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Tag: Appiah Kubi

  • NPP’s Appiah Kubi applauds Mahama for careful selection of his ministers

    NPP’s Appiah Kubi applauds Mahama for careful selection of his ministers

    Former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has expressed his approval of President John Mahama’s ministerial nominations for key positions such as Finance Minister, Attorney General, and Energy Minister.

    He noted that President Mahama displayed careful thought and diligence in selecting his ministers.

    Speaking on JoyNews’ Upfront on Thursday, January 9, Mr. Appiah-Kubi praised the President for prioritizing merit in his appointments, emphasizing that this is the kind of leadership expected from every president.

    “I’m very happy that the President has been very careful in selecting his ministers so far. And I want to commend him for prioritizing competence, integrity, and knowledge,” he stated.

    Mr. Appiah-Kubi shared these comments after President Mahama nominated Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Finance Minister-designate, John Abdulai Jinapor as Energy Minister-designate, and Dominic Akuritinga Ayine as Attorney General and Minister of Justice-designate.

    The nominees previously served as deputy ministers in the same roles during the NDC’s last administration.

    Mr. Appiah-Kubi praised the nominees as highly competent and expressed confidence in their ability to excel in their respective ministries.

  • Dag Heward-Mills, Anglican bishops, were used by the NPP to bring Alan back – Appiah Kubi recounts

    Dag Heward-Mills, Anglican bishops, were used by the NPP to bring Alan back – Appiah Kubi recounts

    Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has revealed how some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) tried unsuccessfully to persuade Alan Kyerematen to return to the party.

    He revealed that NPP MPs reached out to key figures close to Alan, including the founder of Lighthouse Group of Churches (formerly Lighthouse Chapel International), Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Anglican bishops, and other influential individuals, hoping they could convince him to come back.

    Despite their persistent efforts, Alan, now leader of the Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC), refused to reconsider.

    In an interview with JoyNews, Appiah-Kubi explained that Alan’s departure left many voters in the Ashanti Region dissatisfied, contributing to the NPP’s significant loss in the 2024 general elections.

    “The people of the Ashanti Region are likely to vote for the NDC because they are hurt. Myself and other colleagues took it upon ourselves to go and see Bishop Heward-Mills, Anglican bishops, and other prominent people who were close to Alan in an attempt to bring him back to the party, but our efforts were not successful.

    “It was not that he was indispensable, but it was a necessary effort. Some people in Kumasi always supported Alan, and if they are unhappy with the situation, they will not come out to vote,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Alan exited the NPP after losing in the party’s primaries to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, from where he formed his own political movement.

    In the 2024 Election, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, emerged as the winner, garnering 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55%, while the New Patriotic Party Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, finished second with 4,657,304 votes, representing 41.61%.

    The NPP also lost most of their parliamentary seats, with some of their bigwigs like KT Hammond, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, and Henry Quartey being major victims.

  • I blame our defeat on recalcitrant Akufo-Addo; he doesn’t listen – NPP’s Appiah-Kubi

    I blame our defeat on recalcitrant Akufo-Addo; he doesn’t listen – NPP’s Appiah-Kubi

    Outgoing MP for Asante Akim North in the Ashanti Region, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has blamed the NPP’s poor performance in the December 7, 2024 elections on decisions made by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    The NPP faced a significant defeat, with its presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, conceding before the Electoral Commission officially declared results. John Mahama, the NDC’s candidate, emerged victorious and is set to return as President, with his party also securing a majority in Parliament.

    Speaking on JoyNews’ Upfront, Appiah-Kubi pointed out that the party’s problems worsened when President Akufo-Addo refused to remove former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, despite calls from NPP MPs. He added that the President’s failure to address critical issues within the party hurt Dr. Bawumia’s chances in the election.

    “The blame will go by extension because he [President Akufo-Addo] refused to listen to us. Even when we saw the reality and tried to communicate it to him, he wouldn’t accept anything of the sort,” Appiah-Kubi said.

    He further criticized the President’s approach, describing him as “too recalcitrant,” which he claimed contributed to the party’s defeat.

    “He [Akufo-Addo] didn’t do enough to help Dr Bawumia because if you won’t listen to your own MPs… It was not just one person speaking. We were advocating with the support of more than 96 Members of Parliament,” he added.

    Appiah-Kubi, who also lost his parliamentary seat to an independent candidate, questioned the president’s judgement, suggesting that his refusal to heed the MPs’ collective resolution demonstrated a lack of responsiveness to valid concerns.

    “It’s not as though one person was saying something unwarranted. We had written our resolution, and because we didn’t have other opportunities, we wanted him to hear us. Yet, he refused to listen to any of us. That’s why we can blame him for this outcome,” he added.

  • Asante Akyem’s Appiah Kubi defends new L.I permitting siren usage, limitless speed by MPs

    Asante Akyem’s Appiah Kubi defends new L.I permitting siren usage, limitless speed by MPs

    Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has defended the proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I) that would grant MPs and judges the authority to use sirens and drive without speed limits.

    The amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), recently presented in Parliament, has faced criticism from the public.

    Speaking to the press at Parliament, Appiah-Kubi, a member of the subsidiary legislation committee, justified the amendment by stating it aims to address the urgent needs of MPs in carrying out their duties.

    “We have witnessed situations where some members of parliament, even state ministers and even some judges have been arrested on the road because they are trying to meet their work schedule

    And you go to the police, you go to the Attorney General, and you go to the IGP. He says that I implement the law as given and that I cannot help the situation because the law says that

    “So the remedy is to amend the law to make it lawful for people like that to be able to have special access where necessary,” he said

    He emphasised that these privileges would be used responsibly and argued against the negative portrayal of MPs, labelling it unjust.

    “And indeed, when you are driving on the road in the early hours of the day or late hours of the day, you don’t need any sirens or you don’t need any special access. It is when there is congestion on the road and there is also the need for you to meet deadlines by way of time, that need will arise.

    ““And when it does arise, it is to do your assigned duty for Mother Ghana. So I don’t see why we have to impugn hatred, impugn jealousy, impugn mistrust into the provision. It is omnibus and it covers a lot of institutions, so attempts to single out one particular institution for rebuke is not fair” he fumed.

  • This is unacceptable! – Majority leader to Appiah Kubi over recent comments against NAPO

    This is unacceptable! – Majority leader to Appiah Kubi over recent comments against NAPO

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has stirred controversy among some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region following his criticism of the reported selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate in the upcoming December 7 elections.

    Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Mr. Appiah-Kubi expressed strong reservations about Dr. Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, potentially being chosen as the running mate.

    “I wouldn’t speak for the majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus to state our position. But for me, Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn’t choose him (Napo). He is not my preference,” the Asante Akim North MP said.

    Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin voiced disappointment over Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s remarks, addressing reporters at Parliament House on the same day.

    Afenyo-Markin emphasized the importance of respecting party protocols in selecting running mates and cautioned against publicly disparaging colleagues.

    “We should all respect party rules. You cannot go out of your way to describe your colleague in a manner that is unacceptable,” he charged.

    “We are in this together. There is no perfect person in this world. Let us be measured in the language we use. The flagbearer has the confidence of the party, and I believe he will use the structures of the party in making his decisions,” he stated.

    Mr. Afenyo-Markin further called on the Asante Akim North MP to exercise caution in his language, emphasizing unity within the party and confidence in the leadership’s decision-making process. “The flagbearer has the party’s confidence, and decisions will be made through party structures,” he affirmed.

    Meanwhile, a group identifying as Concerned NPP Members in the Ashanti Region expressed dismay over Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s comments, calling for disciplinary action. They criticized his remarks as disrespectful not only to Dr. Opoku Prempeh but also to the President, Vice President, and the NPP as a whole.

    The group endorsed Dr. Opoku Prempeh as an outstanding choice, citing his potential contributions to securing electoral victories for the party. Drawing parallels to past criticisms of Vice President Bawumia’s selection as running mate, they highlighted his subsequent pivotal role in electoral successes and effective vice presidency.

    In conclusion, the Concerned NPP Members urged party leadership to address Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s remarks swiftly to uphold party unity and focus on achieving an “8-year mandate” in the upcoming elections.

  • It’s a privilege to acquire a passport, not an entitlement – Appiah Kubi

    It’s a privilege to acquire a passport, not an entitlement – Appiah Kubi

    Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi, has justified the recent adjustments to passport application fees, pointing to the low demand for travel among passport holders.

    He clarified that only a small percentage, around 20%, of passport holders actually use the document for traveling, making passport acquisition more of a luxury than a necessity.

    Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, April 3, Mr. Appiah Kubi argued that individuals applying for passports should cover the entire cost, viewing it as a luxury rather than a basic right or obligation.

    He also stressed that the government cannot subsidize luxuries for passport applicants.

    “We agree that it is only about 20% of Ghanaians that need passports to travel out of the country.
    And, therefore, looking at it from that context, the passports then become a privilege, not a right or need.

    “So, if it is a privilege, who should bear the cost of passports? To be honest with you, within the subregion, passports in Ghana are the cheapest and indeed it is incomparable with anywhere else.”

    “The most immediate cost element is from Liberia, and they are charging GH499.50, which is the equivalent of $50 for passports that span for five years…

    “Indeed how fair will it be for only 20% of us to surcharge all of us, the 80% for what they want for their purpose of travelling? It is not fair,” he said.

    Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has once again urged Ghanaians to be cautious when applying for passports, advising them to do so only when absolutely necessary.

    The former Anyaa-Sowutum MP highlighted that passports are not the main form of identification for citizenship in Ghana.

    She encouraged citizens to avoid unnecessary passport applications if they do not have immediate travel plans.

    Madam Botchwey emphasized that adhering to this advice would help reduce the pressure on passport production in the country.

    “Today as we speak, we have the National Identification that is working very well, so that’s our primary source of identification. No longer the passport.”

    “And even those who have the National ID can travel into the country with it. So, then I’m asking humbly Ghanaians that please, if you do not need a passport because you cannot afford it.”

    “Please, humbly, I’m asking you not to go for a passport because it’s no longer your primary source of identification.”


    The recent increase in passport acquisition fees, announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has stirred up criticism among Ghanaians.

    According to the new pricing system, a standard 32-page passport will now be priced at ¢500, up from the previous ¢100, while a 48-page booklet will cost ¢644, a notable increase from the previous ¢200.

    Furthermore, expedited services will come with higher charges, with citizens now expected to pay 700 cedis for a 32-page booklet and 800 cedis for a 48-page booklet.

  • Acquiring a passport isn’t a right but a privilege – Appiah Kubi

    Acquiring a passport isn’t a right but a privilege – Appiah Kubi

    Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi, has justified the recent increase in passport application fees, citing the low demand for travel among passport holders.

    He pointed out that only around 20% of passport holders actually use the document for travel, making passport acquisition more of a privilege than a necessity.

    Speaking to reporters in Accra on Wednesday, April 3, Mr. Appiah Kubi argued that individuals seeking passports should bear the full cost, considering it a privilege rather than a fundamental right or requirement.

    He emphasized that the government cannot subsidize privileges for passport applicants.

    “We agree that it is only about 20% of Ghanaians that need passports to travel out of the country. And, therefore, looking at it from that context, the passports then become a privilege, not a right or need.

    “So, if it is a privilege, who should bear the cost of passports? To be honest with you, within the subregion, passports in Ghana are the cheapest and indeed it is incomparable with anywhere else.”

    “The most immediate cost element is from Liberia, and they are charging GH499.50, which is the equivalent of $50 for passports that span for five years…

    “Indeed how fair will it be for only 20% of us to surcharge all of us, the 80% for what they want for their purpose of travelling? It is not fair,” he said.

    “Today as we speak, we have the National Identification that is working very well, so that’s our primary source of identification. No longer the passport.”

    “And even those who have the National ID can travel into the country with it. So, then I’m asking humbly Ghanaians that please, if you do not need a passport because you cannot afford it.”

    “Please, humbly, I’m asking you not to go for a passport because it’s no longer your primary source of identification.”

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ recent increase in passport acquisition fees has faced criticism from Ghanaians.

    According to the new pricing structure, a standard 32-page passport will now cost GH¢500, up from GH¢100, while a 48-page booklet will be priced at GH¢644, a significant increase from GH¢200.

    Expedited services will also incur higher charges, with citizens required to pay GH¢700 for a 32-page booklet and GH¢800 for a 48-page booklet.

  • Akufo-Addo will accent to anti-LGBTQ bill into law – Appiah Kubi

    Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi, is optimistic that President Akufo-Addo will not object to accenting into law the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill following its approval by Parliament.

    However, should the president register some concerns, the MP stated that he would have no other option than to sign into law the anti-LGBTQ bill.

    “The clergy, civil society, even the Muslim community, so the whole Ghana is unanimous in the rejection of such an invitation to engage in LGBTQ so the President has no option.

    “He has no option but to accent to the bill. I am positive and hopeful that the President will accent to the Bill to be law,” the lawmaker told Starr News.

    Amidst a tumultuous atmosphere, Ghana’s Parliament has adopted the report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs on the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, recommending its passage.

    During the presentation of the report, Chairman Kwame Anyimadu Antwi argued that the bill has undergone careful adjustments to align with the constitutional framework of the country.

    Following overwhelming support from both sides, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin called for any opposing views to be expressed, but no dissenting voices emerged.

    However, taking into account the significant number of members present in the house on July 5, 2023, the Speaker announced his decision to still allow for a debate on the matter.