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  • Inquiry Committee rules petition alleging misbehavior by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo valid

    Inquiry Committee rules petition alleging misbehavior by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo valid

    The five-member committee, Article 146 Committee of Inquiry tasked to probe petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, has concluded its investigations.

    The committee has described the first petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Daniel Ofori, which called for the Chief Justice’s removal as valid. 

    Daniel Ofori’s petition was filed under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which outlines the process for removing a Chief Justice on grounds such as “stated misbehaviour” and “incompetence.

    “I, the undersigned, respectfully petition Your Excellency for the removal of the Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Her Ladyship Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo CJ on grounds of “stated misbehaviour” and “incompetence” under Article 146 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.


    “ I state below twenty-one (21) specific allegations of misbehaviour of the Honourable Chief Justice and four (4) allegations of incompetence, all of which relate to the Honourable Chief Justice’s discharge of her administrative roles and functions as head of the Judiciary, responsible for its supervision and administration,” part of his petition read.

    However, a press statement issued by the presidency and signed by the Spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Monday, September 1, indicated that the committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established.

    “This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office,” part of the statement read. 

    The committee further recommended that the Chief Justice be removed from office. The President upon the recommendations received from the committee today, Monday, September 1 relieved the suspended Chief Justice Getrude Tokornoo of her duties with immediate effect.

    The Chief Justice was earlier suspended by President Mahama on Tuesday, April 22, after a prima facie case was established, following separate petitions calling for her removal. 

    A series of petitions filed against Chief Justice Torkornoo, beginning with one from a group known as Shining Stars of Ghana.

    The group alleges she violated Article 144 of the Constitution by personally recommending judges for promotion to the Supreme Court, and further claims she ruled on a case involving the Speaker of Parliament without granting him a hearing, despite his refusal to respond to the suit.

    A series of petitions filed against Chief Justice Torkornoo, beginning with one from a group known as Shining Stars of Ghana. The group alleges she violated Article 144 of the Constitution by personally recommending judges for promotion to the Supreme Court, and further claims she ruled on a case involving the Speaker of Parliament without granting him a hearing, despite his refusal to respond to the suit.

    The group alleges she violated Article 144 of the Constitution by personally recommending judges for promotion to the Supreme Court, and further claims she ruled on a case involving the Speaker of Parliament without granting him a hearing, despite his refusal to respond to the suit.


    Another petition from a police officer who is also a lawyer accuses the Chief Justice of manipulating evidence and abusing her authority, following an incident during a Supreme Court session where he was reportedly reprimanded, arrested, and detained.

    However, court records suggest the lawyer’s conduct during proceedings prompted a unanimous caution from the bench, not just the Chief Justice.


    A third petition, submitted by a private individual, lists 21 alleged misconducts and four claims of incompetence. Among the accusations is the misuse of public funds—specifically, that she spent over GH¢261,000 and $30,000 on a family trip abroad in 2023 and misused an additional GH¢75,580 and $14,000 during another foreign assignment without proper accountability.


    Subsequent reports indicate two more petitions have been added to the list, intensifying pressure on the judiciary.


    Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in her written response to President Mahama, strongly denied allegations of misconduct and abuse of office brought against her by a senior police officer, describing them as baseless and lacking grounds for her removal from office.

    In July, an application for review regarding an ‘abuse of court processes’ by the embattled Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, was dismissed by the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court.

    The court presided over by Justice Amoako on Thursday, July 31, revealed that several claims, such as illegal composition of the committee and wrongful conduct of adversarial proceedings, were already before the Supreme Court.


    Justice Amoako argued that relitigating these issues would result in duplication of litigation and abuse of court processes. As such, such claims were dismissed.


    The judge also dismissed reliefs such as an order of certiorari to quash the committee’s proceedings and nullify its sittings on the basis that the Chief Justice did not receive a fair hearing, on jurisdictional grounds.


    The judicial review application filed on June 9 this year sought nine reliefs, which included a series of declarations that the Article 146 committee set up to probe her removal from office had acted unlawfully.


    She wanted the court to prevent the committee from proceeding with its work without providing her with authenticated copies of the petitions seeking her removal and the subsequent responses.

    The Chief Justice notes that the president’s purported prima facie determination contained no reasons or justification and was entirely devoid of the elements of judicial or quasi-judicial reasoning expected under the Constitution.


    As the proceedings of the Article 146 committee are to be held in-camera in accordance with Article 146(8) of the Constitution, the court noted that it could not inquire into matters raised by the suspended Chief Justice.


    In response, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo proceeded to the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, seeking compensation worth $10 million over her suspension from office by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama.


    This forms part of 10 reliefs being requested. The Chief Justice’s recent suit follows several unsuccessful cases at the Supreme Court this year after her suspension.


    The suspended Chief Justice wants the court to ensure she continues to enjoy the paraphernalia and entitlements of her office as the Chief Justice of Ghana pending the hearing and determination of the case.


    The measures are;
    “That the Republic of Ghana suspend the disciplinary/ removal from office as Chief Justice process against the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the complaint on the merits.”


    “That Ghana refrains from taking any other measures that may harm the rights claimed by the Applicant and /or aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the Court, or compromise the implementation of any decision that the Court may render.”


    “Given the urgency of the situation, the Applicant respectfully requests the Court to hold a hearing on this request as soon as possible, and that the President of the Court ask Ghana to act in order to allow any order that the Court may issue on the Request for Assignment of Precautionary Measures to have its appropriate effect.”


    The other reliefs are as follows;


    “A declaration that the panel instituted by the Respondent (Ghana) to investigate and determine the allegations of misconduct against the Applicant was not constituted to guarantee its independence and impartiality and as such has violated the Applicant’s human right to fair hearing guaranteed by Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025, constitutes a violation of her human right to fair equitable and satisfactory conditions guaranteed by Article 15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025 has exposed her to public ridicule and odium locally and internationally and the said act constitutes a violation of her human right to dignity guaranteed by Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “A declaration that by subjecting the Applicant to an illegal and unfair investigation and trial since April 2025, the Respondent has inflicted injuries on her professional standing and image, thereby ‘exposing her and her family to immeasurable public ridicule.”


    “An order to the Respondent Republic to act immediately to prescribe the rule of procedure to govern the investigation of allegations of misconduct against the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in conformity with the right to fair hearing guaranteed by the Constitution of Ghana and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “An order directing the Respondent to immediately lift the suspension and restore the Applicant to full office until the conclusion of fair constitutional proceedings.”


    “An order restraining the Respondent from continuing with the purported inquiry for the removal of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in its current form, until it conforms to fair hearing guarantees.”


    “An award of USD 10 million as compensation for moral and reputational damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of her illegal suspension and unfair investigation, and lastly, “Any other relief(s) as the Honourable Court deems just.”


    The suspended Chief Justice wants the court to ensure she continues to enjoy the paraphernalia and entitlements of her office as the Chief Justice of Ghana pending the hearing and determination of the case. The applicant has also requested the ECOWAS Court to assign four precautionary measures to the country.Meanwhile, the government’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims made by Justice Torkornoo, noting that the Chief Justice’s suspension aligns with the constitution.


    On Thursday, August 14, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association called for the immediate reinstatement of Ghana’s Chief Justice by President John Dramani Mahama and the Executive arm of government.


    “Immediately and without delay, reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana to her Office. consistent with both the hitherto strong attachment to the rule of law demonstrated by Ghana and also, the constitutional duties incumbent upon them.


    “And afford the Chief justice due and fair process in the investigation and determination of the disciplinary matters brought against her, including but not limited to full and transparent access to that process by her legal representatives,” the group demanded in a joint statement issued on August 14.


    Additionally, the group asked the government for a proper and impartial investigation of the disciplinary charges against her, with her lawyers given full and transparent access to the proceedings.


    Also both groups demanded the establishment of transparent procedural rules to guide the disciplinary process, including a definite timeframe within which the investigative committee must conclude its work and communicate its decision.


    However, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has emphasised that his outfit can only intervene after the committee concludes its work and submits a report to President John Dramani Mahama.
    “The suspension will, therefore, remain in effect until the inquiry committee completes its work and submits its report, to which His Excellency, the President will adhere,” he said.

  • Ridge Hospital probe not compromised – Health Ministry

    Ridge Hospital probe not compromised – Health Ministry

    The Ministry of Health has stated that the committee, which investigated the alleged assault of a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital, presented a thorough and unbiased report.

    Speaking to the media the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Tony Goodmann, all necessary personalities were involved in the process of investigations as such belittling their efforts would be unfair and misleading.


    “That is not correct. We engaged everyone, including the doctor who assessed the nurse. He is a specialist, and the committee’s work cannot be undermined. This was a comprehensive exercise. Our priority is not pointing fingers but finding ways to strengthen the system,” he stated.

    The Ridge Assault Investigative Committee handed over its report to Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh regarding the assault incident involving a rotational nurse, Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, that occurred on 17th August at the Emergency Department of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) on Wednesday, August 27.

    While submitting its findings to the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on Wednesday, August 27, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, disclosed that there is no medical evidence indicating that the nurse suffered a dislocation on her shoulder, nor does she have a fracture in her left wrist.

    A group of men, including a member of the pressure group Democracy Hub, Mr. Ralph Afful Williams, allegedly stormed the Ridge facility, demanding immediate treatment for an injured finger while medical staff were attending to critically ill patients, including one with an open fracture.

    Hospital management was forced to call in the Ghana Police Service after the situation escalated into the alleged assault of a nurse. Following the incident, several groups and individuals have demanded the arrest of Ralph Williams, describing his actions as unlawful.

    Meanwhile, the nurse at Greater Accra Regional Hospital who was allegedly attacked, Rejoice Tsotsoo Bortei, has dragged her alleged abuser, activist Ralph Saint Williams, to court for physical assault and defamation.

    The plaintiff is seeking GH¢5 million in damages for battery and GH¢2 million for defamation, arguing that the defendant’s words have “cast the Plaintiff as a liar, a non-trustworthy person, and a crook”.

    When staff requested he obtain a hospital card, the defendant reportedly became aggressive and began recording patients and staff without consent. The plaintiff indicates that despite providing him with initial first aid, the defendant later returned with a group of men and physically assaulted her.

    “The Defendant, without provocation, struck the Plaintiff’s left hand with a clenched fist and a metallic cellphone,” the writ states.Following the incident, the defandant during a live video accused Rejoice of being a liar.

    “Liar, Wo se wo nsam abu. Duab0 bebam. You say you have suffered an injured hand and a dislocated shoulder. This is cooked up to cover the nonsense going on at the hospital,” he said.

    Additional reliefs sought include a court order for a full public apology and retraction, a perpetual injunction against further defamatory publications, a restraining order preventing the defendant from coming within 50 meters of the plaintiff, and legal costs.

    The defendant has eight days to enter an appearance upon being served with the writ, or risk a default judgment.

    Just days earlier, the Health Minister confirmed that the Ridge Hospital incident that saw the assault of health practitioners had led to several arrests by the Ghana Police Service.

    “The law has so far dealt with all those who did something wrong, and we are also investigating as a ministry. Anyone who comes to tell you that no arrest has been made in this matter is probably someone who is not ready to contribute to the resolution of this matter,” the Minister told Asempa FM on August 19, without disclosing the names of the suspects.

    In response, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to arrest Ralph and his accomplices. The association warned that it would be compelled to “advise itself” if immediate action was not taken.

    According to the GRNMA’s General Secretary, Dr. David Tenkorang Twum, the nurse who was attacked sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital. He described the assault as unacceptable and stressed that health workers cannot operate in an unsafe environment.

    “If anybody can just walk into a facility, like Ridge Hospital, and throw his weight about and beat like a midwife, and you have other party apparatchiks telling them to egg him on, that is unfortunate. We are not happy at all. Our people are traumatized,” he stated.

    He continued, “We are very civilized people. We are professionals. And we are asking the government to arrest the guy immediately and the eight accomplices; we were told there were about 50 guys that day. But those who laid their hands on the lady—there were about eight, including Ralph himself. And therefore, if he’s not arrested within 48 hours, we shall advise ourselves.”

    Dr. Tenkorang also referenced Section 119 of Ghana’s Labour Act, which empowers workers to withdraw their services if their health and safety are at risk.

    “And we are all guided by law. In that, if you read section 119, subsection 1, it is stated that if you are a worker and you think that your safety is not guaranteed, your life and your health are not guaranteed, and you have every right under the law to remove yourself from that danger. And our people have told us this morning, after interacting with them, that they are not safe. They feel that their safety has been breached,” he said.

    The association insists that both Ralph Williams and the eight identified accomplices must be arrested immediately to restore confidence and ensure justice for the victim. Their demand follows the circulation of a viral video showing a violent altercation between some patient relatives and medical staff at the hospital’s emergency department.

    The Minority in Parliament has also intensified calls for Ralph’s arrest. In a statement dated Tuesday, August 19, and signed by the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, the group condemned the actions of Ralph and his team.

    They described the conduct as “unlawful, reckless, and deeply inconsiderate,” stressing that hospitals are places of care and confidentiality, not “arenas for political theatrics.” The Minority urged the Ghana Police Service to fully investigate the matter and called on the Health Minister to set up a joint parliamentary inquiry to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

    “The sanctity of our health facilities must be preserved at all times,” the statement concluded, urging political actors to refrain from compromising patient care for partisan ends.

    In response, the Ministry of Health has announced measures to beef up security at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. The Ministry said this will ensure the safety of staff, patients, and the general public, while also addressing any gaps that may have contributed to the reported delay in treatment.

    Reiterating its commitment to protecting healthcare workers, the Ministry confirmed that Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has already visited the facility to receive firsthand information. He assured hospital management and staff of the Ministry’s full support and protection.

    “We call on the public to exercise patience, cooperation, and mutual respect at all times to enable healthcare workers to provide effective and timely care,” the Ministry of Health added in a statement.

    Meanwhile, a 24-hour call centre for handling patient complaints across hospitals in the country has been introduced by the Health Minister, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

    The minister made this known at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, August 21, explaining that the initiative will provide the public with a direct channel to report their displeasure regarding healthcare services.

    “The best you can do is lodge a complaint. And that brings me to the client service. So this is what we are doing. We have some numbers available where if people feel dissatisfied, you can then call,” he said.

    He assured that complaints to the hotline will be managed fairly, but emphasized that this does not automatically mean all complaints will be considered right.

    “The fact that you have called to lodge a complaint doesn’t mean that you are right. We will look into the matter and then appropriately deal with it,” he stated.

    He added that hospitals have been instructed to display the hotline numbers boldly at facilities to make them easily accessible to patients nationwide.

    “We have communicated directly to all the health facilities in the country, to the Director-General and the teaching hospitals, that they must make these suggestion boxes and numbers conspicuously posted at all health facilities. So it is something I am pursuing aggressively,” he said.

    Mr. Akandoh noted that the measure seeks to promote accountability and raise the standard of service delivery in the health sector.

    moh_report_to_min EDITEDDownload
  • NPP’s election review report to be ready by March 31 – Salam Mustapha

    NPP’s election review report to be ready by March 31 – Salam Mustapha

    The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has announced that the committee investigating the party’s loss in the 2024 general elections is expected to finalize its report by the end of March 2025.

    In the 2024 elections, the NPP’s candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was defeated by former President John Dramani Mahama, leading to Mahama’s return to office. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) also secured a parliamentary majority, resulting in the removal of several NPP MPs.

    During an interview on Eyewitness News, Mustapha emphasized that the committee’s work will be instrumental in shaping the NPP’s strategy for the 2028 elections.

    “The Aaron Mike Oquaye Committee was established to assess our performance in the 2024 elections. Even after winning in 2020, we formed the Yaw Osafo-Marfo Committee to evaluate our performance, and their work proved valuable. We now await the conclusions of the Oquaye Committee,” he stated.

    He further mentioned that he and other national executives have provided input to the committee, which has conducted extensive reviews across all 16 regions and 276 constituencies. According to him, this evaluation is an essential step in the party’s restructuring and preparation for 2028, with the final report expected by March 31.

    The committee’s findings are anticipated to shed light on the reasons behind the NPP’s electoral loss and provide recommendations for a stronger comeback in the next election.

    “The party commissioned the Aaron Mike Oquaye Committee to review the [2024] elections. In fact, in 2020, even though we won, we still commissioned the Yaw Osafo-Marfo Committee to look into the performance of the party in the 2020 elections and they did quite a very good job and so we are waiting for the Aaron Mike Oquaye Committee to wrap up their work.”

    He further explained, “I have appeared before the committee together with my other colleagues, national executives, and they have gone across the 16 regions, and the 276 constituencies. So it is a process still ongoing and it is part of the reawakening process as we gear towards rebuilding the party and reorganising the party for the 2028 elections, and they should finish their work by March 31.”

  • Probe committee for vetting chaos to submit findings today

    Probe committee for vetting chaos to submit findings today

    The committee probing the disturbances at the Appointments Committee is set to present its findings today, Thursday, February 20, after being granted a one-week extension.

    According to reports, the committee was initially given a 10-day deadline but requested extra time to finalize its inquiry.

    Chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, the committee’s mandate is to identify the legislators responsible for the commotion that broke out during the ministerial vetting on January 30.

    The report will serve as a guide for the Speaker of Parliament in determining the next steps—whether punitive measures should be imposed to prevent a recurrence or if a formal caution would suffice.

    On January 30, chaos erupted in Parliament during the vetting of ministerial nominees, resulting in damage to property and a premature suspension of proceedings.

    The incident drew widespread criticism from the public, prompting Speaker Alban Bagbin to establish a special committee to investigate the disorder and pinpoint the MPs who instigated it.

    Following the incident, the Speaker sanctioned four MPs—Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib—for their roles in the disturbance. However, after appeals from leaders on both sides of the House, the suspensions were later lifted.

  • Govt to receive Education Forum report by March – Prof. Goski Alabi

    Govt to receive Education Forum report by March – Prof. Goski Alabi

    A member of the National Education Forum Committee, Professor Goski Alabi, has revealed that the panel’s evaluation of Ghana’s education landscape will be finalized and handed over to the government by March 2025.

    Formed in line with President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to fostering national dialogue on education, the committee has been consulting various stakeholders to gather perspectives and propose policy changes.

    Under the leadership of Professor George K. T. Oduro, a former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, the committee is responsible for structuring the discussions, coordinating engagements, managing logistics, and drafting a financial plan.

    Speaking on Point Blank during Eyewitness News on February 18, 2025, Prof. Alabi shared updates on the committee’s progress.

    “As you can see, engagements are going on till the end of this month. Next month, in March, we will put all the evidence that we have gathered together and present a comprehensive report to the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Education.

    “We believe that there will be subsequent meetings about the policies that are going to come out. We anticipate that our report should be ready in March, and Parliament will determine how we can work around the implementation process,” she stated.

    President Mahama has given his assurance to stakeholders that the forum’s proposals will be actively implemented.

    Addressing attendees at the forum’s launch in Ho, Volta Region, on Tuesday, February 18, he underscored the need for collective effort in reforming Ghana’s education system.

    “It must be our collective responsibility to make recommendations that are far-reaching, transformative, and necessary for developing the global Ghanaian. As a government, we are fully committed to this process. I want to assure you that your recommendations will not gather dust on the shelf,” Mahama stated.

  • Bagbin orders reshuffling of Appointments Committee following Thursday’s chaos

    Bagbin orders reshuffling of Appointments Committee following Thursday’s chaos

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has instructed the Committee of Selection to reorganize the Appointments Committee after disturbances occurred during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30.

    He has also ordered the Clerk of Parliament to file a formal complaint with the police to begin a full investigation into the incident, with the aim of identifying those responsible and ensuring accountability.

    The Clerk has also been tasked with assessing any damage caused to property in the Appointments Committee room, and members held accountable will be required to pay for repairs.

    Additionally, a seven-member panel, headed by Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been set up to investigate the incident and submit a report within 10 days.

    The outcome of the investigation will determine the necessary steps to prevent future disruptions.

    Meanwhile, the Majority and Minority Chief Whips, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, alongside Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli and Jerry Ahmed Shaib, have been suspended from Parliament for two weeks, effective January 31, following violent altercations during the Appointments Committee proceedings.

    Below are the full measures taken by the Speaker of Parliament

    1. Suspension of MPs Involved: The two-week suspension is intended to serve as a disciplinary action against those directly involved in the altercations. The suspended members are barred from participating in parliamentary sittings and activities during this period.
    2. Criminal Complaint to the Police: The Clerk of Parliament has been directed to formally lodge a criminal complaint with the police. This will pave the way for a full investigation into the incidents, ensuring that those found culpable face legal consequences.
    3. Reconstitution of the Appointments Committee: The Committee of Selection has been instructed to reconstitute the Appointments Committee. This move is aimed at restoring trust and ensuring that the Committee operates effectively and without bias.
    4. Assessment of Property Damage: The Clerk of Parliament has also been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused to parliamentary property during the confrontations. MPs found responsible for the destruction will be surcharged to cover the costs of repairs or replacements.
    5. Seven-Member Investigative Committee: A seven-member committee, chaired by Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been established to investigate the incidents in detail.
  • Minority accuses Appointments Committee clerk of bias, calls for her resignation

    Minority accuses Appointments Committee clerk of bias, calls for her resignation

    The Minority caucus in Parliament is demanding the swift resignation of Clerk of the Appointments Committee, Gifty Jiagge-Gobah, accusing her of partiality and misconduct in the vetting process.

    Opposition lawmakers contend that she has displayed a blatant inclination toward the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), jeopardizing the committee’s objectivity.

    Addressing journalists, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin emphasized that her actions had diminished trust in the committee’s deliberations.

    “The clerk of the committee has made it clear that she is aligned with the NDC. We will formally write to the Clerk of Parliament to demand her removal from the Appointments Committee. She must either resign as a parliamentary staff or immediately change her approach,” he asserted.

    The Minority additionally charged the clerk with deliberately excluding them from significant elements of the vetting process.

    They noted that during their time in power, the same clerk facilitated the then-Minority’s access to preliminary reports prior to endorsement.

    Now, they argue that this procedure has been abandoned, with reports being finalized absent their contributions.

    “When we were in government, this same clerk ensured that the Minority could review reports before they were signed by the Chairperson. Today, reports are signed without our knowledge, and we only see them for the first time when they reach the floor of Parliament,” Afenyo-Markin alleged.

    He went on to rebuke what he perceived as deliberate efforts to disrupt the Minority’s work, alleging that vetting schedules were issued at midnight without prior warning.

    The dispute intensifies the mounting tensions in Parliament, following contentious moments during recent vetting proceedings.

    As of now, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament have yet to provide an official response to the Minority’s grievances.

  • BoG maintains 27% lending rate to tackle inflation

    BoG maintains 27% lending rate to tackle inflation

    The Bank of Ghana’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the benchmark lending rate at 27.0% after evaluating recent economic developments.

    In a press briefing, Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, stated that inflationary pressures are under control, which justified maintaining the rate at 27.0%.

    “Under the circumstances, the Committee decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged at 27.0%”, he said.

    He also shared that the latest inflation projections suggest a consistent decline, indicating a return to a disinflationary trend. The bank is aiming to achieve the medium-term inflation target of 8±2 percent within an extended timeframe.

    “While the inflation outturn for the year 2024 5 deviated from target, it is expected that the disinflation process will resume, contingent on renewed efforts at fiscal consolidation, which is anticipated in the new administration’s economic policy agenda and the yet-to-be-presented 2025 budget statement”.

  • GHS1.80 feeding allowance for prisoners is inhumane – Muntaka

    GHS1.80 feeding allowance for prisoners is inhumane – Muntaka

    The Minister-Designate for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has voiced deep concerns about the troubling state of Ghana’s prisons, particularly the meager funds allocated for feeding inmates.

    During his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Friday, January 24, Muntaka committed to making prison reforms a central focus if approved for the position.

    The Asawase legislator criticized the GH¢1.80 daily feeding allowance per prisoner, describing it as grossly inadequate and an affront to basic human rights.

    He questioned how such a negligible amount could sustain proper nutrition for inmates, remarking that household pets often receive better care.

    Muntaka also stressed the severe health challenges arising from poor nutrition, especially in overcrowded and unhygienic prisons where inmates are highly vulnerable to diseases.

    He reassured the Committee that increasing the feeding allowance and improving overall prison conditions would be top priorities under his leadership.

    “I was shocked when I heard that the rationing for feeding a prisoner in Ghana is GH¢1.80 for the whole day and I doubt with the greatest of respect that even the cats and dogs in our houses, how much food do we give them that we will put our own compatriots because of one mistake or the other, in trying to corect them, we feed them with GH¢1.80 and expect them to be healthy.?”

    “It is a very serious thing and I assure my colleagues that I will pay attention to it and address it.”

    Muntaka also shed light on the extensive challenges confronting Ghana’s prison system, particularly the issue of extreme overcrowding.

    A significant number of the nation’s correctional facilities are stretched far beyond their designed limits, fostering conditions that accelerate the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, scabies, and other ailments.

    The Ghana Prisons Service has consistently urged the government to intervene and resolve these pressing issues, but progress has been noticeably delayed.

  • 24-hour economy is key to unlocking Ghana’s industrialization through 1D1F – Ofosu-Adjare

    24-hour economy is key to unlocking Ghana’s industrialization through 1D1F – Ofosu-Adjare

    The nominee for Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has stated that the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) proposed 24-hour economy initiative will enhance the effectiveness of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) program.

    During her appearance before the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, she underscored the shortage of sufficient raw materials as a major hurdle undermining the success of the 1D1F initiative.

    She emphasized that the adoption of the NDC’s 24-hour economy policy would serve as a strategic measure to overcome this challenge.

    She said “The solution lies in the 24-hour economy, where businesses will have access to a steady supply of raw materials. Agribusiness will play a crucial role through commercial contract farming, which will substantially resolve the raw material challenge” she said.

    The Techiman North MP further said, “These factories will benefit from tax holidays and other incentives under the 24-hour economy framework.”

    The One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, introduced by former President Akufo-Addo, aimed to revolutionize Ghana’s economy by minimizing dependence on raw material exports and imported finished products.

    The program emphasized industrial growth, value enhancement, employment generation, and the export of refined goods.

    Although several factories have been set up under the initiative, its progress has been hampered by numerous challenges.

  • Rushing vetting of nominees undermines public trust – Osei-Owusu

    Rushing vetting of nominees undermines public trust – Osei-Owusu

    The former chair of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has raised strong objections to the accelerated timeline for vetting three ministerial nominees put forward by President John Dramani Mahama.

    Osei-Owusu criticized the short notice issued on January 9, 2025, which allocated just four days before the vetting exercise on January 13, 2025.

    He argued that such a hastened schedule undermined the transparency and inclusiveness necessary for thorough public involvement in the process.

    The former Bekwai legislator and erstwhile First Deputy Speaker of the 8th Parliament described the decision as an administrative oversight, stressing that the truncated timeline deprived key stakeholders, including citizens, of an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the vetting process.

    “I would have thought that [a] minimum [of] one week at best or two weeks [is given] to allow people who have issues and wanted to bring them out to the committee to enable them to do that, but I did not see any publication whatsoever. So I was surprised, and I think it was the wrong step.

    “The reason we call that a public hearing is that we want to afford the opportunity for the public to participate in it, not because it is in public, but because we want to afford the public the opportunity to participate in it if there is a way.

    “I thought that it was needless, hasty, and indecent to go through with this one.”

  • Committee urges ElectroChem Ghana Limited to expand social initiatives after stakeholder review

    Committee urges ElectroChem Ghana Limited to expand social initiatives after stakeholder review

    The Committee on Mines and Energy, alongside the Committee on Lands and Forestry, after carefully reviewing feedback from all stakeholders regarding ElectroChem Mining’s operations, has instructed ElectroChem Ghana Limited to enhance their community engagement efforts.

    This directive follows several recommendations made by the Committee.

    The Committee suggests that ElectroChem Ghana Limited should persist in designating a portion of the concession area for local miners, establishing a mutually advantageous arrangement that benefits both the company and the local communities to encourage local involvement in the salt mining project.

    “The local mining so permitted should be undertaken according to the environmental laws and practices as sanctioned by the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. ElectroChem Ghana Limited should assist the indigenes in the deployment of best salt mining practices in order not to devalue the concession area and lower production.

    “There is the necessity for a continuous stakeholder engagement to persuade those who are fighting the roll-out of a national resource under the mistaken belief that the indigenes owned the mineral called salt,” it states.

    The Committee also emphasized the necessity for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to launch a large-scale awareness campaign in the Salt Mining Area to help locals understand that salt is a natural resource, comparable to gold in the Ashanti Region, petroleum in the Western Region, and bauxite in the Eastern Region, rather than merely a local source of income.

    “The Members of Parliament of this Joint Committee should organise local education tours and durbars to further achieve the object. Political pandits should desist from making political capital out of the use of national assets for the development of the nation Ghana rather than inciting indigenes to believe that they are being robbed by the Government of the day.

    “There should be a serious security engagement in the communities for them to come to terms with the fact that it is in the best interests of Ghana and the local communities to desist from any form of lawlessness to pave the way for a national undertaking with export benefits to function at full throttle.

    “Parliament and NCCE should be the arrowheads in this regard. The indigenes should be educated by their chiefs. stakeholders and the police that the Nation Ghana has a stake in ElectroChem Ghana Limited and its salt mining business in Ada Songhor and any acts of lawlessness against the Company is a direct confrontation with Law Enforcement Agencies in Ghana.

    “All national undertakings over the country including the gold mining business of Ashanti Goldfields are operational because of this basic understanding. The police should continue with the investigation of the death of Numo Korletey Agormedah who was allegedly killed on the 6th day of November 2023 and prosecute the perpetrator(s) of the said crime.

    “All minor criminal complaints associated with the salt mining business which can be resolved between the complainants and the culprits to tone down tension in the salt producing environment.

    “The chiefs should take up such peaceful initiatives. Any survey challenge relating to the extent of the concession should be brought to the attention of the Minerals Commission for investigations.

    “ElectroChem Ghana Limited should enlarge their social intervention activities as their fortunes improve to bankroll poverty in the communities. ElectroChem Ghana Limited in the roll-out of this immensely significant national project should desecrate cemeteries, fetish houses and places within the concession area,” the committee stated.

  • Monetary Policy Committee maintains policy rate at 29 percent

    Monetary Policy Committee maintains policy rate at 29 percent

    The Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) Monetary Policy Committee has maintained the policy rate at 29%.

    During a media briefing, Dr. Ernest Addison, the BoG Governor, highlighted that the Committee’s choice aimed to maintain stable inflation.

    Dr. Addison clarified that recent exchange rate pressures and adjustments in transportation fares have slightly elevated the inflation forecast.

    He stated that projections indicate inflation will stay within the monetary policy consultation range of 13-17% by year-end.

    “These forecasts are contingent on sustaining the tight monetary policy stance, including aggressive liquidity management operations. Given these considerations, the committee decided to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate at 29.0 percent”, he said.

    Regarding general macroeconomic conditions, he revealed the committee’s belief that while the implementation of policies at the macro and structural reform levels remains consistent and aligns well with the principles of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-supported program, there is a necessity to prevent the recent currency depreciation from influencing the pricing behavior of businesses and inflation expectations.

    He indicated that the robust reserve accumulation of approximately $2.0 billion since the inception of the IMF program, coupled with the substantial disinflation process, considerable advancements in fiscal policy consolidation, favorable current account balances, and notable progress in the external debt restructuring process, have collectively provided sufficient buffers to support the exchange rate.

    In terms of fiscal policy, he declared that expenditures surpassed revenue growth in the initial quarter, primarily due to the frontloading of Independent Power Producers arrears payments.

    He recommended that maintaining stringent fiscal discipline throughout the remainder of the year would be imperative to bolster confidence in the economy.

  • Committee led by liberals rejects Protesters demand hearings on lab security breaches

    Committee led by liberals rejects Protesters demand hearings on lab security breaches

    A group of Liberal lawmakers in charge of a committee said no to a request from Conservative lawmakers to investigate two scientists who were fired from a top-secret lab because of their connection to China.

    Michael Chong, who is in charge of foreign affairs for the Conservative party, asked a group in the government to bring in different people to talk to them about privacy and information. This included some people from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

    However, the Liberal and New Democrat Members of Parliament (MPs) voted 6-4 to stop discussing the motion.

    Liberal MP Iqra Khalid said the hearings were not needed and were not part of the committee’s job.

    After the vote, Chong said that the Liberals and NDP were trying to hide something.

    “It’s time for Parliament to take on responsibility and make sure the government is doing its job,” he said in a statement.

    Last week, over 600 pages of private reports and letters about security were released to the public, with some parts blacked out. It was after a special group of MPs reviewed them.

    The papers reveal that two scientists at the National Microbiology Laboratory lost their jobs in early 2021 because they didn’t keep important things safe.

    The scientists, Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, tried to make it seem like they were not working closely with Chinese government organizations, according to the records.

    The papers also reveal that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service found that Qiu lied many times about how much she worked with the Chinese government. She also didn’t admit to being part of Chinese programs, even when they showed her evidence.

    Chong said on Monday that the committee should hold hearings to look at how information and intelligence moves through the government. They want to find out why Qiu’s actions weren’t noticed earlier.

    Also, Chong said to the MPs that hearings would help find out why it took so long for the documents about the firings to be shown to the public.

    Last May, the government announced that three retired top judges will make the decision about whether the records can be made public. A committee of MPs will review the records in a secure place.

    The Conservatives did not like the idea and wanted the records to be given to a committee of MPs.

    In 2021, opposition parties in the House of Commons passed a rule that the government didn’t like. It said that a person who knows the law would check the documents for any security problems. However, the committee members would still have the right to release any material they wanted.

    Khalid was part of a group that reviewed the documents. He defended the process on Monday.

    She said they did not hide anything.

    “We worked hard for many months to figure this out. “

  • Rejoin IPAC for valuable opportunities and engagement – Afari Gyan to NDC

    Rejoin IPAC for valuable opportunities and engagement – Afari Gyan to NDC

    The former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, has called on members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reconsider their withdrawal from the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).

    The NDC opted out of IPAC following allegations of EC bias in favor of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) after the 2020 general elections, accusing the EC of election manipulation.

    Dr. Afari Gyan highlighted the value of IPAC as a platform for political parties to influence EC decisions and contribute to subsidiary legislation during his address at the 3rd Annual Conference of the NDC Lawyers Association in Akosombo.

    He encouraged the NDC to rejoin IPAC, emphasizing the importance of participating in electoral processes that promote free and fair elections within Ghana’s electoral system.

    The NDC declined an invitation to an IPAC meeting scheduled for April 21, 2021, which aimed to review the December 7, 2020, general elections.

    “The National Democratic Congress (NDC), declined an invitation by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to attend an IPAC meeting to review the 2020 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections which was scheduled for Wednesday 21st April 2021. The party took this decision because of the lack of candour, odious duplicity, and open bias that was displayed by the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission in favour of the New Patriotic Party in the conduct of the 2020 general elections,” the NDC said in a statement.

    The party cited concerns about the EC’s alleged bias in favor of the NPP during the elections and expressed doubts about the impartiality of the EC’s leadership in facilitating discussions on the contested elections.

    “It is the considered view of the NDC, that the current leadership of the Electoral Commission who supervised the manipulation of the 2020 general elections and the stolen verdict that resulted from same, lack the integrity, credibility and impartiality to lead any such discussions or review of the very elections they rigged,” it said.

  • Unnecessary delays in tax waiver approval hurting business – Chair of trade committee laments

    Unnecessary delays in tax waiver approval hurting business – Chair of trade committee laments

    Chairman of the trade committee in parliament, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, is troubled by the delay in the approval of tax exemptions for businesses under the One District-One Factory (1D1F) plan by parliament.

    He bemoaned the fact that the scenario has forced some investors to leave the nation, calling it a “worrying and killing” situation for the economy.

    Following the presentation of the business statement for the upcoming week, Carlos Ahenkorah made these remarks on the floor of the legislature.

    “This House has deferred exemptions for One District-One Factory since 2021, which are still outstanding. We are going on another long recess, and there doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel for these 1D1F companies. It is very interesting to note that because of such delays and hindrances, some industries are moving away from Ghana.

    “It is becoming a bit worrying, if not too worrying – especially on the part of the trade committee which is bombarded by these complaints from 1D1F companies almost on a daily basis.”

    The legislator’s anger was caused by the fact that the waivers were not taken into consideration by parliament before to the upcoming weeklong break. Currently, there are about 150 outstanding tax exemptions for businesses that were presented to the House and then sent to the committee for review to make sure that exemptions are granted on the basis of merit.

    Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng, the chairman of the trade committee and the MP for ObuasiWest, stated that two years is an excessive amount of time to hold businesses and investors waiting to start projects before receiving waivers.

    He bemoaned the expenses these businesses would have to pay for demurrage and freight at the ports.

    “The finance committee has had that referral since 2021. Up till now, up till now nothing is happening. It is very funny for anybody to import containers into this country and let it sit in the ports for two years, paying demurrage and port freight.

    “Are you telling me that any investor in this country who has borrowed money from the bank should sit down for two years before they get the exemption to clear their goods from the ports? What are you doing to industry? You are killing industry,” he said.

    He added: “Government only has exclusive rights over the duties there on the cargo, but not the rent of containers on the real estate space that they occupy – the container proper which belongs to the shipping line that is supposed to use it to move cargo back and forth,” he said, urging the House to as a matter of urgency include the matter in the week’s agenda to be considered before the House rises.

    Contributing to the matter, Minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson noted it is not true that the finance committee has deliberately declined to consider the matter.

    “It is wrong for you to think that the finance committee has failed to sit on the referral. We sat on it and we brought it to this House. This House rejected those referrals and asked the finance committee of which I am a member to re-look and do further research into the matter, and that is why we have not been able to present the report yet.

    “We are talking about 150 tax exemptions for companies amounting to billions of cedis,” the Minority leader stated.

    Adaklu MP Kwame Governs Agbodza hinted that the committee is purposefully preventing the passage of tax waivers in support of the claim.

    He contends that tax exemptions should not be awarded merely on the basis of popular desire, but rather on the basis of merit.

    “Let me remind you that we have granted tax waivers to many companies which are actually not doing anything; so encouraging us to give tax waivers just because the people have demanded them is not right,” he further stated.

    Tax exemptions cost the economy GH27 billion between 2008 and 2020, which prompted lawmakers to approve the Tax Exemptions bill in July.

    According to Minister of Finance Ken OforiAtta, it establishes a tax exemption framework with clear eligibility requirements for exemptions and is predicted to save the economy GH460 million in 2022.

  • MPs stance on LGBTQ bill disheartening – UG Lecturer

    MPs stance on LGBTQ bill disheartening – UG Lecturer

    A lecturer at the University of Georgia, Dr. Fatima Mohammed, has voiced dissatisfaction over the Members of Parliaments’ (MPs) stance on the LGBTQ law, which has been discussed and given a second reading in the House.

    This comes after Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, urged House opponents of the anti-gay measure to stand up and be counted.

    He asked the question following the presentation of the committee report on the bill to the house for discussion by Mr. Anyimadu Antwi, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs.

    As the bill was being heard for the second time in the House, religious leaders from the Christian and Muslim communities stormed the Parliament.

    Mr. Bagbin however added that considering the numbers in the house on Wednesday July 5, 2023 he will still open the floor for the debate. 

    Speaking to the media the news the College of Journalism and Mass Communication lecturer said human rights are not something you can pick and choose what you want.

    “It is really heartbreaking because looking at our Parliament we know a lot of Parliamentarians are lawyers and they know what human rights are and they understand what it means to go after the rights of individuals are. So it is sad to hear that this bill is going forward and that the rights of LGBTQ rights are going to be infringed upon. They cannot live in dignity in their own country.

    “We are talking about the rights of individuals here, we are talking about protecting the right to live in freedom and in dignity and the right to live and regard as human beings in their own country. These are people from all parts of the country and who are members of the society,” Dr. Fatima stated.

    She continued: “So to criminalize their very existence is just disappointing and I am actually very sad that Parliamentarians who initially opposed the bill are currently in support of it. Of-course when the first version of the bill came out in 2021 it was actually described by media organizations across the world as the most homophobic bill that will ever see the light of day in the entire world.”

  • We only have 49 vehicles nationwide – CAGD

    We only have 49 vehicles nationwide – CAGD

    During a session of the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, July 4, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) revealed its possession of a total of 49 vehicles nationwide, of which 38 are currently in use.

    The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, provided this information while addressing the Committee.

    He clarified that out of the 49 vehicles owned by the department, only 30 of them are currently insured.

    Kwaning-Bosompem further explained that due to the limited availability of vehicles within the CAGD, with a fleet size of 49 vehicles, and only 38 of them operational, the department faces challenges in effectively fulfilling its responsibilities.

    “Currently, we have 49 vehicles out of which 30 have been insured and 8 are in the process of being insured and 11 are overaged and therefore we have decided to dispose of them.

    “We have only 49 vehicles in the entire country and we are making processes to acquire more.”

    To tackle this pressing concern, James Klutse Avedzi, the chairman of the Committee, announced that the Committee will propose a recommendation to the Finance Ministry.

    The recommendation will entail allocating funds specifically for the purchase of additional vehicles for the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. This initiative aims to address the current shortage of vehicles and support the department in carrying out its responsibilities more efficiently.

  • Upper East receives anthrax vaccines from Zipline

    Upper East receives anthrax vaccines from Zipline

    The Upper East Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee (PHEMC) has received 100,000 anthrax vaccines from Zipline Ghana Limited.

    These vaccines will be utilized to vaccinate cattle and ruminants throughout the Region.

    The vaccines, expected to boost the ongoing vaccination exercise across the Region, would check the spread of the anthrax virus recently recorded in some Districts of the Region, which led to a ban on slaughtering and movement of cattle and ruminants.

    Speaking to journalists at the drone delivery point at the Regional Hospital, Stephen Yakubu, the Regional Minister and Chair of the PHEMC, said the Region earlier received about 40,000 anthrax vaccines out of the 100,000 to beef up the ongoing vaccination exercise.

    He said the vaccines were manufactured in Pong-Tamale in the Northern Region with the support of government and development partners, “We have the 100,000 vaccines, and Zipline is helping us to move them across the entire Region.

    “Already, they have delivered about 40,000 of the vaccines to areas in critical need. We hope that these100,000 will help us meet the 70 per cent target to be able to lift the ban. Hopefully by the weekend, we would evaluate to know how many we have vaccinated so far, for the technical people to advise accordingly,” he said.

    Mr Yakubu said the PHEMC was working to ensure the ban was lifted before the Eid-ul-Adha celebration, “That is what we are working towards, but nothing is guaranteed,” he said, and disclosed that two animals had earlier died in the Bolgatanga Municipality prior to the vaccine delivery, and samples were taken for investigation.

    He emphasized that the vaccination exercise was free of charge and urged animal owners within the animal category to make their animals available for the vaccines.

    Dr Henry Nii Ayi Anang, the Regional Veterinary Officer, said the vaccines would immediately be dispatched to the field to continue with the vaccination exercise, adding that the exercise was ongoing smoothly, as some of the Zipline drones were delivering the vaccines across the various Districts.

    Dr Anang, who could not give an estimated number of animals vaccinated so far, however indicated that about 5,000 animals were vaccinated each day, and said until the entire exercise was concluded, his outfit could not give the number of animals vaccinated.

    “We collect our data at the close of every vaccination,” Dr Anang noted.

    Mr Abdul-Jalil Abdulai, the Community Integrations Lead for Zipline for the Walewale Central in the North East Region, said the delivery service was a collaborative effort between the Veterinary Services Department and Cowtribe, a Non-Governmental Organization.

    He said Zipline was to provide instant drone delivery services, “So we have a state-of-the-art warehouse where we have cold chain equipment. We take stock of the vaccines from the Veterinary Services Department, process the orders, and deliver same to the various distribution drop points.”

  • IMF Deal: Paris Club bolsters government’s effort on debt restructuring

    IMF Deal: Paris Club bolsters government’s effort on debt restructuring

    A staff-level agreement achieved on December 12, 2022, has led to the creation of an Official Creditor Committee (OCC) by the Paris Club and has bolstered the country’s efforts to restructure its debt and finally get a US$3 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    The OCC, which is composed of representatives from countries to which Ghana owes a debt, expressed support for the country’s proposed IMF upper credit tranche (UCT) programme and its swift adoption by the IMF Executive Board. In a communique last Friday, the Committee – co-chaired by China and France – also encouraged multilateral development banks (MDBs) to provide maximum support for Ghana to meet its long-term financial needs.

    Reacting to the development, Managing Director of the Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, welcomed the OCC, expressing the importance of an IMF-supported economic programme and their commitment to negotiate debt restructuring terms accordingly.

    “This statement provides the necessary financing assurances for the IMF Executive Board to consider the proposed Fund-supported programme and unlock much-needed financing from Ghana’s development partners,” she said

    She also endorsed a call by the Official Creditor Committee for private creditors and other official bilateral creditors to commit to comparable debt treatments.

    “The Creditor Committee’s action recognises the Ghanaian authorities’ strong reform programme, which aims to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while laying the foundation for an inclusive recovery. It also signals that further progress is being made under the G20 Common Framework, demonstrating that international partners are ready to work together on helping countries resolve their debt issues. This is vital to enable countries such as Ghana to achieve sustainable growth and poverty reduction,” she added.

    However, the Head of Insights at IC Group – a securities firm, Courage Martey, in a tweet cautioned that securing financing assurance from official creditors is not the final step in debt-restructuring. The next phase will involve critical negotiations with creditor committees, wherein Ghana will present its proposed terms to bring its debt and debt service metrics to IMF targets in present value terms. The creditors may agree or disagree, but a deal must be reached before the IMF can approve the next disbursements.

    According to Martey, once financing assurance is secured and the IMF programme is approved to begin, the success of debt restructuring will determine progress on the programme and additional disbursements under the US$3billion facility. Martey added that debt restructuring is one of the torturous parts of the IMF deal and a crucial factor in Ghana’s ability to achieve debt sustainability.

    “Securing financing assurance from official creditors is not a done deal for debt restructuring. It is not the only requirement for Ghana to secure IMF board approval for the programme to start. The next phase will be critical. Actual negotiations with creditor committees will begin with government presenting its proposed terms, which will ensure it brings debt and debt service metrics to the IMF targets in present value terms,” he explained.

    “The creditors may agree or disagree but a deal needs to be agreed upon before IMF reviews can be approved for the next disbursements. Once financing assurance is secured and the IMF programme is approved to begin, the progress on the programme and additional disbursements under the US$3billion will depend on the success of debt restructuring, which is one of the torturous parts of the IMF programme based on debt restructuring,” the economist added.

    The creditor committee noted that Ghana has taken steps to address its challenging macroeconomic and financial situation, including implementing a strong reform programme. The committee expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to successfully implement its reform program and achieve debt sustainability.

    It also urged private creditors and other official bilateral creditors to commit to negotiating such debt treatments with Ghana, which are crucial to ensure full effectiveness of the debt treatment for Ghana under the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI.

  • Parliament dismisses EC’s CI

    Parliament dismisses EC’s CI

    The new Electoral Commission‘s Constitutional Instrument (CI) which intends to make the Ghana Card the only document for continuous voter registration in the country has been rejected by Parliament.

    The House has rejected the move by the Electoral Commission (EC) to make the Ghana Card the only document for continuous voter registration in the country.

    Parliament has also maintained that the guarantor system which is a means of getting an eligible voter with the required document registered must also be maintained.

    A report of the Committee of the Whole also objected the EC’s move to limit continuous registration exercises to the regional, district capitals and offices determined by the commission.

  • Parliament to deliberate on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill on Friday

    Parliament to deliberate on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill on Friday

    On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee will present its findings on the Promotion of Appropriate Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, better known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, according to Bernard Ahiafor, the committee’s ranking member.

    According to him, the committee has considered the concerns of Ghanaians after they received over 200 memoranda on the bill.

    Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb’s Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese, he said, “…We are at a stage that the committee’s report and the recommended amendments on the LGBTQ+ bill is ready, so it likely tomorrow we will lay the report on the LGBTQ+ bill by which it has now moved from the committee to the plenary for consideration.

    “So, it will be for a second reading then after the second reading when the bill passes through the second reading, then it moves to a consideration stage, the third reading, then it is passed. And will be referred to the president for accent in line with the constitutional imperatives.”

    The Anti-LGBTQ+ bill sponsor, Sam George has hinted that the bill will be presented before the house in March 2023.

    This comes after the committee on the bill met with the Attorney General Wednesday, February 22, 2023, after which he indicated that he was okay with the bill.

    “I can see that we now have a light at the end of the tunnel. We have reached the end of the tunnel. And we’ll be bringing that report hopefully before the end of March or before this house rises and laying it before the house for debates on the floor. And so watch this space. We are in a good place. And we’ll be looking forward to you giving us all the support to pass this landmark bill, which will be the first of its kind. Yesterday the Attorney General made that point the first of its kind on African continent. Nigeria has a bill banning same sex marriages. That’s all. It doesn’t have all the other things our bill has. And so we’re excited about this,” Sam George added.

  • Namibia drops Greek salad after VIP menu backlash

    Namibia drops Greek salad after VIP menu backlash

    The Namibian government has abandoned plans to provide extra meals to VIPs at the country’s independence day celebrations next week, including Greek salad after criticisms on social media.

    On Tuesday, the northern district of Omusati’s capital of Outapi will host formal celebrations to honor 33 years of independence.

    The suggested menu was leaked in a letter to the chairman of the committee planning the celebrations, Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala, which sparked a social media uproar.

    According to the letter, caterers were to be instructed to prepare the following:

    • For the public, the menu included potato salad, butternut, rice, fried beef and fish.
    • For the VIPs – such as foreign dignitaries – extras like Greek salad, steamed carrots, maize pap (porridge made from maize meal), mahangu pap (porridge made from millet flour), baked fish and game stew.

    The social outrage over the government’s perceived “elitist tendencies” was summed up in Wednesday’s headline in the Namibian Sun: “U-turn on ‘lords and peasants’ independence menu”.

    However, Mr Endjala told the paper that these had only been suggestions.

    “We have realised that the proposal was far-fetched from reality. The menu was revised and the public will now have more food than the VIPs,” he is quoted as saying.

    Audrin Mathe, a senior officer in the information ministry, told The Namibian that the government would be spending less than $134,000 (£112,000) for this year’s independence day celebrations.

  • Visit to Ashaiman by MPs on March 16 is still feasible – Algaga

    Visit to Ashaiman by MPs on March 16 is still feasible – Algaga

    The committee’s ranking member, James Agalga, has defended the decision by the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, the Defence Minister, and the Military High Command to visit Ashaiman on Thursday, March 16.

    Some members of the public have questioned the timing, arguing that these institutions ought to contact Ashaiman locals right away to question them and get their firsthand accounts of what transpired.

    According to James Agalga, who spoke to Citi News, the timeframe is to allow ongoing investigations to come to a reasonable conclusion.

    “The Committee took the decision not to visit the scene at the time the Police and the GAF are in the community over the alleged killing and brutalities. The place is currently a crime scene, and some investigations are ongoing. If the committee is to proceed there, we stand to compromise the outcome, so we all agreed that we will wait till Thursday because by then, preliminary investigations would have been concluded.”

    Some soldiers were reported to have beaten some residents of Ashaiman on Tuesday after a soldier was killed in the area.

    Specifically, the military personnel invaded Ashaiman-Taifa and Tulaku on the dawn of March 7 in an attempt to arrest persons suspected of murdering a young military officer, Trooper Imoro Sherrif and ended up brutalizing people in the area and also arrested 184 persons, 150 of whom have been released as of March 9.

    “We will visit the deceased soldier’s family and also the victims who were brutalized”, James Agalga said.

    Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee, Ken Agyepong extended the condolence of the Committee to the family of the murdered soldier and also to the innocent people that were caught in the actions of the military.

    “We met…in a closed-door meeting with the Ministry of Defence and the Military High Command, and we have agreed that we will visit Ashaiman on Thursday [March 16] to dialogue with the people as well as the Military High Command and in the meantime, we pleaded with the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman to stay calm, and we sympathize with him and the family of the victim and also to those innocent people that were caught up.”

  • Assibey Yeboah: It is suicidal to remove Ken Ofori-Atta at this “crucial hour”

    A former chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah has stated it will be “suicidal” to remove Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from office “at this crucial hour.”

    He, has, therefore appealed to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) demanding his removal and have indicated their readiness not to support the 2023 Budget hearing, debate, approval of the estimates and the passage of the Appropriations Bill to reconsider their posture.

    He said time was of essence since the rules surrounding the budget is clear that it ought to be presented to Parliament on or before 15 November  every year.

    Already, one week has passed as of 21 November, and ideally, about six weeks is needed to do a thorough job on the budget consideration.

    He said when it comes to the Budget reading, it is possible anybody at all can read it provided the person was a Minister of State, but the chunk of the thorough work demands that the Minister and his team must lead – debate, approval of estimates and passage of Appropriations Bill.

    “It will be suicidal for the minister to be taken off at this crucial hour,” Assibey Yeboah, himself a former MP for New Juaben South said in a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online on Accra-based Oman FM on Monday (21 November).

    This is not the time for that, “to what end, what will it profit us. Even if a new minister is nominated today, it will not take this short period to vet and swear that person into office. That person is likely to be sworn into office in 2023. The deputy ministers can also not perform the function of the substantive minister, Parliament can even decide not to hear a deputy minister,” Dr Assibey Yeboah added.

    He said the minister will be needed at the committee level to defend the budget and therefore there is no need to create a vacuum.

    He said if the budget estimates and the Appropriations Bill is not done by December 22, 2022, it will disturb the entire nation and therefore Ofori-Atta should be supported to carry this through so that when it gets to January 2023 and the President decides to remove him, it will not create any inconveniences for the country.

    “As to whether Ken Ofori-Atta should be sacked or not, seriously I don’t have an opinion on that one, I leave it to the President to remove or maintain him,” he added and insisted the stance of the NPP MPs were problematic as some of them were “personalising” the issues.

    For now, let us get this out of the way, he said.

    Andy Kwame Appiah Kubi, spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament from the majority caucus, demanding the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister, had reiterated their stance not to participate in the 2023 Budget hearing and passage if President Akufo-Addo insists on keeping him in office.

    Appiah-Kubi, who is the NPP MP for Asante Akyem North said per their consultation, the majority of their constituents and NPP members were in agreement that, Ofori-Atta should be removed from office.

    He said the members disagreed with the suggestion that it is only Ofori-Atta who can present the 2023 Budget.

    “If he is not there, can’t others present the budget,” Appiah-Kubi questioned in a radio interview on Oman FM.

    “We have lost confidence in him because in the 2022 Budget, he promised that with an E-levy and property rate, there will be no need to go to the IMF for support… As we speak now, that has not happened and the property rate is even yet to take off.”

    “We are not convinced that it should be Ken Ofori-Atta and nobody else,” Appiah-Kubi added and insisted it is their “political decision” that Ofori-Atta must go for “the collective interest” of the NPP.

     

  • Sam George on AG position on anti-LGBT Bill

    One of the proponents of the Bill Against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Queer, LGBTQ+ groups, Sam Nartey George, says he does not agree with the Attorney General’s position on the Anti-Gay Bill.

    Mr. George said 80 percent of the issues raised by the A-G on the Anti-gay Bill have already been considered by the Committee working on it.

    He welcomed the views of the Attorney General, but added that the Committee differs from his opinion on the Bill.

    He said sponsors of the Bill will insist on this to the Committee on the floor and have a debate on it.

    The Ningo-Prampram MP also downplayed the possibility of the Bill being passed by Parliament before the end of 2022.

     

  • NDC’s regional executives elections begins today

    The regional elections of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), will begin today, Friday, November 11.

    The exercise is expected to end on Sunday, November 13.

    Ahead of this, the party’s Elections Committee has urged all delegates to fully abide by all directives.

    In the Greater Accra Region, the delegates are scheduled to vote for the positions of youth organiser and women organiser today at the Du Bois Memorial Centre.

    The exercise will then continue on Sunday at the Tema Sports Complex.

    At the venue, the delegates will elect a new Chairman, Secretary, and Organizer among others for the Greater Accra Region.

    The incumbent Regional Chairman, Ade Coker is being challenged by three others.

    The three are a former Member of Parliament for Adentan, Nii Ashie Moore, a former parliamentary aspirant for Ningo Prampram, Michael Kwetey Tetteh and Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser Thomas Mustapha Ashong.

  • Applause as Joe Ghartey declares intention to run for president

    It was all joy and applause when Hon Joe Ghartey stated at a meeting of the Expanded Regional Executive Committee of the Western Region of the New Patriotic Party that as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, God willing, “I will definitely contest for the Flagbearer position for the New Patriotic Party.”

    Addressing the gathering at a meeting held in Sekondi-Takoradi on Monday, 7th November 2022, Joe Ghartey stated that it had come to his attention that some Presidential Aspirants had already come into the Region to meet some delegates. He said that he would also meet them soon, but he was serving notice that he would definitely contest the Presidential Primaries.

    Joe Ghartey recollected that about five days before the 2020 general elections, he was interviewed on Radio 360, a radio station in Takoradi. The host asked him whether he would run for Parliament in 2024.

    Joe Ghartey, who has been an MP since 2004, said he would not. Pressed further whether he would aspire to be president, Joe Ghartey said he responded yes.

    He said he told the presenter that he had contested in 2012, and he placed third after the President and Alan Kyeremanteng, and he would contest again, God willing.

    Hon Ghartey told the gathering that after that, Asaase Radio flew a team from Accra to Takoradi to interview him a few days before the election.

    The host, Kojo Mensah, asked him the same question about whether he would contest for the presidential slot in 2024, and he answered yes.

    Joe Ghartey told the gathering that after the election, the president addressing MPs elect, said he would exclude from his Government anyone who had declared that he would contest for presidential Primaries.

    Joe Ghartey said he was told by a senior member of the party that he should have said he was now thinking about it when he was asked the question. Joe Ghartey told the gathering that he was not in the business of lying or waffling, and he spoke the truth, and the truth set him free.

    He had thought about it already, and that is why he answered that way. He assured the Region that he would definitely come around soon.

    Hon. Ghartey is a former Attorney General Minister of Justice and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

  • Minority calls for independent probe into allegations of mercenaries at Asutsuare

    The Minority in Parliament wants the government to probe allegations of the training of some mercenaries at Asutsuare.

    The group’s call follows an exposé by social media commentator, Kelvin Taylor, which disclosed the alleged training of some mercenaries by a top security officer at the Jubilee House.

    Speaking to journalists, the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, said the government must speak to the issue.

    “The Minority takes a very serious view of the exposé, and we demand that government comes out to clarify if it is actually the case that mercenaries have been brought into this country and are being trained at Asutsuare, and they are taken by escorts to Asutsuare every morning by bus or train?”

    “I think this calls for an independent probe into the matter. We can’t just go to sleep. The National Security and Interior Ministers need to speak on the issue.”

    He also called on international organisations to keep an eye on the issue.

    “The African Union, ECOWAS, and others should monitor the development. These are dark clouds gathering over our political landscape.”

    Source: Citi News

  • Kwabena Donkor hints at possible collapse of GNPC

    The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is at the brink of collapse, Former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor, has hinted.

    According to Dr Donkor who disclosed this in Parliament, “the financials don’t speak well of GNPC. He thus has called for stringent measures to be rolled out to forestall the collapse of the institution.

    “The future is bleak for GNPC and, therefore, we must insist that GNPC stays on the straight and narrow path in its operations,” he stressed.

    He bemoaned the fact that the GNPC is funding activities unrelated to its mandate, and warned of dire consequences if this development continues.

    “We will urge that from a purely financial analysis, without injection of new funds, GNPC is on the brink of bankruptcy,” he said.

    The GNPC is the state agency responsible for the exploration, licensing, and distribution of petroleum-related activities in Ghana.

    It has been in operation since its establishment in 1983 by the PNDC Law 64, to support the government’s objective of providing adequate and reliable supply of petroleum products and reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil imports, through the development of the country’s own petroleum resources.

    It is on record that the company in 2020, made a loss of USD163.392 million.

    The company blamed this on the COVID-19 pandemic which wreaked havoc on many economies.

    However, commenting on the report of the Committee on Employment Welfare and State Enterprises on the Financial Performance of GNPC for 2019 and 2020, Mr Duffour noted that the corporation’s coffer is in a bad shape.

    He, thus, charged Parliament to take a keen interest in the management of the corporation.

    “…Mr Speaker, in supporting the motion. I want to call the attention of this house to the need to bring GNPC, even if it is a committee of whole, to bring GNPC before this house for more critical scrutiny,” he said.

    Also, Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee Samuel Atta Akyea, noted that it appears the GNPC has drifted from its core mandate, a development which has accounted for its current woes.

    Worried over the current state of the corporation, a ranking member on the Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, bemoaned that the financial position of GNPC is devastating – a situation he said could lead to the collapse of the company.

    He further lamented the huge losses recorded over the period in review. “I’m very, very worried about the state of GNPC reading this report. And if you look at Page 4, is tasked with the profitability assessment of the company. If we look at the gross profit margin, which is the gross profit expressed as a percentage of your total sales, it has reduced from 50% in 2018 to 26% in 2019 to 0.3% in 2020.” “If you look at the operating profit… it has moved from 28% to -19.23%, nearing the point that money doesn’t like noise.”

    This comes after policy think tank IMANI Africa and the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) alleged that GNPC could cost Ghana between US$5 billion and US$6 billion. According to the two companies, the GNPC’s current arrangement with Genser Energy Holdings, a US-based Ghanaian-owned energy company, would lead to financial loss to the state.

    GNPC, however, has debunked the assertion, emphasising that the figures quoted by ACEP and Imani to represent programmed losses are in fact budget deficits.

    GNPC further stated that what it presents to Parliament in its annual Work Program is what the Corporation intends to spend on its activities and the sources of funding for such projects, and the means of financing the forecasted deficit, if any.

    “It is based on these mis-represented figures that ACEP and Imani draw their conclusion that GNPC’s operations raise significant debt concerns, and that cumulatively, the Corporation’s actions could cost Ghana between US$5 billion and US$6 billion. These conclusions cannot be any further from the truth,” a document from GNPC sighted by The Independent Ghana read.

    “The two organisations make basic errors, in their inability to distinguish between deficit financing and profit/loss,” the Corporation added.

    According to GNPC, it remains a perennial loss-making organisation that has made a loss in only one year, i.e. 2020.

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Ghana’s current economic woes due to Akufo-Addo’s reckless borrowings – John Jinapor

    A member of the Finance Committee in Parliament has laid the country’s current economic crisis solely on the doorsteps of President Akufo-Addo.

    John Jinapor said the woes is due the unprecedented and reckless borrowings by his government.

    According to him, despite the global economic situation, there is nothing to show for the huge borrowings.

    President Akufo-Addo
    President Akufo-Addo

    “The [crisis] is a Nana Akufo-Addo problem. There is a problem and what we are witnessing now is unprecedented. Something must be wrong somewhere because of excessive borrowing. We are borrowing as if there is no tomorrow. Going forward, government must move away from reckless borrowing”, John Jinapor said in an interview with Citi TV on Monday.

    The Yapei Kusawgu MP added that the government’s failure to invest in productive sectors is sinking the economy.

    “Managing an economy is not only about today but the short, medium and long term. If you borrow and invest it in productive sectors, it spurs economic growth, creates jobs and generates more revenue and can deal with the headwinds”, the MP added.

    Recent international ratings that saw Ghana’s economy downgraded to reflect the country’s inability to fix its liquidity and debt challenges.

    With limited access to the international financial market and challenges with domestic revenue mobilization to rescue the situation, Ghana has now turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a US$ 3 billion bailout.

    However, President Akufo-Addo addressed the nation on Sunday, October 30, about measures his government was taking to curtail the current economic crisis.

    In his address, the President hinted at possibly securing a deal with the IMF by the end of the year.

    According to him, the country is likely to arrive at an agreement by December to get the crucial bailout it seeks.

    Amidst the general economic difficulties facing Ghanaians, the President in the address to the nation on Sunday insisted that the government is committed to ensuring that the economy is back on track.

  • How Speaker linked cedi appreciation to calls for Ofori-Atta’s sack

    Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has said the cedi appreciation is due to the calls for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

    According to him, since the minority filed a motion to have Ken Ofori-Atta removed, Ghanaians have regained confidence that action has been taken to curb the economic crisis.

    “Because of this motion, you know what has happened to the state of our Cedi. Just because people are given confidence that action is being taken, the Cedi gained some value, and parliament should be commended. It climbed from about 16 to a dollar to around 13, which is a serious gain for this country, and it’s because there is some confidence being given to the people that action is being taken to rectify the wrongs. Please let’s play our role properly and effectively, and at the end of the day, we’ll all benefit,” he told MPs on Thursday.

    On October 27, the speaker of parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin admitted the minority’s Censure Motion filed against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

    This comes after Members of Parliament on the Minority side signed their signatories to a motion for a vote of censure on Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, filed on Monday.

    The Minority cites the overall mismanagement of the economy and ethical concerns, among others.

    The motion was filed a day before Parliament resumed recess.

    The admission of the motion is contained in the Order Paper of Parliament, issued on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

    The House is expected to organize “a secret vote” to censure the Minister. This is scheduled for November 10, 2022.

  • Ofori-Atta would have been one of Africa’s most glorified ministers if not for COVID – Ayew Afriye

    The Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, one of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs demanding the dismissal of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has said that had it not been for the Coronavirus and the Russia-Ukraine war, the minister would have been one of the most glorified ministers in the sub-region.

    In the view of the MP, who is the Chairman of the Health Committee of Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta has performed wonderfully, insisting that the growth of the economy and the direction of the economy was on the right trajectory before the global disasters.

    He, however, said that in spite of the wonderful work the finance minister has done on the economy, Ghanaians are going through difficult times, the reason for which there is a push for his dismissal.

    Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye also likened Ghanaians to the Israelites of the biblical times, when they rejected God any time they went through difficulties.

    He added that although the MPs acknowledge Ken Ofori-Atta’s sterling performance, they are only acting upon the instruction of their constituents.

    “We represent the people and we must act upon their demand. But for COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War, I am sure Ken would have been one of the most glorified ministers in Africa because the growth of the economy and the direction of the economy was on the right trajectory.

    “Working with people is difficult because when things are going well, they won’t complain, but the moment things get difficult, they forget all the good works you have done for them. It’s just like how ungrateful the Israelites were to God in spite of all the things God did for them. In difficult times, they rejected God even to the extent of worshiping idols.

    “So, the only way to satisfy our constituents is to act upon their demand of getting Ken Ofori-Atta sacked. They won’t listen to anything you tell them,” he told the Morning show host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson, in an interview.

    He also added that if there are signs of economic recovery, they (the MPs) will abandon the call for the dismissal of the finance minister.

    “Yes, we acceded to the president’s appeal so if after the 3 weeks, the economy is doing well, and everyone is talking about it we won’t push through with demand for his dismissal,” he added.

     

  • MPs share views on Speaker’s ruling on absentee legislators’ report

    Some Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed varied opinions to the Speaker of Parliament’s ruling on the fate of some three Members of the house over absenteeism.

    The Speaker, Alban Bagbin’s on Wednesday referred the report of the Privileges Committee asking for the declaration of the seat of the MP for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo and two others as vacant to the plenary for a determination on the matter.

    In his ruling, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin said, “the preliminary objection for the admissibility of the report is hereby dismissed in limine.”

    Members are divided over the ruling. Whilst the Majority which is pushing for the seats to be declared thinks the Speaker erred in his ruling, the Minority side believes the Speaker’s decision is apt.

    “The Speaker was presiding, and the Privileges Committee is a Committee of the house so once it is charged to go and do something, the recommendation of the committee shall be in the form of a report to be presented to the house which they have done so clearly, so what the speaker is saying is that, the right thing must be done”, one of the MPs said.

    The three MPs are Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central; Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso West, and Adwoa Safo; MP for Dome Kwabenya.

    They had been referred to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from Parliament beyond the permissible period without any reason.

    The Majority in Parliament has been pushing to have Adwoa Safo vacate her seat because she has been out of the country for most parts of the year.

    Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey appeared before the committee and attributed their absence to ill health, but Adwoa Safo failed to honour the summons and the option of a virtual appearance.

    “The Committee cannot take a decision, they have come to the plenary for a debate on its report then a decision is taken, so I think that, the Speaker is on the right path”, another legislator suggested.

    The Majority was left upset with the Speaker of Parliament’s ruling and said it would challenge it with a substantive motion.

    The Majority Leader, on the floor of Parliament, further accused the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, of pandering to the Minority in Parliament, which has been opposed to making the Dome Kwabenya seat vacant.

    One other opined, “as a member of the committee, it is the Speaker that has to make that decision and not the house debating it.”

     

     

  • 80 more foreign nationals in police grip at Kenyase-Duase

    Eighty more foreign nationals said to be in fraudulent online businesses were at the weekend arrested by the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command in Kumasi.

    They were busted at Kenyase-Duase in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region.

    Out of the number, nine were females, all from Burkina Faso, and the rest of them from Nigeria and Niger.

    While the females have been kept at Kenyasi police custody the rest were kept at the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command.

    They were all said to be living in a chamber and Hall apartment in the area.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen Kwakye, Tafo Pankrono Divisional Commander confirmed the arrest but would not give any details.

    Meanwhile, the Unit Committee Secretary for the area, Kofi Kakari, said there were suspicious moves by the suspects and compelled some residents in the area to report them to the police.

    He claimed that he led some elders in the community to question them on their activities in the area but they failed to give tangible reasons.

    This brings to 128 the number of such suspects being investigated by the police with 48 arrested in two separate operations in connection with alleged terrorism and other fraudulent acts, barely two weeks ago.

    Twenty One of the suspects were arrested earlier, while 27 were also arrested later.

    They were said to be from Niger, Nigeria, Kenya and Mali.

    In the operation, the Ejisu Divisional Police Command made the arrest at Ekyem, a community in Ejisu Municipality, based on a tip off.

    The investigation is focused on whether they have links to any terrorist group, following a recent terrorist acts in some neighbouring counties.

    Some of the suspects have been placed in police custody at Fumesua and others at Donyina and Ejisu.

    Throwing more light on the incident, the Assemblyman for Akokoamon-Achiase-Ekyem electoral areas, Daniel Owusu, said the community members had observed the “suspicious activities” of the suspects for some months and therefore, decided to report them to the police for further investigations.

    He said they did not know what exactly was happening in the house but “you will always see them making calls for hours in the evening”.

    “Out of curiosity, I entered the house one day and asked them of their mission, but they claimed they were learning because the place is a school.

    The move, he said, followed the “See something, say something” campaign being spearheaded by the National Security as a citizens’ awareness campaign aimed at protecting the country against terrorist attacks.

    He said the 27 suspects had rented five bedrooms of a storey building while the 21 were also occupying a 13 bedroom house, both at Ekyem.

    A search in their rooms saw some teaching boards and documents. The arrest followed a tip off by some community members in the area who noticed the abnormal behaviour of the foreign nationals in the area.

  • NDC’s constitution amendment committee accused of scheming to impose Mahama on party

    Ahead of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) delegates’ congress to elect new leaders in December this year, the committee charged to oversee the amendment of the constitution has been accused of engaging in moves that will eventually see John Mahama emerge as the party’s leader going into the 2024 polls.

    The Constitutional Amendment Committee of the NDC according to Angelonline.com.gh sources is seeking to disenfranchise some delegates.

    It has emerged that the Constitutional Amendment Committee has resolved to smuggle in obnoxious laws and remove delegates at the branch level and prevent them from voting.

    According to Article 42G of the NDC’s constitution, which talks about Presidential elections in the party and who is eligible to vote, Branch executives, Constituency, Regional, National Executives and founding members are permitted to vote.

    However, the source claims that the committee wants to expunge the branch executives from the list. The move is to allegedly pave way for former President John Mahama to lead the party for the fourth consecutive time.

    This is coming at a time a leading member of the party, Dr Kwabena Duffour’s name popped up in the flagbearship race.

    Due to his popularity at the grassroots level, some members of the party who are pro-John Mahama are said to be deliberately trying to sideline Dr. Duffour to give their favorite an advantage.

    Dr. Duffour’s self-help public finance practical ‘Ahotor project’ has been widely accepted by the grassroots as it brings hope to the various branches and constituencies to be self-financing.

    According to the source, the unwarranted exercise by the Committee has raised questions as it believes, would impact the fortunes of the party going into the 2024 elections.

    The move to ensure that the ward statutory officials of the party are excluded from certain party nomination processes at the state level which will put the party in bad light, a situation some have vowed to oppose.

    The source, who noted that some members of the party who have vowed to resist the move, said that “it is a Constitutional breach and is an evil agenda against the grassroots.”

    The source said that the objective of having the delegates at the ward and the grassroots to integrate the people and give power back to the people has been defeated with the planned action.

    On the planned amendment, the source said, “the party must be people-centered to make any reasonable impact in the coming elections since the expansion of the party statutory delegates to the ward level was to achieve the objective of bringing the party closer to the grass root.

    “An attempt of this nature will, therefore, be a nullity since it will not meet the stipulated constitutional positions,” it added.

     

  • Appiatse victims demand answers on restitution

    The Appiatse Disaster Victims Association (VOADA) has given the Appiatse Relief Committee three days to address several pressing issues affecting their reimbursement.

    The Association in a press statement demanded that the Committee provide satisfactory answers to important questions regarding the future of those impacted by the fatal explosion that occurred on January 20.

    The statement said, “We are requesting MAXAM Company Ltd, ARTHAANS Logistics and the Committees formed as a matter of urgency to consider a compensation to merit the affected members who as a result of the blast are going through emotional, psychological, physical, mental and financial trauma, making life unbearable.”

    Additionally, they requested that a full apology from the company responsible for the incident.

    “Natural law demands that after the blast at least MAXAM company should have visited Appiatse to commiserate with us for lives and properties destroyed by their explosives, but till date we have not heard or seen them at Appiatse. Should we consider they do not care? they quizzed.

     

  • Exam for law school cancelled due to question paper leak

    The entrance examination for the Ghana School of Law, which was supposed to be taken by prospective students today, September 23, 2022, has been canceled.

    The exam was canceled as a result of the questions being leaked on social media hours before it was scheduled to be written.

    The four paged leaked paper had two questions the candidates expected to answer.

    The Independent Examination Committee of the General Legal Council, which oversees examinations, decided to cancel the paper after careful consideration.

    This is the second time the Committee has cancelled an examination this year.

    In July 2022, the examination body cancelled a Civil Procedure paper scheduled to be taken by students of the Ghana Law School.

    This was after the copies of the paper had been circulated on social media ahead of the time it was scheduled to be taken.

    Meanwhile, GhanaWeb is informed that the cancelled entrance examination paper is scheduled to be taken later in the day.

     

     

  • Churches hold prayer meeting over Krobo, ECG stand-off

    A coalition of religious bodies under the auspices of the municipal council of churches in Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo in Eastern Region has been formed to mediate the impasse between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Krobo residents.

    The mediation committee was formed by religious organizations in the two municipalities after noticing division among traditional and political leadership in Krobo land on the matter and lack of trust between the feuding parties ECG and the Krobo residents.

    Members of the Coalition of Religious Bodies mediation committee are Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, Agormanya Area Head of The Church of Pentecost (Chairman), Chairman of Dangme-Tongu Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana ,Rev. Abraham Okai is Secretary)m to the committee.

    Other members are Rev. Dr. Stephen Ohipeni Narh, Rev. Father Moses Huadji, Rev. Stephen Narteh, Rev. Joshua Akanyork, Alhaji Innusah (Chief Imam).

    The terms of reference for the mediation committee is to among other things work as neutral arbiters, ensure compromises to facilitate resolution processes taken into consideration the interest of the nation and Kroboland, and ensure peace and tranquility in the municipality.

    At a prayer meeting attended by Church leaders in the two municipalities Sunday evening of August 28,2022 at Zimmermann Presbyterian Church, the chairman of the mediation committee Apostle Samuel Gakpetor briefed the church leaders on the work done so far by the committee constituted on August 7,2022 .

    According to him, the committee has met all Ministers of the gospel in the two municipalities to unite the Pastorate front to support the committee. They have also had engagements with traditional rulers, political leadership including Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong, influential individuals, various groups in Krobo area and visited victims of the recent military brutality.

    The mediation committee is expected to meet management of ECG, military high Command, and possibly hold durbar in Nuaso and Kpongunor communities.

    Rev. Abraham Okai, Secretary to the committee appealed for withdrawal of the armed military personnel to deescalate the tension in the community to facilitate mediation.

    The impasse between ECG and Krobo residents has existed for many years and led to deadly clashes.

    In a renewed feud, ECG cut power supply to the Yilo and Manya Krobo area on July 27,2022 after residents resisted prepaid meter installation and allegedly tampered with transformers.

    However, power was restored on August 19,2022 with exclusion of Nuaso community.The military invaded the community brutalised and shot some residents over alleged provocative attacks

    Source: Graphiconline