TIG Post

Tag: MP

  • Anti-LGBTQ bill: No country can tell us how to live by our values – Sam George

    Anti-LGBTQ bill: No country can tell us how to live by our values – Sam George

    The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam Nartey George, has warned foreign countries against interfering in Ghana’s internal affairs, particularly regarding the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.


    Speaking to the BBC on Thursday, February 12, Sam George who doubles as the Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament (MP) noted that Ghana has the sovereign right to decide on same-sex issues without external influence.


    “So Ghana is a sovereign country. If we choose to go the other way, I don’t think that is against the law. If in the UK it is okay for you to withdraw the teaching licence and medical licence of Christians who don’t believe they should support same-sex activity, why should Ghana not also be in a position to say that we will do this?,” he added.


    The bill, which was originally introduced in Parliament in 2021 by Sam George and other advocates, is currently inactive, because it did not receive Presidential assent under former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure after being passed by the then Parliament.


    Having expired with the conclusion of the previous 8th Parliament’s session, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has directed the Business Committee to schedule the reintroduced bill for parliamentary deliberation.

    The bill, which aims to outlaw LGBTQ+ activities and criminalise their promotion, advocacy, and funding, was previously passed by the 8th Parliament.


    Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has confidently stated that he will sign anti-LGBTQ bill once it is successfully approved by parliament.


    During a courtesy visit by the Christian Council of Ghana on Tuesday, November 18, at Jubilee House, the president mentioned all the factors that must come to play for him to assent to the bill.


    “I believe that we have no questions or equivocations about what we believe. I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief. We agree with the Speaker to relay the bill and let Parliament debate it.”


    “And if there are any amendments or adjustments that need to be made, if the people’s representatives in Parliament endorse the bill, vote on it, and pass it, and it comes to me as president, I will sign it,” President Mahama said.


    Before his return to office, President Mahama had already expressed a cautious approach toward the bill, emphasizing the need for a constitutional review.


    Speaking with BBC Africa on December 4, he elaborated: “It is not an anti-LGBTQI Bill; it is a Family Values Bill. It was approved unanimously by our Parliament. [LGBTQI] is against our African culture, it is against our religious faith, but I think we must look at the Bill, and the president must indicate what he finds wrong with that bill and send it back to Parliament or alternatively he must send it to the Council of State and get the Council of State’s advice.”


    When asked if he would sign the bill into law if elected, Mahama responded cautiously, stating, “It depends on what is in the Bill.” He emphasized that any decision would be based on a thorough examination of the bill’s content and legal compliance. “That is what I would have done,” he affirmed.


    While proponents argue the bill is necessary to safeguard Ghanaian cultural and moral values from external influences, human rights advocates have raised concerns, stating it infringes on freedoms of expression, association, and equality under the law.


    The bill previously faced legal opposition from journalist Richard Dela Sky and academic Dr. Amanda Odoi, who contested its passage, citing a lack of parliamentary quorum.

    The Supreme Court, however, dismissed their challenge, with Justice Lovelace Johnson clarifying that a bill can only be subject to constitutional scrutiny after receiving presidential assent.

  • Former National Service CEO paid an MP to suppress ‘ghost names’ scandal – A-G

    Former National Service CEO paid an MP to suppress ‘ghost names’ scandal – A-G

    Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has indicated that the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Service Scheme (NSS) made payments to a Ghanaian Member of Parliament (MP) to prevent a major scandal involving ghost names from making headlines.

    Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Dr. Ayine revealed that his office had gathered substantial evidence linking top NSS executives, private vendors, and other individuals to suspicious financial transactions. These transactions, he said, were part of an orchestrated effort to cover up fraudulent activities within the scheme.

    “Indeed, we now have evidence of payments that were made into the accounts of the top executives of the National Service by vendors, private vendors, and staff of the scheme,” he stated.

    Providing further details, Dr. Ayine alleged that in November 2024, the then-CEO of the NSS, along with other individuals, facilitated payments to an MP to bury the scandal in the media and defend those implicated.

    “We also have evidence that in November 2024… the CEO of the National Service Scheme and others paid a Ghanaian MP to kill the story in the media, and to defend them. Now, this is a developing story, and more of it will come out very soon,” he added.

    The revelation comes amid ongoing investigations into a large-scale payroll fraud scheme within the NSS, where thousands of ghost names were allegedly inserted into the system, allowing corrupt officials to siphon public funds.

    This latest disclosure is part of the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, aimed at retrieving state funds lost through corruption. Last month, President John Mahama, in his State of the Nation Address, announced a nationwide crackdown on those implicated in the ghost names scandal.

    “I have already tasked our investigative bodies to bring the culprits of the National Service ghost names to justice. Such brazen theft of public funds must not go unpunished. It is estimated that more than 80,000 ghost names could have yielded the suspects over GH¢50 million every month.

    “Unfortunately, some of these suspects have absconded the country already, and I have directed that they be declared wanted and their assets traced and frozen until investigations are completed,” President Mahama stated.

    The payroll fraud, uncovered during a nationwide audit of the National Service Authority (NSA), exposed a network of NSS officials, district directors, and payroll administrators who allegedly created fictitious names to claim salaries for non-existent service personnel.

    While the Attorney General did not disclose the name of the MP involved, he hinted that more details would be made public soon.

  • Speaker orders probe into ‘Daughter of a murderer’ comment, apologises to Rawlings family

    Speaker orders probe into ‘Daughter of a murderer’ comment, apologises to Rawlings family

    Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed a full-scale investigation into the controversial “daughter of a murderer” remark made during a parliamentary session, while also issuing an apology to the family of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.

    Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, March 4, Mr. Bagbin condemned the comment as unacceptable and an affront to parliamentary decorum. He stressed that such remarks undermine the dignity of the House and assured the public that necessary steps would be taken to identify and hold the responsible MP accountable.

    The Speaker expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging the emotional toll it may have had on Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, and the Rawlings family. He assured them that Parliament does not condone such conduct and that disciplinary measures would be enforced.

    In a bid to ensure transparency, Mr. Bagbin has set a one-week deadline for the MP in question to come forward voluntarily.

    “I advise the member responsible to within the week show honesty and plead than wait for outcome of investigations.”

    He warned that failure to comply would result in severe consequences, with the House ready to impose the highest sanctions once investigations are concluded.

    “… will be liable to be reprimanded or suspended for a period not exceeding 9 months or expelled from Parliament altogether.”

    The Majority Leader has also backed the Speaker’s stance, urging the MP responsible to take responsibility for their actions. He emphasized that Parliament must uphold discipline and called for stricter enforcement of ethical standards among legislators.

    Background

    The controversy erupted on February 4 during a parliamentary session commemorating the 60th anniversary of Joseph Boakye Danquah’s death. As Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin addressed the chamber, an unidentified MP from the backbenches interrupted, shouting, “Daughter of a murderer, sit down!”

    The remark, widely believed to reference former President Rawlings’ political history, sparked immediate outrage among MPs, with many condemning the statement as an attack on Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings’ integrity.

    The Speaker has since reaffirmed his commitment to upholding order in Parliament, ensuring that such incidents are addressed with the seriousness they deserve.

  • We have a president from Bole, what do we need a minister for? – Bole/Bamboi MP quizzes constituents

    We have a president from Bole, what do we need a minister for? – Bole/Bamboi MP quizzes constituents

    The Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana, has assured his constituents that the absence of his name from President John Dramani Mahama’s ministerial list will not hinder development in the area, emphasizing that having the President himself hail from Bole is an unparalleled advantage.

    In an interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, January 22, the MP dismissed claims that he had been sidelined, following reports of dissatisfaction in the constituency after the announcement of the ministerial appointments.

    “I’ve not been sidelined, and I am closely in touch with President Mahama,” Mr. Sulemana said, stressing that his relationship with the President remains strong.

    He attributed his exclusion from the ministerial list to the President’s commitment to running a lean government, explaining that the decision to appoint only 60 ministers was in line with efforts to ensure efficiency.

    “The President promised to appoint 60 ministers, and he is a man coming from Bole. What do we need a minister for? We are looking for a minister or an appointment to bring development to our people. So if we have the President himself coming from the constituency, what will be a minister’s duty in this equation?” Mr. Sulemana questioned.

    The MP called for calm among residents and urged them to focus on the bigger picture of supporting President Mahama’s leadership to ensure progress in the area.

    This comes amid rising concerns about equitable representation in President Mahama’s appointments, but Mr. Sulemana insists that Bole/Bamboi’s position remains secure with the President at the helm.

    He reassured his constituents that the President’s ties to the constituency would naturally translate into development, even in the absence of a direct ministerial appointment.

    “We have a unique advantage as a constituency because the President is one of us. Let us rally behind him to bring the needed development to Bole/Bamboi,” he added.

  • I had to use a motorbike” – A Plus shares experience, explains why MPs need sirens

    I had to use a motorbike” – A Plus shares experience, explains why MPs need sirens

    Kwame Asare Obeng, also known as A Plus, the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, has shared that his personal experience has helped him understand why MPs need sirens to navigate through traffic.

    A Plus admitted that he had previously opposed the idea of MPs being granted the legal right to use sirens. However, after spending just a few days in office, his perspective has changed.

    “It is not an easy task at all. Today, for instance, I was with the President in my constituency. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community had their annual convention.

    You know it’s in my constituency; that’s where they have it—in Gomoa Pomadze. I had to be at the convention and in Parliament at the same time.

    “I remember that before I entered Parliament, I was complaining about MPs and why they wanted sirens. I called my friend, who is a dispatch rider. I said, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I am at my place.’

    I said, ‘Please, I need you to take me out of this traffic and get me to the constituency now and bring me back to Parliament,’” A Plus stated during an interview on Joy FM.

    He explained that his experience has helped him realize why lawmakers have been pushing for permission to use sirens.

    He highlighted the difficulties they face in fulfilling their responsibilities while trying to avoid heavy traffic.

    “So I came to understand why they were… and can you imagine someone whose constituency is in, say, Paga, and you have to go there with the President and then come back to Parliament?

    I think that I am in a position to explain what happens in Parliament and what parliamentarians go through very well to the public,” he added.

  • MP becomes part-time ‘trotro mate’ few days to election

    MP becomes part-time ‘trotro mate’ few days to election

    Politicians, often Members of Parliament (MP), mostly engage in unusual or attention-grabbing activities ahead of elections. In recent times, MPs such as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, reportedly joined some constituents in preparing and driving banku as part of her campaign activities ahead of the 2024 elections.

    Others took on roles as petty traders; some washed their constituents clothes; and others, including National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s Sam George, joined his constituents in farming, specifically assisting with the planting of crops.

    The new MP who has joined the train is the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Kwesimintsim constituency, Dr Prince Hamid Armah, takes on the role of a part-time Trotro mate a few days before the election.

    In a video shared on X by @eddie_wrt, Dr. Hamid was seen wearing a white shirt and dark glasses, playfully acting as a bus conductor while shaking hands with passengers boarding the bus.


  • I said nothing wrong – Hadzide over ‘vote for me, I’ll take you to US’ comment

    I said nothing wrong – Hadzide over ‘vote for me, I’ll take you to US’ comment

    Asuogyaman Member of Parliament, Pius Hadije, has defended his statement, “Vote for me, and I will take you to the U.S.,” asserting that there is nothing wrong with the remark.

    In an interview with Accra-based GH One TV, the MP explained that his intention is to help improve the lives of his constituents.

    He clarified that the offer to travel to the U.S. is part of his efforts to provide better opportunities and experiences for them.

    Additionally, he mentioned that the upcoming FIFA World Cup presents a chance for his constituents to enjoy and have fun.

    Hadije emphasized that his comments should not be taken out of context, reiterating that his primary goal is to enhance the well-being of the people he represents.

    “There is nothing wrong with my statement,” he said. “I want to improve their lives and let them enjoy the FIFA World Cup.”

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Asuogyaman, Pius Hadzide, made a compelling promise to his constituents, vote for him, and he will help make it possible for their children to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.

    Addressing supporters at a recent campaign event, Mr Hadzide highlighted his connections and extensive experience in the sports sector as key assets that could open doors for Ghanaian youth to participate in major international sporting events.

    This pledge comes amidst a backdrop of controversy.

    In 2017, Mr Hadzide, then Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, was involved in the Australian Visa scandal, where several Ghanaians were accused of posing as journalists to secure visas for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

    Mr Hadzide faced suspension during the investigation but was later cleared of any wrongdoing and reinstated by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Despite this past issue, Hadzide remains a significant figure in the NPP and is now focused on winning a parliamentary seat.

    “Nananom, did you know that it takes 18 hours to travel from Ghana to Australia? Yet, I was able to assist some individuals in making this journey. The 2026 World Cup will be held in America, which is just a 7-hour flight from Ghana.

    “If you, Nananom, desire for your children to travel to America to work and send money back home, or if you are a young person eager to explore opportunities abroad, I promise to support you when I become MP.

    “Unlike my opponent, who has had the chance but failed to assist the youth, I will facilitate travel opportunities for all interested young people to destinations like Germany, America, UK, France, and Canada.

    “So, I kindly ask for your support in the upcoming election, and I will ensure that I help you achieve your dreams of travelling abroad.”

    Watch video below:

  • “Is this where Ghana has reached?” – MP reacts to 2-week closure of Korle Bu dialysis unit

    “Is this where Ghana has reached?” – MP reacts to 2-week closure of Korle Bu dialysis unit

    The closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has sparked widespread outrage and concern, especially after it was revealed that three kidney patients have tragically died due to the disruption in services.

    The unit, which has been closed for nearly two weeks, was reportedly shut down without any official explanation, leaving vulnerable patients in a dire situation.

    The Health Committee of Parliament has strongly condemned this closure, with members expressing shock and disappointment at the situation.

    Baffour Ahenkorah, President of the Kidney Patients Association, confirmed the deaths, stating that the closure has put an unbearable strain on patients who now have no choice but to seek treatment at expensive private facilities.

    Member of Parliament for Central Tongu and a member of the Health Committee, Alexander Roosevelt, expressed his deep concern in an interview with Citi News.

    He questioned the transparency and honesty of the National Insurance Authority (NHIA), which had recently assured the Health Committee that funds had been allocated to support kidney patients.

    “The National Insurance Authority appeared before our committee requesting an amount of 2 million cedis for payment of the bills of under 18 and above 60 people who have these conditions. And they also came out boldly a few months or weeks ago emphasizing that they had released an amount of 2 million Ghana cedis and there was going to be an additional amount of 2 million that would be given to the Korle Bu hospital to settle the bills of people with renal cases,” Roosevelt recounted.

    “I am just surprised that I’m being told that the setup has been closed down mainly because they do not have medical supplies,” he added, expressing disbelief at the current state of affairs. “Is this where Ghana has reached? It’s a very serious situation. It’s something that one cannot fathom and I can understand. How can we joke with the health of our own people?”

    The MP’s comments highlight the growing frustration and confusion over the handling of the healthcare system in Ghana, particularly at a time when critical services like dialysis are being interrupted due to administrative or logistical failures.

    The closure of the Renal Unit at Korle Bu has forced many patients to seek care at private centers, where the costs are prohibitively high, ranging from GH₵600 to GH₵1,000 per session.

    Most patients require at least two sessions per week, making the financial burden nearly impossible to bear for many.

    Baffour Ahenkorah echoed these sentiments, stressing the dire consequences of the unit’s closure. “Because Korle Bu is a government facility, the prices here are relatively moderate—not cheap, but affordable for most of us. However, private centers are charging between GH₵600 and GH₵1,000 per session. Most of us require two sessions a week, which means we need at least GH₵1,200 weekly. Many simply cannot afford this,” he said.

    He also expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the hospital authorities. “We don’t even know what is happening or why it was closed. No one has informed us, and we are left in the dark. This situation is creating serious problems for us,” Ahenkorah stated.

    The situation at Korle Bu has become a national concern, with calls for urgent action to reopen the Renal Unit and prevent further loss of life. The Health Committee of Parliament is demanding answers and accountability, as the crisis continues to highlight the challenges facing Ghana’s healthcare system.

  • MP initiates free health screenings for Juaboso residents

    MP initiates free health screenings for Juaboso residents

    Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP for Juaboso and Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, has initiated a program offering free medical screenings to benefit 10,000 residents in his constituency.

    This annual program, running from June 26 to June 29, provides a wide array of health services such as screenings for hypertension, diabetes, and other common conditions.

    It also includes free consultations, medications, and referrals for additional medical care as needed.

    Speaking to Adom News, the legislator underscored the importance of accessible healthcare, particularly for rural residents who often struggle to access quality medical services.

    “Healthcare is a fundamental right, and it is our duty to ensure that every constituent has access to the necessary medical services to lead healthy lives.”

    Medical experts from diverse specialties have offered their expertise, highlighting a collaborative community approach to enhance health outcomes in the constituency.

    Screening sessions are held at several sites including Benchema, Agyemadiem, Proso, Bonsu Nkwanta, and Boinzan across the constituency to ensure broad access to healthcare.

    In addition to the health screening, the MP plans to offer free eye screenings for residents from July 2 to July 5 this year.

    The eye screenings will encompass free provision of eyeglasses, medications, and surgical services for constituents.

    The recipients of the health screenings conveyed their appreciation for the initiative, noting the significant financial strain of healthcare expenses.

    They emphasized that the health screenings are vital for those unable to afford routine medical examinations.

    Meanwhile, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has promised to persist in advocating for enhanced healthcare facilities and services in Juaboso and beyond. He has initiated the construction of several facilities aimed at improving healthcare accessibility for the population.

    This health screening initiative is part of Akandoh’s broader commitment to improving the welfare of his constituents, complementing previous efforts focused on education, infrastructure, and economic progress.

  • Prison officers at Osu have been asked to vacate their barracks by July – Ablakwa claims

    Prison officers at Osu have been asked to vacate their barracks by July – Ablakwa claims

    Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has alleged that the government is forcing prison officers who are stationed along the Osu stretch in Accra to move out of their current barracks.


    In an interview with TV3, Ablakwa claimed that the government has instructed prison officers in Osu to vacate their barracks by July this year as the facility has been sold to private developers.

    This move, he asserts, aligns with the administration’s broader agenda of privatizing public assets.


    In addition, Ablakwa revealed that lands under the Parks and Gardens Department have also been sold.

    He disclosed that an insider informed him about this transaction, detailing how employees were confronted by individuals claiming to be the new owners of the land.

    “Are you aware that the parks and gardens have been sold? They called me that they went to work one day and some people showed up that they are the new owners, go to Prisons near Osu roundabout, the barracks they have given up to July to vacate because they have sold it to private developers. Go to Airport, all the way to DVLA, all of that trucks of lands are all gone. There are some doctors at Ridge hospitals and others who have told me that their bungalows have been sold, they now have to go and leave far away, if there is an emergency how will they help?,” he added.


    Expressing alarm over these developments, Ablakwa highlighted the importance of preserving public lands designated for recreational and environmental purposes.

    He criticized the lack of transparency surrounding these transactions and called for a thorough investigation to uncover the parties involved and determine the legality of the sales.

    Known for his vocal activism, Ablakwa recently led a protest titled ‘Hands off our Hotels’ on June 18, 2024.

    The demonstration aimed to urge the government to halt the sale of 60 percent shares in four SSNIT-owned hotels to Rock City Hotel, owned by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.


    Ablakwa has announced a second phase of the protest in the Central Region, reassuring residents that their concerns about the sale of Elmina Beach Hotel and Ridge Royal Hotel have been acknowledged and will be addressed.

  • Hollow threats! – NDC replies Henry Quartey over name reveal in secret recruitment claims

    Hollow threats! – NDC replies Henry Quartey over name reveal in secret recruitment claims

    Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson has called on Interior Minister Henry Quartey to publicly release the names of opposition MPs accused of engaging in protocol recruitment for security services.

    During a May 21, 2024, interview on Neat FM, Quartey threatened to reveal the names of National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs allegedly involved in such practices.

    This came after Forson claimed that each New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP had been given 30 slots for security service recruitments.

    In a statement dated May 21, 2024, and posted on his social media handles, Forson described the minister’s position as “alarming and baseless.”

    “His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand,” the statement read in part.

    It added that Quartey’s views were “a hollow threat intended to intimidate and silence legitimate criticism from the Minority Caucus,” but that the Minority won’t be cowed.

    “I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability.

    “If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised,” Ato Forson stressed.

    He added that the Minority will move for a probe into recruitment since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo came into office in 2017.

    Statement: Ato Forson replies Henry Quartey:

    I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues at hand.

    The Minister’s remarks, made during an interview with Neat FM on May 21, 2024, and reproduced in the article below, come off as a hollow threat intended to intimidate and silence legitimate criticism from the Minority Caucus.

    Our concern has been and remains the transparency and fairness in the recruitment process into our country’s security services. Specifically, we highlighted credible information suggesting that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is manipulating recruitment processes to favor its parliamentary candidates with 30 slots each. This allegation is serious and deserves a substantive response, not deflection.

    I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised.

    Mr. Minister, I can assure you that we will bring a motion to Parliament to demand an enquiry into the recruitment into security services since 2017.

    The integrity of our security services and the trust of the Ghanaian people in our institutions depend on our collective commitment to transparency and justice.

  • Who gives bribes in such a manner ? – Former NPP MP on alleged bribery at Ejisu elections

    Who gives bribes in such a manner ? – Former NPP MP on alleged bribery at Ejisu elections

    Former MP for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, offered his insights on the bribery accusations levelled against the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso during the recent Ejisu by-election.

    On the May 5, 2024, episode of The Big Issue on Citi TV, Mr. Ayeh-Paye discussed the justifications presented by the current MP for his conduct.

    He expressed surprise at the criticism directed at the MP, contending that the alleged bribery does not reflect logical behaviour.

    “You don’t have to give lunch to the electoral officers on duty. My struggle is that nobody gives a bribe in that manner, openly like that.

    I don’t think anybody in his rightful sense will do that,” Mr. Ayeh-Paye stated, casting doubt on the likelihood that a sane individual would engage in such overt acts of bribery.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irvM6PQGQpQ

    The incident under scrutiny involves a video circulating online depicting the MP placing an envelope on a table in front of two Electoral Commission officers during the by-election.

    This action has sparked widespread interpretation as an alleged attempt to bribe the officers, a claim vehemently denied by the MP.

    He insists that the gesture was merely a friendly offer of lunch.

    As the controversy escalated, the police initiated an investigation to uncover the truth behind the incident.

    In response, the MP has issued an apology for any misunderstanding his actions may have caused and has committed to fully cooperating with the investigative process.

  • Has OSP arrested the Kwadaso MP?

    Has OSP arrested the Kwadaso MP?

    Kwadaso’s Member of Parliament, Prof Kingsley Nyarko, reportedly faces arrest following allegations of corruption during the Ejisu by-election on April 30, 2024.

    According to UTV’s post, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken action in response to a video capturing the suspected corruption.

    The Electoral Commission referred the case to the OSP, prompting investigations.

    Reports from myjoyonline.com indicate that OSP investigators have questioned several involved parties, including Prof Kingsley Nyarko, regarding the corruption allegations.

    The MP was filmed placing a white envelope on a table where two EC officials were present during the by-election. Prof Nyarko defended his actions, claiming the envelope contained lunch money for the officials.

    However, the EC initiated investigations and removed the implicated officials from their posts.

    The Commission urged for criminal investigations into the conduct of the officials.

    In response, Prof Kingsley Nyarko maintained that his actions were well-intentioned and not intended to influence the officials.

    Additionally, Election Watch Ghana petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the MP’s actions further.

  • Operational works on police cannot be directed by A-G – MP

    Operational works on police cannot be directed by A-G – MP


    Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Mr. Peter Lachene Toobu, recently voiced discontent with a letter purportedly from the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame.

    In his statement, Toobu emphasized that while the Attorney-General serves as the chief legal advisor and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as the chief law enforcer, the former lacks the authority to direct the latter on operational matters.

    Encountering the letter, which lacked a file number and was purported to be from the Attorney-General, Mr. Toobu expressed surprise, asserting the Attorney-General’s absence of power to dictate operational procedures to the IGP.

    He argued that if the Attorney-General identified issues with Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2180, the appropriate course of action would be to advocate for its amendment or repeal through Parliament.

    During an interview on the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM, Mr. Toobu, a former police officer, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between the Attorney-General and the Police in addressing concerns regarding the law of police impounding vehicles that jump red lights.

    He suggested that the Attorney-General could have collaborated with the IGP to issue an Internal Police Order (INPO) directive to review the implementation of L.I 2180 by operational personnel.

    Earlier, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, advised the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to direct police officers to desist from impounding vehicles whose drivers engage in misdemeanours, citing crossing the red light and driving without a valid insurance certificate as examples.

    “As Attorney-General and the principal legal adviser to the Government, I advise that police officers should desist from the impounding or prohibition of the use of a motor vehicle for minor offences such as an alleged violation of any of the rules of the road contained in Regulation 106, and other provisions pertaining to crossing the red light or driving a vehicle without a valid insurance certificate etc,” the Attorney-General wrote in a letter dated 9 February 2024 to the Inspector General of Police.

    He explained: “An application of the road traffic regulations, particularly Regulation 158 requires fairness, candour and reasonableness.

    The impounding of a vehicle is not necessary for proof of a violation of any of the rules contained in Regulation 158 or indeed, most of the provisions in L. I. 2180.

    Thus, a position that the vehicle is required to be “used as an exhibit” in court is untenable and unreasonable.”

    Mr Dame further explained that the practice has resulted in needless costs to the state with the potential to cause judgment debts.

    “An unreasonable exercise of discretion or a failure to adhere to the advice herein has the tendency to result in unnecessary suits against the Government, occasioning needless expense and potentially avoidable judgment debts. 

    “The Office of the Attorney-General is already inundated with many suits arising from wrongful exercise of discretion and negligence by police officers. 

    Further, it ought to be noted that responsibility for maintaining the condition of an impounded vehicle shifts from the owner of the vehicle to the State. Impounded vehicles are exposed to the risks of deterioration and theft of essential parts,” Mr Dame stated.

  • I escaped a poison attempt during a funeral I attended – Nana Yaa Brefo

    I escaped a poison attempt during a funeral I attended – Nana Yaa Brefo

    Renowned media personality Nana Yaa Brefo has opened up about a traumatic incident, recounting the spine-chilling details of a thwarted attempt on her life during a funeral gathering in Kumasi.

    During her narration, she revealed that she had attended the funeral alongside two Members of Parliament (MPs) she had coincidentally met at the airport.

    After the burial service, Nana Yaa, along with the two MPs, decided to share a meal. However, upon returning to the table, she noticed a disturbing change in the taste of the drink she had ordered.

    “In the course of drinking, I got up to attend to something. When I returned, the taste of the drink had changed to something quite different. When I noticed it, I quickly rushed to the hospital for medical treatment,” she disclosed during an interview on Onua TV, as monitored by GhanaWeb.

    Using her harrowing experience as a cautionary tale, Nana Yaa Brefo urged the public to exercise caution when consuming food at events, regardless of the company they keep.

    “Sometimes, you might not know the mindset people have about you, especially those who are within your circle. We should be careful about what we eat at events because anybody could be influenced to harm you through food,” cautioned the seasoned broadcaster.
    Nana Yaa shared this information while commenting on the tragic passing of former Deputy Minister of Finance, John Kumah, who was reportedly a victim of poisoning.

  • I have to be corrupt to become MP – Cletus Avoka

    I have to be corrupt to become MP – Cletus Avoka

    Member of Parliament for Zebilla, Cletus Avoka, has attributed the perceived corruption within the Legislature to the unreasonable demands imposed on lawmakers, primarily by the public and constituents.

    During an interview with Starr FM, Avoka highlighted the persistent challenges faced by MPs due to continuous financial requests, revealing that these demands make it nearly impossible for lawmakers to refrain from involvement in corrupt activities.

    Mr Avoka pointed out that, as a consequence, many MPs divert their attention from legislative duties, utilizing their positions for personal business endeavors.

    He emphasized the necessity for media understanding, underscoring that financial pressures, encompassing requests for healthcare expenses, wedding contributions, and school fees, contribute significantly to the public’s perception of corruption.

    Addressing the prevalent financial demands, Mr Avoka described a daily scenario where MPs are inundated with requests, making it challenging to allocate funds after lengthy parliamentary debates.

    He acknowledged that these financial constraints often lead MPs to engage in external activities to generate income, supporting the assertion that such circumstances justify the perception that all MPs are corrupt.

    Responding to whether this situation justifies labeling all MPs as corrupt, Avoka affirmed that maintaining a seat often requires seeking additional resources, potentially involving external activities for income generation.

    He highlighted the dilemma MPs face, needing to divide their attention between parliamentary responsibilities and external endeavors to meet the financial demands placed upon them.

    “Many of us lose the election or Primaries not because we are not doing well but because we’re not giving money out. How do you give money out if you come and stay in parliament for 8 hours debating? You’re debating for 5 or 8 hours, you go home in the evening to sleep, and the following day you have no money to send. You have to go out and look for the money.”

    “If I’m not corrupt, how can I maintain my seat? You have to be corrupt in one way or another. You have to look for more resources. If you have to look for more resources, you have to go out and do some work for a contractor. As a lawyer, maybe prepare a bill, or do this and that and whatnot? So I have half attention here, and half attention outside because I need more resources to be able to maintain my seat.”

  • Salaries MPs receive not enough to meet ‘outrageous’ demands from constituents – Cletus Avoka

    Salaries MPs receive not enough to meet ‘outrageous’ demands from constituents – Cletus Avoka

    Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament for Zebilla, has lamented the undue burden placed on lawmakers, attributing perceived corruption within the Legislature to unreasonable demands from the public and constituents.

    In an interview with Starr FM, Mr Avoka shed light on the financial challenges MPs encounter due to incessant requests for monetary assistance.

    He revealed that the relentless demands make it exceedingly difficult for MPs to abstain from engaging in corrupt practices. Avoka highlighted how many MPs are compelled to divert their attention from legislative duties to address financial obligations.

    Mr Avoka emphasized the necessity for understanding from the media, underscoring how the financial pressures MPs confront, including requests for healthcare expenses, contributions to weddings, and school fees, contribute to the perception of corruption.

    “Everyday MoMo. Everyday MoMo. Somebody is sick and has to go to the hospital, you have to send money, somebody is going to do a wedding you have to send money, they are going to do outdooring, they are asking for you. They are asking for school fees and whatnot.

    “Many of us lose the election or Primaries not because we are not doing well but because we’re not giving money out. How do you give money out if you come and stay in parliament for 8 hours debating? You’re debating for 5 or 8 hours, you go home in the evening to sleep, and the following day you have no money to send. You have to go out and look for the money.”

    When questioned whether this circumstance validates the claim that all MPs are corrupt, Avoka responded in the affirmative.

    He underscored that to sustain their positions, MPs frequently find themselves needing supplementary resources, which may entail pursuing external activities to generate income.

    “If I’m not corrupt, how can I maintain my seat? You have to be corrupt in one way or another. You have to look for more resources. If you have to look for more resources, you have to go out and do some work for a contractor. As a lawyer, maybe prepare a bill, or do this and that and whatnot? So I have half attention here, and half attention outside because I need more resources to be able to maintain my seat.”

  • Lawyer accuses three police officers for killing J.B Danquah, declares accused innocent

    Lawyer accuses three police officers for killing J.B Danquah, declares accused innocent

    Defense counsel, Yaw Dankwah, in the murder case involving former MP for Abuakwa North, J. B. Danquah Adu, has asserted that Daniel Asiedu, the first accused person, did not perpetrate the crime.

    Instead, he alleged that the former MP was murdered by three individuals impersonating police officers who visited his residence.

    According to Dankwah, these impersonators, after committing the gruesome act, managed to disappear without a trace. This claim, he argued, is supported by the testimony of Apraku, the security guard who promptly reported the incident to the police via phone calls.

    Furthermore, Dankwah emphasised that the late MP was of significant stature and physical strength, implying that it would have been improbable for Asiedu to overpower him.

    “It was the three impersonating officers who overpowered the MP and killed him at his residence… Asiedu cannot overpower the MP physically.

    “Your story suggesting that it was Daniel Asiedu who killed the MP was a fabrication and full of lies.”

    However, ASP Augustine Nkrumah, the case investigator answering questions before the court, said it was Daniel Asiedu, the first accused person, who killed the former MP.

    According to the investigator, Asiedu was “a terrible person” and capable of killing the man.

    The case investigator took the court through how some weapons used in committing the crime were retrieved from Asiedu.

    He also told the court how a T-shirt and a handkerchief, all soaked with blood and a knife were found at the scene and Asiedu admitted that those items were for him.

    ASP Nkrumah said Asiedu’s girl friend, Janet Kyeraa, also confirmed to the police that the T-shirt and handkerchief belonged to Aseidu.

    The investigator said Janet Kyeraa also informed the police that Asiedu, after the incident, gave her a knife stained with blood to clean.

    The investigator told the court that Asiedu’s slippers were also retrieved from the crime scene and Aseidu also identified a catapult and cutter found at the scene.

    “During investigations, the knife Asiedu used in stabbing the deceased to death was traced to Asiedu’s room at Agbogbloshie in Accra.

    “When the knife was shown to the first accused person (Asiedu), he admitted to having used that knife on the deceased. Asiedu said he was held by the deceased and he left him helpless in his room,” said ASP Nkrumah.

    The case investigator said in the deceased room, Asiedu asked for forgiveness for the offence he had committed.

    The investigator told the court that Asiedu demonstrated to the investigation team how he went to the crime scene and how he perpetrated the crime.

    “My Lord, the exhibits found in the deceased room, Asiedu admitted sending them there.”


    Daniel Asiedu is currently facing trial for his alleged involvement in the murder of former MP for Abuakwa North, J.B Danquah Adu, which occurred at the MP’s residence in February 2016. He has been formally charged with both murder and robbery.

    Asiedu stands accused alongside Vincent Bossu, with whom he is alleged to have conspired to rob the MP. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them before a seven-member jury.

    Presiding over the case is Mrs. Justice Lydia Osei Marfo. The court has ordered the accused individuals to be remanded in custody until their next appearance scheduled for February 28, 2024.

  • MPs to kick off sessions with roll call and National Pledge recitation

    MPs to kick off sessions with roll call and National Pledge recitation

    Beginning today, Tuesday, February 6, a notable change will take effect in parliamentary proceedings as members will kick off sessions by reciting the National Pledge.

    This marks the implementation of the new standing orders, bringing forth a significant alteration in the parliamentary protocol.

    Under the revised standing orders, heads of state institutions will now be required to personally appear before Parliament to address inquiries related to their agencies.

    This departure from the previous standing orders, which allowed Ministers of State to represent the heads of institutions during questioning, represents a fundamental shift in the parliamentary approach.

    As part of the procedural changes, Members of Parliament will undergo a roll call and actively participate in reciting the national pledge at the commencement of proceedings.

    Ahmed Ibrahim, the First Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, provided insights into these modifications, underscoring that independent bodies such as the Electoral Commission, CHRAJ boss, BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General will now undergo questioning akin to ministers on the parliamentary floor.

    He stated, “Independent bodies like the Electoral Commission, the CHRAJ boss, the BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General are going to be questioned just as we question ministers on the Floor and the mode of answering questions on the Floor has also been provided in the new Standing Orders.

    “Previously, if you wanted to invite the EC, they would say he had no audience on the Floor and if the Common Fund administrator needed to come unless the discussion was led by the Minister but this time around, it is not going to be the same.

    “The administrator can come and be interrogated by a committee and can be asked questions and he will respond to the questions and the mode of answering the questions has been catered for in the new Standing Orders.”

    Ibrahim emphasized that the new standing orders facilitate a more direct engagement with officials from independent bodies, allowing them to be questioned by parliamentary committees, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the parliamentary process.

  • Some parents are getting their children into SHS through bribe – Dafeamekpor alleges

    Some parents are getting their children into SHS through bribe – Dafeamekpor alleges

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has alleged that parents are currently paying bribes to secure admissions into various senior high schools (SHSs) in Ghana.

    According to him, these bribes are being demanded at the placement centers for SHS admissions.

    Speaking on TV3’s Key Points regarding the Corruption Perceptions Index report by Transparency International, Dafeamekpor expressed concerns about corruption in the education system, citing instances where parents are allegedly paying to secure spots in popular schools.

    He claimed that corruption has infiltrated the computerized placement system, leading to demands for bribes at placement centers.

    Dafeamekpor argued that this issue needs to be addressed to ensure fairness in the admission process.

    “Today, parents are paying bribes to admit their children into SHSs because the computer system is being tampered with.

    “They will tell you Achimota School is full but if you pay money they will admit you, they will tell you PRESEC is full but if you pay money they will admit you, this is not from the headmasters but persons at the placements centers,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday Febraury 3 regarding the Corruption Perceptions Index report by Transparency International, released on Tuesday, January 30, ranking Ghana in the 70th position out of 180 countries monitored.

    Additionally, Dafeamekpor criticized the current administration’s efforts in fighting corruption, stating that former President John Dramani Mahama demonstrated stronger political will in tackling corruption during his tenure.

    In contrast, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu asserted that President Akufo-Addo lost the fight against corruption when he appointed relatives as ministers of state. Kpebu emphasized that Akufo-Addo’s family and friends’ governance is a sign of corruption.

    On the same program, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi, defended President Akufo-Addo, arguing that blaming the president for acts of corruption by other officers is unfair. Appiah-Kubi emphasized the independence of state investigative bodies empowered to fight corruption.

    The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report by Transparency International ranked Ghana 70th out of 180 countries, with a score of 43 out of 100.

    The report highlighted concerns about stagnation in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts for the fourth consecutive year.

  • NPP female MPs are losing elections because most women don’t participate in DLEs – NALAG

    NPP female MPs are losing elections because most women don’t participate in DLEs – NALAG

    The National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) has attributed the recent loss of female incumbent Members of Parliament (MP) to the limited participation of women in district-level elections.

    NALAG contended that societal biases, viewing women as unfit for political roles, significantly contribute to the recurrent defeat of women in both national and district-level polls.

    This observation follows the New Patriotic Party parliamentary primaries on January 27, 2024, where 28 incumbent MPs, notably including female representatives like Adwoa Safo, MP for the Dome Kwabenya constituency, were unsuccessful in their reelection bids.

    “I think that the assembly level should be a training ground to aspire to higher political office, and so in a situation where we have 14.5% in the 2020 elections as female MPs who were elected to parliament and today we are seeing the numbers decrease from what we experienced in 2020, then we ought to be alarmed. We may not even get 14% in the national parliament and that is very worrying.”

    “As of now, we have not been able to kill the stereotype and the prejudices we have against women when it comes to leadership. However, leadership must take decisive action to implement Affirmative Action.”

    The gender disparity extended to the district-level elections, with only 4.1% of elected officials being women, while men constituted a dominant 95.9%.

    NALAG’s General Secretary, Kokro Amankwah, emphasized the importance of district-level elections as a foundational step in women’s political involvement, expressing concern about the declining numbers of female MPs.

    Mr Amankwah highlighted the need to challenge stereotypes and prejudices against women in leadership roles.

    He stressed that while the district level might pose challenges, the political landscape should become more favorable for women as they ascend the ranks.

    In response to the situation, NALAG and the Network for Women’s Rights are urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint 60% women to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.

    They advocate for decisive action, including the implementation of Affirmative Action, to address gender imbalances in leadership roles. The Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936), allows the president to appoint 30% of Assembly members, with the remaining 70% elected.

  • My promises to you cannot be fulfilled in eight years, give me another term to serve you – MP tells constituents

    My promises to you cannot be fulfilled in eight years, give me another term to serve you – MP tells constituents

    The Member of Parliament(MP) representing the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency in the Central Region, Elvis Morris Donkor, has acknowledged that fulfilling all his campaign promises within a mere eight years is a challenging task.

    As he seeks a third term and has submitted his nomination forms, he expressed the view that the limited time in office makes it difficult to accomplish all outlined commitments.

    In an interview with Ghone News’ Yaw Boagyan, the MP emphasized the potential positive impact on the constituency if granted another mandate by NPP delegates.

    He urged delegates to support his candidacy in the upcoming primary, highlighting his intention to contest the 2024 parliamentary election for a third term.

    Hon. Elvis Morris Donkor also called on the Abura Asebu Kwamankese NPP Constituency Executives to ensure a fair and transparent primary process for all aspirants.

    Meanwhile, fishermen and fishmongers who obtained nomination forms for the MP expressed their trust in him, citing ongoing projects such as the construction of landing sites in various fishing communities within the Constituency.

    They believe that granting him another four-year mandate will enable him to continue and improve upon his work.

  • NPP has lost its relevance in Mfantseman – Delegates

    NPP has lost its relevance in Mfantseman – Delegates

    Delegates from the Mfantseman Constituency in the Central Region of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have alleged that selective treatment and neglect by the party, accusing it of exploiting their efforts during elections and disregarding them post-victory.

    Led by a delegate known as Agya, the group contended that despite their significant contributions to the party’s success, they receive no benefits when the NPP secures power.

    Agya voiced their frustration in an interview with Oyerepa TV, stating, “We have realized that those who suffer for the party get nothing in exchange when the party wins power.

    “They no longer regard the delegate… We have realized that the NPP is just using us to work without benefits when the party wins power. The party becomes selective, and only a few people enjoy it.

    “The strength of the party in Mfantseman is shaking, and as a result, the party is no longer attractive.”

    The delegates specifically criticized the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Ophelia Mensah, accusing her of failing to advocate on their behalf and acknowledge their role in the party’s achievements. T

    hey express determination to bring about change in their representation within the constituency.

    To address these grievances and instill confidence in the party, the disgruntled delegates have thrown their support behind Gabriel Amoah, a former 1st Vice-Chairman of the NPP in the Mfantseman Constituency.

    They believe that Amoah, who has a long history of service to the party, is the candidate to usher in positive change for their town.

  • MP slams govt for failing to fulfill promise of constructing 2-bedroom house for 2021 best fish farmer

    MP slams govt for failing to fulfill promise of constructing 2-bedroom house for 2021 best fish farmer

    Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee of Parliament, Eric Opoku, has voiced deep disappointment at the government’s failure to honor its commitment to construct a promised two-bedroom house for the Best Fish Farmer of 2021.

    Years have passed, and the unfulfilled pledge has drawn criticism, raising questions about the government’s commitment to supporting and recognizing excellence in the agricultural sector.

    Eric Opoku has rebuked the Ministry of Agriculture for requesting an additional sum of GH¢50,000 three years later to finalize the construction of the promised house.

    Opoku made these remarks while deliberating on the 2024 budget estimates of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development during the Committee on Agric and Cocoa Affairs discussion.

    “…Mr. Speaker, Farmers Day. This is a very important celebration that every Ghanaian must have heard. Unfortunately, during the celebration, the best fish farmer is not given the award. In 2021, the best fish farmer was to be given a two-bedroom house. The ceremony, attended by the President and all state apparatus, was widely publicized. However, as we speak, the house has not been completed, and the ministry is now asking for five hundred thousand cedis to be able to complete the building and hand it over to the best fish farmer. Mr. Speaker, this is something that must not be told anywhere. We don’t have to allow this to happen.”

    However, the ministry, as revealed in the report, has abandoned the decision to award the Best Fish Farmer a house due to financial constraints.

    The Committee urged the Ministry of Finance to release the GH¢500,000.00 allocated for the completion of the two-bedroom house awarded to the 2021 Best Fish Farmer.

    This move aims to enable the ministry to reconsider reinstating the housing award, intending to motivate more investors to venture into aquaculture.

    The House has since approved a total sum of two hundred and ninety-eight million, seven hundred and seventy-two thousand, two hundred and fifty-three Ghana Cedis (GHC298,772,253) to implement the planned programs and activities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the 2024 financial year.

  • MP clarifies suspension of import restriction L.I. for further consultation

    MP clarifies suspension of import restriction L.I. for further consultation

    MP for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has clarified that the suspension of the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) aiming to restrict the importation of 22 ‘strategic’ items is intended for additional consultation.

    The Export and Import L.I. seeks to grant the Trade Minister the exclusive authority to license individuals wishing to import specified items into Ghana.

    The list includes essential items like rice, poultry, animal organs, oils, margarine, fruit juice, beverages, ceramic tiles, corrugated paper, mosquito coils, soaps, motor cars, iron and steel, diapers, polymers, fish, sugar, clothing, biscuits, canned tomatoes, and aluminum products.

    Appearing on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday, December 8, he mentioned that the consultation aims to incorporate additional perspectives before finalizing the legislation.

    “The suspension is based on the fact that we need to consult more, this is a very good step that government is taking and so we think we need to carry along everybody,” Acquah said.

    “For such a very important programme, if you have resistance from one or two people, it doesn’t augur well, we need to be together,” he added. “We need everybody on board to make it real, so this is to afford us the opportunity to do some more consultation.”

  • Russian “traitor” ex-MP killed in Russia – Ukraine

    Russian “traitor” ex-MP killed in Russia – Ukraine

    Former member of Ukrainian Parliament, Illya Kyva, was killed in Russia by Ukraine’s security service, SBU, according to law enforcement sources who told the media.

    According to sources, the criminal was shot with a small gun and killed.

    Russian investigators said they found his body outside Moscow.

    Earlier this year, Kyva was sentenced to 14 years in jail for betraying his country and asking for Ukraine to be taken over. He ran away from Ukraine and was found guilty when he wasn’t there.

    Many Ukrainian news sources said that their sources claimed the SBU was responsible for killing the 46-year-old former lawmaker.

    “Yes, Kyva is gone” Other Ukrainian traitors and puppets of Putin’s government will face the same destiny. Andriy Yusov, who speaks for Ukraine’s military intelligence, said this on Ukrainian TV.

    Russia’s law enforcement agency said that initial information suggests that Kyva was killed by a gunshot in a village near Moscow called Suponevo. A crime investigation is happening now.

    Kyva tried to become the president of Ukraine in 2019 but did not win. He then left the country just one month before Russia started a big attack in February 2022.

    He was often on TV shows in Russia that try to persuade people to believe certain things.

    He was planning to ask to live in Russia because he was in trouble in his own country.

    In other news, a politician named Oleg Popov, who was supported by Russia, was killed by a bomb in his car in the city of Luhansk in Ukraine. This happened on Wednesday, according to local officials.

    Russia has taken control of most of the Luhansk region. Ukraine has not said anything about the attack.

    He died a few weeks after another politician from Luhansk was also killed in an attack that was claimed by Kyiv.

    Since Russia invaded, the SBU and military intelligence have said they carried out successful missions against important targets in the areas Russia took over and in Russia.

    The bridge connecting Crimea to Russia has been attacked many times, causing a lot of damage.

    Last week, the SBU destroyed a railway in Russia’s Far East near China’s border that was an important transportation center.

  • Govt’s annual import expenditure stands at US$10.8b – MP

    Govt’s annual import expenditure stands at US$10.8b – MP


    Member of Parliament (MP), Collins Adomako-Mensah, Afigya Kwabre North has expressed his endorsement of the government’s move to restrict the importation of certain food commodities.

    The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, is advocating for a regulation with the aim of bolstering Ghana’s currency and supporting local industries.

    This regulation is set to limit the importation of strategic products, including rice, fruit juice, margarine, cement, fish, sugar, and 16 others.

    However, this initiative has faced strong opposition from the minority in parliament and various business associations.

    During a press briefing on Thursday, November 22, the Minority Leader criticized the regulation as a flawed policy and called for its immediate withdrawal.

    “We are urging the President to have a rethink because this is not a policy that we should encourage, and they have to withdraw it,” he implored.

    coalition of business associations, including the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA), Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG), and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), has strongly opposed the proposed import restrictions bill. They contend that the bill, if enacted, would have adverse effects on their businesses. In response, these associations have submitted a petition to Parliament, urging lawmakers to reject the bill presented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

    Despite the opposition, Hon. Collins Adomako-Mensah supports the government’s stance on import restrictions, asserting that such measures are essential to foster the growth of local businesses and fortify the Ghanaian cedi. During an appearance on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” morning show, the MP provided a detailed breakdown of the annual importation costs incurred by the government, revealing a staggering expenditure of $10.8 billion.

    Enumerating the major imports and their associated costs, Hon. Collins Adomako-Mensah highlighted that the yearly imports include $164 million for tripe, $200 million for beverages, $100 million for toilet papers and tissues, $100 million for fresh tomatoes, $800 million for rice, and $300 million for sugar. Other significant imports comprise poultry and meat ($400 million), textiles and apparel ($250 million), cooking oil ($300 million), tiles and ceramics ($200 million), plastics ($500 million), papers ($600 million), iron and steels ($600 million), furniture ($250 million), and home appliances ($900 million).

    The MP emphasized that a substantial portion of the importation costs is attributed to tin tomatoes, cars, and spare parts, amounting to $1 billion and $2 billion, respectively.

    “These are the monies we spend to import these things each year…All these things I have stated are quoted in dollars, not cedis. What it means is that we have to make sure that we have this import cover to ensure that when a trader wants to import something, government should be able to or must make sure that it has this amount of dollars”, he stated.

    “Once you continue to transfer the money outside, you are creating jobs outside,” he added, and he asked the host, Kwami Sefa Kayi; “Is it still shocking to you that there is pressure on our cedi?”

    To him, when the government restricts imports, “businessmen in Ghana can see an opportunity out of it,” hence enhancing local production.

    He, however, called on the government to hold a stakeholder meeting to keep the associations, especially the opposing parties, abreast of the policy.

  • 2024 likely to experience food shortage over Akosombo dam spillage

    2024 likely to experience food shortage over Akosombo dam spillage

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Pru East, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has forecasted that there might be a food scarcity in Ghana in 2024.

    This comes after communities near the Volta Lake’s bank were inundated due to the lake’s bank being broken by an excessive amount of water entering it.

    During a Monday Eyewitness News on Citi FM interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Dr. Donkor stated,

     “The flooding is so severe, whole communities are under the lake. Health infrastructure, clinics, schools, etc. have all been flooded. And so there is not just the humanitarian end of it; there is also the medical, public health end of it, and the educational end of it. In my constituency, schools have had to shut down because they have been submerged.”

    “What exacerbates the situation is that in Pru, Oti, Bono East, Savannah, and Northern, farmlands have also been flooded, so there is a possibility of a serious food inadequacy and food insecurity going forward next year [2024] because farmlands have been flooded and the crops have not survived.”

    Dr. Donkor disclosed that the flooding of the communities bordering the lake commenced as early as June and July 2023 but had not been taken seriously due to a lack of media coverage.

    He added that the flood victims had so far received only communal aid.

    In the Pru East District of the Bono East Region, nine communities have been submerged as a result of the Volta Lake overflow, displacing more than 2,500 residents.

    The worst-affected communities include Kobre Nsuano, Pentecost Nsuano, Adiembra, Fanteakura, Tokobikope, Tonka, Agokope, Logakope, and others.

    This information was relayed by Fredrick Ndila Ntana, the Pru East District Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), during an interview with Citi News on Monday.

    “So far we have about over nine communities which are affected by the floods. These are Fanteakura, Birikente, Tokobikope, Accra Town, Kobre Nsuano, Who Are You, and many others.”

    “And so now we have about 2554 people displaced, and these are the breakdowns. The males are 1,302 and the females are 1,252…we have relocated them to the highest grounds,” he stated.

    In the meantime, more than 30,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the Akosombo Dam spillage, affecting various communities in the Volta and Eastern regions.

    The controlled spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams, initiated by the Volta River Authority (VRA), began on September 15, 2023, in response to a consistent increase in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.

    As a consequence of the spillage, a large number of residents in areas including South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and numerous other regions have experienced flooding and property damage.

  • MPs cannot be Ministers – Ken Agyapong pledges to review Constitution

    Contender for the flagbearer position within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has added his voice to the growing demands for a revision of the constitutional requirement mandating the majority of ministers to be drawn from Parliament.

    The Member of Parliament for Assin Central argues that this particular provision has consistently undermined the strength of the parliamentary body, resulting in a limited capacity for scrutinizing the actions of the executive branch of government.

    “No Member of Parliament should be a minister, it weakens parliament. Per the Constitution, about 70% of ministers must be MPs, I totally disagree, we have to change it,” he submitted on US-based Kings Radio on September 24.

    “If 70% of the legislature is part of the executive, it amounts to self-scrutiny. Parliament should be an independent body… we are humans, if my colleague MP is a minister, they get passes but those who are not get drilled,” he explained.

    Mr Agyapong said he was well aware of a big pushback on his position, adding: “but that is why I want a referendum. MPs also want to be ministers to sign contracts.”

    He expressed frustration over the challenges faced by Members of Parliament, highlighting that MPs encounter difficulties such as car loans and immediate salary deductions from the beginning of their terms. This is in contrast to CEOs of government departments and agencies who receive official cars, some of which they can purchase at a significantly reduced price upon completing their tenures.

    Kennedy Agyapong, who has served in parliament for over two decades, is eyeing the NPP flagbearer position as his next political endeavor.

    Agyapong will be competing for the flagbearer position alongside three other contenders, including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.

    The NPP has scheduled November 4, 2023, as the date to elect a successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the leader of the party.

  • Lydia Alhassan investing in political activities with Common Fund – NDC

    Lydia Alhassan investing in political activities with Common Fund – NDC

    The Ayawaso West Wuogon branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Lydia Seyram Alhassan, is diverting the district assembly’s common fund towards her political endeavors.

    The party claims that this fund, intended for addressing local developmental challenges, is not being used as intended.

    Bismark Aborbi Aryitey, the NDC chairman for Ayawaso West Wuogon, stated that Alhassan has not provided an account of the common fund’s utilization.

    He noted that the fund appears to be directed toward NPP members in the constituency and questioned its allocation.

    Concurrently, the NDC leadership in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency has officially endorsed actor-turned-farmer John Dumelo as their candidate for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

    In a statement signed by constituency chairman Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey, it was revealed that fellow aspirants Fred Nuamah and Kojo Adu Owusu have withdrawn from the race to allow Dumelo to represent the NDC.

    Fred Nuamah withdrew his candidacy on August 8 and pledged his full support to Dumelo. The NDC is urging its supporters and the public to unite behind Dumelo’s bid to win the seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections.

  • Comply with KMA’s directive – Muntaka urges tricycle operators

    Comply with KMA’s directive – Muntaka urges tricycle operators

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has appealed to tricycle operators to refrain from taking matters into their own hands and comply with the directives issued by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) regarding restricted movement in specific parts of the city.

    Mubarak assured the operators of his commitment to engaging city authorities in discussions to address their concerns and ensure orderliness within the region.

    Expressing dissatisfaction over recent disturbances near the KMA premises, where clashes erupted between some tricycle operators demanding the release of impounded vehicles, the MP cautioned against resorting to violence against law enforcement and public property in their pursuit of grievances.

    Mubarak, addressing a gathering of tricycle operators, further urged city officials to adopt a practical approach when enforcing the directives, emphasizing the importance of finding solutions that benefit all parties involved.

    Acknowledging the congestion and traffic issues in Kumasi, Mubarak proposed a pragmatic solution involving potential congestion charges for vehicles such as trotros, pragyas, and abobooyas.

    He stressed the need for a balanced resolution that addresses the challenges while safeguarding the livelihoods of those who depend on tricycle operation.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Tricycle Drivers Union, Al-Asbat Alhassan Sidi, expressed gratitude towards the MP’s support and announced the union’s intention to continue engaging with KMA officials.

    Sidi assured that they would encourage their members to adhere to the directive while also seeking clear guidelines from the city authorities to minimize disruptions and ensure a harmonious outcome.

    “Our next line of action will be to engage the KMA on how they will carry out their exercise as they said they will continue up to Friday. So we have to go to them and assist them so that there will be no chaos. They should give us some directives to follow so that no one will lose out,” Sidi stated.

  • Juaboso MP, Mintah Akandoh allegedly involved in near death accident

    Juaboso MP, Mintah Akandoh allegedly involved in near death accident

    Multiple online reports suggest, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Member of Parliament for Juaboso, was involved in a near-fatal road crash.

    Images and videos shared online depict two severely damaged vehicles that were allegedly part of the accident.

    The incident occurred while the MP was en route to Kumasi, located in the Ashanti Region.

    Several reports indicate that both the MP and other injured individuals have been promptly taken to a hospital for medical attention.

    “A few minutes ago, an accident has occurred at Nhyinahini in the Atwima Mponua District involving the member of parliament for Juaboso constituency, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh’s vehicle and a sprinter.

    “The MP’s vehicle was heading to Kumasi with that of the sprinter from Kumasi to Sefwi.

    “The MP has been sent to the hospital together with other injured persons,” a post by Nana Kwame Afriyie, sourced to DJ Philip on Hardball, Fox 97.9fm, said.

    Another video post by Power 979fm said that, “The Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh was involved in a fatal accident this evening near Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region.

    “He’s responding to treatment at the moment.”

    There has, however, not been any official statement from the Ghana National Fire Service, or the Ghana Police Service on the matter.

    The Juaboso MP, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is also yet to put out any information on the reported road crash and his involvement in it.

  • Sosu urges to Akufo-Addo to move individuals on death row to life sentence

    Sosu urges to Akufo-Addo to move individuals on death row to life sentence

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu, has appealed to President Akufo-Addo to commute all death row inmates’ sentences to life imprisonment.

    This move would align with Ghana’s commitment to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2022, which removes the death penalty from the country’s laws.

    On Tuesday, July 25, Parliament passed the bill, technically eliminating the death penalty from Ghana’s legal system. Under the new law, the President will have the authority to change death sentences to life imprisonment.

    In the past, the death penalty was part of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Code but had not been implemented during the Fourth Republic.

    Human rights advocates have long called for the abolition of the death penalty, and the passage of the bill marks significant progress in this regard.

    Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed satisfaction with the repeal, urging the nation to celebrate this important step.

    MP Francis Xavier Sosu, who actively supported the bill, emphasized the importance of President Akufo-Addo’s assent to the legislation and further appealed for the commuting of all current death row inmates to life sentences.

    He believes this action will demonstrate a genuine commitment to moving away from state-sanctioned killing and towards a pro-life approach, while still denouncing acts of violence.

  • Ensure your actions do not affect Gyakye Quayson’s legal processes – Adjei Baah to Minority

    Ensure your actions do not affect Gyakye Quayson’s legal processes – Adjei Baah to Minority

    A former Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkawkaw, Eastern Region, Seth Adjei Baah, has called on the Minority in Parliament to respect the legal process in the case involving MP for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.

    He emphasizes that the continuous absence of the caucus could significantly impact their constituents, prompting the need to negotiate with the majority side.

    Seth Adjei Baah advises the Majority to find a way to get the Minority back to Parliament while allowing the judiciary to carry out its work impartially.

    He believes that continuing in the current manner could result in the suffering of Ghanaians, and therefore, he urges the Minority to give the judiciary the space to fulfill its responsibilities correctly.

    Seth Adjei Baah pleads with his fellow MPs to return and work together in moving Ghana forward.

    “The NDC has the right to boycott if they are not happy about certain issues. However, we should also make sure that we do not stand in the way of the judiciary. This is a case where, if we are not careful, we will be influencing the stance of the judiciary. So, I think the majority should just come out and find a way to negotiate to get them back to Parliament while the judiciary is going ahead to do their work.”

    “Because if you continue in this way, it means that Ghanaians are suffering, and you are there to help us get things done. Yes, I don’t want to say that they should do this or that, but they should give the judiciary the chance to do what is right. They are trying the case; the lawyers are going, and I know that in Ghana, they will do the right thing. So, it is not about following up there that will influence the decision of the court. So, I will plead with my brothers to come back and let’s see how best we can move Ghana forward,” he stated.

  • Death penalty ban may fuel mob justice – Avoka

    Death penalty ban may fuel mob justice – Avoka

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebilla constituency in the Upper East Region, Cletus Apul Avoka, has voiced his disagreement with the calls to abolish the death penalty in Ghana’s legal system.

    Discussions among legislators have arisen following the report from the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee on the Criminal Offences Amendment Act, which proposes replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.

    Speaking to the media, Avoka restated his position, expressing concerns that eliminating the death penalty could have negative consequences for the country’s justice system.

    He argued that without the deterrent of the law, there could be an increase in vigilante justice, where suspects are killed by civilians without proper judicial proceedings.

    “Where is the evidence that when the death penalty is taken out of our books, people will not commit murder? In fact, we are having fewer heinous crimes because of the existence of the death penalty. Already, people do not have confidence in the judicial system, and if you now go around telling people that if you kill somebody, you will not die, then you are inviting Ghanaians to take the law into their hands and do instant justice.”

    “Abolishing the death penalty has the tendency to increase mob justice.”

    Mr. Avoka refuted the notion that countries that have abolished the death penalty experience lower crime rates. He argued that each jurisdiction is unique and what may work elsewhere may not necessarily be effective in Ghana’s context.

    He emphasized the need to consider Ghana’s specific circumstances when evaluating the potential impact of abolishing the death penalty.

    “There is very little logical argument to the conversation that the peaceful countries in the world do not have the death penalty in their books. The jurisdiction is not the same and has different issues and so advancing that argument is a non-starter.

    “There is no empirical proof that in Ghana if we abolish the death penalty, people will not commit heinous crimes. There is nothing to support it.”

    While the death penalty was originally inherited from the colonial administration as a punishment for serious offenses, including murder, attempted murder, genocide, piracy, and smuggling of gold or diamonds, Ghana has not carried out any executions since 1993.

    In contrast to this, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the presiding archbishop and general overseer of the Action Chapel International ministry, supports the movement to abolish the death penalty.

  • Afenyo-Markin visit chiefs in Central Region to address land dispute

    Afenyo-Markin visit chiefs in Central Region to address land dispute

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu Constituency and Deputy Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, headed a delegation on Tuesday to visit the chiefs of Gomoa Ajumako, Gomoa Akyempim, and Effutu in the Central Region.

    The purpose of the visit was to address ongoing land disputes in these areas and seek peaceful resolutions through constructive dialogue.

    Accompanying Afenyo-Markin were De-Graft Paitoo, the MP for Gomoa East; Richard Gyan-Mensah, the MP for Gomoa West; Naana Eyiah, the MP for Gomoa Central and Deputy Minister for the Interior.

    Additional members of the delegation included Kassim Zubairu, the MCE for Effutu; Solomon Darko-Quarm, the DCE for Gomoa East; Bismark Baisie Nkum, the DCE for Gomoa West; and Benjamin Kojo Otoo, the DCE for Gomoa Central.

    During the visit, Afenyo-Markin expressed the team’s commitment to an impartial strategy for resolving the land disputes. He also suggested the establishment of Development Authorities and a bipartisan joint committee to address the concerns of the chiefs and facilitate regional development.

    The paramount chiefs of Gomoa Ajumako, Gomoa Akyempim, and Effutu expressed gratitude for the visit and expressed their support for the team’s efforts in achieving peace and development. They highlighted the importance of peaceful coexistence and the need for expedited development in the region.

  • Minority’s Parliament boycott breaches standing orders – Bagbin

    Minority’s Parliament boycott breaches standing orders – Bagbin

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has stated that the Minority caucus boycotting Parliamentary business without a formal notice to that effect is a violation of the House’s Standing Orders.

    The Standing Orders of Parliament state that a Member of Parliament must leave his or her seat if he or she has been absent for 15 sittings without the Speaker’s consent and is unable to provide an acceptable explanation.

    The Speaker determined that the gesture is not warranted in response to concerns voiced by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, concerning the representation of the minority being absent without authorization in the Votes and Proceedings of Parliament.

    “Some MPs have been captured for being absent without permission, some concerns have been raised on the definition of walk-out and boycott. The deputy Minority Whip has raised a very serious matter on the fact that from his knowledge, some members were not present yesterday, but they have been captured as present, as it’s an indictment on the officers of Parliament.”

    He added, “On the issue of attendance, Article 97 (1C) is very clear and that is what guides attendance of the house. So you can choose to attend or choose not to attend. When you refuse to attend, depending on your own action, you could be marked as absent or absent with permission. The burden now falls on the group to show evidence that my good self has granted you permission to absent yourselves in writing, not verbally; that any time a colleague of yours wants to attend court proceedings, you will solidarize with that colleague and that you will be absent so that the official report will capture that”.

    On July 11, the Minority in Parliament once again boycotted business activity in Parliament in favor of the prosecution of Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson.

  • MPs do not receive ex gratia but gratuity – Speaker of Parliament

    MPs do not receive ex gratia but gratuity – Speaker of Parliament

    The money given to Members of Parliament (MPs) every four years, according to Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is not ex-gratia but rather accumulated salary arrears (gratuity).

    He claimed that most lawmakers, including himself as Speaker, do not know their actual salaries until the end of their four-year terms, a practice he called “wrong” at the start of every new parliament.

    He said that whenever Ghanaians discussed the budget for the House of Representatives, they thought of it as funding for the wages and working conditions of the members, “especially what people refer to as ex gratia.”

    “Gratuity is different from ex gratia; what they pay MPs is gratuity and it is another wrong practice because as we sit here in our third year, which is three years down, I as the Speaker do not know my salary,” he revealed.

    Speaking during a visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Bagbin said: “My salary has not yet been fixed and so every month I am paid something based on what my predecessor was earning.’’

    “But we all know from the labour front that every year they try to renegotiate with the government and so at the end of the four years then they (government) come out with your salary.”

    “And that will definitely be higher than the first year and so they have to pay you arrears.

    “It is those arrears that balloon to what the Members of Parliament take at the end of four years and people call that ex gratia,” he explained.

  • 30 polling station coordinators receive motorcycles from Tarkwa-Nsuaem MP

    30 polling station coordinators receive motorcycles from Tarkwa-Nsuaem MP

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker, has handed over a number of motorcycles to 30 polling station coordinators in the Western Region.


    During the presentation, Mr. Duker emphasized the importance of a strong political party and urged the coordinators to work diligently, re-energize their skills, and support the NPP’s vision and programs leading up to the 2024 elections.


    He highlighted the critical role of polling station coordinators in shaping the NPP’s image and conducting effective political campaigns aligned with the party’s development agenda.


    Mr. Duker stressed the NPP’s commitment to promoting Ghana’s development and highlighted key initiatives such as the provision of ambulances, one-constituency projects, free SHS education, and the ongoing dualization of the Takoradi-Tarkwa road.


    As Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Duker emphasized the need for a strong political machinery and organization to fulfill the party’s mandate.

    He encouraged the coordinators to advocate for and spread the positive achievements of the NPP.


    Mr. Duker also shared his own contributions to the constituency, including improvements in NPP’s organization in the 1990s, achievements in the health and education sectors as an MP, and his support for Medeama SC in winning the league trophy in sports.


    “We need to enhance our lobbying skills and reach out to the people. Yes, we need an effective and mobile coordinator. This bike is not for your personal use, it’s for serious political campaigns for the NPP in Tark­wa-Nsuaem.

  • Minority criticizes FDA’s suspension of inspections in markets

    The Minority in Parliament (MP) has strongly criticized the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for suspending its market surveillance and General Manufacturing Processes Inspection duties. This decision is seen as jeopardizing public safety and putting the well-being of Ghanaians at risk.

    According to the Minority, the FDA’s inability to carry out these essential responsibilities is primarily due to the delay in the release of funds by the Finance Ministry. They argue that the government should prioritize the health of its citizens and take immediate action to safeguard the public.

    The Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, expressed the Minority’s concerns during a media address.

    He called upon the government to address the situation promptly and protect the welfare of Ghanaians.

    Furthermore, the Minority accused the government of consistently displaying a lackadaisical attitude, thereby continuously exposing Ghanaians to potential dangers. This criticism suggests that they believe the government has not been proactive enough in ensuring the safety and well-being of the population.

    It is important to note that this information is based on the provided statement and represents the perspective of the Minority in Parliament. The views and allegations expressed by the Minority may not necessarily reflect the full picture or the stance of the government.

  • Court adjourns Gyakye Quayson’s stay of proceedings applications in criminal trial to July 11

    The case involving the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, has been adjourned by the High Court in Accra.

    A ruling on the application for a stay of proceedings will be delivered on July 11.

    On Thursday, July 6, the legal team representing the embattled MP filed an application requesting the court to stay the proceedings.

    This would allow the Court of Appeal to hear their appeal seeking a review of the trial judge’s decision to conduct the case on a day-to-day basis.

    Tsatsu Tsikata, the lead counsel for the defense, argued that not granting the stay of proceedings would be prejudging the appeal.

    The prosecution, led by Godfred Dame, opposed the application.

    Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament chose to boycott Thursday’s sitting in a show of solidarity with two members of their caucus.

    The Minority Leader, and James Gyakye Quayson, the MP for Assin North, were both scheduled to appear in court that day for their ongoing cases.

    Dr. Ato Forson is currently facing criminal charges related to an alleged financial loss of €2.37 million to the state. The case revolves around a deal to purchase 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016.

    On the other hand, James Gyakye Quayson is undergoing trial at the High Court in Accra on charges of forgery and perjury. These charges stem from alleged offenses during the lead-up to the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election.

    The Minority expressed unwavering support for their colleagues in a brief statement, highlighting their unity by abstaining from participating in parliamentary proceedings for the day.

    “This is the beginning of a series of actions that the Caucus will be embarking on to end the ongoing persecution of the Minority Leader himself, the Hon. James Gyakye Quayson and the Hon. Collins Dauda.”

  • Larteh residents to boycott election 2024

    Larteh residents to boycott election 2024

    Residents of Larteh Akuapem in the Akuapem North Municipality have threatened to boycott the 2024 general elections if government fails to address the deplorable state of roads in the area.

    They hold the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and previous governments responsible for their inability to fix the roads, leading to a standstill in economic activities.

    Frustrated residents and drivers in Larteh have expressed their grievances, highlighting the urgent need for proper road infrastructure.

    The roads are riddled with gullies and large potholes, causing damage to vehicles.

    “I don’t think it is a road that you can be happy about as a municipality or even as a place like Larteh. Larteh is a well-known place but the road that leads to the place is terrible, and it is hindering tourists and other people from coming to see how beautiful the town is.”

    It was for that reason he said the roads must be fixed as a matter of urgency to improve development in the town.

    Another resident, Patrick Kwaku Mantey said that “I am very worried, it has been very problematic for the past 10 years. If you look at the road there are patches, but immediately it rains everything gets spoilt again.”

    “We have constantly spoken about the roads and there has even been a situation where chiefs and community members holding the MP to a ransom but to no avail.”

    He made a heartfelt plea to the government, urging them to allocate funds to the contractor to initiate road construction. He emphasized that if this is not done, the residents of Larteh will refuse to participate in the 2024 elections.

    Furthermore, during the inauguration of the Larteh Fire Station, the Chief of Larteh addressed the Minister of Interior and other high-ranking service commanders, appealing to the government to prioritize the construction of the Mamfe to Ayikuma road.

    Responding to the chief’s request the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong gave an assurance that a contractor will come to the road by the end of this year as the coordinating council is still lobbying at the Ministry of Highways.

    “We have been working with the Ghana Highway Authority to assess it for us. So we got the Ghana Highway regional director to come over and assess it and so far we are at the ministry getting pushing to get the contractor to take it over.

    “So I believe that by the end of the year, we should have a contractor come on the road,” he stated.

  • Gyakye Quayson to be sworn in July 4

    Gyakye Quayson to be sworn in July 4

    The winner of the Assin North by-election in Ghana, James Gyakye Quayson, will be sworn in as the Member of Parliament (MP) on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

    Quayson secured victory in the by-election held on June 27, 2023, with a total of 17,245 votes, constituting 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest competitor, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, representing 42.15% of the votes.

    The Assin North by-election was conducted following a legal dispute over Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to concerns about his dual citizenship. Quayson’s successful election fills the parliamentary seat that had remained vacant during the legal proceedings.

    Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) received 87 votes, accounting for 0.29% of the overall vote count.

  • Ghanaian MP admits to being hooted at but denies being chased away by constituents

    Ghanaian MP admits to being hooted at but denies being chased away by constituents

    Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya South, Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere, has clarified that he was not chased away by angry constituents after the death of a resident. He, however, admitted to being hooted at by the constituents.

    This is after a video that has gone viral shows the MP being whisked away by the police from being attacked by an angry mob during a visit to his constituency.

    The angry mob slammed the MP after the body of a 57-year-old man, John Kwame Asumang, who drowned following Wednesday’s downpour was recovered.

    The deceased is said to have drowned after crossing a bridge during the rains.

    Residents attributed his death to the poor state of roads and a broken bridge in the area.

    Rejecting claims of being mobbed during an interview on the Eyewitness News, Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere, clarified that he was rather hooted at by his constituents and not chased away as reported in media circles describing such claims as misleading.

    He appreciated the concerns of his angry constituents and expressed sympathies to the bereaved family.

    The legislator admitted the bridge has become unmotorable.

    “The story is misleading, I wasn’t chased away, I didn’t go there to commiserate with the family, even though I had planned to do that at another time. The Divisional Police Commander ACP Joe Owusu called me on my phone and informed me that there had been some agitations at the bridge as a result of the death of a motor rider, who intended crossing to go and do his business, so they won’t allow anyone to cross, so I should go over”.

    He further recounted, “When I went there, policemen were there, the Commander and his officers were 10 in number, just to have a discussion as to how best we can solve the issue. When it rains, the place gets flooded, they can’t use it, the bridge is not passable, and the unfortunate happened. I wasn’t chased away, though when I went there, the residents started massing up. They hooted at me. I do appreciate their concerns, in view of the fact that it involves the loss of life. I wasn’t chased away or pelted with stones. The police escorted me to my car and I drove away”.

    He admitted that there was a splash of water but denied the stone was pelted at him.

    “I saw a splash of water, I saw an object fall into the water, but I cannot say it was targeted at me or not,” he further clarified.

    He said all efforts to get the bridge fixed proved futile.

  • Alhassan Suhuyini organises free extra classes for Tamale North 2023 BECE candidates

    Alhassan Suhuyini organises free extra classes for Tamale North 2023 BECE candidates

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale-North, Alhassan Suhuyini is organising free extra classes for the 2023 BECE candidates in the constituency.

    According to him, this is to enable the candidates prepare adequately for their examinations. The classes which started on Saturday, June 10, will continue until the students are done with their exams.

    The subjects to be taught include Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science and Social Studies.

    The centres for the classes are Bishop R/C, Choggu, Kanviller R/C, St Augustine, Nyanshegu and Fou Matariya JHS. Mr Suhuyini in a media interview said education is key on his transformation agenda of the constituency.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker recently made donations to some artisans in the constituency. The items donated included vulganizing machine, industrial sewing machines, welding machines, carpenter tools and machines.

    Other items were glass cutting machines, masonry tools, steel bending tools, car washing machines, grass mowing tools.

    He also commissioned an ultra-modern ten-seater public toilet facility for the people of Kalpohini, a community in the Tamale-North Constituency.He also donated two brand new motorbikes to selected persons in the constituency.

  • Only dictators have been born out of 1992 constitution – Muntaka

    Only dictators have been born out of 1992 constitution – Muntaka

    The Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has stated that the 1992 constitution of the country is designed in a way that facilitates the election of a president with dictatorial tendencies.

    The lawmaker contends that the constitution offers the President too much power in the discharge of his duties.

    “I have always said with the greatest respect that the 1992 Constitution only helps us to elect a dictator because if you look at the Constitution, all it does is create a monster president who is a superhuman and does almost everything and a lot of checks have to be corrected in the current constitution.

    His comment comes on the back of a concern raised by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu about the delegation of the Vice President as the Acting President in the absence of the President.

    In his reaction, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka called for the implementation of the recommendations by the Constitutional Amendment Commission to address such concerns.

    “I keep asking what is preventing us from implementing the recommendations of the Constitutional Amendment Commission because since 2013, we have virtually iced it yet a lot of work has been done and it is just left with the implementation and we have left it hanging. Are we anticipating another amendment because the work the Committee did is very extensive?”

    The NDC lawmaker further bemoaned the lack of checks and balances in the country’s democratic practice.

    “We all know that in a presidential system, checks and balances must exist but that is a system that has been very difficult for us to do for the past 30 years.”

  • James Quayson: Supreme court declares 2020 Assin North election unconstitutional

    James Quayson: Supreme court declares 2020 Assin North election unconstitutional

    The election of James Gyakye Quayson as Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North in the Central Region has been declared unconstituitional by the Supreme Court.

    In a unanimous decision Wednesday morning (May 17, 2023), a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to expunge the name of Mr Quayson as MP, reports Graphic Online’s Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson from the court.

    The Supreme Court in April 2022 ordered the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, to stop holding himself as an MP until the determination of a suit challenging the constitutionality of his election.

    In a 5-2 majority decision on April 13, 2022, the apex court ordered Mr Quayson to abstain from any Parliamentary business and also refrain from engaging in activities pertaining to an MP.

    Reasons

    In its ruling, the Supreme Court was of the considered view that the High Court in Cape Coast has declared the election of Mr Quayson as null and void, and therefore allowing him to continue as an MP while the constitutional issue was yet to be determined “will be an indictment of the administration of justice.”

    “There can be no justification for ignoring the submissions on the continued disregard of the orders of the High Court which have not been suspended or overturned,” the court held.

    Also, the court held that the whole country would suffer greater hardship if Mr Quayson was allowed to continue to serve as an MP and the court determines that his election violated the 1992 Constitution.

    “This court will be failing in its exclusive mandate and duty to the Ghanaian people to uphold and defend the Constitution if it does not suspend, mitigate or abate an alleged constitutionality illegality if the applicant were to succeed in the end of this suit,” the court held.

    The majority decision was authored by Justice Kulendi.

    In the dissenting opinions, Justice Dordzie and Amegatcher were of the view that the Supreme Court was not the right forum for the applicant, and that all he needed to do was to enforce the judgment of the High Court.

    Plaintiff’s case

    In July 2021, Mr Ankomah-Nimfah won a judgment at the Cape Coast High Court nullifying Mr Quayson’s election on the basis that the MP held Canadian citizenship at the time he filed to contest the seat.

    He then went to Supreme Court in January, this year for interpretation of Article 94 (2) (a), the same constitutional provision the High Court used to nullify Mr Quayson’s election.

    His basis for going to the apex court was that despite the judgment by the High Court, Mr Quayson still continued to parade himself as an MP.

    Mr Ankomah-Nimfah is seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, at the time the EC opened nominations for people to file to contest the Assin North parliamentary seat, Mr Quayson held a Canadian citizenship and therefore was not eligible to contest.

    He further wants the court to declare that the EC breached Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution when it allowed Mr Quayson to contest the parliamentary election in Assin North when he owed allegiance to another country.

    Again, he is urging the Supreme Court to declare the entire process that led to Mr Quayson’s election as MP for Assin North as unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void.

  • A.B.A. Fuseini debunks being fanned after defeat in NDC primaries

    A.B.A. Fuseini debunks being fanned after defeat in NDC primaries

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini, has denied reports that his supporters fanned him following his defeat in the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) primaries.

    He clarified that he was nowhere near the polling center when the results were announced, dismissing the claim as a mere fabrication.

    According to him, he had already left the center with his team to find some food before the results were counted. It was during their time at a restaurant that they received news of his defeat.

    Asserting his contentment with the outcome, he dismissed the notion of being in a hysterical state and asserted that such claims were purely imaginary.

    During an interview, he addressed the issue, stating, “I want to respond to the statement suggesting that I was in a hysterical state upon the declaration and required assistance from numerous people fanning me. I want to make it clear that no such incident occurred. When the results were announced, I was far away from the scene. My team and I had stepped outside to eat as I had not eaten all day. It was during this time that I discovered the results, and I wasn’t even in close proximity for supporters to fan me since the results had turned against me.

    “…I believe it is a product of someone’s imagination. I want to emphasize that I was satisfied with the verdict, and that’s what unfolded during the voting. I urge for this false claim to be debunked as it holds no truth,” he added.

  • Video: How Sam George celebrated his victory

    Video: How Sam George celebrated his victory

    On Saturday, May 13, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George emerged winner as the party’s parliamentary candidate in 2024.

    This is the third consecutive time one of the youngest MPs will be representing the party.

    Sam George, who was very optimistic and calm despite a little chaos, polled 1,036 votes.

    Prior to the official announcement, delegates began jubilating for Sam Goerge.

    To confirm he was leading, Sam George, who was close to where the sorting of the ballot paper triggered his delegates to jubilate following his beaming smiles.

  • Speaker cuts short MPs’ recess to address ‘urgent parliamentary business’

    Speaker cuts short MPs’ recess to address ‘urgent parliamentary business’

    Speaker Alban Bagbin has directed all Members of Parliament (MPs) to end their recess and return to the House for an “urgent parliamentary business.”

    The urgent parliamentary business is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, 2023, per the statement from the Office of the Speaker dated April 20, 2023.

    “I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, do hereby direct that Parliament shall notwithstanding anything to the contrary, be recalled from recess to sit on Tuesday, the 2nd day of May 2023, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at Parliament House, Accra, to consider urgent parliamentary business,” the statement read.

    Rt Honourable Alban Bagbin gave the instruction in exercise of the power conferred on the Speaker by order 42(3) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

    The said order states that “Mr. Speaker may, if he thinks fit, call a Sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned or at any time after the house has been adjourned sine die.”


    Meanwhile, the agenda for the urgent parliamentary business is yet to be made public.
    Parliament went on recess on March 31, 2023, after passing government tax bills which have been assented to by President Akufo-Addo per reports from Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.


    Prior to that, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament recommended that the House pass the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 popularly referred to as the “anti-LGBTQ bill”.


    “Pass into law, the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, subject to the amendments proffered by the Committee,” a part of the 18-page document signed by the Committee’s Chairperson, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, read.


    Source: The Independent Ghana| Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey