The selection of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate for the 2020 presidential elections to former President John Mahama of the NDC is the trending story in the Ghanaian newspapers on Tuesday.
The Graphic reports that the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, has selected Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2020 presidential elections.
The National Communication Officer of the NDC, Mr Sammy Gyamfi announced that Prof Opoku-Agyeman had been selected as running mate for the NDC ticket after a meeting between the flagbearer and the National Executive Committee (NEC) at the NDC Headquarters on Monday, July 6, in Accra.
He told journalists that Prof Opoku-Agyeman received a unanimous endorsement from the NEC and the Council of Elders of the party.
“I can tell you that, the running mate of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the 2020 General Election is Professor Jane Naana Agyemang. That choice has been approved unanimously by the Council,” Mr. Gyamfi said.
The newspaper says that Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has described her nomination to partner Mr. John Dramani Mahama as running mate in the December 7 presidential election as victory for inclusive and participatory democracy.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said in a statement that her nomination had enhanced Ghana’s credentials and recognised the towering role women had played over the ages.
“I am humbled by the overwhelming endorsement my nomination has received from the Founder of the NDC, H.E. Jerry John Rawlings; the Council of Elders, the National Executive Committee and the rank and file of our party, as well as the public,” she said.
She pledged to draw from the inspiration of all those who had come before her.
“I have worked with HE John Dramani Mahama closely and I know he is a man of vision, a leader you can trust, a public servant of integrity and a courageous leader who makes the right decisions in the national interest at all times,” she added.
The newspaper also reported that the Senior Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, announced at a press briefing in Accra today that the disclosure was in consonance with the government’s transparency and with the permission of Mr. Osafo Maafo.
“In a separate development that has come to us this morning, Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo has been informed that his sample given for test has been returned positive. He will therefore as of today commence treatment for COVID-19 from home,” the Information Minister said.
The Graphic also reports that Ministry of Aviation says it is not in any discussions relating to the sale of the Kotoka International Airport.
The newspaper noted that media reports and social media publications had said the Kotoka Airport was being sold to a foreign company to take over its management and operations.
It added that the Ministry in a statement signed by the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, said that no such deal had been conceived by the government.
The Ministry says it is considering “a proposed Strategic Partnership Arrangement between GACL and TAV-SUMMA Consortium to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at the Kotoka International Airport to achieve Government’s vision of making Ghana the Aviation Hub within the West African Sub-Region”.
The Times reports that the Minister for Railways Development, Joe Ghartey, has reiterated that the government is on course to ensure that railway in Ghana, especially the western rail line, is completed and restored to its former state.
The report said that the minister gave the assurance when he addressed the standing committee of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, at Essikado, as part of stakeholders’ engagement on the state of Ghana’s railway.
“Railway is the heart beat of the Western Region, and we are on course to ensure that the projects are successful. Some feasibility studies have been completed and contracts signed for some of the projects to take off,” he explained.
The minister said that the government had signed a 560 million dollar contract with Amandi Holdings Ltd, for the extension of about 102 km on the western rail line from Manso to Huni Valley (60km), and described it as the largest single contract to be signed.
GIK/APA