The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs on Parliament’s Appointments Committee have officially endorsed Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo as the nominee for Chief Justice, 12 days after her appearance before the committee for vetting.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, 6th June 2023, Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, announced on behalf of the Minority NDC that they find Justice Torkornoo fully qualified to assume the position of Chief Justice, despite concerns raised regarding her involvement in the Supreme Court’s ruling on James Gyakye Quayson’s dual citizenship case.
“We, the members of the Appointments Committee representing the National Democratic Congress, unanimously approve the nomination of Justice Torkornoo as Chief Justice,” he affirmed.
“Her impressive CV showcases her extensive experience, having served as a judge from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and eventually at the Supreme Court. We believe that capable women should be given the opportunity to hold key national positions. While we may have differing views on certain aspects of her jurisprudence, we acknowledge her qualifications for the esteemed role of Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana,” added the MP.
Following her vetting on 26th May, the NDC initially announced that they would withhold their decision until the Supreme Court releases its full ruling on James Gyakye Quayson’s dual citizenship case.
On Monday, June 5, the apex court provided the reasons behind its decision to uphold the Cape Coast High Court’s verdict to annul the 2020 Parliamentary elections in Assin North, hence directing Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson from its records.
Reasons for SC’s verdict
1. Upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2))a) of the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana the 1st Defendant was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms between 5th to 9 October 2020 to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections for the Assin North Constituency as a Member of Parliament.
2. Upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 the decision of the 2nd Defendant to permit the 1st Defendant to contest the Parliamentary Elections in the Assin North Constituency when the 1st Defendant had not shown evidence of the cancellation of his citizenship of Canada is an act that is inconsistent with and violates Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana.
3. Upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana the election of the 1st Defendant as Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency was unconstitutional.
4. Upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana the swearing in of 1st defendant as Member of Parliament for the Assin North Constituency was unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect.
NDC MPs displeased with court’s verdict
According to Mr Ayariga, the Supreme Court failed to deal with the substantive matter – qualification to be a Member of Parliament and rather dealt with the eligibility or qualification of a person to contest as an MP.
“While the clear language of the constitution was dealing with qualification to be a Member of Parliament, the Supreme Court veered off and was dealing with eligibility or qualification of a person to contest as a Member of Parliament.”
“I am quoting the Supreme Court directly in their reason. They said ‘we are dealing with eligibility or qualification of a person to contest as a Member of Parliament’. When the Supreme Court talks about the qualification to be a Member of Parliament, it is after the contest that you get sworn-in to be a Member of Parliament,” Mr Ayariga said.
He argued that Article 94 does not focus on eligibility to contest elections but on becoming a Member of Parliament.
“This only takes place at the point of swearing in,” he added.
Article 94 – Qualifications And Eligibility
2) A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he—
(a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana; or
(b) has been adjudged or otherwise declared
(i) bankrupt under any law in force in Ghana and has not been discharged; or
(ii) to be of unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic under any law in force in Ghana; or
(c) has been convicted—
(i) for high crime under this Constitution or high treason or treason or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; or
(ii) for any other offence punishable by death or by a sentence of not less than ten years; or
(iii) for an offence relating to, or connected with election under a law in force in Ghana at any time; or
(d) has been found by the report of a commission or a committee of inquiry to be incompetent to hold public office or is a person in respect of whom a commission or committee of inquiry has found that while being a public officer he acquired assets unlawfully or defrauded the State or misused or abused his office, or willfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the State, and the findings have not been set aside on appeal or judicial review; or
(e) is under sentence of death or other sentence of imprisonment imposed on him by any court., or
(f) is not qualified to be registered as a voter under any law relating to public elections; or
(g) is otherwise disqualified by a law in force at the time of the coming into force of this Constitution, not being inconsistent with a provision of this Constitution.
(3) A person shall not be eligible to be a member of Parliament if he—
(a) is prohibited from standing election by a law in force in Ghana by reason of his holding or acting in an office the functions of which involve a responsibility for or are connected with the conduct of, an election or responsibility for the compilation or revision of an electoral register, or
(b) is a member of the Police Service, the Prisons Service, the Armed Forces, the Judicial Service, the Legal Service, the Civil Service, the Audit Service, the Parliamentary Service, the Statistical Service, the Fire Service, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, the Immigration Service, or the Internal Revenue Service; or
(c) is a chief.
Assin North by-election
The Electoral Commission has announced June 27, 2023 for the Assin North by-election.
Nominations will be received at the Assin North District Office of the Commission from Monday the 12th of June 2023 to Wednesday, the 14th of June, 2023 between the hours of 9:00am to 2:00pm to 5:00pm on each day.
The filing fee for the election is GHS10,000.00.
Ahead of the by-election, Mr Gyakye Quayson has announced his decision to contest for the seat once again.
According to the National Democratic Congress’ Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi the people of Assin North will vote for James Gyakye Quayson to ensure justice is served.
Criminal charges against James Gyakye Quayson
Meanwhile, Mr Quayson could face a decade-long prison sentence if he is found guilty of perjury and other criminal charges brought against him by the Office of the Attorney General.
The charges include deceiving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by falsely claiming he did not hold dual citizenship to obtain a Ghanaian passport.
Mr Quayson is facing five counts, including deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport or travel certificate, making a false statutory statement, perjury, and false declaration of office.
Perjury, a second-degree felony, carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, and the prosecution is determined to prove his guilt.
Upon the resumption of Parliament, the Minority declared its intention to submit an urgent question seeking clarification regarding the proposed divestment of Ghana’s stake in Jubilee Oil Holdings (JOHL) to the Petroleum Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA).
It has been alleged that the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) under the Chairmanship of Mr Freddie Blay, is working on a transaction to relinquish about 50% of shares of JOHL to PetroSA.
Mr Blay has, however, denied any wrong doing.
Reacting to this claim, the Minority said apart from filing an urgent question for clarification of this saga, it is concerned with the manner in which the JOHL assets are being held and managed.
The Minority in a statement signed by its leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson claimed that the JOHL revenues are currently being used as “slush fund” to pursue all manner of business that has not been approved by Parliament under the usual GNPC budget approval process.
“The recent lodgment of $100 million of oil revenues in the accounts of JOHL which sparked concerns about the state being deprived of taxes accruing from these revenues leads credence to our concern,” the statement stated.
Even more troubling, according to the Minority, is the Energy Minister’s references in his letter to the Executive Secretary to the President, an attempt to try to refinance GNPC’s current debts by using JOHL’s asset to do so with LITASCO.
The Minority noted that it can presume that the intent is to forward sell JOHL’s production share to raise money.
To this end, they are calling on the Akufo-Addo-led government to transfer the shares held by JOHL to GNPC without delay, in order that Ghanaians can be assured that appropriate oversight is being exercised on these assets by parliament and other stakeholders.
This they say will ensure proper accountability and effective monitoring of the revenues accruing from the country’s petroleum resources.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has made a request for the disclosure of the details regarding the judgement on James Gyakye Quayson, the former Assin North MP.
They have stipulated that these details must be made available by June 7th before they can proceed with voting on the president’s Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Following the Supreme Court Justice’s vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the Caucus refrained from casting a vote on the nominee.
Their decision was prompted by the absence of access to the complete judgement, which they believe is necessary to make an informed determination.
The Supreme Court in its recent ruling on the dual citizenship case before it directed Parliament to expunge the name of embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson.
While the possibility of a second vetting session looms, the Committee’s chairman, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has announced that there will be no such session. However, the Minority Caucus remains resolute in their demand to review the entire judgement before reaching a conclusion.
The Minority Chief Whip in a press release indicated that the Minority expects the cooperation of the Majority in its request to bring closure to the vetting.
Below is the full release
The Minority Members on the Appointments Committee of Parliament did not vote on the President’s nominee for the position of Chief Justice today due to the unavailability of the reasoned judgement of the Supreme Court in the matter of Hon. James Gyakye Quayson
It is important to state that the Appointments Committee not long ago in 2019 vetted and approved this same nominee as a justice of the Supreme Court. However, it was imperative for Members of The Minority on the Committee to evaluate the decisions of the nominee on all other cases, including the James Gyakye Quayson case since the vetting in 2019.
We successfully evaluated the nominee on all relevant criteria except the outstanding matter of James Gyakye Quayson which would enable us to come to a decision. We expect the reasoned Judgement of the court on this matter by 7 June, 2023 to finalise our decision
We have duly communicated our challenge to our colleagues on the Majority side and expect their cooperation.
The Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has blamed the defeat of 17 National Democratic Congress(NDC) Member of Parliament (MPs) on the leadership reshuffle done by the party in parliament.
According to Muntaka, the defeat of 17 MPs in the just-ended NDC primaries is a result of the reshuffling of party leadership. He expressed concerns about the impact this loss of experience regarding the new candidates will have on the minority caucus in the upcoming parliamentary sessions.
“Now in 2023, the NPP is struggling to find its feet. They are struggling to stay above waters, and then you go and lose 17 MPs. Who do you blame? It will be very unfair if you blame the current [Minority] leadership because the primaries were announced before the coup that happened in Parliament, [and that was] very unstrategic.”
“You can do any scientific research, and it would point to you that the timing of that coup was absolutely wrong. It didn’t give the new leadership the opportunity to settle and strategize to save many more MPs,” citinewsroom.com quoted him as saying in an interview.
Muntaka added that it would be unfair to hold the current minorityleadershipresponsible because the timing of the party primaries was announced before the unexpected changes took place in parliament.
He maintained that the timing of the parliamentary reshuffling was ill-advised, as it did not allow the new leadership enough time to settle and strategize effectively to secure more seats.
The NDC held its primaries on Saturday, May 13, 2023, which resulted in significant losses for several incumbent Members of Parliament.
Approximately 17 incumbents lost their seats to newcomers.
Paul Twum Barimah, the representative for Dormaa East, has refuted assertions made by the minority in parliament that the House’s Tuesday vote to approve loan agreements was not unanimous.
According to John Jinapor, the member of parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu, not all MPs approved the loans totaling roughly 750 million dollars.
He claimed that while the Minority Caucus fiercely opposed the loan agreements, the numbers did not support them, therefore it would be unfair to place the responsibility on them.
But in an interview with Citi News, the Dormaa East MP said such claims are unfounded.
“So far as we know we all support the loans. It was by voice vote, did you see anyone on his feet to question the loans? Nobody did that, not even their leadership nor any member and if you read the report it was a unanimous report.”
Parliament on Tuesday approved an amount of $150 million dollars for the financing of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme phase 2 under the Multi-phase programmatic approach.
Parliament also approved an on-lending agreement between the government and the Development Bank Ghana for an amount of £170 million Euros to support the establishment of a financially sustainable development Bank.
The House also approved a loan agreement between the government of Ghana and the World Bank for an amount of $200 million to finance the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project.
A member of the Minority in Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini, has alluded that some National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs were bribed by the government to approve its newly sworn in ministers.
Speaking on Pan African Television (Aljahi & Alhaji) over the weekend, the Tamale North MP indicated that an amount of GHS40,000 was all that was needed to turn the decisions of some members of the Minority.
He implied that the dire circumstances some MPs live in made them susceptible to bribes – a condition he does not affiliate with. Mr Suhuyini therefore stated that he would not be able to vouch for his colleagues with regards to being loyal.
“I know my colleagues. So if I use myself as a yardstick, I will be unfair. And I say that I can’t be tempted with money. But I know the situation that others live in. So when you give them a task at a time I know they can be tempted with money and I draw your attention to it, it is not because I can be tempted with money. So we need a strategy. Some people, GHC40,000 to raise that to file was such a big deal. Yes, it doesn’t excuse whatever they did. But that is judging them on your standard and not their standard,” he said.
The Tamale North MP noted that the betrayal could have been avoided should things have been put in their rightful places by the party leadership.
“It is condemnable, unacceptable that anybody in Parliament will sacrifice a party interest, National interest for that but people did. Could you have prevented it? I believe we could have a party, if we were honest and planned better,” he asserted.
On March 24, 2023, the Minority in Parliament came under intense criticism by the rank and file of the NDC.
The NDC MPs failed to uphold their word to reject the five individuals President Akufo-Addo had appointed to head a number of ministries.
Since then, it has been speculated that some MPs had been convinced by the government with a token. The exact MPs who were compromised have not been fished out since the incident.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifii Kwetey, per reports, has however, provided an uncompleted list of loyal MPs who voted against the approval of then ministerial nominees.
So far, the identities of 46 loyal NDC MPs have reportedly been released by Mr Fiifi Kwetey via Whatsapp. It is believed that 39 MPs betrayed the party.
Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome (South Tongu MP), Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui (Awutu Senya West MP), Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman MP), Edward Abambire Bawa (Bongo MP), Yusif Sulemana (Bole Bamboi MP), Richard Kwame Sefe (Anlo MP) and Yao Gomado (Akan MP) are among those viewed as loyalists.
But the likes of former Minority leader and his ex-Chief Whip, Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak respectively, are yet to find their names on the list.
Following the incident, Mr Muntaka Mubarak spoke against the fact that Party interests were being pursued in Parliament rather than national interest.
“We are taking too many entrenched positions on both sides, those in government taking too much entrench position, those in opposition taking extreme positions and I can tell you this is not helpful to our country, it is not helpful to us.
“The better both sides begin to think that there is a national interest above the NPP interest and above the NDC we will be sinking our country,” the Asawase MP stated.
Meanwhile, Mr Alhassan Suhuyini has entreated the leadership of the NDC to effectively liaise with the leadership in Parliament and stop acting like “coaches” directing what should be done in the House.
“Party leaders are not chosen to manage Parliament. They are not chosen to be coaches of Parliament. They are chosen to run the party alongside Parliament. So when you have debates in Parliament and the Parliamentarians win that debate, you expect the national organisers and women organiser, Chair and secretary to be massing people up on the street to complement what Parliament is doing.
“But what we have are Executives sitting on the bench coaching Parliament and that will not take us to victory. I say this at the risk of sometimes being ostracized. But our party leaders must begin to wake up and understand that the 2024 election will not be won in Parliament,” he cautioned.
On the other hand, President Akufo-Addo on April 4, 2023, swore into office his five new ministerial appointees approved by Parliament..
Trade Minister KT Hammond and his deputy Dr Stephen Amoah, Bryan Acheampong, the Agric Minister, Chieftaincy Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Dr Mohammed Amin Adams, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Local Government, Osei Bonsu Amoah took their oath at the ceremony which took place at the Jubilee House.
In his speech, President Akufo-Addo urged the ministers to uphold the interest of Ghanaians as their appointment comes at a critical time in Ghana’s history.
He noted that there is “enough time to make a difference and make a significant contribution to the development of the country.”
Parliament is undertaking a secret ballot on the approval of ministerial nominees appointed by President Akufo-Addo.
The Appointments Committee in February vetted the nominees which include Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahiru Hammond, who is to head the Trade Ministry, Abetifi MP, Brian Acheampong, who has been appointed Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.
MP for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, has been appointed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
Nhyiaeso MP, Stephen Asamoah Boateng has been appointed Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Mr Hebert Krapah, Deputy Minister at the Trade Ministry has been moved to the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister-designate.
Dr Stephen Amoah is Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry. MP for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has been appointed Minister of State at the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Minority have threatened to reject the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s appointees due to the size of his government.
Parliament is expected to be involved in a heated debate today although Speaker Alban Bagbin has warned against recalcitrant behaviour.
The leader of the majority party inParliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has asked for a new constitutional provision that would impose a limit on the number of ministers that the President may designate.
His call follows demands by the Minority caucus in Parliament for President Akufo-Addoto downsize his government in the wake of the economic challenges.
Speaking at the launch of the 30 years of parliamentary democracy, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu outlined a series of benefits to be achieved with the consideration of constitutional reform.
“We need a constitutional order that would mitigate the winner takes all attitude and prevent the do-or-die combat associated with our elections. We need a new constitutional order that would prevent the constant increase in the number of seats in Parliament.”
“We need a new constitutional order that would put a cap in the number of ministers of state. We need a new constitutional order that would ensure that the Speaker of Parliament is a serving member of Parliament,” the Suame MP said.
The Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso has also called for an entirely new constitution contrary to calls for the 1992 constitution to be amended.
Prof. Antwi-Danso holds the view that a new constitution written by a committee so established will repair any defects that currently plague the country’s democratic dispensation.
“I believe that if we have something new (new constitution), politicians will jump to it to serve a better purpose,” he stressed.
On proportional representation, he believes it will be the best for a true representation of the people in parliament, but fears implementing it may be fraught with challenges.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has been urged by the Minority inParliamentto apologize to the group for his remarks regarding their decision to reject ministerial nominees.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah speaking to journalists said the Minority caucus will stop working with Mr Afenyo-Markin if he does not apologise and proceeds on the tangent of insulting members of the minority group.
“We believe that we are in a serious time of crisis and thisHouse is a serious House. It is not a house of insults, and we are not going to descend into that gutters with him. If he is going to be serious in engagements, then he should, if he goes on this path then we will not deal with him as a leader.
“We will urge him that he should apologise, so we can move on because clearly, our focus is basically to fight for the people of Ghana.”
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah’s comment comes after the deputy Majority Leader, Afenyo-Markin described as political immaturity, the position of the Minority not to approve any of the ministerial nominees.
“We in the Minority wish to make it clear that we remain committed to ensuring greater scrutiny and will spare no effort to protect the public purse. In line with this, we are taking part in the vetting process so that at the very minimum, we can scrutinize the President’s decision in bringing up those nominees. However, the Minority will not subscribe to a consensus vote at the level of the Appointments Committee.”
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has officially announced his plans to run for President in the 2024 general election.
Mr. Mahama made the formal announcement when he met with the Minority caucus at his Cantonment office on Tuesday.
All NDC MPs in Parliament have unanimously endorsed John Dramani as flagbearer.
Present at the meeting were former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, former NDC Campaign Manager for the 2020 general elections, Professor Joshua Alabi and former Information Minister, Kofi Totobi Quakyi.
It is expected that the former President will make a public declaration in the coming days.
On Monday, leadership of four unions – Motor Riders Union, True Drivers Union, Concerned Drivers Union and Abossey OkaiSpare-part Dealers Association – petitioned John Dramani Mahama, urging him to contest for the Presidency.
If elected President, John Dramani Mahama will, in the opinion of the unions, be the finest person to address the nation’s current economic problems.
Presenting the petition to the office of the former President, the Public Relations Officer of the Motor Riders Association, Setsofia Quashie said Ghanaians are desirous of a change in administration that will result in the transformation of the economy.
NDC Greater Accra Chairmen endorse Mahama; promise to pay his GH¢500K filing fee
Constituency Chairmen of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region had earlier declared their support and endorsement for former President John Dramani Mahama, should he decide to contest the party’s presidential primaries.
The Greater Accra Chairmen Caucus during a courtesy call on Mr. Mahama asked him to lead the party to the 2024 election.
According to the 33 chairmen, it is only President John Mahama who can lead and win the elections for the NDC in 2024.
The caucus, led by Dome Kwabenya Chairman, Isaac Lamptey, also promised that they will raise and pay the filing fee of GH¢500,000 for Mr. Mahama to contest the NDC primaries.
NDC youth in the Volta Region also want John Dramani Mahama to run unopposed for the flagbearership race of the party ahead of the polls.
The group believes that there “is no need for flagbearer elections, but instead the party should directly endorse the former president as flagbearer of the party for the 2024 presidential elections.”
In an effort to push the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to submit the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) for approval to Parliament, the Minority has submitted a private members’ motion.
The NDC MPs are asking that the whole government’s debt restructuring package be brought before the House for additional discussion in a motion filed on Friday, February 17.
They hold the opinion that in their capacity as Ghanaians’ representatives, they must necessarily contribute to the program.
Already, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has said his side will also file a motion to compel government to exempt individual bondholders from the programme.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, the Ajumako Enyan Essiam legislator said they will do whatever is possible to ensure investors are protected.
“Our intention today was to serve notice that tomorrow the NDC Minority will be filing a motion to compel the government to exempt individual bondholders and pension funds and pensioners from the domestic debt exchange.”
Dr Ato Forson explained that the decision to file the motion is to ensure that an issuer exemption is granted to bondholders who had faith in the NDC government to invest in risk-free bonds.
This, he asserted, is because “the Constitution is clear that before you go for a loan, the terms and conditions must be approved by Parliament.”
Following an economic downturn and difficulties in servicing its debt, the government implemented the domestic debt exchange programme to give itself more time to meet its fiscal obligations.
However, the programme upon its announcement faced stiff opposition from groups and individuals.
Without the debt exchange programme, the government warned that the nation’s economy would collapse.
Ghana is currently requesting a $3 billion bailout from the IMF to bolster the struggling national economy.
Before the Bretton Woods institution’s board would evaluate Ghana’s request, one of the requirements is the domestic debt restructuring scheme.
A staff-level agreement between Ghana and the IMF was achieved in December, opening the door for the $3 billion rescue.
For the second week of the legislative session, which ends on Friday, February 17, the minority has threatened to vote against the business statement.
On Friday, February 10, 2023, after the Deputy Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin read the business statement for next week, the minority leader, Caissel Ato Forson, raised concerns that the agenda that was discussed did not include Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2023.
“… Mr Speaker at the meeting, I have a copy of the draft of the agenda we discussed. But to my surprise, I have seen an introduction of the C1 which was never discussed at the business committee meeting. But the deputy majority leader who did not attend business committee meeting stood here and made a pronouncement that this was agreed upon. Mr Speaker I am deeply disappointed in the Clerks for allowing this to be smuggled into a business statement. This can never be allowed.
“Mr Speaker if that is the way this administration of the house, Mr Speaker this side of the house is ready for them,” Ato Forson said.
The Public Elections (registration of Voters) Regulations, 2023 was captioned in page 4 (iii)(e) of presentation of papers.
The Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Banda, who described the business statement as a smuggled report said the house will not entertain it in the chamber.
Mr. Banda added that the Deputy Majority Chief Whip in parliament, Frank Annor Dompreh, had indicated they would smuggle the CI in the business statement and he truly did.
He added that the was a directive that the EC chairperson should appear before the house and brief them on the CI which includes the rationale behind the CI.
Ahmed Banda said the EC chairperson did not appear before the house and yet the issue has still been brought into the business statement.
In response, Alexander Afenyo-Markin said that the report should not be rejected if the minority merely disagrees but that it should be put on hold.
“Sometimes when your brother disagrees with you and you believe in a solution, you could grant us a temporal leave. Today is Friday. I will want to yield to the views expressed that we place the issue of the CI on ice for now. In other words, it won’t be part of the report,” Afenyo-Markin added.
The Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu in his ruling said the majority did not deny that the CI was not part of the business arranged for the week.
“So, what has not been agreed should be excluded and if you discuss and you agree. The leader can make another statement on what was agreed. So, lets exclude what was not part of the business arrange of the week and proceed with what has been arranged for the week,” Joe Wise said.
Engage leadership of Parliament or forget new C.I – Speaker to EC
In October 2022, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin vowed to stop the laying of a new constitutional instrument (CI) if the Electoral Commission fails to seek audience with the leadership of parliament.
The commission announced the new C.I which seeks to make the Ghana Card the only proof of nationality for its impending limited registration exercise which will soon be presented to parliament.
The move has attracted stiff opposition from the NDC and some civil society groups.
After their first meeting in parliament, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, the immediate-past Minority Chief Whip, welcomed the the new leader of the Minority Caucus of Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson with an “emotional” hug.
Muntaka Mubarak, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Asawase, told Ato Forson (MP for Ajumako Enyan Esiam), not to be in a hurry to take his new role as the minority leader.
He even rejected claims by Cassiel Ato Forson suggesting that he (Ato Forson) had a fruitful conversation with the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.
“I can tell you that the meeting was not fruitful. He mentioned some measures that they had to take, but that was not done. I can tell you that he was irritated at the meeting,” Muntaka said during a press conference on Thursday.
But on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, February 7, 2022, when Ato Forson was expected to assume his role as minority leader, the two National Democratic Congress (NDC) stalwarts appear to have put aside their differences.
GhanaWeb’s team in Parliament captured the moment where Ato Forson and Muntaka met on the floor of Parliament, before the former was announced by the Speaker of Parliament as the Minority Leader.
The two men could be seen will hugging and shaking each other’s hands and Muntaka appears to be congratulating Ato Forson.
Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a public hearing on the audit of the Covid-19 expenditure effective February 07, 2023.
Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday the new minority leader reiterated “At that point, we’ll pay due diligence to the duties given to us as the people of Ghana.”
The decision comes after engagement with the Finance and the Health Committees of parliament, he disclosed.
Subsequently, the new leadership of the minority caucus has also planned to embark on a roadshow to “galvanize the people of Ghana and educate them” on the impact of the current economic crisis.
The two programmes will ostensibly form his initial action after his elevation as minority leader of Ghana’s largest opposition in parliament.
He’s yet to set out how he plans to bring together a party riven into factions after the upset in the leadership of the minority caucus following the reshuffle.
But the new minority leader has urged for calm among the rank and file of the NDC saying the new leadership has a good handle on the affairs of parliament and will do a great job in the larger interest of the party and the nation.
“…I’ll appeal to the rank and file of our great NDC party to keep calm, members of parliament are in good hands, we’ll work with them with due diligence. Obviously, we’re not new in this House. I have been in this House for 14 years. I know the capabilities of all our colleagues, some I met, some came to meet me. I have worked closely with most of our colleagues and I can assure you that together we shall succeed,” he told Journalists in parliament.
he Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG) Dr. Kwame Asah Asante says the shakeup in the leadership for the Minority caucus in Parliament was necessitated by disturbing issues in the house.
The opposition NDC has made changes to its leadership in Parliament with the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader.
The former Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam replaces Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.
Dr. Ato Forson is to be assisted by MP for Ellembele, Kofi Armah Buah who has been appointed as the Deputy Minority Leader.
Commenting on the changes made by the party on Starr News with Naa Dedei Tettey, the Political Science Lecturer said “political parties undertake such exercises in order to win power and form the next government. So, any rule that they will make in order to wrestle power from whoever is holding political power they will do it. So, for me, it doesn’t come to me as a surprise at all.
Mr. Asante also believes there might be some happenings within the opposition party that caused this immediate change of leadership with the Minority.
“It’s gradually appearing to me that there is something that is going on in Parliament that the leadership of the party is not happy of, for which reason they want to make this change and the time that they are meeting is more significant. More often than not, you tend to see such changes when Parliament is about to start a sitting. But now that they are in recess and this thing comes in then you realize that there is something that is pushing them into doing that”, the lecturer reiterated.
The NDC party has also appointed Adaklu MP, Governs Kwame Agbodza as the new Minority Chief Whip. He replaced Asawase MP, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak.
Both Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah maintained their position as deputy Minority Whips.
The Minority leader in parliament, has asked Parliament to shoulder some of the blame and accountability for the failure to hold the executive branch of government accountable for carrying out its duties.
According to him, Parliament must accept the blame for the government’s excessive borrowing.
He said it was the responsibility of Parliament to check the excessive borrowing by the government, asking: “How did we get here?”
“Parliament’s role as the defender of the people’s interests is lost,” he said.
He made the admission on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, during a roundtable with the core leadership of Parliament on harnessing the dividends of democracy over the last 30 years, organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Democratic dividends refer to the benefits that a democratic system can provide for society.
Among these benefits are the provision of public goods and an institutionalised arrangement for carrying the people along in the discharge of the duties of the state.
The discussion was on the theme: ‘Parliament and the harnessing of democratic dividends: Assignment.’
It brought together experts, including the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, and Dr Maame Adwoa Gyeke-Jandoh, former Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The Minority Leader admitted that Parliament was always found wanting when it came to exercising its oversight due to intense partisanship.
He said the House struggled to determine what was best for the national interest against the interests of political parties.
Mr. Iddrisu said the consequences of excessive borrowing were being felt by “all of us.”
He argued that Article 181 of the Constitution gave Parliament the sole right to approve the terms and conditions of all loans.
“So if the Minister of Finance’s borrowing has exceeded 100 percent of GDP, how did we get here?” He asked.
He intimated that Parliament had become a “clearing house,” approving Executive members nominated to serve, without scrutinizing them and telling them in the face “that their conduct is not good enough.”
“The Parliament of Ghana is contributing, through acts of commission or omission, to eroding public faith and confidence in our democracy,” he stressed.
The Speaker of the parliament, Alban Bagbin, has come under fire from Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak for his involvement in the Finance Minister’s censure mess.
The Asawase MP says the Speaker is becoming a tyrant.
In a yet-to-be-aired interview on PM Express tonight on the JoyNews Channel at 9 pm, the NDC MP gives the full inside story of how they lost that crucial historic vote.
He reserved some sharp criticism for Speaker Alban Bagbin whom he accused of abusing Parliament’s Standing Orders in setting up the controversial Adhoc committee that gave Ken Ofori-Atta a public hearing.
The Minority last week lost the vote after their Majority colleagues walked out of the chamber.
The NDC Minority had triggered the vote of censure motion desperate to remove the Finance Minister.
Speaker of Ghana Parliament, Alban Bagbin has disclosed that it is his wish to live longer in order to see things as he had once been told.
In his closing remarks after the censure vote to remove Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had been lost by the Minority because the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) did not meet the two-thirds vote requirement, he narrated a story told him by a senior statesman.
According to him, it is his prayer to live long in order to see things though he was not specific on which on the particular things he was talking about.
He narrated: “One senior statesman, I actually refer to him as an elder statesman told me a story that when they were in school, a gentleman used to visit them and whiles walking on the streets he would be repeating one statement and I quote ‘if we don’t die early we will see things’
“I have been praying to God to allow me not to die early so that I can see things. I am not yet old but I have started seeing things,” he said.
It would be recalled that the Minority caucus filed a motion of censure against the Finance Minister, accusing him of mismanagement of the economy, financial recklessness, conflict of interest, gross mismanagement of the economy.
An eight-member ad-hoc committee set up by the Speaker to probe the motion brought against the Finance Minister presented its report to Parliament on November 25, 2022 but it was debated and voted upon yesterday, December 8.
The Majority staged a walk out rubbishing the allegations levelled against the Finance Minister causing the vote to be lost.
The Minority in Parliament has indicated that it will not accept government’s proposed debt restructuring programme as announced.
Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, relayed the Minority’s position during a press conference held today, Monday, December 5, 2022.
Below is a press statement from the Minority
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the press.
We welcome you all to this press encounter, prompted by some very disturbing and urgent developments on the economy. Our economy is indeed in crisis.
As is now trite knowledge, the Ghanaian economy has been terribly mismanaged in the last five to six years by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration leading to our request for a 17th IMF program to renew confidence and policy credibility on our failing economy despite haughty initial denials.
The severely ailing economy has been characterized by unsustainable debt, very high inflation, unprecedented and disastrous depreciation of the cedi, high budget deficits and unprecedented credit rating downgrades.
The economic situation is so bad that we are currently ranked side by side with Sri Lanka, which is considered the worst economy in the world and has defaulted on its debt.
Our public debt hovers above the GHS 500 billion mark with a corresponding debt to GDP ratio of about 105% having inherited a total public debt of GHC120billion in 2017.
Inflation for the month of October is 40.4% and is destined to rise for the month of November. The cedi has lost 54% of its value in the last ten months alone.
The combined effect of these grim macro-economic indices has been devastation and disappointment for Ghanaians and households.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING
The Minister of Finance Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta has just this morning announced “Major Policy” blue prints on government’s debt restructuring on domestic debt restructuring promising to announce for extension for debt restructuring in due course.
To put our unsustainable debt on the right path, we were told categorically by the President of the nation, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo- Addo “THERE WILL NO BE HAIRCUT”, at least we now know there is.
The form and structure of this debt restructuring is unacceptable to the NDC Minority, we simply cannot agree to this as it has dire consequences on the financial sector, on pension funds and on jobs. We are all at risk.
According to Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s DEBT is UNSUSTAINABLE and we cannot SERVICE it FULLY if we do not restructure some GHC 137 billion of our Domestic debt.
Ghana is the first country in Africa to announce domestic debt restructuring or as they put it domestic debt exchange!
We have OFFICIALLY DEFAULTED in the repayment of the terms of our existing Domestic debt.
Ghana joins Greece and Jamaica in the last 10years.
The NDC MINORITY has been consistent on this matter, we cautioned and warned the government about engaging in reckless borrowing and expending it wastefully! How come contours of this exchange program was not announced in Parliament during the 2023 budget presented on 24th November 2022. Will it require legislation? How come that a major policy step of this dimension was not part of his presentation to Parliament?
While we agree that Government is still negotiating the potential and inevitable IMF Program, it is necessary that conclusive Government plans be brought to the House for approval.
This is consistent with the Constitution:
(a) The terms and conditions of an IMF Program support constitute a loan and finance agreement under the Constitution;
(b) As implied, any other debt restructuring exercise constitutes a variation of the terms and conditions of past loans authorized by the House;
(c) All loans to support the Budget and Appropriation Act approved by the House, to finance Projects and Programs; and
(d) The House needs to know the socio-economic impact of any loan and program agreements, to the extent that these are not appropriately and specifically espoused in the economic policy section of the Budget.
It is now obvious that BoG is heavily financing the Budget, in open defiance of existing laws and policy approvals by the House.
I wish to reiterate my call on the Governor to desist from flouting the laws and for him to appear before the House to explain the form and implications of the Central Banks monetary and, not least, its aggressive and defiant fiscal stance.
The government is simply breaking contracts according to the plans revealed by the Finance Minister this morning. This development will deter investors, without first informing and consulting them. The best way to manage a crisis is to anticipate it, to reduce its impact, or at best to prevent it from happening.
We have been thrust into the worst cost of living and cost of doing business crisis in recent memory and horrendous suffering and pain have been the portion of Ghanaians.
And to be clear, the suffering we are all going through is a direct consequence of recklessness and mismanagement on the part of this government and their appetite for excessive borrowing
It was the expectation of many that the crisis we face would elicit the most urgent and far-reaching steps by government to ensure a reversal of our dismal fortunes.
We had hoped that the opportunity of the presentation of the 2023 budget would seized to show real commitment to proposing and implementing economic policies and measures that will mitigate the suffering.
Instead, we have observed with dismay, a shocking lack of urgency and commitment to tackling the crisis.
To begin with, the Budget was completely devoid of any convincing plan to get us out of the economic mess and turmoil.
The same “business as usual” posture that landed us here in the first place is on display. The Budget to offer comfort to anyone that we will be out of the woods in the short to medium term provided no evidence.
In addition to the lack of convincing proposals, we have been utterly shocked at the show of disrespect and disinterest in the Budget process by the very government that presented it.
We have been left dumbfounded as Cabinet Ministers who double as MPs and who form part of the government that has superintended over the greatest economic crisis of our time abandoned the important Budget debate and approval process only to be seen in Qatar making merry and taking selfies during the world cup.
Never in our history has a government exhibited such poor judgement and they have by this singular act placed beyond any doubt, that they have no respect for the people of Ghana, or the mandate bestowed on them to govern.
We are particularly stunned that President Akufo-Addo allowed this to happen.
EXPENDITURE CUTS
We expect major expenditure cuts to achieve fiscal consolidation. The size of Government must be reduced drastically. We demand responsible spending.
We will not accept the outrageous GHC1.4billion allocation as contingency vote contained at page 209 of the 2023 Budget statement. We note that, this allocation is an additional GHC400million compared with last year’s allocation of GHC993million. This cannot be happening in a period of austerity.
We are also opposed to an allocation of GHS10 million for what has been strangely described as Defense Advisory Services. We also strongly denounce plans to increase the staff strength at the Office of Government Machinery by a staggering 1,570 at Page 230 of the 2023 Budget. This will increase total staff strength at the OGM to 3,681. This is unconscionable at a time Government has announced a total freeze in public sector jobs.
If ever there was proof that this government has lost its way and shown itself unworthy of the trust of the people of Ghana, this would be it.
We in the Minority wish to make it very clear, that if we do not see significant improvement in the attitude of the Majority side and sector Ministers do not turn up to lead the Budget process on their sectors, we will withdraw from the Budget process.
We will no longer countenance this embarrassing gross dereliction of duty to the people of Ghana.
On the Budget itself, we note that far from offering hope and assurance of a quick turn-around in our gloomy economic situation, it is packed with measures that will exacerbate the suffering we are already enduring.
We also note that no lesson has been learnt on how reckless and unrestrained expenditure have undermined the Ghanaian economy.
The 2023 Budget continues on the same spending trajectory that has led to our collective economic doom.
Instead of cutting down on non-essential expenditure, we have rather seen an increase with additional spending of up to GHS 82 billion. Some of the envisaged expenditure items are entirely wasteful and needless.
NATIONAL CATHEDRAL 80 MILLION GHANA CEDIS
Despite huge public outcry and in defiance of prudence, another GHS 80 million has been earmarked for the National Cathedral, which does not constitute a spending priority at this time.
This will bring the total amount spent on the project to about GHS 420 million, the total amount of tax payer funds so far spent. The estimated total cost of the project is around 400million dollars. Is this project a national priority?
For a government that is unable to print textbooks for basic school pupils several years after introducing new curricular unable to pay NABCO arrears and that is indebted to contractors and suppliers to the tune of over GHS 40 billion, this is most imprudent and unacceptable.
2.5 % INCREASE IN VAT
Whilst whittling away the little we have as a country in this intransigent manner, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has decided to pile more hardships on the people of Ghana through the introduction of more taxes in the 2023 Budget presented to Parliament.
The most punitive among these taxes is the addition of 2.5% to the VAT rate bringing it to a cumulative 21.5% (made up of 2.5% GETFund, 2.5% National Health Insurance, 1% Covid Levy and 15% VAT all levied under the terms of Value Added Act, Act 870) the highest in Africa. What moral right does President Akufo-Addo have to increase VAT by 2.5% when he led the “KUMI PREKO” demonstration in 1995 resulting in the loss of five lives.
As sure as night follows day, this will worsen the hardship faced by Ghanaians, as the prices of almost all items will increase instantaneously once this tax comes into effect.
In addition to the increase in VAT, we have detected twenty-two additional tax and revenue measures that will make life even more difficult and unbearable for every Ghanaian.
As Social Democrats, we of the NDC stock have never been against taxation per se, but we are simply unable to agree with the steep increase and timing of the introduction of these tax measures.
At a time when people are facing the worst economic crisis and hardships in their lifetime, the last thing that is desired is further taxation.
The high rate of inflation has already eroded the disposable incomes of Ghanaians and we can no longer bear to give more to a government that is determined to waste our resources on extravagant living
E-LEVY
Our position on E-levy remains unchanged. It is a setback to this cashless economy. We are also astonished to learn in the Budget that the GHS 100 threshold for e-levy deductions has been abolished. How come that the threshold is being abolished. How do we protect the vulnerable poor? At least a 300gh threshold with a reduction in the principal from 1.7 to 1%. You recall my suggestion of a 1% levy at a threshold of 500, which was out-rightly rejected by Government at the negotiations. This was part of the discussion when we rejected “AGYAPA”.
UNPRECEDENTED INFLATION AND DEPRECIATION OF THE CEDI
Again, inflation, which has ballooned from 13% in January to over 40% in October, has diminished the value of GHS 100 and therefore the exemption threshold for e-levy should be increased to GHS 200 and not removed.
This a clear example of insensitivity on the part of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
We in the NDC have already stated our intention to abolish the e-levy when we come back to power but before then, we wish to serve notice that we will fiercely resist the removal of the GHS 100 threshold.
Inflation has also wreaked havoc on personal income taxpayers and therefore removes any justification for the introduction of the additional band of 35% as announced in the 2023 budget.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
Yesterday, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta announced the commencement of a debt-restructuring program, which he cynically dubbed a “debt exchange program”.
The debt-restructuring program launched today, Monday, 5th December 2022 has the following details:
For Domestic Bond holders, there will be a drastic slash in the agreed interests on their existing bonds which have been replaced by four new instruments maturing in 2027,2029,2032 and 2037 as follows,
In 2023, there will be 0% interest paid them on their bonds
In 2024, only 5% interest will be paid
In 2025, 10% interest will be paid until maturity.
This means that for those who have invested their lifetime savings in government bonds and depend on the interests for their livelihood and regular upkeep, you will suffer a drastic reduction in the rate of interest, which will significantly diminish your source of livelihoods.
A few weeks ago, after coming under a barrage of public criticism for failing to show leadership and failing to address the nation in the wake of the harrowing hardships and economic crisis. President Akufo-Addo took to the airwaves and categorically denied every credible information we in the Minority caucus in Parliament, had put out about an impending drastic debt restructuring and very painful haircut for investors in government bonds and other creditors.
The President stated clearly that there would be “NO HAIRCUT”.
The measures referred to above show steep cuts in interest rates and this clearly exposes the falsehood and hollowness of the President’s claims in the said address.
Beyond a terse claim that principals of domestic bondholders would not suffer haircuts, the finance minister failed to provide details of what would happen to the principals.
We have become aware of the emergence of details of a briefing given by the Finance Minister and officials of the Finance Ministry to stakeholders in the Banking Sector.
It was clearly disclosed at the briefing that bondholders who look forward to having their principals paid upon the maturity of their bonds, are also in for a very rough ride as the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has decided not to pay in full when the bonds reach maturity.
The principal payments are to be done according to the under listed formula.
In 2027, which is five years from now, only 17% of the principal will be paid.
In 2029, seven years from now, only 17% will be paid
In 2032, ten years from now, 25% will be paid and
In 2037, fifteen years from now, 41% will be paid.
This arrangement is set to derail and disrupt the plans of bondholders who have planned their lives and expenditure around the expected timely and full payment of their principals in consonance with the terms of purchase of the original bonds.
It will no doubt lead to hardships for bondholders, not to mention the breach of the original instruments.
Though the Finance Minister stated that details of treatment of external bonds are yet to be disclosed, it is the worst kept secret in Ghana that in the case of external bondholders, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has decided to cut a staggering 30% off both the interest and principal.
In addition, external bondholders will have the maturity dates of their bonds extended by twenty whole years.
We need to stress that this crude haircut will not only affect foreigners or non-Ghanaians as erroneously believed because there is a significant number of Ghanaians who hold external bonds through various Ghanaian financial institutions who made these investments on their behalf.
These harsh cuts in the interests and principals of bondholders stem from a self-inflicted economic disaster.
Incontrovertible information reaching us indicates that this decision has been reached after a Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) carried out under the aegis of the IMF and World Bank showed that we in the Minority have always been right that our public debt is no longer sustainable.
We can also state with absolute certainty, that after years of denial and falsification of our debt numbers through the exclusion of debts owed by SoES, contingent liabilities, and debts on the books of dodgy Special Purpose Vehicles, the Akufo-Addo government has finally capitulated and accepted the reality that we owe far more than they have been admitting.
Contrary to the Finance Minister’s claim in the 2023 budget presented barely a week ago, that our debt to GDP ratio was 76%, government has now admitted that it is actually an unthinkable 105%.
This puts our actual public debt well above GHS 500 billion.
With such astronomical debt and how unsustainable it has become, Government is compelled as a precondition to securing an IMF program to reduce the debt and bring the debt to GDP ratio to 55% over a five-year period.
In the circumstance, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has decided to implement these cut-throat debt restructuring measures that will see it failing to pay government bond holders and creditors up to as much as GHS 200 billion.
These haircuts are a complete disaster for those affected and represents an economic atrocity on an unparalleled scale against the people of Ghana.
All this was very avoidable had the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government not been so hopeless, incompetent, arrogant and intransigent.
They had absolutely no business collapsing our economy and inflicting such a calamity on our people given all the resources and goodwill placed at their disposal.
We are appalled that this government believes that only the people of Ghana, who had no hand in the criminal mismanagement of the economy that has brought us to this sad juncture, should bear the pain of the supposed corrective measures.
We observe that there is no corresponding level of sacrifice on the part of the incompetent bunch whose puerile mismanagement has resulted in this national tragedy.
They continue to be arrogant and unrepentant and are unwilling to accept responsibility for mismanaging the economy.
Even as it is abundantly clear that the managers of the economy like Alhaji Bawumia, Ken Ofori-Atta and the entire membership of the Economic Management Team have lost credibility, proven to be incompetent and cannot be relied upon to salvage the situation, they continue to cling on and are taking more damaging decisions that continue to bring suffering to our people.
President Akufo-Addo is also refusing to show leadership by outlining more credible and deeper cost cutting measures that will signal a departure from the old ways.
He has refused to reduce the size of what has become the largest and most inefficient government in our history.
Government is required to bring both the budget estimates and debt-restructuring plan to parliament for approval.
We wish at this juncture, to state emphatically, that we in the NDC Minority Caucus in Parliament will vigorously oppose and refuse to entertain both the budget estimates and any bill on debt restructuring until the follow conditions are met.
The resignation of the entire Economic Management Team and in particular Alhaji Bawumia from his position as Chair of that obviously moribund body.
The immediate resignation or dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta
Immediate reduction in the number of Ministers and political appointees at the Office of the President by half.
Removal of all non-essential expenditure in the 2023 budget including the GHS 80 million allocated to the National Cathedral
Reinstatement of the GHS 100 exemption threshold for e-levy payment
We are aware that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government have become desperate and is compelled after reckless mismanagement of the economy to achieve fiscal consolidation.
Fiscal consolidation also involves deep expenditure cuts and prudence in the use of scarce resources.
The people of Ghana alone cannot be called upon to withstand the worst of the economic mismanagement and attendant hardships while those responsible for the crisis continue as if nothing happened or they did nothing.
We wish to assure the good people of Ghana that we will continue to fight to preserve their interests and prevent the hopeless Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government from doing more damage to the economy and bringing more pain and hardships upon us.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has vowed to oppose the approval of budget estimates if the minister of the sector does not appear in the house alone.
According to him, some ministers have failed to show respect to the house, and there is a need to hold the government accountable.
“When we get to the approval of budget estimates and ministers don’t appear in person in parliament by themselves, we will not support the approval of the budget allocations to those ministries.
“Ministers must take this house very seriously, and only ministers appointed by the president to oversee the sectors of those ministries must rise from their seats to move motions to ask for budget allocations and approval by this house. Failure to do so will mean that we will stump down a number of those motions.
“We will hold this government accountable, and we intend to strengthen oversight. It begins with this our decision. If ministers don’t appear in person to move motions for budget allocations, then they should expect the fiercest resistance from this side of the house,” he explained.
Meanwhile, parliament has tasked the Ministry of Finance and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to submit their Heads of Estimates for consideration and approval by parliament on time.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, has said that the decision to reduce the E-levy from the initial 1.5 per cent was based on a stakeholder engagement.
According to her, the Minority proposed a reduction to 1.0 in December 2021 and this was adhered to, therefore minority must approve accepted the new changes.
While debating the 2023 budget in parliament on November 29, she said, “Mr. Speaker, this one per cent was arrived at by continuous engagement with stakeholders and you (Minority) were in this house in December 2021 when the minority leader said it is better for us to reduce the E-Levy to one per cent. So, if today we are coming today with a measure that will reduce the E-Levy to one per cent, I think the E-Levy debate is closed and should be accepted.”
In reaction to this comment, the deputy minority leader, James Avedzi refuted Abena Osei’s claim that the minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu proposed a reduction to 1.0 percent in 2021.
“the deputy finance minister made a statement which was factually incorrect, and I want to correct it. She said that we were all in this house when the minority leader made a proposal for the E-Levy to be brought to one per cent. Never on this floor did the minority leader make that proposal, so for that to go into the records, it should be corrected. He never made such a proposal on this floor,” James Avedzi stated in the chamber.
Deputy Minister of Finance again insisted that the Minority leader even repeated same comments in Ho over the weekend at the Post Budget workshop, adding that she never indicated that Haruna Iddrisu said anything of the sort in the chamber.
The Minority in Parliament has said it will resist any policy in the 2023 budget it feels are “draconian”.
In a statement, it reiterated the need for “drastic cuts in non-essential Government expenditures and more prudent use of scarce national resources.”
“We have also demanded greater transparency and accountability in public financial management,” the statement added.
The Minority said it expects its proposals to “find expression in the budget and signal a change in course by the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government.”
“We wish to assure the Ghanaian people that we stand with them in these difficult times, and we will not relent in our efforts to hold the managers of the economy to account,” the statement added.
The Minority also allayed fears that it could boycott the budget because of protests against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Both sides of the Parliament have called for the Finance Minister to be removed amid Ghana’s economic crisis.
The budget comes as the government tries to secure a deal from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic support.
The Finance Ministry has said the 2023 Budget will focus on Government’s strategies to restore and stabilize the macroeconomy, build resilience, and promote inclusive growth and value creation.
The ministry also said it will feature updates on Ghana’s engagement with the IMF for an IMF-supported Programme; year-to-date macro-fiscal performance of the economy; the YouStart initiative under the Ghana CARES Programme; climate action strategies; fiscal measures and debt management strategies to ensure fiscal and debt sustainability and promote growth.
The Minority is predicting that the yet-to-be-read 2023 budget of the government will exacerbate the suffering of Ghanaians.
According to them, this is because the government intends to introduce a number of taxes.
The 2023 Budget is expected to be presented in Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the presentation, a Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Thomas Ampem Nyarko alleged that government will increase the VAT rate to 20 percent from the current 17.5 percent.
“In fact, what we are hearing is that government intends to increase VAT by 2.5 percent,” he said.
He also claimed that there are rumours that income taxes will be increased, adding that exemptions on Mobile Money will also be removed.
“We will not accept this 2.5 percent increase in VAT because that will be killing. We are not saying no tax at all, because government programmes must run. However, all this when introduced is just going to kill Ghanaians,” Thomas Ampem Nyarko explained.
The NDC MP noted that the government ought to present a clear expenditure cut in the 2023 Budget, considering the hardship a section of the population is facing.
The minority side in parliament has indicated that it will not approve any further loan agreement by the government of Ghana in Parliament.
According to the minority, the approval of further loans will worsen the debt situation in the country.
Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency Thomas Nyarko Ampem said in an interview that “Government of Ghana has brought a loan agreement for us to approve and three different loans agreement. One for two hundred million dollars and two each for one hundred and fifty million dollars. We have taken a very simple decision that looking at our debt situation we are unable to support further approvals for further loans because believe that if you are in a hole you don’t continue to dig further.”
He added that the minority is waiting for the Minister of Finance to give a clear path that government has taken to ensure the country is out of the current debt situation otherwise the minority will not support any additional loans.
The political scientist at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo has said most of the charges levelled against the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta by the Minority were propaganda.
Ofori-Atta on Friday (18 November) appeared before the ad hoc committee of Parliament over a motion of censure against him.
Reacting to Ofori-Atta’s response to the grounds for censure by the Minority in Parliament, Gyampo said the Finance Minister rendered the Minority incompetent with his answers.
“They have been at it again in their recent probe of Ken Ofori-Atta. They were simply uninspiring, and it appears many of the charges they chose to level against the man, were more propagandistic,” Gyampo wrote on Facebook.
“The kind of things to say, and the charges to level in censoring a minister, are not like political party rally talk, that are usually not subjected to strict proof. You cannot censor a minister and set the kind of precedent we want to set in our drive towards democratic maturity, without being well grounded, detailed, thorough and water-tight in your charges,” he added.
Below is the full statement of Gyampo:
It appears our minority group has the penchant for hyping public expectations of them, in their dealings in Parliament, and failing to live up to such expectations when it matters most. In their vetting of Ken Ofori Atta, they made all Ghanaians believe they were going to shoot his nomination down, for various reasons. Yet they couldn’t do this when the man appeared before them. Indeed, apart from one or two of them, on the then vetting committee who abstained, the rest voted to sing the praises of Ken Ofori Atta, and approved his nomination as minister.
They have been at it again in their recent probe of Ken Ofori Atta. They were simply uninspiring, and it appears many of the charges they chose to level against the man, were more propagandistic. The kind of things to say, and the charges to level in censoring a minister, are not like political party rally talk, that are usually not subjected to strict proof. You cannot censor a minister and set the kind of precedent we want to set in our drive towards democratic maturity, without being well grounded, detailed, thorough and water-tight in your charges.
Yesterday, Ken Ofori Atta made them look so incompetent, as he nearly extricated himself from the shallow charges levelled against him. He simply knew how to answer questions without incriminating himself, and he also knew how to appeal for public sympathy.
Regardless, Ken must go, at least for the optics of good governance. The law, and using it in the defense of one’s self is only minimum, but conscience is the upper most. He himself admits that things are hard, and of course, harder in Ghana than elsewhere in Africa. His own party people know why they have passed a vote of no confidence against him in their hearts.
There certainly should be better managers of our economy among the echelons of the NPP, and the indubitable truism that, Ghana and the management of our economy would not grind to a halt when Ken is no longer in charge, should point to the dispensability of all human beings, including the minister.
The fresh experience and innovations introduced in managing the STC by Nana Akomea, and in governing Accra, by Henry Quartey, should be a great lesson that must guide anyone who is anti-reshuffle. We cannot run the nation like spiritual churches, whose activities hover around their leadership, and die when their leaders are no more. The impression being insinuated that, there can be no successful management of our economy without the current minister, is unproductive and only serves to dissipate our scarce brains, talents and Human Resources that must be brought on board to help.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has categorically denied dishonestly misreporting economic data to Parliament.
The allegation of deliberately misreporting economic data to parliament is completely not true, he said, responding to a censure motion filed by the Minority.
Contrary to the position of others that the ministry did not reflect the Finsec payments and the energy sector IPP payments in the fiscal framework, he emphasized – with the Budget document as evidence – that these payments were reflected in the fiscal framework.
The Minority based their accusation of deliberately misreporting economic data to parliament on grounds that the financial sector clean-up and energy sector Independent Power Producers (IPP) payments were excluded from public debt.
According to the Minority, by treating these debts differently the fiscal deficit is reduced to make economic indicators look good.
He said the ministry included the energy sector Independent Power Producers (IPP) payments in the ‘amortisation’ line in the Fiscal Framework during 2018-2021.
Energy Sector Excess Capacity payments of GH¢17billion relate to a legacy of take or pay contracts that saddled the country’s economy with annual excess capacity charges of close to US$1billion.
Government had to pay around US$500million a year in excess capacity charges for power the previous administration negotiated – which the country did not need and does not use.
Similarly, he said the financial sector clean-up costs were included in the fiscal framework annually for the period 2018 to 2021 to reflect the issuance of bonds to cover the non-cash costs.
Government directly spent GH¢25billion to save the banking and SDI sector – preventing a near-collapse of the financial sector; saving close to 5,400 direct jobs and 12,000 indirect jobs; and ensuring that 4.6 million depositors were protected.
Mr. Ofori-Atta explained that these are extra-ordinary payment items which need not be mixed-up with traditional fiscal operations
He explained that these are largely bonds, and capturing them above the line will imply recognising their payments now and again when they fall due in the future – a possible double counting.
The Finance Minister stated that the Energy sector IPP payments were reflected in the fiscal framework as part of the Amortisation line under the Financing part of the fiscal table.
He noted that these are debts of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) that have been assumed by government and are largely contingent liabilities that have crystalised for payment.
Ofori-Atta said the Finsec bailout exercise is largely completed, and therefore ceases to be an extraordinary budget item
On the other hand, he said IPPs payments are expected to be made over the medium-term; and given that they have become explicit contingent liabilities, appropriately budgeting for them “above the line” ensures resources are duly allocated for their settlement
He stated the ministry agreed with the Finance Committee of Parliament in 2021 that going forward from 2022, both the Energy IPP payments and Finsec payments will be treated “above the line” in the fiscal framework for the following reasons.
According to him, the agreed style of reporting to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was to show a deficit including the Finsec clean-up and another one excluding it.
According to him, under this government there have been significant improvements in the accurate reporting of public finances; and Ghanaians are enjoying greater accountability and transparency in management of the public purse than during any other period before.
Ghanaians will recall that in support of data presented by the Ministry of Finance in May 2020, Dr. Albert Touna Mama – the then-country representative of the IMF – came on Joy FM’s News File Programme to state that there was no misrepresentation of data by government as was being alleged. Dr Touna Mama said government was not the one that presented the figures which the IMF published in its statements.
He explained that the difference in figures was as the result of a difference in methodology of calculation, adding that the figure in fiscal deficit in their statement was a figure they generated themselves from the data government presented to them – having added financial and energy sector payments in line with their methodology, which is different from government’s methodology.
Ken Ofori-Atta, the embattled finance minister is optimistic that Ghana will come out strongly from the current economic crisis caused mainly by external factors.
According to him, Ghana, as a nation, is being tested by these current economic challenges and this is the time the country requires a united and concerted response to the crisis.
“I implore our chiefs, elders and churches to take the mantle and speak a common language. Let us all work as one country to support labour negotiations, find a solution to the impasse in Parliament and rise above witch-hunting and entrapment,” Ken Ofori-Atta told the 8-member committee that was investigating the allegations made by the Minority against him, on Friday, November 18.
He added that these are not ennobling and progressive for a society seeking transformation.
“Ghana is a resilient country. Ghana has faced economic challenges since its independence. Ghana has always come through each of them stronger and better than before.
“God willing, we shall come out of these difficult times too. Ghana, will, and must rise again,” Ofori-Atta noted.
Censure Motion
The minority moved a censure motion to get the Finance minister out of office on the following grounds
-Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
-Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 -Constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral:
-Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution:
-Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament 5. Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world:
-Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis;
-Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship.
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has commended the 8-member committee investigating the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for the work done so far.
In his view, Mr Ofori-Atta has been exposed by proceedings at the committee.
“The Committee’s work is commendable though it is not in the form or shape we wanted,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday November 19
He added “the exciting thing is that the minority kept the issues. It is satisfactory although some issues. Now Ofori-Atta can’t sleep, he will vomit the money.”
During proceedings on Friday November 18, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta said he does not believe that the allegations made by the Minority in Parliament for his removal from have any weight.
He told the ad hoc committee that the proponents’ allegations do not have “weight for censure.”
Mr Ofori-Atta said the allegations leveled against him were false and went on to debunk each of them.
On the allegation of deliberate misreporting of economic data to Parliament, he said it is completely not true.
“Since I took office in 2017, I have served the country with integrity and honesty.
“Under my leadership at the Ministry of Finance, there have been significant improvements in the accurate reporting of public finances.
“Today, under President Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghanaians are enjoying greater accountability and transparency in the management of the public purse than any other period under the Fourth Republic.”
He said since 2017, the government has complied with the reporting provisions in the Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act 921), including Budget Implementation report, Fiscal Reports, Public Debt Report, Petroleum Revenue Management Reports, ESLA report, etc.
On the issue of not including the financial sector clean up cost and the energy sector IPP payments in the deficit, the Finance Minister said contrary to the position of others, they were clearly stated.
“I want to emphasize, with the Budget document as evidence, that these payments were reflected in the fiscal framework.”
“Energy sector IPP payments were treated as “amortisation” and the non-cash financial sector clean-up payments were reflected in the “memo item” (Refer to Appendix 2A of the Fiscal Tables in the relevant Annual Budget),” the minister said.
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Ghanaians will recall that in support of data presented by the Ministry of Finance, in May 2020, Dr Albert Touna Mama, the then country representative of the IMF, came on Joy FM’s News File Programme to state that there was no misrepresentation of data by the government as was being alleged. Dr Touna Mama said government was not the one that presented the figures that the IMF published in its statements.
He explained that the difference in figures was as a result of a difference in the methodology of calculation, adding that the figure in fiscal deficit in their statement was a figure they generated themselves from the data government presented to them, having added financial and energy sector payments in line with their methodology, which is different from government’s methodology.
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has exonerated the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, of any wrongdoing in the payment of U$100.7 million into an offshore account in relation to petroleum funds from Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited (JOHL), a subsidiary of the Corporation.
“As far as JOHL is concerned, the finance minister is not responsible for their revenues. We have to, at the end of the day, submit our financials (to the Ministry) and pay our taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and in 2021 JOHL paid 17 million to GRA in taxes,” a Deputy Chief Executive of the Corporation, Joseph Dadzie said.
He made this known yesterday at the day-two sitting of the eight-member Adhoc Committee constituted by parliament to probe grounds on which the minority wants the finance minister removed from office.
The Minority had claimed that the finance minister made illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts in flagrant disregard for the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.
Their claim was anchored on a report by the Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) in 2021 that the Ministry of Finance paid the amount into the offshore account illegally.
Appearing earlier before the Committee yesterday, Vice President of the PIAC, Nasir Alfa Mohammed, insisted that the payment of the amount was illegal.
He thinks that the right account to receive the money from the sale of 900 barrels of crude from the Jubilee Field as lifted by JOHL was the Petroleum Holding Fund and not the company’s offshore account.
But Mr Dadzie said the PIAC has misread the law.
“We disagree with PIAC that revenues from the liftings should have been paid into the Petroleum Holding Fund. JOHL is a hundred per cent subsidiary of GNPC and registered under the Companies Act and for that reason, hundred per cent of the revenues cannot be paid into the Petroleum Holding Fund.
“The company must operate and if at the end of the day it declares profit, and the directors decide that dividends must be paid, that money is paid to GNPC and subsequently into the Petroleum Holding Fund,” Mr Dadzie stated.
He explained that when the original owners of the block in Jubilee, Anadarko, decided to sell their share, GNPC approached to purchase seven per cent which it got for US$164.7 million but due to delays in the finalisation of the agreement, Anadarko decided to set up JOHL to curve out the seven per cent for GNPC.
“When we were ready, we had to buy JOHL so the structure of the transaction wasn’t a GNPC structure. It was a structure that was defined by the seller,” he said.
To this end, he said, when Tullow bought that particular lifting, it paid the money into JOHL’s Cayman Islands account.
The funding of the purchase, he said was done by the Ministry of Finance through a loan; a funding agreement which did not receive parliamentary approval though same was included in the Corporation’s work programme for the year 2021 as submitted to Parliament.
Pressed if the Finance Minister could be held liable for the payment, Mr Dadzie reiterated that “We believe that JOHL is governed by the Companies Act and not by the Petroleum Revenue Management Act and for that matter, the finance minister cannot be held responsible” albeit no illegality in the payment of the amount into the offshore account.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to appear before the Committee today with his defence to the seven grounds for which the Minority wants him censured.
A leading figure of the Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance, Dr. Kojo Asante, has described the censure hearings against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as frustrating so far.
“It has just become like a courtroom. It was meant to be a debate; an establishment of facts in parliamentary style, but it has just become like a courtroom,” Dr. Asante complained.
The committee had a contentious start during its proceedings on Tuesday as its members debated the manner in which the Minority members could present their evidence against the Finance Minister.
Some of the committee members felt the hearing should be treated as a quasi-judicial proceeding.
Dr. Asante felt these discussions were unnecessary considering the concerns around the economy and the Finance Minister.
“I don’t know whether it is because there are too many lawyers leading these processes. It becomes a thing about needing evidence and so on… That is not helpful. Part of that, I find very frustrating.”
“This could have been dealt with a long time ago if the President had listened to all of us. Unfortunately, we are now in the space and this tug of war and still, our crisis hasn’t gone anywhere,” he added.
The Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) are expected before the committee later on Thursday.
The Finance Minister will appear on Friday after he requested time to prepare based on the evidence tendered to the committee by the Minority.
Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has asked the Minority caucus in Parliament to furnish him with documents that they will rely upon to execute the motion of censure initiated against him.
This is according to the Minister’s lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, who made the request on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta on Tuesday morning when the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee commenced sitting to hear the motion.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said the rules of natural justice and fair hearing required that the accused was not only heard but was furnished with the documents that formed the bases of the allegations made against him.
He, therefore, insisted that the Minority, led by its Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, provide the documents to him and his client.
The request was met with hesitance from the Minority, who appeared unprepared and insisted that the documents were already in the public domain and did not have to be tendered.
Following a debate on the matter, co-Chairs of the Committee K.T. Hammond and Dr Dominic Ayine, ruled that the Minority presented the documents to the finance minister and the committee.
The documents were then subsequently listed.
Below are the seven-points for which the Minority want Ofori-Atta censured:
a. Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang
b. Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral.
c. Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution.
d. Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament.
e. Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world
f. Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis.
g. Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship.
Parliament will this week give effect to the vote of censure filed by NDC MPs in the House to determine the fate of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The debate and vote on the censure motion will be taken on Thursday 10th November, 2022 following the expiration of the seven-day notice mandated by the Constitution.
Speaking to Journalists, Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim said all NDC MPs have been instructed not to miss sittings in order to get the required number to carry out their objective, thus removing the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta from office.
According to Mr. Ibrahim, there would be consequences if a member fails to show up.
“The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak has sounded a note of caution to all Minority MPs that all the 136 MPs must be in the chamber on Thursday, so any member who absents himself on Thursday is at his own risk…On Thursday, whether we want Ken Ofori-Atta to be impeached or censored, the opportunity is being given to us,” he said.
According to him, the Finance Minister will also be allowed to defend himself on the same day.
For the vote of censure to succeed, 183 MPs must vote for it. With the Minority having only 136 MPs, 46 NPP MPs must join them.
Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim believes the NPP MPs will not back down on their calls to get the Finance Minister sacked.
“Whether the Majority is going to walk the talk to make sure that the motion that they staged, they still stand by it, is over to them. But I strongly believe that per the information and signals I am picking this morning, they are still going to walk the talk,” he said.
The Banda MP said it is important to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta now before the economic situation worsens. He urged the Finance Minister to step down before the vote of censure.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) believes moves by the Minority in Parliament to have Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta removed from office is an exercise in futility.
It says, the Majority caucus will also not support the motion of censure against the Minister as filed by the Minority.
A Deputy Director of Communications of the NPP, Kamal Deen Abdulai described attempts for the impeachment of the Finance Minister as ‘much ado about nothing’.
“The Speaker admitting that motion is very predictable and it doesn’t mean that the conditions for admitting such a motion to be full will be met.”
“I am confident this motion for a vote of censure against Finance Minister is much ado about nothing. I can say emphatically that, the Minority will not have the support of the Majority to pass a vote of censure for the Finance Minister to be removed”, he said on Citi FM/Citi TV‘s The Big Issue.
Commenting on the Majority caucus back track over its demands for the Finance Minister’s dismissal, after meeting President Akufo-Addo, Kamal Deen Abdulai said there is nothing wrong with the NPP legislators softening their stance.
“It’s trite knowledge, some Majority MPs called for the head of the Finance Minister. Also, after engagements they have changed their stance that some time be given the Minister agreeing that they are not going to pursue this matter once the President has spoken to them and the unification we are seeking has been seen.”
About 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs this week demanded the sacking of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta over the current economic hardships.
They threatened to boycott government business in parliament should the president fail to fulfill their demands.
The group however accepted President Akufo-Addo’s request asking them to allow the Finance Minister some time to finish negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The majority caucus in Parliament called for the dismissal of Mr. Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
Their colleagues on the other side – that’s the Minority have also filed for a motion of censure against the Finance Minister.
On the same program, Tamale Central Member of Parliament (MP), Murtala Mohammed revealed his plans of commencing processes to impeach the President Akufo-Addo.
“If we think that, it is justified to call for the removal of the Finance Minister, let us not be hypocrites. It is equally justified to call for the removal of the President. I am assuring that, I have started talking to some of my friends to ensure that that we initiate a motion to ensure that the President is impeached. I have started [the process]”, the legislator said.
The minority in parliament have been wearing black to parliament since they reconvened on October 25.
According to the minority, their reason for wearing black is to communicate their dissatisfaction with the country’s current economic situation, including the cedi depreciation.
On Wednesday, October 26, almost all the MPs who showed up in parliament were dressed in black attires.
The Minority and Majority Members of Parliament seem to be on the same page following the call to remove the finance minister from office.
While the Minority in Parliament has filed a motion to have Ken Ofori-Atta sacked, the Majority also threatened to boycott the 2023 budget presentation if the finance minister is not relieved of his post.
The MPs explained that their position follows several concerns over the poor management of the economy, which has forced the government to seek IMF assistance.
While addressing the parliamentary press corps, the minority urged the majority to not relent on calling the finance minister out.
The Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, noted “as representatives of the people and as duty bearers, we must move a motion to call for the end of the Finance Minister.
“Our brothers in the Majority believe in this. What they should do is to support the call of the Minority Leader and the motion for the Minority Leader for the dismissal of the Finance Minister.”
Minority leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu and his colleagues in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have initiated processes to file a motion for the immediate removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The move comes shortly after some Members of Parliament who are part of the Majority Caucus called for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
Engaging the press on Tuesday, First Deputy Minority Whip Ahmed Ibrahim, noted that the Majority’s demands are long overdue.
“If they meant well, the day they went to the cabinet meeting and President Akufo-Addo pointed to them that ‘you want me to sack my Finance Minister when he was funding my campaign, where were you’ . This is what he told them at the cabinet meeting. That was the day we were expecting them to come with such a statement,” he said.
He further alleged that Mr Ofori-Atta still heads the Ministry of Finance because “he used his Data Bank to support his )Akufo-Addo’s) campaign to become President, therefore the Finance Ministry is compensation.”
Nonetheless, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim charged the NPP MPs who want the sector minister dismissed to demonstrate good will by supporting the motion for immediate impeachment of Ken Ofori-Atta.
He said “as representatives of the people and as duty bearers, we must move a motion to call for the head of the Finance Minister. So if our brothers in the Majority believe in this, what they should do is to support the motion from the Minority Leader for the dismissal of the Finance Minister.”
Two-thirds of Parliamentarians are required to impeach the Finance Minister. The Minority Group currently comprises 136 legislators, while the Majority, 138.
The Assin North Parliamentary seat is being contested at the Supreme Court over dual citizenship claims by James Gyakye Quayson.
Several Ghanaians including opposition parties have mounted pressure on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office following the country’s current economic predicaments which has compelled government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Both Minority and Majority Groups believe that the sacking of Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy that has been saddled with debt and high inflation.
“We are communicating our strong desire that the President should change the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope into the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” Asante-Akim North MP, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who spoke on behalf of the Majority said.
The government could be successful in including significant provisions of its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the budget statement for 2023, according to economist and banking expert Richmond Atuahene.
He says, if the government puts in enough effort and is timely in its public negotiations, it will be possible to conclude negotiations before the budget is presented in November 2022 as said by the Finance Minister.
The formal negotiations for a Fund-supported programme have begun, with the IMF team currently meeting government officials for a period of ten days.
Talks have begun on a comprehensive debt sustainability analysis with the IMF for a US$3 billion support programme.
“If we can get the whole program together, it will be possible. Normally, it takes an average of about six months to get these things sorthe ted out. So if government gets serious and is able to get the public consultations, it will be able to get it done before the November budget he [Finance Minister] is talking about”, he said.
Minority spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has however cast doubts on the government’s intent to secure a deal with the IMF before the 2023 budget is prepared.
“I doubt in the next six weeks we are going to have a programme. That will be a magic of a lifetime,” he said on Eyewitness News.
In his view, any deal before the 2023 budget will not be in Ghana’s interests.
The government says it is committed to ensuring that a comprehensive package is negotiated with the International Monetary Fund with the aim of restoring and sustaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring durable and inclusive growth, and promoting social protection.
The minority party’s spokesperson on finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has questioned the government’s motivation to reach an agreement with the IMF priorto the preparation of the 2023 budget.
“I doubt in the next six weeks we are going to have a programme. That will be a magic of a lifetime,” he said on Eyewitness News.
In his view, any deal before the 2023 budget will not be in Ghana’s interest.
“It will mean we are just going to be yes men and accept everything they say,” said Mr. Forson.
The Director of Strategy and Business Operations at Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, however, said he was willing to give the Finance Minister some benefit of the doubt.
He added that the targets are aggressive, but both parties are operating with an awareness of the urgency of the situation.
“Unless somebody shows me any reason that the team is not going to work day and night to achieve that target, I will be cautiously optimistic,” Mr. Jackson said.
An IMF team is in Ghana until October 7 to continue discussions with the government on policies and reforms that could be supported by a lending arrangement.
The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana have commenced a comprehensive debt sustainability analysis with the IMF for a $3 billion support programme.
The meeting with the IMF comes amid concerns that Ghana is about to start talks with domestic bondholders on a restructuring of its local-currency debt.
The Minority in Parliament has said that the Bulk Oil and Transportation Company (BOST) under the leadership of its former Managing Director, Mr. Kwame Awuah Darko commenced the process of constructing an ultra-modern twin tower office in the year 2015 to serve as office accommodation and to enhance internally generated funds to augment the cash flow of the BOST.
However, the Minority said, the newly-constituted management of BOSTunder the Akufo-Addo administration that assumed office, falsely accused Mr. Awuah Darko of inflating and padding the contract and as a result the suspended the project.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday July 28, Yapei Kusawgu lawmaker, John Jinapor said characteristic of the government, Mr. Awuah Darko and several government appointees of the erstwhile Mahama administration were subjected to thorough and detailed investigations by the Economic and Organized Crime Unit (EOCO), which of cause is nothing but witch-hunting and whitewashing.
“It is worthy of mention that not only was Mr. Awuah Darko exonerated of any wrongdoing by the EOCO investigations, but it was also established that the contract met all the necessary ingredients of value for money.
“We have however noted from recent developments based on documents available to us that the original contact which was valued at $39,000,000.00 (Thirty-Nine Million Dollars) ballooned to a whopping $78,000,000.00, if the two-tower building is accounted for based on the current cost of the single unit valued at $39,000,000.00 (Thirty-Nine Million Dollars). This means the building has been inflated by 100% over the original contract.
“We say so because we have noted that the current Management of BOST decided to acquire only one of the twin unit building due to the precarious financial position of the company, however it applied to the Public Procurement Authority for approval to vary the original contract for the single unit from the original price of $19,500,000.00 per unit to a new cost of $24,000,000.00.â€
He added “Members of the press, fellow Ghanaians, to our utmost shock and dismay, but of cause as usual of this government, the PPA without any reasonable justification in granting the approval hiked the contract sum to an inflated figure of $39,000,000.00 (Thirty-Nine Million United Sates Dollars) for a single unit when BOST could have originally constructed the twin-tower office at the original price of $39,000,000.00.
“We are firm in our conviction that this is a classic case of causing financial loss to the state. This is another PDS, Ameri and Movinpinnna scandal in the making. The Energy sector under the current NPP administration has become a Pollution Haven for regularized corruption, inflated favouritism, and rusted nepotism.
“How come a twin-tower office complex originally awarded at a cost of $39,000,000.00 has now metamorphosed into a colossal figure of $78,000,000.00 based on the current cost of the single unit is mind boggling. Why would the PPA vary the request for approval from BOST for the purchase of the single unit building from $24,000,000.00 to an inflated figure of $39,000,000.00? Who are the people behind this outrageous deal?
“From the foregoing, it is obvious some officials are culpable and neck deep in this huge scandal. We do not have any confidence in the Akufo-Addo led Government as far as resolving this conundrum is concerned. Officialdom has demonstrated a lack of professionalism and competence in this whole debacle, as BOST has been converted into one of the milking cows.
“It is our hope that for the first time, the President will gather courage to cause and independent investigation into this scandal which is of monumental proportion and punish his officials whose negligence, recklessness and complicity has led us into this huge mess.
“We, the Minority in Parliament, hereby serve notice that anything short of an independent investigation shall be rejected and denounced by the NDC and the good people of Ghana. We shall remain vigilant and resolute in our quest to ensure that the continuous looting and plundering of the resources of BOST which is our collective strategic national asset is brought to an immediate halt.â€
The Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, Mr Prince Armah, alleges that the Minority group is deliberately frustrating government business in the House.
The MP speaking to journalists upon resumption of sitting yesterday, Tuesday, January 25, 2022, called for cool heads to prevail cooperation from both sides for a successful consensus-building on the matter of the E-Levy.
He, however, accused the Minority of frustrating government business.
Per his personal opinion, the Minority wants to stampede and frustrate the government, and there is demonstrable evidence to show that they have an intention to frustrate the government.
The MP expects that having returned from the Christmas break and reflecting over what happened in the House, he is looking forward to parliament where there would be the contestation of ideas and not confrontations.
He urged members from both sides of the House to consider the interest of Ghanaians and help the government achieve its target.
The MP, when asked to confirm his assertions that the Minority was frustrating government business, said: “certainly I think so. I sincerely do. I might be wrong, but this is my personal opinion. I think they are emboldened and strengthened by the numbers they have in the House, and they think they can use their numbers to stampede and frustrate government business. That is my personal belief.”
He maintained that Ghanaians voted for the current MP for them to work together, and as legislators, they cannot do anything aside from what Ghanaians want.
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has denied allegations that it received prior notice of the Minority caucuses presentation of a petition scheduled for Tuesday at its head office in Ridge, Accra.
Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, on Tuesday told the media that the Chairperson of the EC refused to accept the Minority caucuses petition despite an earlier notice.
“We note that she refused to see or acknowledge us and contemptuously refused to receive a lawful and harmless petition…That also sets a good precedent for us that elected representatives of the people can be ignored as she did us,†he said.
But explaining why no official was available to receive the petition, the EC in a statement said: “For the record, the Electoral Commission wishes to inform the General Public that it did not receive prior notice of the said presentation of the petition from the Minority Caucus.â€
It further stated, “Indeed, the Electoral Commission later learned that the Minority in Parliament delivered the said letter informing the Electoral Commission of its intended presentation scheduled for today Tuesday the 22nd of December at 10:08 this morning.â€
“The letter gives the start time of the said presentation as 10:00 am, giving the Commission no notice to receive the Minority Caucus given that the Chairperson and her senior team were not in the office,†the EC said.
Read below the full statement from the Electoral Commission
Things turned confrontational at the Electoral Commission’s Headquarters in Accra when some Minority members in parliament stormed the Electoral Commission’s Headquarters to present a petition.
A number of about 50 MPs who were clad in black attire were initially stopped at the Ridge roundabout but managed to cross the barricade while they were being pushed by the police.
They were also stopped at the Electoral Commission office at the entrance where they were again stopped by the police. Some members of parliament were even pushed to the ground by these police personnel.
Some MPs who described the situation as unfortunate said they were only there to present a petition to the Electoral Commission adding that it was not a demonstration but a peaceful walk to the EC office.
Even though the content of the petition is yet to be revealed the NDC has consistently said they do not accept the results of the just-ended polls which was used to declare Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president.
The NDC has since the declaration embarked on several protests across the country.
The Savanah Region is also currently protesting against the EC stating there will be no peace in the country until John Dramani Mahama is declared the president-elect of the country.
During a protest in Tamale First Vice Chairman of the NDC, Chief Sofo Awudu Azorka also said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) intends swearing in John Dramani Mahama as President on January 7.
Adding that the NDC believes that John Dramani Mahama is the legitimate President of Ghana and no human can change that.
The Minority in Parliament will today, Tuesday, December 22, 2020 march to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission.
The Minority insists that the results declared by the EC for the elections were flawed.
According to them, they are seeking for justice from the EC.
The march they say is also to express their displeasure in the Techiman South parliamentary election which was declared in favour of Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah of the NPP.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC) has announced it will break for the Christmas holidays on December 23, 2020.
A circular signed by the Deputy Chairman, Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Asare said following the successful conduct of the polls, it will break for the holidays tomorrow (Wednesday).
The minority in parliament has kicked against attempt by government to push security and intelligence bill withdrawn and relaid today under a certificate of urgency.
The bill which is seeking to among other things establish regional and district national security offices across the country was laid weeks ago.
Attempt by majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to withdraw the bill today on behalf of the national security minister, Albert Kan Dapaah met resistance from minority whip, Muntaka Mubarak.
The Asawase MP demanded the presence of the sector minister. First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu who was presiding, after the exchanges granted the leave for withdrawal and relaying of the document.
After the bill was relaid, the majority leader then pleaded for the bill to be taken through a certificate of urgency giving the unusual times the nation finds itself in.
Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu however opposed the move arguing the bill must be made available for public scrutiny and inputs on account that it could be abused by government.
The Minority in Parliament is demanding the immediate withdrawal of over 18 per cent tax on electricity as it warns of dire consequences on domestic consumers.
Their demand comes after the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tasked the ECG to charge Value Added Tax, (VAT) on domestic consumers.
Until now, electricity for consumers has been zero-rated for VAT since 2001.
Addressing the media in Parliament, the minority spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adam Mutawakilu, accused the president of giving 50 perfect rebates to consumers with one hand and taking it back with another.
The Damango MP warned that both consumers and ECG will be worse off with the move.
“That means that you will pay more for electricity, it will deny you from the food that you buy because you have to do your scale of preference and consumers will be burdened the more…so this 50 per cent was just to deceive Ghanaians, so you gave it to Ghanaians with one hand and then you take it with another hand.â€
The decision to impose VAT on electricity for consumers comes a month after the President reduced electricity consumption by 50 per cent to commercial and domestic consumers and free lifeline consumers
The Minority is currently holding a press conference to express their dissatisfaction in the manner with which government is handling the Coronavirus pandemic.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, making the address said the opposition is “deeply worried” about the increasing number of cases stating that the president should not have taken “the gamble to risk the lives” of Ghnaians when he lifted the lockdown.
He has asked government to desist from spreading false hope.
Meanwhile, Ghana, which recorded its first two cases count on March 12, 2020 has had a shoot up of the crisis to 3, 091 as of May 7, 2020.
Nine more patients have recovered and discharged making the total number of recoveries 303, as recorded on the website of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The GHS however says the death toll still stands at 18.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has urged the government to withdraw the pre-tertiary education Bill from Parliament.
He said the government needs to consult stakeholders broadly on the Bill and incorporate their before seeking parliamentary approval.
The Bill, when passed, will among other things see basic schools, Senior High Schools and TVET institutions being managed by District Assemblies, Regional Education Directorates and a Director-General, independent of the Ghana Education Service.
Haruna Iddrisu who spoke to Citi News on the sidelines of a donation event said the many concerns raised by some stakeholders must be considered before the passage of the Bill.
“I am not principally against decentralization or decentralized roles in basic education but there are legitimate concerns raised by the stakeholders. At least I have read a formal correspondence from the Catholic Secretariat and their concerns are legitimate. Are our district and metropolitan assemblies are not ready to the responsibility and obligations we are creating for them?†he quizzed.
The Tamale South legislator added that a more thorough national discussion is needed on the Bill before parliamentary approval is sought.
“My plea to the president is for him to withdraw the pre-tertiary education Bill for a more thorough national consultation and discussion,†he said.
He further said it is unconstitutional to make secondary education a part of basic education as earlier announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“To make Senior High School a necessary part of basic education is wrong in theory, wrong in practice and wrong constitutionally…. He [Akufo-Addo] is doing a constitutional wrong to say that SHS is part of basic education. He should also not forget that Ghana is part of the West African sub-region, has he asked other leaders in the subregion whether they are doing same? Because there must be congruity,†Haruna Iddrisu said.
Meanwhile, the Minority leader has donated 1,000 desks worth GH¢300,000 from his Social Investment fund to five schools in the Tamale South constituency.
The Minority in Parliament has condemned an alleged decision by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) to get its employees to sign an oath of secrecy which will bar them from speaking on issues affecting the company.
Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu in a statement accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of orchestrating the move to prevent employees from expressing their views on issues affecting the operations of GRIDCO.
The Damango legislator believes the move is “inimical to the growth of the company and an affront to the Right to Information Act.â€
He further pointed out that the oath of secrecy is “alien to the conditions of service and the conventions as practised in the company over the years.â€
Mr. Mutawakilu thus demanded that the Minority halts the oath of secrecy since it breaches freedom of speech.
This brings to ten the total number of MPs who have been asked to isolate themselves.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Member of Parliament for the Asawase constituency, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak indicated that the Minority had sent a memorandum to the Speaker of Parliament on Friday, March 20 among other things calling for the suspension of the House.
According to him, he was surprised that Speaker said he has not received the memorandum yet.
“I hope that by now the Speaker should have received it because I am aware that it was sent to his office on Friday. We are proposing a number of things including that the House suspends sittings because from how things are going, if you listen to other parliaments around the world and how the thing is escalating, one of our views is that why not rather look at what businesses are of urgent need so that they can be attended to then you can suspend the House.â€
“When we say suspend, that means we will not be rising. We will only not be meeting regularly but rather we will put the matters together and find a day where we will come and deal with them in bulk,†he said.
The Minority Chief Whip also argued that instead of waiting for an MP or staff of the House to be tested positive which will lead to the closure of the entire House, the House should rather be suspended now.
Parliament considers temporarily relocating to Accra International Conference Centre
The leadership of Parliament is engaging the relevant authorities regarding a possible relocation of its business to the Accra International Conference Centre.
This is to ensure that the House has enough room to practice the protocols associated with social distancing in a bid to deal with the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Already, the House has stepped up internal measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Addressing Members on Monday, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye announced interim sitting measures in the House in a bid to practice social distancing.
“For the time being, we will want to leave one seat in between every two members so that you sit in a way that will be healthy for us and also we will be showing a good example…Meanwhile, we are in the process of making all relevant arrangements if we can relocate temporarily to the Conference Centre…And maybe these things will make people realize that Ghana is in need of more spacious space. In future, all these will be considered. As much as possible, leave one seat in between,†he said.
The Minority in Parliament has declined to support the Imposition of Restrictions Bill, 2020 aimed at helping to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana under a certificate of urgency.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ms Gloria Afua Akuffo, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 laid the Imposition of Restrictions Bill, 2020 before Parliament.
The bill, which is to back President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s directives on measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in Ghana, is intended to provide a legislative framework, in consonance with the Constitution, for the imposition of restrictions as a quick and effective means of intervention to address emergencies.
However, the Minority in Parliament has indicated that they cannot support the Bill under a certificate of urgency.
The Graphic Online understands the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Ms Gloria Akuffo is in Parliament Thursday afternoon meeting the Constitutional and Legal Committee of Parliament, praying that it should approve the Restrictions Bill to be considered under a certificate of urgency.
The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in a tweet said: “Unfortunately, the minority has declined to support the view that the bill be considered under a certificate of urgency.”
Unfortunately the minority has declined to support the view that the bill be considered under a certificate of urgency. https://t.co/aLxzCQ4vo6
The Graphic Online’s reporter in Parliament, Nana Konadu Agyeman reported that the Minority’s argument was that the Bill was not an urgent one on the grounds that it failed to focus on measures that would be instituted to deal with the outbreak of Coronavirus in Ghana.
Contrary, it argued that the Bill was intended to give the President “overbroad powers†to restrict freedom of movement, freedom of speech and freedom of thought.
“So we cannot allow the Bill to override Chapter 5 of the Constitution because it is a general restriction of freedom in Ghana,â€Â they said.
Addressing the press outside Parliament Thursday afternoon, the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament, Dr Dominic Ayine said, “Not because we do not want the President to adopt measures to address the Coronavirus pandemic but let it be known to all Ghanaians that the Minority support the taking of measures that are narrowly-tailored in dealing with Coronavirus pandemic,” the Graphic Online’s Agyeman reported.
The Bill is intended to provide a legislative framework in consonance with the Constitution for the imposition of restrictions as a quick and effective means of intervention to address emergencies.
It is also to provide power to the President to impose restrictions on persons in the event of disaster, emergency or similar circumstance to ensure public safety and protection, as well as in the interest of defence, public health among others.
The Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Alban Bagbin, referred it to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for consideration and report to the House.
The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has denied reports making rounds that the Minority came back to Parliament for their jollof rice and drinks popularly referred to as ‘Item 13’ after they walked out from this year’s State of the Nation Address.
According to him, he never granted any interview to any station after the President’s address in Parliament.
Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he expressed worry as to why some journalists will be so callous to attribute such a story to him.
“Where are people taking journalism to in this country . . . I have never said it anywhere, neither did I grant any interview to any Journalist . . . yesterday I didn’t speak to anyone . . . that story attributed to me is most unfortunate,” he told Kwame Nkrumah Tikese.
According to him he was very busy attending to the President and other dignitaries after the event in the Speakers office and retired to the office to attend to the numerous visitors who had come to see him after the programme.
Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Minority side on Thursday boycotted the 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Clad in black, the Minority MPs chanted the National Anthem as they walked out of the chamber shortly after President Akufo-Addo took his seat Thursday morning in the chamber.
