL OF ELDERS

1. BARIMA AKRASI-SARPONG

2. HON AKUAMOAH-BOATENG

3. NANA KATAKYIE ASARE BAFFOUR In his acceptance speech on behalf of NDC Canada Executives, Mr. Kofi Sordzi pledged the executives’ collective will to work towards achieving victory for the NDC.

Other speakers were Hon Dr. Mustapha, MP of Parliament for Ayawaso-East and Hon Samson Arhin. They said the best state of the economy of Ghana an be revealed by the numerous calls Ghanaians living in the Diaspora receive from Ghana daily to send money home to assist their helpless families. They call on Ghanaians to vote for Prof. John Atta Mills, a truly new leader to bring about real change in the economy, stamp corruption and a President for all Ghanaians. The program was chaired by Hon. Akuamoah-Boateng, a Former Minister of State of Ghana

NDC Canada would like to reiterate our call on the government of Ghana not to implement the Representation of the People Amendment Law (ROPAL). In its current state, government has no statistics on Ghanaians living outside, hence this law is a potential recipe for chaos in Ghana and the NDC shall reject any election results conducted based on ROPAL.

NDC Canada condemns the crisis in Anlo chieftaincy dispute that has led to loss of lives and property. We call on the NPP government to stop exacerbating chieftaincy disputes across the country.

NDC Canada further condemns the rampant corruption as being revealed in the Public Accounts Committee. We call for the prosecution of perpetrators of this public looting and wonder if President Kufour has any credibility left on his commitment to Zero Tolerance on Corruption.

NDC Canada calls for the immediate resignation and prosecution of the Attorney-General, Mr. Joe Ghartey for perjury. NDC Canada thinks prosecution of people like Mr. Joe Ghartey would send the right signals to all and sundry in the discharge of their duties in the service of our nation.

Finally, we call on Ghanaians to reject the NPP in the coming elections. Vote Prof. John Atta Mills, A New Leader, for A New Ghana. Ghanaians certainly deserve better.

EYE ZU! EYE ZA!

EYE ZUZU! EYE ZAZA!

LONG LIVE GHANA AND THE NDC!!!