Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader, has received a backlash from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority over his remarks that Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running-mate of the NDC's flagbearer, is over 70 years old. Mr Afenyo-Markin, in his submission during the conclusion of the Parliamentary debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, said selecting Prof Opoku-Agyemang as the running- mate was a wrong choice. This drew a strong protest from the NDC Minority, which led to heckling and banging of tables. 'Mr Speaker, it is the same old NDC. It is the same old John Mahama…. Even if you look at his choice of running mate, he could not get somebody that one could say that oh they are planning for the future,' he said. 'The person is over 70 years, they have no succession plan. Mr Speaker, from day one, their government will be in crisis. Mr Speaker, they went to pick the very old person who could not perform at the Education Ministry.' 'The flagbearer , constitutionally has just one term. Should that happen, the flagbearer has chosen a running mate, Mr Speaker. Under normal circumstances, they should have given us a running mate who can offer a future to Ghana.' These, among other comments Mr Afenyo-Markin made, which the Minority Caucus considered as distasteful, brought Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Deputy Minority Whip and MP for Banda, to his feet, who demanded a retraction of those comments and apology by the Majority Leader to Prof Opoku-Agyemang. Mr Ibrahim argued that Prof Opoku-Agyemang was not in the House to respond to the allegations leveled against her. In the midst of the banging of tables and shouts of 'you must withdraw and apologise', Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the Second Deputy Speaker, presiding, suspended sitting for one hour. The House later resumed for Mr Afenyo-Markin to conclude his remarks on the SONA. Source: Ghana News Agency KEETMANSHOOP: Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni has said collaboration among municipalities, regional councils, and traditional authorities is essential and local authorities should not operate in isolation. Uutoni made the remarks at the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) local economic development conference in Lderitz on Tuesday. He challenged the local authorities to share success stories, learn from each other's challenges, and pool their resources. 'We can address common issues such as accelerated land delivery, housing, sanitation and environmental sustainability. Let us foster a spirit of solidarity that transcends boundaries and benefits every Namibian,' he said. Uutoni said effective local economic development requires a holistic approach as it is not only limited to attracting foreign direct investment or building infrastructure, but involves an understanding of the unique needs of local communities, harnessing local talents and promoting sustainable practices. ' Let us explore avenues for diversification, value addition and inclusive growth. Our rural areas, often overlooked, hold immense potential, let us therefore unlock that potential through targeted interventions and smart planning. That is why the national policy framework refers to regional and local economic development (LED) and not just LED, because there are integral links between rural and urban areas which we need to maximise,' he said. Uutoni further said while local authorities play a critical role in fostering sustainable growth, prosperity and well-being for citizens, local economic development is not merely an abstract concept, it is the lifeblood of towns, cities, and rural areas that drives job creation, infrastructure development, and social progress. 'When our local economies thrive, so do the livelihoods of our people and that is why it is our collective duty to nurture an environment where businesses can flourish, innovation can thrive and opportunities can flourish,' he said. The three-day meeting is aimed at providing an opportunity for stakeholders in the local economic sector to discuss and deliberate on matters that shape the future of their communities. It is being held under the theme 'Promoting local economic development through, inclusive strategic planning, innovation and diversification of revenue streams'. Source: The Namibia Press Agency
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