Four Teacher Unions are accusing government of defaulting in the payment of contributions to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Occupational Pension Scheme (Tier 2).
The unions include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers, the Coalition of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ and Educational Workers Union (TEWU).
The unions say although government deducts these contributions every month from their salaries, it is in arrears of over GH¢400 million as payment has not been made since the last payment in March 2022.
The General Secretary of TEWU, Mark Dankyira Korankye, speaking to Citi News on behalf of the four unions, complained that, “We have written several letters to the regulator, that they should ensure that the employer pays the contributions as soon as it’s deducted. Unfortunately, the regulator appears helpless, that is why we have to quickly issue this statement.”
“If the regulator is failing to do its work, then as a first step, we are saying their allowances or fee due them must also not be paid. If they are not being paid their fee, then I think they will be compelled to tell government to pay the ordinary employee their due pensions”.
A former deputy secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has encouraged former president Mahama to defend himself against the charge that he was partially responsible for the change in Minority Caucus leadership.
The largest opposition party has made changes to its leadership in Parliament with the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Minority Leader.
The party has also appointed MP for Ellembele, Kofi Armah as Deputy Minority Leader and Adaklu MP, Governs Kwame Agbodza as the new Minority Chief Whip, respectively.
But the party’s latest appointment is clearly very unpopular among the NDC faithful, especially the Minority Caucus, with many of the MPs claiming they are shocked by the move as they were not consulted. Some have proceeded to file a petition asking the party to rescind the decision.
The National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey and ex-President John Mahama have been accused of being behind the shakeup, an exercise some have described as a coup that will cause huge disunity among NDC MPs and could also affect the party’s electoral fortunes.
Commenting on the issue in an interview on Ghana Kasa show on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV Friday, Koku Anyidoho urged the former president not to remain silent over the allegation leveled against him.
“What will bring finality to this matter is that the ex-President must speak, he ought to clear his name. He shouldn’t put out a statement on Facebook or Twitter. Ex-President Mahama, we want to hear your voice on this matter which portends a disaster for the party. What is happening within the NDC is apocalyptic chaos, cataclysmic and the ex-president has been accused of being partly responsible, hence he must certainly speak.
“Ex-President Mahama is a member of the Council of Elders of the NDC and his name together with that of Asiedu Nketia and Fifi Kwetey has been mentioned specifically in relation to this matter. He cannot remain silent. The two are talking, they won’t change their mind and the chaos in the party is escalating. The ex-President is the only one who has not spoken, he ought to make his voice heard. It is very important that he speaks to clear his name.”
The body of a Tanzanian national who was killed in Ukraine fighting with Russian forces returned to his home country on Friday.
Nemes Tarimo, 37, died three months ago after agreeing to sign up with the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
His body was received by his family at the main airport in Dar es Salaam with burial scheduled for Saturday in his home village in the southern highlands of country.
Mr Tarimo had been in Moscow as a business informatics master’s student at the Russian Technological University. But he was then imprisoned some time after January 2021 for what were described as drugs-related offences.
Last year, he was enticed with a deal: sign up with the Russian mercenary group Wagner and be pardoned or stay in prison.
The High Court in Accra has ordered the former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and a former Deputy Communications Officer, Anthony Kweku Boahen, to open their defence to charges.
The two were charged in 2019 with conspiracy to cause harm following a leaked audio tape in which they were alleged to have plotted to harm the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the Peace Council.
Both are also separately facing a charge of assault on a public officer, but have pleaded not guilty and been granted bail.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses to give evidence towards the proof of their various charges. But, after the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons through their lawyers, each filed a submission of no case to answer on November 24, last year.
They contend that the prosecution’s witnesses were unable to prove the charges against them, so the court should acquit and discharge them.
Ruling on the submission of no case on Thursday, January 26, Justice Samuel Asiedu, now a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting as an additional High Court judge, said a prima facie case has been established against them by the prosecution.
According to the judge, there is evidence on the record in respect of the charges brought up against them, and the court is satisfied that, given the evidence before it, it is fit and proper that the accused persons are called upon to open their defence.
By Court
“The court has examined the evidence which has been placed before it by the prosecution vis-à-vis the charges which the accused persons are facing and the court has come to a conclusion that there is evidence on record in respect of the charges brought up against the accused persons.
“This is not the stage for the court to review the evidence and make pronouncements as to the guilt or innocence of the accused persons. The court is satisfied that given the evidence before it, it is fit and proper that the accused persons be called to enter upon their defence.
“In this regard, the court adopts the statement of the law espoused in Asamoah and Another vs. The Republic (supra) to the effect that: ‘There is no rule of law or procedure which gives an accused person the automatic right to make a submission of no case to answer at the close of the prosecution’s case in a criminal trial.
“In a summary trial, it is at the discretion of the Judge to determine whether or not a prima facie case has been made out against the accused persons, having regard to the evidence adduced.
“Where there is cogent evidence against the accused a trial Judge did not have to waste time inviting counsel for the accused to make a submission of no case…An appellate court only has to ascertain whether, at the close of evidence in support of the charge, a case was made out against the accused sufficiently to require him to open his defence.
“Furthermore, the standard of proof the prosecution bears at the stage of the trial before the appellants open their defence is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. See Tsatsu Tsikata v The Republic [2003-2004] SCGLR 1068.”
“For the above reasons, the court said, “the submission of no case to answer is hereby overruled. The accused persons shall open their defence accordingly.”
Charges
The accused persons have been charged with the offence of conspiracy to cause harm contrary to sections 23(1) and 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, (Act 29), as amended. This charge appears in count one of the charge sheet.
The 1st accused has also been charged, in count two, with the offence of assault on a public officer contrary to section 205(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, (Act 29). Likewise, the 2nd accused has also been charged.
The Catholic Diocese of Jasikan, the Regional Minister, and the management of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) held a joint meeting on the 13th of December 2029 at the secretariat of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan.
This comes on the heels of a recent statement issued by the Bishop, Clergy, and Lay Faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan on the government’s intention to start Iron Ore activities in the Oti Region.
The following conclusions were reached;
1. That, the Lord Bishop is not against the Exploration of the Region’s natural resources for development but rather, his concern is focused on giving alternative livelihoods to the citizens, for example, agriculture.
2. That, GIISDEC will broaden the stakeholder engagements across the entire region.
3. That, the Regional Minister and GIISDEC will ensure that the Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE) activities in the region are conducted in accordance with the relevant environmental laws and procedures.
4. That, GIISDEC will undertake extensive public education on Iron Ore exploration and related matters through the mass media and other channels of communication.
5. That, GIISDEC will continuously foster dialogue and discussion with stakeholders.
6. That, the Lord Bishop will use his good offices to sensitize the public about the mandate of GIISDEC in representing the interests of Government of Ghana regarding Iron Ore exploration in the Region.
7. That all the Parties have agreed to the above in good faith in the anticipation that this will strengthen the collective bond of the parties in promoting the development of effective and sustainable Iron Ore exploration in the Region in the best interests of stakeholders.
Some students on the Government of Ghana scholarship under the “Ghana Scholarship Secretariat” are said to be stranded in the United Kingdom (UK) over the delay in releasing their fees and stipends.
Some of the students are said to have been dismissed while others are being chased by their schools and landlords to pay their rent.
According to sources, some of the students have not received over 8 months’ stipend, thus worsening their situation.
Others have had to overstay because they cannot get money to return to Ghana. Some are also said to have been sued by their landlords for refusing to pay rent.
The students are calling on the government to immediately rescue them from the predicament.
Some Ghanaians have already started an online petition to gather signatories to force the Government of Ghana to come to their aid.
“The Government of Ghana should act immediately to rescue these stranded citizens and to save the nation from disgrace,” a write-up on the online platform captured.
The recent announcement of leadership changes among the Minority Caucus in Parliament has triggered backlash, less on the front of its legality and more on the front of propriety and due process.
The Caucus is currently split with the outgoing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu’s bloc questioning the manner in which the change was effected whereas the Cassiel Ato Forson bloc insists that the National Executives had the locus to ring the changes.
There is consensus that the election of leaders for the caucus is not contained in the party’s constitution but that consultation and engagement has over the years become the convention.
Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, who has publicly backed the National Executives for the latest changes has explained that even though the party is mute on the issue, Parliament’s Standing Orders settles the matter.
He explained that per the Standing Orders, the responsibility of appointing leadership of the Minority or Majority Caucus rested with the party on whose ticket the person was elected.
“If you look at Article 110 of the Constitution, it recognizes that Parliament itself will have Standing Orders… 110 (1) says subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may by Standing Orders regulate its own procedure,” he said on Citi FM (January 25, 2023).
He cited the Standing Orders of 2000, specifically Order 7, which deals with interpretation of words and terms as used in Parliament.
“The Standing Order interprets who (in this case) a Minority Leader is: “Minority Leader means a Member of Parliament designated by the party and or parties and or members forming the Minority as their recognized leader.
“Our own Standing Orders recognize that it is the party or the parties if they are in alliance, they designate. It is only when they fail or they don’t act, it is only then that the members who form the Minority can now recognize somebody,” he explained.
A copy of the November 2000 Standing Order available to GhanaWeb reads: “Minority Leader” means a Member of Parliament designated by the Party having the largest numerical strength in Parliament other than the Party that has formed the Government, as the recognised Leader of all the Minority groups in the House.”
Meanwhile, new Minority Leader Ato Forson held a press conference this morning to accept the role and call for unity, later in the day, pro-Haruna MPs also held a press conference protesting the process involved in the new changes.
The Vice President, in charge of research at IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Bright Simons, has alleged that Jubilee House officials and members of the Economic Management Team (EMT) are against the inclusion of individual bondholders in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
In a series of tweets on Thursday, the Founder and President of mPedigree also alleged that the Ministry of Finance is lacking the support of even Cabinet in its decision to include individual bondholders in the Debt Exchange Programme.
His tweets come after the Individual Bondholders Forum insisted on the complete exclusion of its members from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, stating that their inclusion will destroy household confidence in Ghana’s financial system and securities market.
How long can Finance Ministry hold out against sentiment in Ghana’s Economic Management Team that individuals must be formally exempted from the debt exchange program? And now reports of Jubilee House also moving in that direction. Ministry insists 5% in 2023 is last offer.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is pretty isolated at Cabinet this afternoon. Will be interesting to see whether their nerves will hold as the rest of the government begins to buckle under pressure.
The Individual Bondholders Forum on Thursday petitioned Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, to help them get an exemption from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
Addressing the former President of the National House of Chiefs on Thursday, the Convener of the Individual Bondholders Forum, Senyo Hosi said: “Togbe the matter is an eye red matter and for someone who has led the capital market and being one of the players who birthed the capital market, besides your royal place as the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, you are a pioneer in this industry, I do not want to believe this is your voice and the destination you assured us when your voice was heard back then.
“So we are here to petition your office, to petition you as an individual and the state of Asogli not to sit by and watch the lives of 6.5 million people devastated and subjected to shackles of penury. So our plea here is very simple, the steps being taken by the government are unsustainable and very unnecessary.”
The Individual Bondholders Forum led by Senyo Hosi has recommended to the government to divest loss-making, defunct and troubled 17 State–own enterprises.
The Individual bondholders also suggested that the government review the Free SHS Programme to make it more efficient through effective targeting and allowing parents who can pay to do so.
According to the group, “beneficiaries should be students that patronize Senior High Schools in their communities whilst other students should pay for boarding. However, the government can pay for students who do not have Senior Secondary schools in their communities.”
The group stated that divesting the 17 non-performing SOEs and reviewing the free SHS alone will provide the government with two billion cedis.
The group also urged the government to maintain the 2022 capital expenditure level by reducing the non–ABFA MDA and foreign finance Capex provisions by 50% which they claim will provide the 10.7 billion Ghana Cedis.
Cletus Avoka, the spokesperson of the Minority Members of Parliament opposed to the installation of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and four others as new leaders of the NDC caucus in Parliament has apologized to Dr Cassiel Ato Forson after he used a denigrating word on him.
The Member of Parliament for Zebilla, in his protest of the decision by the National Executive Council of the NDC to reshuffle the leadership team in parliament, fumed that the timing for the move was wrong as the party was looking to make a hero out of a nonentity.
“This is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is the time to galvanize all of us to fight the NPP so that we can win elections, not to make heroes out of nonentities, this is not the time,” Mr Avoka said on Tuesday.
But in an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, January 27, 2022, Cletus Avoka admitted that his comment was distasteful.
He conceded that his statement was disrespectful of Ato Forson and that never sought to impugn his reputation in any way.
“I will be the last person to say that and if I said that then it was an error. What I wanted to say was that this is not the time to drop somebody and elevate another. This is what I was trying to say and if in the process I said something different, I must apologise and I am very sorry. I cannot denigrate any of my colleagues.”
General Secretary of the NDC on January 23 sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin disclosing some changes in its leadership in parliament.
A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as a replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The announcement has highlighted the deep cracks in the minority with MPs adopting entrenched positions for and against the move by the National Executive Council.
It is believed that over 70 MPs have petitioned the party to reverse it decision whereas a host of others have declared their support for the party’s decision.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer for the Kumasi Assembly, Samuel Pyne, has announced his intent to contest for the Suame parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
Speaking in an interview with Wontum Radio, Mr Pyne, who is a former Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, said his decision hinges on whether the current MP for the area, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, will seek re-election or not.
“Definitely, if Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says he won’t contest again, I will contest for the Suame seat,” he said.
Eulogising the current MP, the KMA boss described Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as an asset who has duly served Ghana as an experienced member of the legislature.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the NPP is expected to hold a meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2022.
The meeting is expected to help the party arrive at some major decisions, including the date for conducting its presidential and parliamentary primaries as well as the modalities that will guide the exercise.
National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah on Thursday delivered a special message from President Akufo-Addo to Mali’s Interim President, Colonel Assimï Goita, in Bamako.
He led a delegation from Accra, which held extensive discussions behind closed doors with Col. Goita on security in West Africa and the Sahel.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mr Kan-Dapaah said Ghana has had long historical and bilateral relations with Mali dating back to the early post-colonial years and was, therefore, interested in the welfare and progress of the Malian people.
“We did talk about how we can be of help to each other because a fire in your neighbour’s house has to be of concern to you,” he said.
Col. Goita, he said, extended “warm greetings” to President Akufo-Addo, adding that Ghana looked forward to further engagements with Mali.
Members of the delegation included Maj. Gen Adu-Amanfoh, Ambassador Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Special Adviser to the Foreign Ministry, Benedict Dere, Executive Secretary of the Accra Initiative, and Napoleon Abdulai, Ghana’s Ambassador in Mali.
Taking his turn on the Effective Living Series on Citi FM and Citi TV, an entrepreneur, Yaw Benneh-Amponsah, advised Ghanaians to make better decisions by investing towards their future as the world battles economic upheaval.
Commenting on the topic, “Where do I invest my money now” Yaw Benneh-Amponsah, outlined some four areas Ghanaians can invest their monies.
Investing in businesses: People should invest in businesses. Investing in businesses will create value for you in this economic crisis. In terms of investment, this is the best time to look out for opportunities where potential partners are likely to bring some skills that will boost your business.
Investing in yourself: Try to acquire a new skill, either in entrepreneurship or by schooling so that by the time the economy bounces back, you stand the chance of being ahead of your colleagues. Continuous learning is important for everybody, invest in yourself first by seeking higher education.
Have risk appetite: Hold your money in forex, and try to invest in USD. Control your money to yield a positive return. If it’s possible, buy FX [forex] and keep it to reap the benefits in future. More than 50% of Ghanaians’ problems will be solved if they ditch cedis for dollars. Try to invest in dollars to protect the value you have created through your sweat. Patriotism on an empty stomach is nothing. Don’t hesitate to trade in dollars to get some returns when the opportunity avails itself.
Real estate: It’s a good area to invest in, though it’s not as lucrative as generally people think. But you stand a chance of gaining more benefits in the future. Demand has gone down, so you build slower and not in a rush to save your money because those who buy from you may be paying in bits and your money will be locked up in debt. Buy construction materials in bits to save you from the burden of high prices in goods and services.
The National Chairman and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is leading a delegation to the United Kingdom to attend a lecture to be addressed by former President John Dramani Mahama.
The event is billed to take place at the Chatham House, United Kingdom, on Friday, 27th January 2023.
Other members of the delegation include the Director of International Affairs of the NDC, Comrade Alex Segbefia, Deputy National Women Organizer, Comrade Abigail Elorm Akwambea, and the Deputy Treasurer of the party, Comrade Vida Addae.
A statement issued by the party said, “The lecture, which will be under the theme: ‘Africa’s strategic priorities and global role’, will among other things discuss the prospects for economic recovery and growth on the African continent in light of recent debt crisis that has compelled African countries including Ghana to seek debt treatment under the G20 Common Framework”.
Mr. Mahama, the statement said, will share with his audience his ideas and insights on the key economic and governance reforms required for economic stability and prosperity across Africa.
“The Former President and distinguished statesman shall be sharing with his audience his ideas and insights on the key economic and governance reforms required for economic stability and prosperity across Africa. He will also discuss priorities for regional integration and Africa’s role and responsibilities in global economic governance,” the NDC added in the statement.
The party noted that as part of the visit, the team together with the former President will hold a meeting with the UK/Ireland Chapter of the NDC.
“The team together with the Former President shall hold a meeting with the UK/Ireland Chapter of the NDC as part of this visit,” the NDC added in the statement.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by the leadership of the minority caucus in Parliament, says it will on February 7, 2023, embark on a public hearing followed by a roadshow to sensitise Ghanaians on the government’s expenditure on COVID-19 and the current economic crisis.
According to the party, it will engage both the finance and health committees on the public hearing to explain the implications of the COVID-19 expenditure.
The move comes on the back of some infractions cited in the Auditor General’s report on the government’s COVID-19 expenditure.
This was disclosed by the newly appointed minority leader in Parliament, Dr. Ato Forson, when he addressed the press on January 26, 2023.
“We wish to assure the people of Ghana that as part of our engagements with the finance and health committees, we have agreed to do a public hearing on the audit of the COVID-19 expenditure beginning on the 7th of February 2023.”
“At that point, we will pay due diligence to the duties given to us as the people of Ghana. Finally, we will also embark on a roadshow, where we will galvanise the people of Ghana, and educate them on the meaning of what this economic crisis is going to take us through,” Ato Forson noted.
The Auditor General’s report stated that over GH¢21 billion was mobilized for the fight against COVID-19 but only GH¢5.5 billion was used on health.
The balance was however utilized on budget line items such as government programmes on Free SHS and LEAP, among others.
In addition, some of the funds were spent on unapproved expenditure or purchases that are yet to be delivered.
The report by the Auditor General thus recommended that such amounts are recovered to the state.
Ace broadcaster, Afia Pokuaa popularly known as Vim Lady has run the rule on the two lawmakers at the centre of the leadership saga that has rocked the Minority caucus in Parliament.
Afia Pokuaa, in a social media post expressed admiration for the intellect and competence of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson who is the MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam and the pick by the National Executive Council of the National Democratic Congress for the minority leader position.
She, however, believes that Haruna Iddrisu who has been ousted is the more experienced, astute and shrewd legislator of the two.
In a social media post she said “I like Dr Forson. He is a sharp and humble guy but he is not a match from Haruna Iddrisu. From 1995 till today. Read his history,” she tweeted.
General Secretary of the NDC on January 23 sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in which he disclosed some changes in their leadership in parliament.
A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The announcement has highlighted deep cracks in the minority with entrenched position for and against the move by the National Executive Council.
Meanwhile leading member of the party, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has defended the decision by NEC not to consult the MPs.
“I’ve been the Vice Chairman of the party before, and I’ve been the Communications Director of the party at different times in the past, so I understand what’s taking place. People can ask for more consultations. In the past, we were not consulted anyways. Consultations are desirable but are not mandatory or necessary,” he said.
Former Member of Parliament for Kunbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has stated that the NDC’s national executive board’s recent shuffle of the leadership of the minority in parliament demonstrates how they vary from the NPP.
Ras Mubarak asserted that nobody was consulted prior to the appointment of the minority leader in the 7th Parliament and that he shudder to understand the criticism that the application of the same principle has generated this time around.
“In the 7th Parliament, some people wanted Mahama Ayariga to be Minority Leader. Others wanted Muntaka Mubarak while others rooted for Haruna Iddrisu. Who consulted us in the 7th Parliament when that decision was taken? In the end, the party’s wisdom was respected. And the leaders got the very maximum support,” he said.
In a Facebook post, he stressed the need for party members to respect and accept the judgment of the National Executive Council led by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
“In a time like this, what we require is maturity and not emotions and tantrums. We elected Chairman ASIEDU Nketia believing that he and the team would take some good but tough decisions. They may be doing just that.
“It is important to give him and the rest of the team the benefit of the doubt, respecting the soundness of their judgment.
“The signal the National Chairman and his team are sending is that the NDC is different from the NPP. The NPP is the only party where non-performance is rewarded. Have we not had cause to complain about the soundness of the decisions of the previous leaders and a need for changes ahead of 2024?”
The former Kunbungu member of parliament further questioned the motives of individuals who are opposing the new development.
“For those who are up in arms against the reshuffle, what moral authority would they have to question the continued stay in office of the likes of Ken Ofori-Atta who’s run the country to the ground through his wrong-headed economic policies, goaded by the President and the economic management team,” he asked.
He continued by saying that all agitations must be put on hold in order for the party to accept Ato Forson as their new minority leader.
“We need power. Asking for the decision to be reversed is bizarre. Such flip-flopping would be more fatal, with disastrous consequences to the tenure of the ASIEDU Nketia led Executives. It’s bait to get them to start on a catastrophic note.
“If we truly want power, we must put this behind us and rally behind the Ato Forson-led Minority group.
“The NDC is bigger than any individual in the party. We can’t have on our hands a situation where hell breaks loose when seemingly untouchables are reshuffled. It would be disastrous for a future NDC government. We can weather this storm together. Let people come to terms with the fact that the ship has sailed, and use their energies towards kicking out the NPP, whose tenure has been nothing but a calamitous failure,” he added.
The NDC in a statement signed by the General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey announced that it has made changes to the leadership of the minority in parliament.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Kofi Armah Buah is also the Deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The tweet, which was made when he was still seeking to become president, was on the subject of corruption.
In addressing what is believed to have been the situation with respect to corruption at the time when the lateAkufo-Addo, was president, candidate Nana Akufo-Addo said that should he be president, he would institute stronger measures to curb the menace.
He also used an analogy where he said his measures would be more expensive for criminals than it would be for someone who steals, for instance, a goat.
“I will introduce stiffer punishments for corruption to make the theft of state funds more expensive for the criminal than stealing a goat,” his tweet from June 8, 2012, said.
Since his assumption of office as President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government has been labelled with a lot of major corruption claims and allegations, many of which have been unresolved.
In a number of such cases, the president has not, in the estimation of many Ghanaians, cracked the whip as is required.
One such instance is the recent allegations of corruption and conflict of interest leveled against Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
The allegations, mostly being spearheaded by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, include such claims that he has multiple identities and that a company linked to him, JNS Talent, received an amount of $2.6 million from the government for no work done.
Rev. Kusi Boateng has since denied the claims.
President Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, has yet to issue any directives or statements on the raging issue.
See the 2012 below:
I will introduce stiffer punishments for corruption to make the theft of state funds more expensive for the criminal than stealing a goat.— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) June 8, 2012
A former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio Garbrah, has criticized some NDC supporters for what he regards as their misguided sense of entitlement.
Spio Garbrah is particularly unhappy with the reaction of some members of the party in Tamale over the removal of Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader.
The leading member of the NDC says that the conduct of those members of the party is fuelled by the misconception that they enjoy some special benefits when they have someone from their town or region in position.
He reminded them that whereas they may be excited that their own has been appointed, members of the party may be unhappy with the decision but that does not mean they go out on the street and protest.
He said that at any point in time, it is the interest of the party that reigns supreme and not the parochial interest of a selected few.
He likened the situation with Haruna Iddrisu to that of former captain Asamoah Gyan, warning that just as Gyan despite decades of service to the country was removed, Haruna was always going to be removed at some point.
“Some of them believe that when their MP is in a position it inures to their advantage but they need to think about the future of the party. The people from the North will claim that they’ve lost some position but our flagbearer for the past ten years is from the north. The Voltarians have not complained about it. There have been no complaints from the Western and Ashanti caucus so they need to understand that it’s just time.
“The Council of Elders chairman is from the North as well, so they are well represented. Losing one person doesn’t change anything. He is still in Parliament so we can use his experience.
“Asamoah Gyan does not play football any longer. He is no longer team captain, does it mean someone has done him something wrong. There comes at a time when there need to be changes in position. If you are in a team and the coach rings changes, it doesn’t mean the manager is against you. It just means the manager wants the progress of the team,” he told Sompa FM.
General Secretary of the NDC on January 23 sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in which he disclosed some changes in its leadership in parliament.
A former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The announcement has highlighted the deep cracks in the minority with entrenched position for and against the move by the National Executive Council.
The National Peace Council expresses optimism that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will rejoin the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
The NDC has consistently been absent from meetings of IPAC due to what it describes as the hostile attitude of the Electoral Commission (EC).
But the Chairperson of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the National Peace Council Joana Adzoa Opare says the council is continually engaging the party to return.
“The National Peace Council seeks to promote the collectiveness in addressing any unforeseen or foreseen challenges that will enable full participation of all political parties in the Inter Party Advisory Committee meetings, particularly for the NDC to work towards return to IPAC. And we all know how very important this is,” the Chairperson of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the National Peace Council urged the NDC during a meeting with leaders of various political parties on January 26, 2023.
Madam Joana assured that the National Peace Council will continue to create a platform of engagements between the various political parties towards sustainable peace in the country.
“It is the conviction that the National Peace Council will create a platform for fraternising continuous engagements and discuss objectively strategic means of strengthening relationships among the political parties towards sustainable peace of Ghana,” Chairperson of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the National Peace Council said.
Jones Sarfo Anyamesema, a former NABCO coordinator has stated that Haruna Iddrisu’s removal from a leadership role in Parliament on the side of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a punishment.
The former NABCO coordinator claims that his refusal to throw his support behind Johnson Asiedu Nketiah’s candidature in the party’s National election is what has landed him in trouble.
He was speaking on Kumasi-based Ultimate Fm monitored by MyNewsGh.com
“You see, I don’t belong to NDC but any politician will like Haruna in their party. He knows his trade and has acquitted himself with his team. He has created history in Ghana by together with his group creating a hung parliament”
“How do you remove such a person and replace him with losers who we don’t know track record in the house? Haruna is just being punished for not openly supporting Asiedu Nketia period”, he claimed.
The NDC has changed its leadership in Parliament replacing Haruna Iddrisu with Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the Minority leader.
The changes have been met with some opposition from grassroots members whereas some leading members believe it was unnecessary.
For the first time since his party, the National Democratic Congress(NDC), replaced him as Minority Leader, the outgoing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has made a statement.
Haruna Iddrisu, on the other hand, has not addressed issues concerning the appointment of new minority caucus leaders.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, in his first pronouncement, was reacting to alleged statements he made on social media about his removal.
In a side social media post, Haruna Iddrisu was lashing out over his removal, saying that his spirit can never be tamed.
But in a statement that he issued on Thursday, January 26, 2023, Haruna Iddrisu said that he has never been on social media and hence did not share the post.
He said that the posts were created by persons who wanted to sow division in the NDC.
“I, therefore, entreat the general public, particularly the rank and file of our great NDC Party, to ignore the posts with the contempt they deserve.
“The creation of the (social media) accounts and the posts therein are mere attempts by detractors to sow seeds of discontent within the hierarchy of the Party and to smear my person but they shall definitely FAIL. I have no doubt that the truth will always prevail,” parts of the statement read.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic who replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, he will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress, dated January 23, 2023.
The family of a 44-year-old woman who was allegedly physically assaulted by her husband, a National Security operative, is calling on the Inspector General of Police to come to their aid to ensure that the man is prosecuted.
The woman, Habiba Halid, who is now seeking refuge in her family house at Ablekuma Oduman, explained in an interview with GhOne TV that her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Figo, beat her up because she was chatting with an online friend.
She explained that on the day she was assaulted (January 20, 2023), the man walked in on her having a chat on her phone with the said friend on Facebook.
Confronted, she told him that the person she was chatting with was only a friend she knows on the microblogging site and that he was not even in the country.
She continued that he actually followed up to chat with the person to confirm but he returned not convinced by the answers he received.
Habiba, a mother of 4, added that her husband then threatened her life.
“I’m feeling pains all over my body and my head. My teeth; I can’t chew food properly. I have never cheated on him since we got married; I have never. He was even asking, who is that friend and where did I meet him? I said I just met him on Facebook. And he asked me where is the friend living and I said the friend is not even in Ghana; he’s just a friend.
“And he confronted the guy and the guy told him that we are just friends. He used a knife to threaten me too, so, he said I should pack my things if I don’t want to be dead in his house,” she narrated.
According to Habiba, who currently has blood clots in both eyes and on her left shoulder following the severe punching her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, gave her, the assault started long before their marriage 10 years ago.
She also accused him of insecurity and non-communication, adding that this compelled her to fall on friends on social media for companionship.
“Men used to approach me and so he got jealous and then he started doing those things. Even before this one happened, he used to beat me… when people wanted to help me, he scared them away,” she added.
On the part of her family, where she is currently seeking refuge at, they want the law to take its course.
They appealed that the police will come in and ensure that they get justice for their sister and relative.
“Right now, we are only pleading with the IGP; we want him to intervene for us because we don’t know what is going to happen,” one of her relatives told GhOne TV.
The matter has since been reported to the Amasaman branch of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for legal action.
A lecturer in political science at the Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Smart Sarpong, believes that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) may lose the Asawase seat as a result of Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka’s resignation as the Minority Chief Whip in parliament.
According to him, the votes from the Ashanti Region form more than some of the votes from the party’s strongholds in other parts of the country.
He insisted that the Asawase constituency contributed significantly to the electoral victory of the NDC.
Dr. Sarpong said that he fears the agitation being witnessed by some constituents of Asawase could cause the party to suffer heavily in the general elections.
In an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, he warned the NDC against moves that could weaken their chances of winning the next election, adding that “the NDC should not think that they have won the 2024 elections.”
“Muntaka is the only NDC MP within the Central Business District (CBD) in the Ashanti Region, so why remove him?
“NDC votes in the Ashanti region is more than many of votes from the so-called strongholds of the NDC. If the disturbances in Asawase reflects into votes, the NDC may lose the Asawase seat for the first time,” he stated.
The political scientist further stated that if the current agitations and unresolved tensions are not tackled, it will definitely affect the votes that the NDC will receive from the region.
“If you reflect on the gains made by the party in Asawase in 2020 and now that there’s division in the party, what it means is that NPP needs about 1,000 votes to snatch the seat from NDC and no one should take Muntaka for granted,” he told morning show host, Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
He added that the electoral gains chalked by the NDC in the Ashanti Region was largely due to Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka’s role in the region.
He called on the party to save itself by rescinding its decision to oust the Haruna Iddrisu administration from the leadership of parliament.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will engage members of the minority caucus on January 31, 2023, according to Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the minority leader in parliament, to discuss the group’s unresolved issues.
There has been a division among members of the group following a reshuffle of its leadership by the national executives of the National Democratic Congress NDC.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with leadership of the NDC, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson assured of a collaboration with the former leaders of the caucus to deliver on their mandate in Parliament.
“We have just come out of a very successful meeting with the leadership of the party. We are going to deliver on our mandate. ”
“And as has been agreed with the leadership of the party, there will be series of activities that will be undertaken beginning from today. We will have our maiden meeting with our leadership and the party leadership on Tuesday,” he added.
The NDC earlier this week replaced Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle also replaced Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
Several NDC MPs including MP for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine, and Tamale Central MP, Murtala Muhammed later described the leadership changes as undemocratic and deeply worrying, after they claimed they were not consulted prior to the change.
Some 44 MPs signed a petition to reject the decision of the party. The 44 members believe the decision by the party is unfair and unpopular.
However, some 77 MPs have also reportedly signed a different petition to endorse the decision of the party.
The National Organiser of theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin, has said that the national executive of the party does not need the consent of the party’s parliamentary caucus before making any decision.
According to him, the executives of the party have been given the power by the constitution of the NDC to make appointments including that of the party’s leadership in Parliament.
“I don’t fault anybody who has issues with the change in leadership but the point is that the national executives of the party have been given some power to make appointments including that of the leadership of Parliament.
“What we did was a reshuffle and there is no timeframe for it. These current executives have been in office for at least seven years. Haruna Iddrisu was the minority leader from 2017 to yesterday. Mutaka has been chief whip from when the NDC was in power.
“I don’t see anything wrong when the party takes a decision and says that at this moment, we should let some new faces take over. It was the party’s decision and the party did not take the decision without consulting those who were removed. We don’t need to consult the caucus. Let us not forget that those who were removed were also appointed by the party,” he said in Twi.
Yamin also posited that the party’s parliamentary caucus is not bigger than the party for its executives to seek their permission before taking decisions.
“Is the caucus bigger than the party’s national executive, is that what they want to tell us?” he added in an interview on Ark FM monitored by GhanaWeb, on Wednesday, January 26, 2023.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic who replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, he will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress dated January 23, 2023.
Some members of the Minority caucus will in the coming days petition the council of National Democratic Congress ( NDC) to suspend the change in Minority leadership in Parliament.
According to Member of Parliament for Zebilla East Constituency, Cletus Apul Avoka, the leadership of the party failed to engage the caucus before taking the decision.
In a press briefing on Thursday, 26, at the behest of the NDC parliamentarians, he said the petition is to help maintain cohesion in the party and to also ensure that the party remains in unity.
“The basis for our prayer is that, the party suspends the reshuffling as indicated by the General Secretary until such a time that a holistic meeting of stakeholders with consultations before a decision is taken.”
“It is on this backdrop that the national executives of the party a few weeks ago decided that all appointees in the party and parliament should remain in office till after we have concluded the parliamentary and presidential primaries. We are therefore surprised that the reshuffling is reaching the caucus in parliament. We think that this is premature,” he added.
On Tuesday, January, 24, the NDC executives announced the change in leadership in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament.
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, were relieved their positions.
MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, Cassiel Ato Forson, is now Minority Leader and MP for Adaklu Constituency, Kwame Governs Agbodza replaces Mr Muntaka.
The First Deputy Whip is Mr Ahmed Ibrahim while Comfort Doyo Ghansah retains her position as the Second Deputy Whip.
A hit-and-run driver has crushed a man to death in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
The body of the deceased was found in a pool of blood with bruises and severe head injury on Thursday dawn at Abriwa-Nkwanta Oyoko Road near S.D.A Training College School Park.
Officers from NADMO Municipal Secretariat led by the Municipal Director Mr Herbert Danso together with personnel from the Municipal Police Command went to the scene to take inventories and conveyed the body to the Koforidua Regional Hospital.
NADMO officials, however, claim the man was mentally unstable.
Samuel Nartey George, a member of parliament for Ningo Prampram, has expressed dissatisfaction with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he claims were insufficient consultations prior to the decision to change the leadership of its caucus in parliament.
According to Sam George, the leadership of his party failed to conduct far-reaching consultations which would have ensured adequate deliberations to save the party from the confusion that has risen from the decision.
“The problem I see MPs having, Randy, is not about the change. The problem of the caucus is not about the change; the problem of the caucus is not about the capacity of the people who are being changed; the problem of the caucus is the lack of engagement. The fact that as members of parliament we heard about a change in leadership on the radio and many of us had eggs in our faces because we said it is fake until Adabraka came out to say that yes we wrote that letter,” he stated on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
Sam George noted that whereas the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, and the General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, have argued that wide consultations were done prior to the announcement, it cannot be said to have been sufficient in this case.
“I believe that their consultations may have been done at their level but I believe that it was not far-reaching enough. I believe that a little more consultation, in this case, engagements could have happened. They consulted based on what they said publicly with members of the council of elders and stakeholders in the party. After those consultations, they proceeded to write a letter to the speaker and that is where I think the crux of the matter is,” he stated.
A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress dated January 23, 2023.
Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a public hearing on the audit of the Covid-19 expenditure effective February 07, 2023.
Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday the new minority leader reiterated “At that point, we’ll pay due diligence to the duties given to us as the people of Ghana.”
The decision comes after engagement with the Finance and the Health Committees of parliament, he disclosed.
Subsequently, the new leadership of the minority caucus has also planned to embark on a roadshow to “galvanize the people of Ghana and educate them” on the impact of the current economic crisis.
The two programmes will ostensibly form his initial action after his elevation as minority leader of Ghana’s largest opposition in parliament.
He’s yet to set out how he plans to bring together a party riven into factions after the upset in the leadership of the minority caucus following the reshuffle.
But the new minority leader has urged for calm among the rank and file of the NDC saying the new leadership has a good handle on the affairs of parliament and will do a great job in the larger interest of the party and the nation.
“…I’ll appeal to the rank and file of our great NDC party to keep calm, members of parliament are in good hands, we’ll work with them with due diligence. Obviously, we’re not new in this House. I have been in this House for 14 years. I know the capabilities of all our colleagues, some I met, some came to meet me. I have worked closely with most of our colleagues and I can assure you that together we shall succeed,” he told Journalists in parliament.
The new minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has urged for calm among the rank and file of the opposition NDC following the changes in the leadership of the minority side of parliament.
According to him, the new leadership has a good handle on the affairs of parliament and will do a great job serving the larger interests of the party and the nation.
“…I’ll appeal to the rank and file of our great NDC party to keep calm, members of parliament are in good hands, we’ll work with them with due diligence. Obviously, we’re not new in this House. I have been in this House for 14 years. I know the capabilities of all our colleagues, some I met, some came to meet me. I have worked closely with most of our colleagues and I can assure you that together we shall succeed,” he told Journalists in parliament.
He thus pledged to represent the collective goals of his party with “unwavering dedication and high integrity.”
Tension is growing in the House on the back of the changes in minority leadership.
At least 44 MPs believe the party’s decision is unfair and unpopular and have signed a petition to reject it.
Another group of 77 MPs also reportedly signed a different petition to endorse the party’s decision.
Meanwhile, a meeting has been scheduled between the leadership and party executives at the party headquarters to settle the disagreement and the seeming cracks in the NDC following the reshuffle.
The new Minority Leader in Parliament Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has issued a stern warning to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his large government size.
Dr. Forson said the National Democratic Congress’ MPs won’t allow President Akufo-Addo to further increase his government size which they believe is already bloated.
He gave the warning in his first public address on Thursday after his appointment as Minority Leader.
“I wish to, first of all, send a message to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), that the people of Ghana are calling on them to downsize their government to reflect the mood of the country before you ask people to forego their coupons or interests, asking the ordinary Ghanaian to sacrifice his payout.
“If the President [Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo] intends to reshuffle his government, let it be known that we in the NDC will not accept an attempt to increase the size of government. And if the current size of his ministers is increased by one person, that person will not receive our cooperation”.
There have been several calls for the government to cut down on its appointees in the wake of the current economic crisis.
Dr. Forson further warned that any additions of appointees by the government will face stiff opposition from the National Democratic Congress.
He opined that any intended government reshuffle should reflect the economic situation of the country.
He advised the rank and file of the party to keep calm.
“We want the rank and file of the party to keep calm, Members of Parliament are in good terms,” he said.
The Ajumako-Enya-Essiam MP further assured to represent the collective interest of the party.
“As a leader, it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity,” he added.
The NDC earlier this week reshuffled its leadership in Parliament replacing Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle also replaced Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
Several NDC MPs including MP for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine and Tamale Central MP, Murtala Muhammed later described the leadership changes as undemocratic and deeply worrying, after they claimed they were not consulted prior to the change.
Some 44 MPs signed a petition to reject the decision of the party. The 44 members believe the decision by the party is unfair and unpopular.
However, some 77 MPs have also reportedly signed a different petition to endorse the decision of the party.
The Sene East District Police command is investigating circumstances that led to the drowning of eight school children on the Volta Lake.
The eight were among 20 school children, who were crossing the lake with a canoe from Atigagome to the Wayokope District Assembly Primary school, fishing communities in the area around 0700 hours.
Speaking in a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joy Afagbedzi, the Sene East District Police Commander, said all the deceased had since been buried.
They were Emmanuel Badu, nine years, Matilda Okain, seven years, Peace Okain, six years, Richard Abiase, nine years, David Mensah, eight years and Abeiku Ebo, 11 years, Kwame Ansah, six years, and Emmanuella Ebo, eight years.
DSP Afagbedzi said the command had since deployed personnel to conduct investigations at the two fishing communities, saying “when my men arrived at the community, the bodies had almost decomposed, and they had to support the families to bury them”.
The new Minority Leader of Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has outlined three specific areas that he hopes to focus on in the immediate terms.
Addressing a brief press conference in parliament on Thursday, January 26, 2023, the Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam stated that among the things he intends to do as leader, is to unite the caucus.
He then outlined his three roadmaps, starting with a stern warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as well as the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“I will focus the next month to tackle three things. First, I wish to, first of all, send a message to the NPP that the people of Ghana are calling on them to downsize their government to reflect the mood of the country. You are asking people to forgo their coupons or interests, you are asking the ordinary Ghanaian to sacrifice their payout, and so therefore if His Excellency the president intends to reshuffle his government, let it be known that we in the NDC will not accept an attempt to increase the size of government,” he said.
Cassiel Ato Forson also sent a caution to the president to ensure that he does not increase his government size, adding that should that happen, such new additions will be resisted by the Minority.
“And if the current size of his ministers increases by one, that one person may not receive our cooperation. And in the end, we also wish to assure the people of Ghana that, as part of our engagement with the Finance Committee and the Health Committee, we have agreed to do public hearing on the audit of the COVID-19 expenditure beginning on the 7th of February, 2023. At that point, we will pay due diligence to the duties given to us by the people,” he added.
The Minority Leader concluded by indicating that they will embark on a roadshow across the country to educate Ghanaians on the impact of the current economic challenges.
“And then finally, we will also embark on a roadshow where we will galvanize the people of Ghana and educate them on what this economic crisis is going to take us through,” he said.
Cassiel Ato Forson takes over from Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader, while Kwame Governs Agbodza is the new Minority Chief Whip.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah will be the new Deputy Minority Leader, while the two deputy Minority Chief Whips, Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, have been retained.
Pharmacist and Research Fellow at CDD Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, has backed calls for further investigation into the Covid-19 expenditure infractions.
In the Auditor General’s report concerning Covid-19 expenditures from March 2020 to June 2022, it was revealed that millions of Ghana cedis had been lost through profligate and reckless spending.
Some of the infractions that were uncovered include; paying a total of US$607,419.02 out of US$4,049,460.12 for the purchase of 26 ambulances that were never delivered, paying unapproved GH ₵151,500 by the Information Ministry to its own staff as Covid insurance, and paying for $80 million worth of vaccines by the government that was never delivered, amongst others.
However, some government communicators have argued that with Ghana ranking very high with regards to the country’s Covid-19 management, such probes into Covid-19 expenditure are unnecessary.
Reacting to this, Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong said the argument is flawed and rather makes a mockery of the country.
According to him, Ghana was merely compared to the worst performing countries in relation to Covid-19 management, and, therefore, there was nothing to celebrate.
“Anytime I hear a comparison ‘oh an African country is the best among Africans’, you’ve got to look at the testing rate in Africa. The testing rate in Africa was the lowest; in fact it wasn’t even comparable to South East Asia. It was that bad.
“So if you are the best among the worst and you read the Brookings Institute’s report to justify that I find that ludicrous. What happened to comparing us to what was happening in the rest of the world? Because this was a global pandemic, it wasn’t an African pandemic.
“We’re not talking about Ebola, are we? We are talking about a global pandemic where people were testing at scale. Why does Africa always want to be treated as paupers? When we are told we are beggars so the one who begs least becomes the shining star,” he said.
The newly-appointed Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has said he has the ability to carry out the new task assigned him by the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He says he is not new in Parliament.
“I am not new in this house,” he said at his maiden press conference as the new Minority Leader which was also attended by the newly-appointed Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza.
He added “I have known most of my colleagues for a while. I can assure you that we will succeed.”
In an earlier press statement, Dr Ato Forson assured his side of the House of working with high dedication and integrity.
He said he would represent the collective goals of the Minority.
The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam lawmaker commended Mr Iddrisu for “his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by our party’s leadership.”
“As leader,” he added, “it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity.”
He further indicated that “I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead our illustrious and gallant caucus in Parliament. I thank the leadership of our party who have placed their trust and confidence in me.
“I am also deeply grateful to colleagues, the rank and file of our party and the Ghanaian people for their profound support and solidarity.”
The Minority in Parliament will be holding an emergency meeting in the House today Thursday, January 26 over the removal of its leadership by the executives of their party the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This comes after the decision to change the leadership created division among the minority caucus.
National Chairman of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia and the General Secretary Fifi Kwetey will be attending the meeting, TV3’s Parliamentary Correspondent Komla Klutse reported on Wednesday, January 25.
So far, forty-eight of the opposition lawmakers have signed a petition to the party executives to reverse their decision.
According to them, the decision is unpopular for which they wanted it reversed.
Some of the NDC MPs including Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed expressed shock at the decision by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to change the party’s leadership in Parliament.
The decision was made known on Tuesday, January 24 with the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Constituency, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, replacing Tamale South legislator Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader. Ellembelle’s Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah also replaces James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.
Speaking on TV3‘s News 360 on Tuesday, January 24 after news on the decision broke, the Tamale Central MP said there was no consultation whatsoever with the caucus before the release.
“Every single Member of Parliament is surprised,” he said, “And I can tell you that even those who have been proposed to take leadership, some of them are surprised that such a proposal is made without even consulting them.”
He condemned the mode of communication, saying as an MP he got wind of the decision on social media like many other NDC MPs.
“That is not how things are done,” he fumed.
“The NDC is a democratic party. We have touted ourselves as the pacesetters of this democracy. The NDC gave birth to the 1992 Constitution for which reason we have all collectively agreed to chart the path of democracy.”
He, therefore, indicated that NDC should be the last to disregard democratic tenets and by making such a decision without consulting the group – or caucus – it affects, to him, smacks of disrespect.
The former Nanton MP said his experience of having been in the Sixth Parliament and even the Eighth Parliament tells him that there is active consultation between the party’s leadership and the caucus prior to such decisions.
“How do you choose leaders for a group without consulting that group?” he wondered.
“Who told you that the group will be comfortable with the people you have chosen? Now if the group were not comfortable with the people you have chosen, then that will be the beginning of a failure of that particular leadership.”
Also, Member of Parliament for Agotime Ziope, Charles Agbeve demanded explanations into the decision.
Mr Agbeve said the NDC lawmakers were surprised following the announcement of the changes because consultations were not done on this matter.
He told TV3’s Komla Kluste in an interview that “I am flabbergastered, the news hit me because it is one of the last news I am expecting at this time, and so I am surprised.
“It took me a long time to really appreciate the news because normally, the national executives will engage the leadership of Parliament and if leadership thinks the engagements, they can’t get to a consultation, they meet the whole caucus and so, I can count countless engagements between the caucus and the national executives on all issues.
“There are issues when they come up, leadership thinks let us take some advice from the national executives and then they give the direction. So one would have thought that if there is going to be a shake-up like this, there would have been some engagements and that engagement would have watered down the shock and surprise.
“You will know there is going to be some changes here and there and then people will make inputs and suggestions but this was not done and I will like to know what went into this thinking, I will want some explanations, that will give all of us reasons to support it. ”
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the decision was taken based on the current trend of debate on national issues.
“The debates and the other discussions will focus on the economy so you need to put your best man in the economy forward, that is what we have done,” he told Accra-based Joy FM.
“We also looked at energy. These petroleum and electricity challenges and so we needed to settle on Kofi-Armah Buah, our former Energy Minister to be the Deputy Minority Leader and then the other area is infrastructure, Kwame Agbodza being our man in infrastructure should play a key role. So that generally is what informed the changes.”
Heavy security had to be deployed at the Ashanti regional NDC office to forestall the destruction of properties.
Angry Asawase constituents marched to the office to express their disappointment over the replacement of their Member of Parliament, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, with MP for Adaklu Kwame Agbodza as the minority chief whip in parliament.
The aggrieved NDC supporters burnt car tyres at the regional party office.
In one voice, they called the bluff of the national party executives over the parliamentary leadership changes.
Their demand is just one. The party should reverse the changes made else they risk losing their votes.
“”They want to destroy our party. Without Muntaka in the parliamentary leadership, no vote”, Usman Ismail fumed.
The regional chairman of NDC, Augustus Andrews Nana Akwasi had to intervene to calm down nerves.
He assured them of forwarding their grievances to the appropriate quarters.
“The party has structures. Let’s not do anything that will put the name of the party into disrepute. Let’s rather remain united and reclaim power in 2024”.
The police were also swift with their intervention in preventing the destruction of properties.
Meanwhile, at an earlier press conference by some Asawase constituency executives of NDC, they tasked leadership of the party to reverse its decision.
“We are yet to come to terms with the news as to whether or not such decision was taken by the functional executive committee of which both Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak are members. Whether or not the council of elders of the party were consulted. Whether or not the minority MPs were consulted. We are compelled to come to the conclusion that, the action is undemocratic as it lacks proper and broader consultation.
We are by this statement requesting the party to withdraw these changes with immediate effect and to the needful”, Asawase constituency NDC secretary, Mugis Mahdi stated.
The Concerned Second Hand Dealer Association wants government to stay all plans to ban the importation of used appliance into the country as it risk affecting their livelihood, particularly under current economic situation.
Talks about Ghana at risk of being turned into a dumping ground for electronic waste have been rife over the period with the Energy Commission pushing the agenda to ban the importation of such products in the interest of the country.
“Now that there is economic hardship all over the world, why would one say they are taking away jobs that feed millions of people in this country forgetting our contribution to Ghana’s GDP”, says President of the Association, Asare Daniel.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Asare insisted that the goods imported are standard and go through various checks at the ports before being allowed into the country.
“If the sitting government is seeking assistance from the IMF which will prevent them from employing workers, where would they find jobs for us and the graduates in our homes due to government’s inability to get jobs for them? We are very much convinced of hearing something good from the Energy Commission and the government.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) sides with the dealers.
President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng appealed for stakeholder engagement on the issue to bring a resolution to the concerns raised.
“Our total engagements with Energy Commission are inconclusive. So we will not accept any ban on used clothes. The fact that the clothes are second-hand does not make them unwholesome. We call on government to as a matter of urgency hold a meeting with the Commission and also on parliament not to consider any ban because it employs a lot of people”, he said.
Stan Dogbe, the Director of Communications during the John Mahama presidency has taken Ben Ephson to the cleaners over his allegation that the decision by the National Democratic Congress to oust Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak as Minority Leader and Chief Whip was the brainwork of the former president and Asiedu Nketiah.
In his reaction to the move by NDC, the Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch Newspaper said that John Mahama and Asiedu Nketiah orchestrated the move because it works in their favour.
Speaking in an interview on Starr FM on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, the pollster indicated that the reasons provided by the party do not justify their actions.
“I think that it is the working of former President John Mahama and Aseidu Nketiah and I am going to wonder how the minority caucus is going to be. I suspect politically Mr. Aseidu Nketiah and John Mahama’s handiwork. Are they saying that before 2020 these economic issues were not there?
“No, I don’t think so, you see when you give this reason. You are creating the impression that before 2020 and even before these changes, Haruna and the leadership have not acquainted themselves well enough in dealing with these issues. Or is it an issue of trying to have total control over minority or minority issues in parliament?” Mr. Ephson quizzed.
He continued: “When you say there are going to be economic issues in 2024, can’t Ato Forson advise Haruna on the way forward? Or they think that Haruna cannot be nodding at everything they say because economic issues have been in the forefront in the run up issues in 2020 elections.”
In response, Stan Dogbe observed that Ben Ephson has consistently shown bias against John Dramani Mahama.
According to him, Ben Ephson’s predictions are fuelled by factors other than objectivity and actual analysis of the situation on the ground.
“This Ben Ephson man is at it again. Obviously, he has always been a shameless character so he cares less about himself when he chooses to go where his stomach leads him.
“Your sustained negatively against John Mahama will lead you no where ooo, it will not. With your credibility finally eroded as people see through your tabletop so-called research, your new found job is to be attacking and granting interviews to denigrate John Mahama.
“Me, I wish you well in your new job. Once it puts food on your table, why not. What are we in this world for. Just remember that you cannot destroy what the Lord has planned out.
We will wait for your next negative campaign against John Mahama,” he posted on Facebook.
In a Facebook post, the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam MP said, “I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead our illustrious and gallant caucus in Parliament. I thank the leadership of our party who have placed their trust and confidence in me. I am also deeply grateful to colleagues, the rank and file of our party and the Ghanaian people for their profound support and solidarity”.
He said he has had some discussions with the outgoing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and thus commended him for his admirable stewardship.
“I have held fruitful and positive conversations with my senior brother Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. I commend him for his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by our party’s leadership,” Dr. Forson stated.
He also assured to represent the collective interest of the party.
“As a leader, it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity,” he added.
The NDC earlier this week reshuffled its leadership in Parliament replacing Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle also replaced Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
Several NDC MPs including MP for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine and Tamale Central MP, Murtala Muhammed later described the leadership changes as undemocratic and deeply worrying, after they claimed they were not consulted prior to the change.
Some 44 MPs signed a petition to reject the decision of the party. The 44 members believe the decision by the party is unfair and unpopular.
However, some 77 MPs have also reportedly signed a different petition to endorse the decision of the party.
The Minority MPs are supposed to meet today over the issue.
The Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed appreciation to the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for his appointment as the leader of the party’s caucus in parliament.
In a statement issued via his social media pages, the newly-appointed Minority Leader also expressed gratitude to his colleagues as well as members of the party for their support following his appointment.
“My dear friends, I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead our illustrious and gallant caucus in Parliament.
“I thank the leadership of our party who have placed their trust and confidence in me.
“I am also deeply grateful to colleagues, the rank and file of our party and the Ghanaian people for their profound support and solidarity,” he wrote.
The new Minority Leader disclosed that he has already had a discussion with his predecessor, Haruna Iddrisu, following his appointment.
While asking for the support of the party, Ato Forson assured that his leadership will be directed towards representing the collective goals of the NDC and the caucus.
“I have held fruitful and positive conversations with my senior brother Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. I commend him for his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by our party’s leadership.
“As leader, it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity. I have no doubt that with your support we shall succeed.
“May God bless our efforts,” the new Minority Leader added.
A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has been appointed as the new Minority Leader, as a replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been retained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, just as Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is still the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress and dated January 23, 2023.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed dissatisfaction with answers regarding the GH¢2.6 million scandal involving the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.
Mr. Ablakwa in his exposé alleged that JNS Talent Centre Ltd owned by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng was paid some GH¢2.6 million to help build the National Cathedral, under the pseudonym name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
According to him, documents in his possession reveal that Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the same as Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.
However, the Secretariat in a statement explained that the GH₵2.6 million was a refund to JNS talent and not an amount illegally paid to the company.
The lawmaker petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.
But in a response to the allegations, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng in a statement said Mr. Ablakwa’s claims are a “twisted narration of events”, threatening to take the MP on.
“I wish to assure the general public that the statements made by Mr Ablakwa are a twisted narration of events to pursue a malicious political agenda. There has never been any criminal intent nor any crime committed in my dealings with the Government of Ghana or the National Cathedral.
“I look forward to the (CHRAJ) enquiry during which I will present my side of the matter to the Commission. I will subsequently also address the matters fully in public without first seeking to prejudice the public mind as he has done. Additionally, when all is done, I will seek redress against Mr Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me,” the founder of Power Chapel Worldwide noted.
Speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV with Umaru Sanda Amadu, the legislator called the bluff of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, charging him to bring bear his facts and stop the empty threats.
“No he’s the same person, I have tracked his travels, he’s the same person. I have videos of Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.”
“That dubious GH¢2.6 million payment, we will get to the bottom of it. Last Sunday he said when you are going up, demons will disturb you. I don’t know which up he’s talking about, whether it’s a mysterious ladder, fraudulent ladder, or corruption ladder, I don’t know which one he’s talking about because it’s a simple matter,” the MP said on Face to Face on Citi TV.
He doubted if due diligence was done before the state issued a diplomatic passport to Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.
The lawmaker said the Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey will be summoned by Parliament to answer questions in that regard.
“What due diligence was done before granting him a diplomatic passport? How is it that you appoint somebody, give him an appointment letter as Rev.Kusi Boateng? And then when you are issuing him a diplomatic passport to enhance his work, it’s in another name, are you complicit? The Foreign Affairs Minister [Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey] will be summoned to Parliament to answer questions,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
Today, January 26, 2023, the Minority caucus in Parliament is expected to meet to discuss the leadership changes announced by the National Democratic Congress national executives (NDC).
This comes following the stand-off between the NDC MPs following the changes in their leadership.
Some 44 MPs signed a petition to reject the decision of the party. The 44 members believe the decision by the party is unfair and unpopular.
However, some 77 MPs have also reportedly signed a different petition to endorse the decision of the party.
According to reports, the 77 MPs believe that Dr. Ato Forson and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah are politically astute and have the quality to lead the party in Parliament.
The NDC in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Tuesday, January 24, stated that it had decided to replace Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Other changes include Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle who has been brought in to replace Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza has also replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
Several NDC MPs including MP for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine and Tamale Central MP, Murtala Muhammed have described the leadership changes as undemocratic and deeply worrying, since no consultations were held with the Minority caucus.
Speaking to Citi News, the Member of Parliament for Anlo, Richard Kwami Sefe said the caucus will have a meeting at 10am today to address the concerns.
“The meeting is being called at the behest of the outgoing leadership. I believe those who have now been appointed will be part of the discussion. If we meet today, we will be able to discuss the issues thoroughly without emotions and insinuations.”
“Probably we will vote on it to see how we will go over this issue. Because if care is not taken, those who are coming may not have peace, and those who are there too if the party says no, then it’s going to cause us a lot of divisions,” the Member of Parliament for Anlo stated.
Provisional results for candidates who took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for both school and private in 2022 have been made public by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
A press statement dated January 25, 2023, said that candidates can access their results at the council’s website www.waecgh.org.
The statement added that the subject results of 416 school candidates and 3 private candidates have been cancelled for the offence of either sending foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with candidates.
In addition, the examination body has also cancelled the entire results of 73 school candidates and 2 private candidates for the offence of examination malpractice.
“Cancellation of the subjects results of 416 school candidates and 3 private candidates for the offence of either bringing foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with other candidates.
“…cancellation of the entire results of 73 school candidates and 2 private candidates for the offence of sending mobile phones into examination halls,” part of the statement read.
Public Affairs Manager of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has encouraged formal sector workers to ensure that employers pay their full contributions to the Trust.
Charles Akwesi Garshong revealed that in cases where some workers receive allowances that are separate from their salaries, some employers contribute based on the employee’s actual salary.
“So it is up to you to ensure that your employer is paying contributions on your full earnings, because the higher the income on which contributions are paid, the better your pension”, he indicated on Wednesday.
Speaking on Prime Morning, he said the practice might look appealing to the worker but affect their pension payments in the long run.
Public Affairs Manager, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Charles Akwesi Garshong
“Because the employer is also looking at it that if I add it to your salaries, the responsibility I have by topping up the contribution you make will increase…”
“For employer-employee relationship this is what happens, workers pay a portion and employers will have to top up so if they declare that salary, they feel like oh why don’t I reduce it so that you have huge allowances, you feel you’re okay but at the end of the day he’s only avoiding his responsibilities”, Mr Garshong said.
Mr. Garshong advised individuals in the informal sector to also contribute to SSNIT because of its benefits.
He noted that self-employed persons who do not have fixed salaries can decide willingly on how much they can contribute and discuss with SSNIT, provided it meets the minimum amount.
Some supporters of the Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka have massed up at his constituency office over his removal as Minority Chief Whip in Parliament.
The outraged party supporters are protesting to demand the party’s reversal of changes it has made to its parliamentary leadership.
Citi News’ Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Fati Aminu Ibrahim reports that the members are unhappy with the announcement and want a reconsideration.
Mubarak Muntaka’s spokesperson, Abdul Majeed Musah who spoke on Citi Prime News said the reshuffling could spell doom for the party if the decision is not rescinded.
“Our position is very simple– that the party should reverse this decision. The entire decision is a sham and miscalculated one. People have led the party and have achieved a lot of success. It takes a wide and broad deliberation to replace any if need be.”
“So why is it that all of a sudden they have been removed? If care is not taken, it would create a lot more problems. So we want the Council of Elders to come in”.
Several NDC MPs including MP for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine and Tamale Central MP, Murtala Muhammed have described the leadership changes as undemocratic and deeply worrying since no consultations were held with the Minority caucus.
The former Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka has also called on the party to immediately reverse the decision, describing it as unpopular and unfortunate.
Some NDC party supporters in Tamale South have also given the party a 24-hour ultimatum to rescind the decision or face their wrath.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has justified the shake-up in its leadership in Parliament despite criticisms from its own members.
The party said the decision is apt and works best for collective other than individual interests.
Many have described the news as surprising because they claim the party failed to broadly consult for a consensus to be reached accusing the leadership of taking a unilateral decision.
But General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Kwetey while speaking on Eyewitness News discredited such assertions insisting that those who mattered were contacted for the necessary inputs.
But Fifi Kwetey said the decision has been taken and will not be reversed.
Cletus Apul Avoka, the representative for Zebilla East, has expressed worries over the timing of the NDC’s leadership change in parliament.
According to him, the party should have galvanized the party for the fight against the NPP to win the 2024 elections instead of making heroes out of nonentities.
His remarks come after the party decided to replace Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam.
The party also replaced Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi with Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle.
Speaking on Citi TV the lawmaker said, “this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is the time to galvanise all of us to fight the NPP so that we can win elections not to make heroes out of nonentities, this is not the time,” Citi newsroom quoted.
Aside from Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central also raised concerns about the party’s failure to involve the caucus in the leadership reshuffle.
According to Murtala Mohamed, the leadership reshuffle has caught everyone off guard, including those who are taking on new responsibilities.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s hike in utility rates has prompted the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) to petition Parliament’s Select Committee on Mines and Energy (PURC).
According to the Chamber, the decision follows several appeals to the PURC to review the tariffs for large scale businesses since the current economic crises is already biting hard on their operations.
This has forced most of them to look elsewhere for cheaper tariffs, while some others have fold-up.
Speaking to Joy Business after an engagement with the PURC which ended inconclusively, President of the GNCCI, Clement Osei Amoako, said it will continue to push for a downward review of utility tariffs for its members.
“There is a way out to get it [downward review of utility tariffs] done. They would have to look at it”.
“If it has to go back to Parliament for them to look at it, we will lobby the Parliament Select Committee and all those that matters to make sure we will not keep the current price. This will ensure ordinary Ghanaians and businesses survive”.
But in a sharp response, Chief Executive of the PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah said nothing can be done about it for now since the tariffs have already been gazetted to take effect come February 2023.
“This adjustment, the decision has been made and it has been gazetted as a law. For now, nothing can be done on the part of PURC”.
He however added that “there would be other quarterly adjustment. So, what we are doing is establishing the protocols for engagements”.
Within a period of less than six months, electricity and water tariffs have shot up significantly on two occasions.
Electricity bill first went up by 26.6% in September 2022 and 29.9% in February 2023, totaling 56.5%.
There is simmering friction in the private health insurance sector following the establishment and subsequent operations of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB) Health Insurance Scheme.
Some players in the sector have expressed their disquiet over what they say is the unfair trade activities by GAB which could potentially affect the structure and future of Private Health Insurance (PHI) in Ghana.
According to some of the affected schemes, GAB as a prerequisite to obtaining a license had agreed even if verbally, not to go after banks already doing business with existing schemes, something they say GAB has flouted.
A member of the Private Health Insurance Oversight Committee of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and a spokesperson of the Private Health Insurance Association, Ronald Oppong Adom, in an interview says while the Association is open to business participation from all quarters, schemes that purport to operate in the name of unions could spell doom for the industry.
Even more worrying, he averred, is the potential for these unionized schemes to coerce members of the union to stop doing business with existing companies so they can join the union’s schemes.
While he does not contest the legality of GAB, Mr Adom believes the regulators, the National Health Insurance Authority, must ensure that the health insurance sector is not controlled by other sectors.
“I think the concerns that PHIs have raised is the level of coercion that some banks that used to be members or that are members of existing PHI companies have been coerced to join the GAB health insurance company.
“In a free market economy, the factors of demand and supply must be allowed to play without any strings attached but per the concerns which the members have shared, some of their clients have been pursued,” he stated.
He added: “What will happen if all the thriving associations put together a health scheme and coerce all their members to join their scheme? Let’s say the Telcos tomorrow put together a Health Insurance Company and say all telcos must belong to the health insurance company and go ahead to say that now they are distributing their health insurance company through their channels….When that happens the Private Health Insurance space will be controlled by another sector. For any sector to thrive, that sector should not be controlled by another sector. If that sector is controlled by another sector it becomes an issue.”
Metropolitan Position
CEO of Metropolitan Health Insurance, Emmanuel Oteng, who has lost a number of banks to GAB, suspects foul play with the bankers association scheme.
According to him, most of his clients who are bankers have been deliberately targeted by GAB.
“They started and picked some few banks that had no insurance. It was a good thing initially because we have been pushing some of these banks that are uninsured to get on board so we thought when GAB entered the market it was an opportunity to grow the industry. But I think the attempt was deliberately to focus on the banks that already had insurance companies. We have flagged this as a risk because even though the regulator told them not to coerce clients to join them we knew it was going to happen,” he stated.
According to him, the banks constitute the largest chunk of his clientele for which reason the activities of GAB should be looked at again.
GAB no response
Attempts to get GAB to respond to the concerns raised by some of the industry players proved futile.
But the NHIA is convinced nothing untoward has happened.
Hudu Issah, the Director in charge of Private Health Insurance at the NHIA said by law the NHIA cannot stop GAB from operating.
What it can do is ensure they operate fairly within the space they have decided to do business.
He also challenged the aggrieved companies to provide evidence of wrongdoing by the GAB so the NHIA can address it.
“A few of them have reported that GAB is forcing some banks to leave them and join GAB. Petition the regulator, and add evidence. Until anyone is ready to bring a petition and attach evidence, the regulator cannot move,” he stated.
He added, “I don’t think they have anything to worry about. Insurance thrives on numbers but not all the time.
“There are some numbers which will imply you made an adverse selection which will erode your gains. Banks are high-risk clients so if they are running from you, why worry?”
Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Koku Anyidoho, has said that he weeps for his ‘beloved party’.
The erstwhile NDC appointee expressed this concern in reaction to the uproar in some quarters of the party, following the change in its parliamentary leadership.
Touching on the change which was announced on Tuesday, the former NDC deputy scribe alleged that it was influenced by a hideous agenda of the party’s newly elected Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
In a series of tweets after the change was made public, he expressed his misgivings and lamented the future of the party under Asiedu Nketiah.
“Extreme anger brewed in Asiedu-Nketiah’s NDC pot. Lots of fire under the umbrella. I weep for my beloved NDC”, he noted in one of his tweets.
“Oyiwa. The deadly seeds that have been sowed over the years that I continue to talk about, are germinating under the Leadership of Mosquito – the master brain behind lots of the bad seeds.
As for me; my vindication lies in the womb of time. ‘A ye pinsoooooooo’ “, another related tweet said.
The comments by Koku Anyidoho add to the pockets of reservations by other notable party sympathizers since the change was announced on Tuesday.
One of such prominent critics has been the Member of Parliament for the Tamale Central Constituency, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
According to the aggrieved legislator, the timing of the decision by the party’s hierarchy is ‘wrong’.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on Tuesday, the audibly displeased lawmaker explained that as far as he and other colleague NDC MPs are concerned, the current crop of parliamentary leadership have been diligent in their duties.
He, therefore, questioned the rationale for the change and criticised the party’s leadership for failing to consult the entire Minority Caucus before effecting the change.
“The timing is completely wrong. What is the basis of changing our parliamentary leadership?”, Murtala Mohammed decried.
“They are only taking away the most experienced leaders and bringing the less experienced ones. Nobody told them we are dissatisfied with the leadership.
“Who told them we are unhappy with their performance?”, the disgruntled lawmaker quizzed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has defended the party’s decision to change its parliamentary leadership.
On Tuesday morning, the NDC issued a statement announcing key changes to its parliamentary leadership.
According to the party, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has taken over from Haruna Iddrisu as the new Minority Leader.
Ellembelle MP, Kofi Armah Boah will replace James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.
In a statement signed by NDC General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, Kwame Agbodza becomes the Chief Whip for the opposition side and will be deputised by Banda MP, Ahmed Ibrahim and Ada legislator, Comfort Doyo Ghansah respectively.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews’ Blessed Sogah after the change, Asiedu Nketiah however explained that the move is part of the party’s ‘reorganisation’ for the 2024 general election.
According to him, there have been a series of changes across all levels of the party towards the 2024 polls.
From branch elections, constituency elections, regional elections and national elections, Asiedu Nketiah said, it is now time to introduce new faces to the party’s frontline in Parliament, hence the change.
In his view, the timing is right.
“We started at the branch level. We’ve since done elections in about 40,000 branches and then from there, we proceeded to the constituency level.
“We’re done largely with all the constituencies and then we’ve done regional elections and we just completed the national elections.
“So the next in line is to take a look at our leadership in Parliament and that is what we’ve just done so in terms of timing, it is line with the way we are prosecuting the national reorganisation”, he clarified.
In his defense, he added that going into the 2024 polls, issues about the economy will become very topical and therefore the need for someone who has mastery in that regard.
This is he said is the basis for selecting Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to be the party’s new minority leader.
He added that issues surrounding energy will become critical ahead of the next elections, and therefore the party’s decision to choose Dr Kofi Armah Buah as the Deputy Minority Leader.
Touching on the Deputy Minority Leader role, he further clarified that the changing of James Klutse Avedzi’s was due to the MP’s decision to exit Parliament.
The Board of Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours has shortlisted three Ministers of State who will be vying for Ghana’s Minister of the Year award for 2021 and 2022.
They are Hon. John Alan Kyerematen, Former Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, Former Minister of Food and Agriculture and Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy.
The three will be vying for the coveted and enviable crown as Ghana’s Best Minister of the years 2021 and 2022.
This is the 3rd edition of award which is put together by Ghana’s biggest event organising company, Big Events Ghana.
The event in its third edition will be held in February at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.
The event which will award and celebrate only five of the over hundred and twenty ministers of state is seen as very competitive and honourable.
The Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours celebrate the most competent, most hard-working and most influential minister of state in the Republic of Ghana who has excelled in their mandate as Ghana’s best minister of state.
The event will be aired live on three of Ghana’s top television networks, UTV, TV3 and Adom TV.
