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Tag: Alban Bagbin

  • Bagbin, three NDC health ministers ‘probed’ over ambulance purchase – AG

    Speaker Alban Bagbin and three other former Health Ministers have given statements to prosecutors in the issue relating to the purchase of some ambulances during the John Dramani Mahama administration.

    A January 5, 2022, statement from Deputy Attorney General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, disclosed that investigations into the ambulance gate had started in 2017, the first year of the first term of the Akufo-Addo government.

    She was reacting to a 2021 Christmas Eve press conference by Member of Parliament for the Ejumako Enyan-Essiam, Cassiel Ato Forson, who accused the state of political witchhunt after he was slapped with financial crime charges late last year. 

    “Same (investigations) had been ongoing since 2017 with a number of statements taken from various persons at different points in time, including the Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, former Minister for Health (now Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana), Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Madam Sherry Ayittey and Dr. Alex Segbefia, all former Ministers for Health as well as the first accused,” part of the statement read.

    The Deputy AG stressed that the charges against Ato Forson were because all persons in Ghana are equal before the law. and that the status of a lawmaker is no bar to prosecution for a crime committed.

    “Investigations into the ambulance purchase contract are being finalised by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service for the commencement of criminal proceedings against persons deemed fit for prosecution.”

    The statement also dismissed assertions by Ato Forson that the charges he described as “e-charges” were because of his central role in the NDC’s opposition to the controversial E-levy contained in the 2022 budget.

    “Further statements were taken from various persons. At that stage, no issue relating to the 2022 Budget and Economic Policy of the Government had come up,” the statement added.

    “All persons in Ghana are equal before the law. The status of a Member of Parliament is no bar to prosecution for a crime committed,” it added.

    Speaker Alban Bagbin was the Minister for Health in John Evans Atta Mills government from January 2012 until February 2013. 

    Hanny Sherry Ayittey took over the portfolio from February 2013 to June 2014.

    Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah was appointed by President John Mahama to serve as the Minister of Health in June 2014 to replace Sherry Ayittey.

    Alex Segbefia took over from May 2015 till January 2017 when the NDC left power with the coming into office of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.

    Charges brought against Ato Forson and two others – Additional file from 3news.com

    Cassiel Ato Forson, who is also the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament together with two others, were dragged to the High Court on five counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state.

    According to the facts of the case, Dr Ato Forson, when he was a Deputy Finance Minister under the Mahama administration, executed a contract by the government of Ghana to purchase some 200 ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.

    Despite the granting of a medium-term loan facility of €15.8 million for the 200 ambulances, only 10 were shipped to Ghana in 2014.

    “A post-delivery inspection of the first batch of 10 ambulances revealed that same were without any medical equipment in them.

    “Other fundamental defects included defects on the body of the vehicles and the patient compartment of the ambulances,” the writ noted.

    The two other accused are Sylvester Anemana, who was a Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, and Richard Jakpa, the Ghana representative of Dubai-based Big Sea General Trading Limited.

    While Sylvester Anemana has been charged for abetment of crime namely wilfully causing financial loss to the state contrary to Sections 20(1) and 179A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 and breaching the Public Procurement Act, Richard Jakpa is on a charge of wilfully causing financial loss to the state “by intentionally causing vehicles purporting to be ambulances to be supplied to the Republic of Ghana by Big Sea General Trading Ltd of Dubai without due cause”.

    Mr Ato Forson, who is the first accused, has additionally been charged for intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977.

    He is said to have misapplied €2.37 million by causing irrevocable Letters of Credit to be established against the budget of the Ministry of Health in favour of the Dubai-based firm.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 2015 Hansard shows how Speaker Doe Adjaho affirmed quorum on voting

    The issue of quorum has been a sticking point in Parliament in the last few days. It was raised strongly in the November 26 process that rejected the 2022 Budget and returned to the floor four days later on November 30 when the rejection was overturned and the budget passed.

    Last Friday, the Majority contended that the quorum required for a decision to be taken as half of all MPs present and that the Minority with 137 members did not meet that threshold.

    Yesterday, it was the Minority contending that the decision by the MP for Bekwai, who was sitting as the Speaker to count himself as the 138th Member allowing the House to reach a quorum to take a decision was illegal.

    A 2015 Hansard of Parliament as presented by Damongo MP and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, shows that history had once presented the House with a similar situation.

    Whilst appearing on the November 30, 2021, edition of the Good Evening Ghana programme on Metro TV, he read how Speaker at the time Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho had stressed the need to always read Standing Orders of Parliament but ensure that it aligned with the Constitutional provision.

    Speaker Adjaho was speaking on the floor of the house on an earlier ruling by his first deputy at the time Ebo Barton Oduro. The issue at hand also involved a submission by then-Majority Leader and current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

    The Hansard read as follows: “Later that day the Speaker, Rt. Hon Edward Kobby Doe Adjaho again ruled on the matter as follows: Hon members, you are aware that this house is not supreme, we are subject to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

    “The rule is that, where the Constitution has made provision for the regulation of the proceedings of the House, they take precedence over any other rule, indeed the Standing Orders of this House.

    “There is a quorum to do business and that is one-third of the House and there is a quorum to take a decision. So, we need to draw a distinction between the quorum to do business and the quorum to take a decision.

    “The Quorum take a decision is regulated by Art 104 (1), the fundamental question is that, at the time that the vote was taken, did we have at least half of the Hon Members present? It is a Constitutional issue which has been captured in the Standing Orders Order 109 (1).”

    He continued by stating that from the result of a headcount that had been conducted earlier in the house, there were 67 MPs and 66 on either side of the House, meaning the total number came up to 133, short of the minimum 138.

    “Therefore there is a serious constitutional issue there, so at the time that the votes were taken, this house lacks the legal in fact the Constitutional capacity to take a decision. So I entirely endorse the position taken by the first deputy speaker that we do not have the number constitutionally speaking to take a decision. Therefore, no decision has been taken,” he concluded.

    Budget rejection, recission and approval in space of five days

    Speaker Alban Bagbin on Friday, November 26, 2021, supervised a vote that rejected the 2022 Budget and Economic Policy statement after the majority side had staged a boycott of proceedings just before a prayer for adjournment by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for further consultations on the budget.

    The prayer was rejected by the Minority en bloc before they also voted against the approval of the budget when a question was put before the house.

    However, the house having reconvened on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, voted to overturn the budget rejection of Friday, and subsequently held another vote to approve the budget albeit in the absence of the minority who stayed out of the chamber.

    Presiding over proceedings of the house on Tuesday, the Second Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu sitting in for the speaker after ordering for a count of the number of MPs in the house, albeit only majority MPs, announced that there were 138 members present including himself.

    He further stated that the number satisfies the constitutional requirement for the house to pass a vote and thus called for a new vote to overturn the decision on Friday as moved by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

    With the absence of the minority side, the all-majority MPs present voted to overturn the rejection of the 2022 budget statement.

    The house further conducted a vote to pass the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy with the speaker announcing the budget presented to the house by the minister for finance on September 17, 2021, as having been adopted by the house.

    Meanwhile, the minority side in a press conference has described the approval of the budget as contravening the dictates of the law and procedures of parliament.

    At the press conference addressed by the Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, he stated that the second deputy speaker who was presiding over proceedings cannot be counted as a voting MP and thus the number in the chamber did not satisfy the constitutional requirement to reach a decision.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bagbin breaks silence, pokes holes into majority claims on 2022 budget rejection

    The Speaker of Parliament has, for the first time spoken after the rejection of the 2022 budget in parliament.

    In a Facebook post, the Speaker of Parliament said the 2022 budget was lawfully rejected, therefore, the statement by the majority that it was unconstitutional should be disregarded.

    He added that at the time the budget was rejected, over 138 Members of Parliament were present.

    “Please let it be known that there were more than 137 MPs on the floor when I put the question for the approval or rejection of the Economic Policy and Financial Statement of the government for the 2022 financial year often referred to as the Budget for 2022,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

    Below is post

    Background:

    On Friday, November 26, 2021, all 137 Minority Members of Parliament voted against the motion when the question was put forward by Speaker Alban Bagbin.

    The Majority had earlier walked out of the house after a disagreement with the Speaker on the presence of the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

    The House first voted to dismiss a motion by the Finance Minister seeking to engage the leadership of both parties before voting on the Budget.

    Reacting to this development in parliament, the Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu stated what they say is the unconstitutionality associated with a vote purportedly rejecting the 2022 Budget as presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on November 17, 2021.

    In a statement issued late Friday, November 26, 2021, after the 137 Minority MPs voted to reject the Budget, the Majority cited among other reasons the need for at least 138 MPs in the house for the vote to be valid.

    Whiles accusing Speaker Alban Bagbin of acting on his boast to obstruct government business, the statement added that failure to grant the Finance Minister audience with a request to delay the approval vote was a sign of a predetermined motive to frustrate government business.

    The Speaker has however responded to these allegations and has set the records straight.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

    The Speaker has however responded to these allegations and has set the records straight.

  • Bagbin charges MPs to take oversight role seriously

    The Speaker of Parliament has challenged Members of Parliament to take their oversight responsibility role very seriously and scrutinize 2022 thoroughly.

    According to him, financial oversight and control over the public purse granted by law are very important roles of Parliament.

    “The Constitutional imperatives of Parliamentary oversight and power of the purse are part of a long-established principle of separation of powers and its related principle of checks and balances”.

    Speaking at a Post Budget Workshop on the 2022 Economic Policy of the Government at Ho, in the Volta Region, Speaker Alban Bagbin stressed that, “these are important mechanisms that enhance good governance, transparency and accountability of the government between general elections”.

    “There has been growing importance of the oversight function of Parliament in contemporary governance across the world and this cannot be down-played.”

    The Constitution 1992 and the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, (PFM Act), requires that Parliament provide oversight for budget and finance, government expenditure, performance reporting, post-legislative scrutiny and the impact of financial policy measures on the economy.

    The Speaker charged the MPs to consider the session as an opportunity to ask all the needed questions about the medium-term program and more particularly the 2022 Budget.

    “It further provides us with an opportunity to engage with stakeholders from the various sectors of the economy and seek expert guidance on the salient issues in the budget. This will give us a clear direction as to how to go about fulfilling our mandate and oversight responsibility as legislators”.

    The two-day Training Workshop under the theme: Building a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Nation: Fiscal Consolidation and job creations expected to equip the MPs with requisite knowledge to do quality debates on the floor of Parliament when the debate begins on Tuesday.

    Some of the topics being discussed are; Policy underpinnings of the 2022 Budget-General analysis of the Budget. Overview of the 2022 Budget-Macro Economic and Fiscal Management and What to consider in analysing the 2022 Budget Sectoral Budget.

    The Speaker of Parliament has challenged Members of Parliament to take their oversight responsibility role very seriously and scrutinize 2022 thoroughly.

    According to him, financial oversight and control over the public purse granted by law are very important roles of Parliament.

    “The Constitutional imperatives of Parliamentary oversight and power of the purse are part of a long-established principle of separation of powers and its related principle of checks and balances”.

    Speaking at a Post Budget Workshop on the 2022 Economic Policy of the Government at Ho, in the Volta Region, Speaker Alban Bagbin stressed that, “these are important mechanisms that enhance good governance, transparency and accountability of the government between general elections”.

    “There has been growing importance of the oversight function of Parliament in contemporary governance across the world and this cannot be down-played.”

    The Constitution 1992 and the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, (PFM Act), requires that Parliament provide oversight for budget and finance, government expenditure, performance reporting, post-legislative scrutiny and the impact of financial policy measures on the economy.

    The Speaker charged the MPs to consider the session as an opportunity to ask all the needed questions about the medium-term program and more particularly the 2022 Budget.

    “It further provides us with an opportunity to engage with stakeholders from the various sectors of the economy and seek expert guidance on the salient issues in the budget. This will give us a clear direction as to how to go about fulfilling our mandate and oversight responsibility as legislators”.

    The two-day Training Workshop under the theme: Building a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Nation: Fiscal Consolidation and job creations expected to equip the MPs with requisite knowledge to do quality debates on the floor of Parliament when the debate begins on Tuesday.

    Some of the topics being discussed are; Policy underpinnings of the 2022 Budget-General analysis of the Budget. Overview of the 2022 Budget-Macro Economic and Fiscal Management and What to consider in analysing the 2022 Budget Sectoral Budget.

    The rest are: Employment generation and public sector wages-the 2022 budget, decentralization of 2022 budget and composite budgeting, Scaling up infrastructure- the 2022 budget (roads, energy, ICT) and the health sector, COVID and post COVID economic management- the 2022 budget.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Im number 2 most powerful man in Ghana, not Bawumia Bagbin cites SC Justice

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has disclosed that a Justice of the Supreme Court has explained why he is the second most powerful person in Ghana only behind the President of the Republic.

    According to him, the unnamed Justice explained to a gathering that included Members of Parliament that to the extent that the governance structure comprised the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in that order, their respective leaders must be ranked the same.

    “When you start from His Excellency the President, you have to go to the Vice before you come to the Speaker and then you go to the Chief Justice,” he said of the known hierarchy.

    Then continued: “But we have three arms of government… my colleagues in the Supreme Court told me that actually, you are not number three, you are number two. All those who were present at that meeting were convinced when the Supreme Court judge made the submission and justified it.

    “It is not me saying it. I have said I am number three but they said I am number two. The three arms of government the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are equal arms of government, and must be treated as such.

    He reiterated a point about how underresourced Parliament and the Judiciary have been under the Fourth Republic, calling for greater engagement to ensure that their allocations are upped.

    “I will insist and I expect to get the support of members, it is not this government right from 1993, Parliament, the Judiciary have never gotten 1% of the total revenue of the country, not even 1%.

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has disclosed that a Justice of the Supreme Court has explained why he is the second most powerful person in Ghana only behind the President of the Republic.

    According to him, the unnamed Justice explained to a gathering that included Members of Parliament that to the extent that the governance structure comprised the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in that order, their respective leaders must be ranked the same.

    “When you start from His Excellency the President, you have to go to the Vice before you come to the Speaker and then you go to the Chief Justice,” he said of the known hierarchy.

    Then continued: “But we have three arms of government… my colleagues in the Supreme Court told me that actually, you are not number three, you are number two. All those who were present at that meeting were convinced when the Supreme Court judge made the submission and justified it.

    “It is not me saying it. I have said I am number three but they said I am number two. The three arms of government the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are equal arms of government, and must be treated as such.

    He reiterated a point about how underresourced Parliament and the Judiciary have been under the Fourth Republic, calling for greater engagement to ensure that their allocations are upped.

    “I will insist and I expect to get the support of members, it is not this government right from 1993, Parliament, the Judiciary have never gotten 1% of the total revenue of the country, not even 1%.

    “So I started the discussion from the highest, His Excellency the President and he was shocked when he saw the data, and my colleagues the Majority and Minority leaders are aware of this and we discussed how to transit from below 1% to about 5% within four years,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Sosu is out of the country – Speaker Bagbin tells Police

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is said to have written to the Police administration informing them that Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu is out of the country on Parliamentary business.

    The embattled MP was to show up in court on Monday morning but failed to turn up.

    Police Prosecutor ASP Sylvester Asare informed the Kaneshie District Court that a letter had been received from the Speaker indicating that the MP was out of the jurisdiction.

    The case was consequently adjourned to November 16.

    The human rights lawyer on October 25, led his constituents on a demonstration to get their bad roads fixed.

    Mr Sosu is accused of unlawfully blocking a public highway and causing destruction to public property.

    Since the protest, there have been a lot of back and forth between the MP, Parliament and the Police.

    Although the Police have attempted to arrest the MP, he has resisted arrest, citing articles 117 and 118 of the Constitution.

    Speaker Alban Bagbin had earlier written to the Police Service indicating his inability to release the MP to assist with investigations.

    The Police secured the criminal summons against the MP after unsuccessful attempts to arrest him for his alleged breach of the law.

    Source: Joseph Ackah-Blay / myjoyonline.com

  • Sammy Gyamfi to be dragged to Privileges Committee for insulting Haruna, Bagbin

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Tolon, Habib Idrisu, has filed a motion seeking to haul Sammy Gyamfi, the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) National Communications Director; before the Privileges Committee of the lawmaking chamber.

    The move is in conection with comments made by Mr Gyamfi in March 2021 calling out the Minority Leader and Speaker of Parliament for their roles in approving some ministerial nominees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The Tolon MP in filing his motion cited order 38 of the chamber’s standing orders and said: “the following act or conduct shall constitute a breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament.”

    He said the attack specifically on the Speaker was by extension an attack on the entire house which he leads.

    Sammy Gyamfi in a Facebook post claimed that Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and Speaker Alban Bagbin had defied the party’s official position to oppose the approval of three nominees but that they had opted otherwise for personal interest.

    “They brazenly defied the leadership of the party and betrayed the collective good for their selfish interest,” his post read in part.

    The nominees in question were: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson and Owusu Afriyie Akoto; ministers-designate for Information; Fisheries and Aquaculture and Food and Agriculture respectively.

    This is the second time that an NPP lawmaker has pushed for Gyamfi to be summoned before the Privileges Committe.

    Months back, Tafo Pankorono MP, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, also pushed unsuccessfully for a similar action to be taken.

    The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who was presiding over the sitting subsequently deferred action on the motion.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • A law to be passed to stop activities of LGBTQ+ – Bagbin

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has disclosed that a law will soon be passed to prevent the activities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) activities in the country.

    This was in response to a petition made by a political activist to parliament to amend the laws of the country to deal with the issue of LGBTQI+.

    The Speaker of Parliament who shared in the same view said the growing phenomenon should not be encouraged, neither should it be accepted by society.

    He said, “I appreciate very much your concerns about activities of the LGBTQI+ groups in the country. It is indeed a phenomenon that should not be encouraged or accepted by our society due to its eventual negative impact on society.

    “Urgent actions are being taken to pass a law to eventually nip the activities of these groups in the bud,” he added.

    The Ghana Report in a news report said this information was contained in a letter dated June 15 by Alban Bagbin.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • You don’t have absolute immunity from prosecution Speaker tells MPs

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has told Members of Parliament(MP) that their immunity stated in Articles 117 and 118 of the Constitution is not absolute.

    According to the Speaker, the Constitution allows the courts to serve court processes on MPs who fail to observe their duties in the House.

    Addressing MPs on Wednesday, Alban Bagbin said some MPs evade attempts by court officials to serve processes on them during recess.

    This development, he described as unfortunate as he called for mutual respect between the legislature and the judiciary.

    Mr Bagbin also lamented on court processes served on some MPs when the House is in sessions without recourse to the Speaker.

    He went on to lay out an 11-point guideline on how parliamentarians can be brought before courts.

    As of now, MPs cannot be served with processes when parliament is in session without recourse to the Speaker.

    Parliamentarians cannot be served with court processes whilst within the boundaries of House without recourse to the Speaker.

    But they can be served when Parliament is on recess but not within the boundaries of Parliament.

    MPs are to direct service of court processes to the Speaker if they are to be served when the House is on recess.

    Where a member accepts service of processes and has entered appearance, the member is said to have become a party and will thus not be covered by immunities provided under the constitution.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Denmark envoy calls on Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin

    The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S. K Bagbin will address a ceremony to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Ghana and Denmark.

    The high-level virtual event, scheduled for June 16, would also be used to celebrate this year’s Constitution Day of Denmark.

    The Speaker, aside his presentation, would explore new ways of strengthening inclusiveness in governance with a special focus on improving political party structures.

    The Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Tom Norring extended the invitation when he paid a courtesy call on Speaker Bagbin in parliament.

    The Ambassador was in Parliament to officially invite the Speaker to participate in Demark’s 60th anniversary in Ghana and to solidify the long-lasting bilateral relation between the two countries.

    He commended Ghana for the important milestone it had attained following three decades of stability through multi-party democracy and good governance.

    He said a lot of progress had been made in the last 30 years, making Ghana an undisputed beacon of democracy in West Africa and the entire continent.

    The Speaker emphasized the need for the two countries to initiate periodic dialogues to exchange ideas of mutual benefits.

    “Denmark as we know has a high human resource development index with Sweden, Norway and Finland because they run social-democratic systems which focus on fairness, justice and equity due to their experience with the Kings and monarchy which they demolished long ago; and it is one of the countries Ghana can learn a lot from when it comes to multiparty democracy”, he said.

    Mr Bagbin also urged the Danish envoy to pay special attention to the strengthening of the Ghana-Denmark Parliamentary Friendship Association geared at fostering MP MP relationship between the two countries.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We need reforms in our legal framework to protect journalists – Alban Bagbin

    The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Alban Bagbin, has called for reforms in the existing legal framework to protect journalists and uphold the freedom and independence of the media as enshrined in the constitution.

    He said his office and the legislature will remain committed to the promotion of free speech as a guarantee means of advancing the democratic credentials chalked under the Fourth Republic.

    The Speaker made the the call when the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana Kati Csaba called on him at his office in Parliament.

    He noted that the media played a critical role in all sectors of the country, serving as the mirror of society.

    He said the role of the media was even more promising for a country like Ghana that thrives on democracy.

    “There is the need to support the media some more because the media is so important and so valuable that any country that embarks on democratic development, exposes itself to great danger if it doesn’t empower the media to be able to operate freely without hindrances,” he said.

    The Speaker also highlighted how he had in the past played a lead role in encouraging the freedom and independence of the media.

    The two further held discussions on promoting parliamentary diplomacy, cooperation in the areas of education, health and trade investments between the two countries.

    The Canadian High Commissioner Csaba commended the Speaker for being an advocate for media freedom, women empowerment and social inclusion.

    Source: Office of the Speaker of Parliament

  • Bagbin will make Parliament accountable, responsive and transparent institution Haruna Iddrisu

    Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has reiterated his confidence in Speaker Alban Bagbin to make the legislative arm of government accountable, responsive and transparent.

    According to him, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is a man who is impartial and will execute his duties neutrally.

    “We have the 7th Speaker of the 8th Parliament, not just the ordinary but the most experienced among our group, the most qualified among our group…we trust that he will be fair and firm as Speaker of Ghana and not just [to] any political group in Ghana.

    “I can only today remind Mr Speaker of his oath that I will do right to all manner of persons without […] affection or ill will. A [huge] obligation he himself accepted before Parliament when he pledged that he will be neutral and impartial,” Haruna Iddrisu said at a thanksgiving event held in honour of Alban Bagbin in the Waala Traditional Area of the Upper West Region.

    Alban Bagbin has recently been accused by Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu of turning parliament into an enclave of the opposition NDC.

    But Haruna Iddrisu insists: “I have faith in Speaker Alban Sumana Bagbin and I have faith that he would lead the reforms that this country needs particularly for Parliament to make Parliament a more responsive, accountable and transparent institution that contributes to improving the well-being and quality of the Ghanaian.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Alban Bagbin, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu clash again over Asiedu Nketia’s appointment

    Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, have again clashed, this time, over the appointment of Johnson Asiedu Nketia onto the Parliamentary Service Board.

    Asiedu Nketia was on Monday, March 29 confirmed as part of the six-member board which is chaired by the Speaker of Parliament.

    A special advisory committee report on the appointment had suggested that the appointment of Asiedu Nketia would amount to an intrusion of parliament.

    “It is considered by some members of the committee that the membership of Mr Asiedu Nketia amounts to an undesired intrusion into the governance of Parliament by a political party and may not in the circumstances bode well for the independence of Parliament since he is the General-Secretary of a major opposition political party.

    “Notwithstanding, Mr Speaker is the person clothed with the authority to appoint the other four persons, who together with the Clerk-to-Parliament constitute the Parliamentary Service Board. It is also our considered opinion that Mr Speaker will do what is appropriate,” the letter as quoted by the Daily Graphic reads.

    But Bagbin who expressed heartfelt appreciation to the committee allayed fears that the appointment of Asiedu Nketia is tantamount to the intrusion of Parliament.

    “But I want to note that the former Parliamentary Service Board had Honourable Hackman Owusu-Agyeman as a member of the board and Hackman Owusu Agyeman later became the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    “That one was not [an] intrusion into the governance of Parliament by a political party. What is good for the gander is also good for the goose. Honourable members the board will be constituted and we will start our work,” he said.

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, however, dissented to the views of Alban Bagbin.

    Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that he disagreed with Alban Bagbin but will not challenge his ruling.

    “The reason is if I should challenge every ruling, and maybe there is a debate on it and Mr Speaker’s ruling is brought down, I have succeeded in doing it, inflicting a mortal wound on the chair and that will bring the repute of this House down.

    “I will never do that because it is for us to protect the Speakership and I will ever do that. So, I refuse any bait to challenge the ruling of the Speaker,” he said.

    Members of the Board

    Aside Bagbin and Asiedu Nketia, the other four members of the board are the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, who is a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament and former Majority Leader and Cyril Nsiah, the Clerk of Parliament.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Constitute Parliamentary Service Board by Friday Bagbin orders Committee

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on Monday, March 22, 2021, directed a parliamentary committee set up to advise him on the appointment of members of the Parliamentary Service Board to do so without further delay.

    He gave the committee up to next Friday, March 26, 2021, to do so, threatening to advise himself to forestall any further frustration.

    The Parliamentary Service is governed by the Parliamentary Service Board, which is composed of the Speaker, as chairman; four other members appointed by the Speaker, acting in accordance with the advice of a Committee of Parliament; and the Clerk of Parliament.

    The Board has the responsibility of promoting the welfare of Members of Parliament and Staff of the Service.

    It also has general control of the management of the Service in matters of policy.

    The Speaker has ultimate responsibility for the Service.

    With the prior approval of Parliament, the Board makes regulations prescribing the terms and conditions of service of officers and other employees for the effective and efficient administration of the Service.

    At the beginning of proceedings of the House, on Monday, in Accra, Deputy Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda Constituency, Ahmed Ibrahim raised the matter on the delay on the appointment of the four other members of the board, apart from the Speaker and the Clerk to Parliament.

    The Banda MP wondered why the House, which exercised oversight responsibility over the Executive, could have the moral responsibility to query the Arm of Government, if it had also acted with delay, in appointing the board.

    He said the non-appointment of the board created a constitutional breach.

    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Majority Chief Whip, agreed with the request but said it was a matter that the House should bring closure to and gave the assurance that the House Leadership would sit and resolve the matter as soon as possible.

    But, Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Ranking Member on the Constitutional, Legal and Constitutional Affairs and MP for Bawku Central, observed that the absence of the board was affecting the work of the House, as new recruits into the Parliamentary Service after going through interview were not able to be signed on without the board which would process their engagement.

    Also, the procurement of goods and services to support the work of Parliament was also the function of the board.

    Mr Ayariga requested the Speaker to tell the house exactly what was frustrating him to appoint the four other members of board, and suggested for appropriate sanctions to apply, or to have the appointment of the committee members revoked.

    The position was supported by Mr Edward Bawa, MP for Bongo Constituency.

    In reaction, the Speaker observed that he was not an MP, and would need the MPs to be able to function effectively.

    Quoting legal provisions, the Speaker said the appointment should be done in accordance with the advice of the committee, and added that despite a number of follow-ups the advice had still not come to him.

    In the absence of the advice, the Speaker said he would not appoint the members, which he said could attract legal suits from the members.

    “Your committee has so far failed and refused to advise the Speaker,” Speaker Bagbin said, and advised the House to put pressure on the committee to name the board members.

    He gave March 26, 2021, deadline for the advice to reach him.

    He underscored the essence of the board and said failure to submit the advice by the deadline would be interpreted as an attempt to obstruct the Speaker from performing his duty.

    Mr. Bagbin said he would be compelled to appoint the members of the board, and dared any member who would not agree to that to go to court.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Parliament lacks ability to independently examine budgetary information Bagbin

    Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has said that Parliament lacks the ability to independently examine budgetary information in such a short time frame available to the house for approval of the budget.

    He explained that the problem is a result of several constitutional, legal and institutional weaknesses.

    Speaking at a forum for the lawmakers in Ho over the weekend to discuss the 2021 budget statement, Mr Bagbin explained that best practice recommends that a minimum of three to four months is required for the approval of a budget by the legislature but in the case of Ghana, it is not like that.

    “Parliament as presently constituted lacks the ability to independently analyses budgetary information in such short time frame available to the house.

    “It is not because members of have no such capacity but that parliament is constrained by several constitutional, legal and institutional weaknesses.

    “International best practice recommends that a minimum of three to four moths is required for the approval of a budget by the legislature and that approval is to be based on meaningful analysis and scrutiny,” he said.

    Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that the Akufo-Addo-led administration will ensure that the local economy becomes stringer and better after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

    He said the pandemic has created sever problems for the economy but with the right polices and flagship programmes introduced by the government these difficulties will be dealt with.

    Speaking at a forum he said “Our collective efforts to wither the impact of the Covid pandemic has largely been successful and we are ready to soldier on to build back stronger and better.

    “In this regard we will continue our investments in our major flagships, invest in the real sector to drive growth , accelerate the industrialisation and transformation of our economy.”

    For his part, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said the budget statement for the 2021 fiscal year has no provision for the Ghanaian workers, Rather, he noted, the budget is intending to make life difficult for workers following the introduction of the new taxes.

    He said at the same forum that “Two important taxes are for my attention. One, sanitation and pollution tax. But Mr Speaker, we have a duty as a parliament to work with the executive for the economy of Ghana to recover. That should be the challenge as we speak today.

    “What do we do post Covid Ghana in order that we can generate economic and investment opportunities that will spur growth for the Ghanaian enterprise and provide opportunities to address the growing unemployment in our country.”

    The Tamale South MP added “The workers of Ghana do not know what they fate is in this 2021 budget because minimum wage and public sector wages have not been determined and conclusively negotiated and determined.

    “So whatever numbers you have for compensation budget is likely to grow and is likely to erode any gains that may be made.”

    The government is proposing in the 2021 budget statement the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19.

    “To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” the budget statement presented by the leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said among other things on Friday March 12.

    It added that “to leverage other resources to fight the pandemic, Government passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act, (2020), Act 1013 in April, 2020 to establish the Fund. As at 31st December, 2020, the Fund had mobilised GH¢ 57,134,093.58 of which GH¢45,218,313.23 had been utilized.

    “These resources complemented Government efforts in providing PPEs and medical supplies to COVID-19 selected institutions, distribution of food items to the aged, vulnerable, and needy persons; providing vehicles to selected Treatment Centres, National Public Health & Reference Laboratories, Testing Centres, and the COVID-19 Central Care Management Team. It also supported the construction of the National Infectious Disease Centre.”

    Source: 3 News

  • SoNA: Akufo-Addo showed great maturity in his comment on Bagbin Koku Anyidoho

    Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has sent a word of caution to the newly appointed ministers.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sworn in the first batch of 28 ministers of his second term last Friday.

    The President urged them to deliver on their mandate because “that is why we are here and that is why the Ghanaian people voted for us”.

    The ministers included the National Security Minister, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah; Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen; Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul; Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Justice and Attorney General, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Daniel Botwe, Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu; Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Owusu Ekuful; Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh; Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu; Works and Housing, Mr Francis Kwame Asenso-Boakye; Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor; Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta; Transport; Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson.

    The rest are the Ministers of Railway Development, Mr John-Peter Amewu; Sanitation and Water Resources; Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah; Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo; The rest are the Ministers of Railway Development, Mr John-Peter Amewu; Sanitation and Water Resources; Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah; Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha Ussif, Public Enterprises, Mr Joseph Cudjoe, and works and Housing (Minister of State), Ms Freda Prempeh.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme, Kwesi Pratt Jnr cautioned the Ministers not to lord themselves over the people they are to serve and misbehave in their various offices.

    He reminded them of their service to Ghanaians and requested that they think themselves not wiser than Ghanaians.

    Mr. Pratt advised the Ministers to put the interest of Ghana first and execute their duties effectively.

    “Don’t think because we have made you ministers, you’ve become tarzan today. Nobody is tarzan. They shouldn’t think they are wiser than all Ghanaians, for there are many intelligent Ghanaians who are not Ministers and some who won’t even accept ministerial appointment. So, they should work hard to bring about development; they must do a good work to leave a good legacy,” he stated.

    Source: 3 News

  • Sammy Gyamfis attack on Bagbin unwarranted Ayariga

    The NDC Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has described as unwarranted the attack on the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin by the Communications officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi.

    Gyamfi accused the Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of the NDC caucus in the House of betraying the party after the House voted to approve all the vetted nominees for ministerial positions Wednesday night.

    The party had directed its members to vote against some of the nominees especially those with security portfolios.

    “Comrades, the betrayal we have suffered in the hands of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the leadership of our Parliamentary group, particularly Hon. Haruna Iddrissu and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, and dozens of our own MPs, is what strengthens me to work hard for the great NDC to regain power.

    “They brazenly defied the leadership of the party and betrayed the collective good for their selfish interest. And we, must not let them succeed in their parochial quest to destroy the NDC, the party that has done so much for them and all of us. The shame they have brought on the party will forever hang like an albatross around their necks,” Mr. Gyamfi wrote in a statement Thursday.

    But speaking on GHone TV Friday morning, the former Minister of Information and Media Relations said even though Sammy Gyamfi could have had legitimate grounds for criticising the leadership of the party, he had no basis to attack the Speaker.

    “To move from criticisms to questioning the integrity of the Speaker is overstepping the boundaries. You need to show exactly what Bagbin did to become the subject of an attack,” Ayariga said.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Speaker Bagbin asked to push review of MPs ex-gratia

    Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament has been urged to push the review and subsequent suspension of payment of ex-gratia to Members of Parliament(MPs) to save the national purse.

    According to Mr Yaw Dabie Appiah, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the present economic state of the nation amidst surging spread of the Corona Virus Disease required immediate suspension or scrapping of the huge emoluments paid to the MPs.

    Because they are part of Article 71 officeholders whose salaries and emoluments are determined by committees set up by the President, Ms are awarded huge lump sum as ex-gratia after every general election every four years.

    But, speaking in an interview at Odumase in the Sunyani West Municipality, Mr Appiah, a former organiser of the NPP indicated governments around the world were spending hugely to manage and contain the COVID-19 and Ghana could not over-relied on them for assistance to flatten her COVID-19 curve.

    “It’s urgent the nation considers realistic approach and generate more funds locally to tackle the COVID-19 proactively and to make Ghana safe for her people. I strongly believe it is among this and other factors that President Nana Akufo-Addo has reduce his ministerial portfolio to save the national coffers”, he said.

    “You believe with me we are not in normal times and so everybody must sacrifice towards the nationwide fight against this COVID-19 which has potential to devastate and drain the national economy. If we don’t take radical measures the nation will go into huge economic crisis which would be extremely difficult to repair”, Mr Appiah added.

    The former NPP organiser stressed the COVID-19 had had huge impact on the nation and thereby worsened the socio-economic conditions of many Ghanaians who were currently living in abject poverty, saying it would be unfair and unreasonable for the nation to continue to pay the MPs ex-gratia while their constituents suffered economic hardships.

    “I am.not painting the picture that the MPs and other Article 71 office holders don’t deserve the ex-gratia, but my brother you will agree with me that President Akufo-Addo is struggling and spending too much to contain this COVID-19 and a the same time to meet the development needs of the people. I think the MPs must sacrifice if they are truly representing the interest of their constituents in parliament. Other than that I will not feel their nationalistic ideals and lobe for nation”, Mr Appiah stated.

    “But it’s also disheartening the ordinary Ghanaian struggles on the street just to afford three square meal while the MPs who must represent their interest go home every four years with this whopping sum of money. This is unfair and Speaker Bagbin and the house must do something about that”, Mr Appiah added.

    Source: Dennis Peprah, Contributor

  • Conduct of MPs despicable and will not happen again under my watch – Bagbin

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has described as a “despicable conduct unbecoming of MPs” the events of the morning of January 7, 2021, when the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic held its first sitting.

    Without mincing words, he took a strong exception to the conduct of the members and called on the leadership to take the necessary steps at restoring the dented image of the House, assuring that no such behavior will happen again, at least not on his watch.

    “I would be remiss if I did not declare my deepest regret as a former member of this Parliament and as a citizen of this nation at the rather unruly behavior and commotion that took place on the floor of this House last Thursday including armed soldiers on the floor and the breaches of the sanctity of the vote that would otherwise attract severe punishment.

    “It was, to put it mildly, despicable conduct, unbecoming of people of honor. What makes it worse is the total absence of justification or reasonable excuse. As Speaker, I would want to believe that the spectacle of that day, will not be repeated, at least not under my watch,” he said.

    The Speaker was addressing the second sitting of the House where he outlined the duties of both MPs and his role as leader of the House.

    “The people of Ghana would like us to prioritize the needs and the concerns of the country and of all Ghanaians against our parochial interests or the narrow interests of one or the other parties. The people of Ghana are growing tired of politics as usual of seeing their elected representatives treat their political interests as though those were bigger than our common citizenship,” he said.

    Speaker Bagbin also finally brought settlement to the subject of which side or not will be majority and minority respectively.

    The NPP caucus, in his declaration, becomes the Majority Caucus in Parliament while the NDC side remains as Minority in Parliament following that he had accepted the letter from Andrew Asiamah Amoako, independent MP for Fomena, indicating his decision to do business with the NPP, being the determinant of his decision.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Mahama, NDC hold victory party to celebrate Bagbin as Speaker of Parliament

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has held a party to celebrate its victory in the just ended Speaker of parliament election won by parliamentary veteran Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of the NDC.

    The party, which was strictly by invitation was attended by parliamentarians from the NDC and top party officials including John Dramani Mahama, campaign Manager Joshua Alabi and other national and regional executives of the party in Accra.

    According to MyNewsGh.com sources, the party announced that it is the majority in parliament and proceeded to celebrate, while commending the leadership of the party in parliament who fought to give NDC the top leadership of parliament.

    In a closely contested secret ballot in Parliament on Thursday for the position of Speaker of Parliament, Former MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Sumana Bagbin of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was elected Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

    Polling 138 votes, Alban Bagbin won against his predecessor Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye who had 136 votes. One legislator failed to vote.

    Bagbin himself was not at the party, but was represented, MyNewsGh.com was told.

    Source: My News GH

  • Bagbin didnt win elections, leadership conferred it on him Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

    Majority Leader of the 7th Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has brought to bear happenings that culminated in the former MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Bagbin, becoming the Speaker of the 8th Parliament.

    Reports are rife that the candidate of the National Democratic Congress caucus beat his contender, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye with 138 votes resulting in him getting sworn in as the Speaker of Parliament from 2021 2025.

    But outlining the details on the night of the dissolution of the 7th Parliament in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, the MP for Suame indicated that during the voting exercise to determine who was to be the leader of the House of Legislature, contrary to the reports, both candidates garnered 136 votes.

    He further explained that two of the votes were unaccounted for, while one got rejected because both candidates had been tainted.

    He noted that after the brouhaha surrounding the ballot sheets involving Member of Parliament for Tema West, Carlos Ahenkorah, he suggested to the leadership for a rerun of the polls to be carried out since it appeared two of the ballots could not be accounted for after they had been retrieved.

    That suggestion was, however, shot down by the leadership on the other side of the divide since the House had spent over 8 hours and were short of time before the inauguration of the President-elect later in the day.

    He indicated that after three failed attempts to decide on whether there should be a rerun or not the police were invited into the chamber to protect the ballots.

    After several deliberations and taking into consideration the actions that marred the exercise, the leadership decided to compromise for the office of the Speaker of Parliament to be conferred on the candidate of the NDC, Alban Sumana Bagbin.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Election of Speaker and Deputies is a plus for Ghana’s democracy – Franklin Cudjoe

    Franklin Cudjoe, the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Africa, has described the election of the Speaker of Parliament and his two deputies as a plus for Ghana’s democracy.

    Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), was on Thursday, elected the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

    Whilst Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Andrew Asiamah Amoako, an Independent Member of Parliament for Fomena were elected First and Second Deputy Speakers respectively.

    Mr Cudjoe in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said the election of the three men would go a long way to help address the issue of winner takes all in the body politics of the nation; stating that “somehow, this has been cured”.

    “The election of these three persons have managed to put our democracy in a better light in terms of the constitutionality of winner-takes-all politics.

    “At least these elections have evenly balanced if you like the whole idea that only the winner must take all. We are grateful for what should have been constitutionally done, but it has been naturally done for us.”

    With regards to Mr Bagbin’s election, Mr Cudjoe said: “I think that basically, the lead up to his nomination and the eventual election is a testament to the rancorous nature of our politics, he knows very well what to do, having been there since the last 28 years or so.

    “And he is the only person who can bring the warring side (for the lack of a better term) together and pursue the agenda for the country.”

    The Chief Executive Officer intimated that just after Mr Bagbin’s election, there was the exhibition of cooperation among MPs; after the pandemonium, which was also an attestation of the need for the MPs to work together.

    “I think it is the truest definition of the President’s call on Parliament to work together and make compromises as well,” Mr Cudjoe stated.

    He said whatever happened, the election of the three men were clearly an attestation of the President’s call in his earlier State of the Nation Address (SONA), that MPs should keep compromising and work together.

    Mr Cudjoe added that it was the most immediate and truest form of the definition of what the President want Ghanaians to articulate.

    Source: GNA