The Week in Review

The week started on a not very pleasant note for opposition leader Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo whose bid to lead the New Patriotic Party got off to a great start.

He secured an emphatic endorsement from special delegates of the NPP in the party's Super Delegates' Conference.

Stephen Asamoah Boateng's jollof rice to delegates gave readers a refreshing start of the day.  Aide to Nana Akufo-Addo, Mustapha Hamid to pour cold water on the aspirations of those who still hope to upstage the septuagenarian in the final leg of the primary.  Mustapha Hamid to pour cold water on the aspirations of those who still hope to upstage the septuagenarian in the final leg of the primary. 

Former Attorney-General Joe Ghartey despite making it to the top five and qualifying to contest for the flagbearership in the October 18 poll, announced he his withdrawal from the race . 

After his decision, pressure started mounting on the other three aspirants – Alan Kyerematen, Francis Addai-Nimoh and Osei Ameyaw – to step down and allow Mr. Akufo-Addo to be acclaimed presidential candidate of the NPP. University Professor, Amoako Baah counseled them to look at the figures and advise themselves.  

Riding high on his impressive figures, Mr. Akufo-Addo said the NPP was far from implosion .

And comments by a political science lecturer at the University of Science and Technology may have excited him even more.  

Monday was an all-NPP affair, and Papa Owusu Ankomah joined the fray .

But the National Democratic Congress had its own issues; two lawsuits were brought against the party compelled it to suspend the election of regional executives.

While Monday was exciting on the political front, many families were grieving after an accident that claimed 21 lives on the Accra-Kumasi Highway http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/september-1st/gory-sunday-as-kumasi-road-accident-claims-21-lives.php

A chief in the northern regional town of Buipe demanded investigations into the murder of another chief http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/September-1st/chief-demands-investigation-into-bimbilla-chief-murder.php

Enters the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church who incurred the wrath of some by suggesting that Ghana needs wise men as leaders http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/september-1st/ghana-needs-wise-men-to-rule-presby-moderator.php

Some fraudsters making money illegally by fleecing the state were busted by security operatives. http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/september-1st/security-busts-simbox-fraudsters-causing-800000-revenue-loss-to-state.php

As the week wore on, it emerged that former Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah may return to the Commission of Inquiry investigating Ghana's poor showing the last World Cup finals in Brazil. http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/september-1st/afriyie-ankrah-others-might-return-to-presidential-commission.php

The cholera outbreak continued to dominate the news on the health front. http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/September-1st/cholera-outbreak-reaches-alarming-heights-over-10000-cases-recorded.php

On the entertainment front, Ghanaian dancehall king Shatta Wale picked up the African Artiste of the Year award http://www.myjoyonline.com/entertainment/2014/September-1st/shatta-wale-wins-african-artiste-of-the-year.php

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 started with a determination by members of the University Teachers Association to push for the retention of the book and research allowance which government wanted to scrap. http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/september-2nd/utag-to-push-for-maintenance-of-book-and-research-allowance-as-condition-to-end-strike.php

As the cholera outbreak continues to spread, government announced plans to secure oral treatment for the disease. http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/September-2nd/cholera-govt-requests-oral-vaccines-from-who-to-break-transmission.php

Government also announced it had set aside a 100,000 Ghana cedis for Ebola isolation centres http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/September-2nd/ebola-gh100000-allocated-for-isolation-centres-in-each-region.php

President Mahama expressed optimism about Ghana's economic outlook. http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/September-2nd/ghana-soon-to-be-the-shining-star-of-africa-mahama.php

NPP politics continued with the General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong saying the October 18 conference will come off notwithstanding Nana Akufo-Addo's massive win at the Super Delegates' Conference. http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/september-2nd/-npp-wont-cut-corners-despite-nana-addos-massive-victory.php

Despite his comments, an elder of the party, Mr. Appiah Menka insisted the other three aspirants must step down. http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/September-2nd/alan-addai-nimoh-and-ameyaw-must-step-for-akufo-addo-says-appiah-menka.php

The politicking in the NPP continued into Wednesday, September 3, 2014. An ally of Mr. Alan Kyerematen said asking him to step down is a non-starter. http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/September-3rd/asking-alan-to-step-down-is-a-non-starter-npp-communicator.php

Senior journalist Kweku Baako apparently agrees. http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/september-3rd/pulling-out-of-npp-flagbearer-race-now-will-cause-fatal-injuries-kweku-baako.php

Later in the day Mr. Kyerematen broke his silence on the matter, insisting he is running. http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/September-3rd/alan-snubs-calls-for-him-to-step-down-for-akufo-addo.php

His Spokesperson, Nana Ohene Ntow maintained the former Trade Minister's massive grassroots support will tilt the scales in his favour. http://news.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/September-3rd/alan-ks-massive-grassroots-support-will-be-a-game-changer-ohene-ntow.php

Former Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, waded into the NPP controversy biting and blowing Nana Akufo-Addo. http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/september-3rd/arthur-k-bites-and-blows-akufo-addo.php