Today, May 2, 2023, members of parliament (MPs) will be in parliament following an order by Alban Bagbin, Speaker of the House, for “urgent parliamentary business.”
Some MPs have claimed that the recall is to compel them to give government clearance to go for another loan.
The House went on break on March 31, 2023, after passing three controversial tax bills into law with the Nanton Member of Parliament involved in an accident on his way to Parliament to partake in the vote to approve the bills.
On the night, the MPs also approved two additionalSupreme Court Justices who had been vetted by the Appointments Committee earlier in the year.
Alban Bagbin in a statement recalling the legislators said: “In exercise of the power conferred on the Speaker by order 42(3) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, 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.”
Minority unhappy with MPs recall from recess
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament is unhappy with the recall.
In a tweet, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, alleged that the recall is to compel MPs to approve the government’s decision to go on another borrowing spree.
He took a swipe at the government for recklessly borrowing despite the current economic challenges confronting the country.
“I have been inundated with calls asking why Parliament has been recalled for urgent business on May 2, 2023. It is difficult to comprehend why the NPP government has the courage to continue borrowing after its reckless borrowing has completely destroyed the Ghanaian economy beyond recognition for generations to come,” he slammed the government in a tweet.
The United Fetish Priests Association (UFPA) has vowed to invade Parliament with eggs and schnapps to curse lawmakers should they vote against the controversial Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (anti-LGBTQI+) Bill.
According to the group’s president Nana Mosi Bansere, it would be a betrayal of Ghana’s tradition and culture if the MPs chose to put their own interests ahead of the nation and reject the bill.
He continued by saying that if Ghana allows the practice of homosexuality, the effort and sacrifice of the forefathers would be in vain and the nation will be cursed spiritually.
“Our tradition, culture, gods, rivers, dwarfs, ghosts, and other spirits surrounding our country frown on LGBTQI+, so, we (United Fetish Priest Association) will go after them with eggs and Schnapps if they vote against the Bill. We don’t trust them, we will resist LGBTQI+ with our last breath.
“The toil and the blood of our forefathers will be in vain and they will regret sacrificing their blood for Ghana and will therefore demand answers from traditional priests if they don’t support the fight against same-sex marriage and called on traditional rulers to wake up,” onuaonline.com quoted him to have said in an interview with Onua FM on March 04, 2023.
Ghana is in the process of passing a law that criminalises LGBTQ+ practices.
Under the bill, persons found guilty of breaching the law could be sentenced to jail among other forms of punishment.
The bill has received wide public acceptance but has also attracted criticisms from human rights activists and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris during her recent visit to Ghana raised concerns about the bill while describing LGBTQ+ practice as a human right.
TheMember of Parliament(MP) for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru, has revealed how he got engaged in an accident before appearing in Parliament.
According to the MP, he left Parliament to see his daughter, who was admitted to the International Maritime Hospital, because he could no longer get in touch with his wife, who was at the hospital.
At the hospital, he received calls from the leadership of the Majority Caucus, where he was told that he was needed in the House because the Minority Caucus was asking for a headcount for the approval of the taxes the government was introducing.
Hardi Tufeiru, who made these remarks in an interview on Citi FM on Monday, monitored by GhanaWeb, added that the accident happened because he was driving at top speed to get to the House in time.
“I was calling, trying to reach (my wife), but I couldn’t get her on phone. But by then, we were also on suspension in Parliament, so I did some calculations to take 45 minutes to go (and see my daughter) and come back to continue with parliamentary work.
“So, upon reaching the hospital, I started receiving calls that the minority had challenged the voice vote and that we needed to take the second option, which was headcount, and that I was needed in the chamber,” he narrated.
The MP, who is also the deputy minister for food and agriculture, said that he was almost at Parliament when the accident occurred because he was driving at top speed and lost control of his vehicle.
The National Democratic Party’s (NDC) deputy general secretary, Mustapha Gbande has made claims that NDC lawmakers who supported president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-nominations Addo’s for cabinet positions accepted bribes.
He claims that the aforementioned MPs who marketed their services in order to undermine the party will not escape punishment because they will endure heavenly repercussions.
He added that the MPs will spend all the money they took on hospital bills, that they will suffer and also face the wrath of God.
Speaking in an interview with Neat FM on March 27, 2023, he stressed: “You see, when NPP is giving you food, they will make it beautiful but under it is poison. What they are doing is getting a stand to destroy you.
“Nobody in the NPP can come and give me a bribe, because when you try it, I will do a press conference. I will prefer to work with an empty stomach and serve my party until the day that God will answer our prayer.
“…when they finished, the director of communications of the NPP went on the radio to say that the minority MPs, some of them have decided to commercialize their services and Bryan Acheampong was boasting of controlling the minority in Parliament…those individuals by now, they have regretted their actions.
“What will you profit if you betray a man, have everything on earth, and have no God? What they have done, if God doesn’t punish them, human beings will punish them.
“What I’m saying is that they will not spend that money and go scot-free, they will pay hospital bills. You can’t betray the will of the people…if the investigations does not expose them, God will punish them. They won’t see peace, you don’t betray people like that.”
Prior to the vetting of ministerial nominees by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the NDC had issued a directive to its MPs to reject the nominees in demand for a reduction in the size of the current government.
However, when the House conducted a secret ballot on the nominees, all six got overwhelming votes despite the equal numbers on both sides of the House.
The outcome of the voting process has led to accusations of treachery being made against the minority MPs.
Some members of the caucus have since taken to social media to express their disappointment with the result while others have sought to claim their innocence.
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mustapha Gbande , says the Minority MPs who voted in favour of the ministerial nominees must be dealt with.
After hours of deliberation, Parliament approved the nominations of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-new Addo’s ministers.
After the exercise was suspended, the Minority caucus in Parliament insisted on voting on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees that day
The NDC has asked all of its members not to vote in favour of the nominees.
But after a secret vote, all the nominees were approved despite the absence of three MPs from the majority side in Parliament.
The outcome of Thursday’s vote indicates several members of the Minority voted for the approval of the ministerial nominees.
In a Facebook post, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC Mustapha Gbande said “there is a need to launch an intense investigation to get names of those who voted against the minority decision. Such MPs must be taken out of Parliament.”
The approval implies that Adansi Asokwa MP, K.T Hammond is now theMinister of Trade and Industry with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy.
The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong is also the substantive Minister for Food and Agriculture while Stephen Asamoah Boateng is the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, MP for Akuapem South, who was a Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, is now a Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the MP for Karaga, and the immediate-past Deputy Minister of Energy is now a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has received overwhelming support of more than two-thirds of the NPP’s Majority Caucus members in Parliament, positioning him to lead the party into the general elections in 2024.
According to data compiled by DAILY GUIDE, more than 102 of the NPP’s 138 MPs firmly believed that Dr. Bawumia should succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo if the party is to end the eight-year curse of having only one party in power since the Second Republic’s founding.
MP for Sefwi Akotombra and a former Deputy Minister of Western North, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, made the audacious disclosure in an interview on Accra-based Peace FM while commenting on a survey report which put Dr. Bawumia far ahead of his other competitors in the NPP presidential race.
The Alan Kyerematen camp has already rubbished the poll results which gave the Vice President overwhelming lead, in all the 16 regions of the country.
According to Mr. Djornobuah, the Vice President possesses all the qualities to lead the party to set a new record by breaking the eight-year cycle of two consecutive political terms of parties in the country’s political history.
“This survey conducted is correct because the Vice President has been endorsed by 102 MPs so far. The MPs believe that Dr. Bawumia is the best bet to lead the party, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will emerge victorious,” he said.
The Sefwi Akontombra MP dropped a hint that all the MPs canvassing support for the Vice President will soon come forward to unveil the cloak of anonymity for the public to know and recognise them.
“We’ll be addressing a press conference to declare our support as MPs for the Vice President very soon. Dr. Bawumia is a Vice President who has shown majority and capability that he is the only person who can lead the NPP to break the eight,” he disclosed.
Touching on the delegates, Mr. Djornobuah mentioned that about 80 per cent of the delegates would vote for the Vice President.
“I know and believe that Western North, we’ll not disappoint the Vice President because it is time for us to reciprocate what he has done for us. And if we want more of such development then we need to vote for the Vice President,” he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that Dr. Bawumia is the right person to battle former President John Dramani Mahama in the Northern regions, adding that “with the support of our strongholds in Ashanti, Eastern and other regions, we can break the eight.”
He mentioned that the ruling NPP government has done marvelously well considering the challenges confronting nations across the world as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, yet the government is still embarking on infrastructure development, sustaining social intervention programmes such as Free Senior High School (FSHS), One District One Factory (1D1F) among others without Ghanaians experiencing power crisis unlike under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He, however, admitted that the NPP has made some mistakes in terms of governance, but was quick to add that Ghanaians are safer under NPP than NDC in terms of hardship.
The declaration is coming after about 40 of the MPs and the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, accompanied the Vice President to the funeral of Lepowura Alhaji Mohammed Nuru-Deen Jawula, who was a stalwart of the party.
Vice President Bawumia and his entourage rode in a bus for about two hours from Tamale to Salaga in the Savannah Region to attend the solemn ceremony.
One of the MPs, Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, representing the people of Fanteakwa South in the Eastern Region confirmed that more than 100 of their colleagues fully endorse the Vice President to lead the party to victory in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“We believe that it is Dr. Bawumia who can lead NPP to ‘break the 8’ in 2024. He is a gentleman, very intelligent and a highly competent personality who will be loved and supported by NPP faithful for us to retain power in 2024,” Mr. Okyere-Agyekum, who is a Ranking Member on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament told the media.
The governing NPP is working tirelessly to be maintained in power for more than eight years to break the jinx of successive political parties winning and losing elections after eight years.
At least eight NPP stalwarts have so far declared their intentions to contest in the governing party’s presidential primaries, which will be held hopefully before the end of the year.
A group of MPs in Malawi have dressed in clothes made out of gunny sacks, mostly used to carry vegetables, to protest against President Lazarus Chakwera as he gives his state nations address, The Nation news site reports.
The opposition members said they were disaffected by president’s leadership amidst a growing economic crisis and a public health emergency sparked by an outbreak of cholera.
Mr Chawera, who is currently reading his speech, admitted that he was expecting hostility from some MPs.
He pleaded for unity in the country, blaming the economic challenges the country was facing on “external shock”.
Two opposition Senegalese MPshave been arrested for the alleged assault of their pregnant colleague in parliament earlier this month.
It follows the chaos that erupted during a budget debate in parliament, in scenes that were televised. The video of the fight was shared widely on social media.
Massata Samb is said to have slapped the female MP, Amy Ndiaye Gniby, after she scoffed at him during the debate.
She threw a chair at him before another MP, Mamadou Niang, kicked her in the stomach after she was pushed to the ground.
Both Mr Samb and Mr Niang have been detained and are charged with voluntarily causing hurt, their lawyer told the Reuters news agency, adding that the detention violated their parliamentary immunity.
A brawl broke out in Sierra Leone’s parliament in Freetown Wednesday (Nov 23) as MPs were in session.
They debated a proposed change to the electoral system to allow for proportional representation in next year’s election.
In video footage, representatives from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party are seen fighting and throwing chairs.
The West African nation’s electoral commission advised switching to a proportional representation system for next year’s local and parliamentary elections excluding presidential polls.
The opposition claims the move would be unconstitutional when the government backs the plan.
The fight erupted around 1100 GMT and had quieted down by afternoon. According to local reports, the police intervened to calm down the riotous scene and expel disruptive MPs from the chamber.
The June 2023 vote will see President Julius Bio, who was first elected in 2018, contest a second term in office.
Last week, lawmakers passed legislation to introduce a gender quota in all elected and appointed positions ahead of next year’s election, which had been a major campaign promise by the president in 2018.
A journalist said security then threw out some MPs.
Members from the governing and opposition parties were pitted against each other over a plan to bring in proportional representation for next year’s local and general elections.
The proposals from the electoral commission require parliamentary approval.
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has criticised the inconsistency of the over 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) calling for the resignation of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to him, the MPs appear to be unsure of what they want, and their stance on Ofori-discharge Atta’s has shifted.
Dr. Asante stated in an interview that if the MPs do not stick to their demands, Ghanaians, including their constituents, will stop taking them seriously.
“At first, 80 NPP MPs, including my classmate Andy Appiah, were demanding that Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen be sacked by the president and threatened to stay off government business if their demands were not heard.
“Then just a few days later they came and said they met the president and that they have agreed to let the finance minister prepare and read the 2023 budget as well as finish the negotiations with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) before he is sacked. Then the majority leader, who was speaking in an interview with Joy (FM), said that all the majority MPs are on board with the sacking of Ofori-Atta.
“Now the NPP MPs (anti-Ofori-Atta MPs) are now saying that they are back to their original position. My question to the NPP MPs calling for Ofori-Atta’s head, who say they are now 98, is: what exactly do they want? Because I’m starting to get confused,” he said in Twi.
“If they are going to be cold, they should be cold, and if they want to be hot, they should be hot.” They should stop going back and forth. What they are doing now has consequences. It will get to a point where nobody, including their constituents, will listen to them,” he added.
Meanwhile, the over 80 NPP MPs who demanded that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo relieve Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta have reaffirmed their decision.
According to the MPs, they are not in agreement with President Akufo-Addo’s request for Ofori-Atta to read and see the 2023 budget through appropriation.
The MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Nana Ayew Afriyie, who spoke on behalf of the over 80 NPPs at Parliament on Thursday (November 10), said that they have decided that Ofori-Atta should not be the one to read the budget or lead the subsequent process.
A Deputy Director of Communications of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kamal Deen Abdullah, has clapped back at the party’s Former Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen after the latter described the National Chairman, Stephen Ntim as a timid soul.
Nana Obiri Boahen, has criticized the approach used by the National Chairman, Stephen Ntim in handling the agitations of some NPP MPs asking for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen.
He said in an interview with Okay FM that the never-before-seen action of the MPs could create political instability if not handled well.
Obiri Boahen stated that he expected the NPP chairman to have held a crunch meeting with the party leadership and its steering committee and informed them about how dire the situation was rather than issuing a holding statement.
“This is not the usual NPP and NDC politics on who did this or who did that. This is a very serious national issue that goes down to national stability of the country and western democracy. It is scary. Nothing like this has happened before in Ghana ever since Don Diego Di Azambuja landed in Ghana.
“It’s nearing 100 out of 138 MPs if you just add 20. And the chairman of the party says…what are you coming to do? Stephen Ntim what are you coming to do? If you are a timorous soul; please get out of politics. If you don’t have courage; exit politics. Stephen Ntim as the chairman of the party….this thing is scary for the party.
“The statement you issued; you have said you will hold a crunch meeting with the National Executive Committee and steering committee this Friday to inform them about the development. You said in your statement that ‘party leadership will control’… what will you control? What is coming is scary,” he said.
But Kamal Deen Abdullah who’s also a spokesperson for Chairman Stephen Ntim, responding to the comments by Nana Obiri Boahen in an interview on Okay FM took exception to the description of Chairman Ntim as “timid” saying it does not define who he is.
Urging Nana Obiri Boahen to retract the word, Kamal Deen Abdullah described Chairman Ntim as a bold and courageous person but as an experienced politician, he (chairman) also applies diplomacy and tact in handling issues when necessary for positive results.
“Chairman Ntim needed to engage with the disgruntled MPs to ensure there’s peace in the party and government. He needed to handle the matter using a good approach that will prevent further tension in the party and government and that is exactly what he did.
“Chairman Stephen Ntim believes is jaw-jawing it is not always that one has to be confrontational. We have governance to take care of, we have a party to take care of, and also a parliament to take care of. There are certain things you have to look at the timing and get your actions right. He acted well and at the right time.”
Kamal Deen Abdullah added that the Stephen Ntim led-National Executive body has a way of strategizing to ensure there’s always peace and unity in the party and further urged party members to be patient with leadership and believe in them to lead the party into victory in 2024 elections.”
On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 NPP MPs held a press conference to demand the dismissal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
They argued that new persons when appointed to take the place of the duo will bring back the needed confidence in the economy which is struggling.
The Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who spoke on behalf of the MPs threatened to boycott the 2023 budget reading and debate if President Akufo-Addo fails to dismiss the two ministers.
But the NPP in a statement signed by Stephen Ntim said it was engaging with the government, the Parliamentary Group, and other stakeholders and called for calm.
The president subsequently held a meeting with MPs and party leadership where it was agreed that the duo especially Ken Ofori-Atta is allowed to stay in office to conclude negotiations with the IMF.
Director of Medical Services in Parliament, Dr Prince Pambo has said results of Members of Parliament who partook in the mandatory coronavirus test will not be made public.
He said the results of individuals who test positive will be presented to them individually without the involvement of parliament.
On 19th May, 2020 the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, directed all Members of Parliament, including parliamentary staff, to go through a mandatory Coronavirus test.
This step he said, forms part of measures instituted by the Parliamentary Service Board to prevent an outbreak of the pandemic in the legislature.
He assured that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of MPs.
As a result of that directive, the samples of some 690 persons in Parliament were taken last week.
Speaking to Citi News in an interview after the exercise, Dr Prince Panbo said The exercise was meant, not only for members of Parliament but the staff of Parliament as well and other support staff who have a duty in the parliamentary precinct and the results will be made known to them individually,â€
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Health Service has announced some new 125 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the country, barely hours after some 66 recorded on Sunday, May 24, 2020.
This brings to total, 6,808 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ghana, following Sunday’s 6,683.
The recoveries also have increased by 72, making it 2,070, from its previous 1,998.
Mr. Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South has described demands for his removal from office by a group known as “Nana 4 2020 Youth Club” based in the Municipality as “mischievous” and uncalled for.
He said members of the group calling for his head were on a mission to discredit his person and the gains made by the Ketu South Municipal Assembly to deliver development projects for residents just as was going on across the country and warned their action could arm the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
This was in reaction to a News briefing the group organised on Thursday at Agbozume in the Municipality calling on President Akufo-Addo to sack Mr Agbenorwu over his “misconducts and attitudes.â€
The group, made up of old and current polling station executives, electoral area coordinators and constituency executives of the NPP with an objective to increase the electoral fortunes of the Party from 7,000 in 2016 to at least 15,000 in the 2020 general election, said they never benefitted in any way since the MCE assumed office in 2017.
The group among others alleged the MCE and Mr Samuel Doe Haligah, the Constituency Chairman shared opportunities from government among their friends and families.
Mr Agbenorwu however said the allegations were untrue and that he had meetings with members of the Party and explained things to them.
On denial of opportunities, the MCE said he had calls to hand over premix fuel dumps to Party members, which he explained was impossible as there were rules regulating the administration and distribution of the fuel and that chief fishermen at the various landing beaches were to chair the premix fuel committees.
He said his doors were always opened to the grassroots for dialogue to resolve issues, and on how best to work to increase votes for the Party in the Constituency and mentioned that he was already working closely with Mr David Tiahno Quarshie, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the area, for victory in the 2020 general elections.
Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South has described demands for his removal from office by a group known as “Nana 4 2020 Youth Club” based in the Municipality as “mischievous” and uncalled for.
He said members of the group calling for his head were on a mission to discredit his person and the gains made by the Ketu South Municipal Assembly to deliver development projects for residents just as was going on across the country and warned their action could arm the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
This was in reaction to a News briefing the group organised on Thursday at Agbozume in the Municipality calling on President Akufo-Addo to sack Mr Agbenorwu over his “misconducts and attitudes.â€
The group, made up of old and current polling station executives, electoral area coordinators and constituency executives of the NPP with an objective to increase the electoral fortunes of the Party from 7,000 in 2016 to at least 15,000 in the 2020 general election, said they never benefitted in any way since the MCE assumed office in 2017.
The group among others alleged the MCE and Mr Samuel Doe Haligah, the Constituency Chairman shared opportunities from government among their friends and families.
Mr Agbenorwu however said the allegations were untrue and that he had meetings with members of the Party and explained things to them.
On denial of opportunities, the MCE said he had calls to hand over premix fuel dumps to Party members, which he explained was impossible as there were rules regulating the administration and distribution of the fuel and that chief fishermen at the various landing beaches were to chair the premix fuel committees.
He said his doors were always opened to the grassroots for dialogue to resolve issues, and on how best to work to increase votes for the Party in the Constituency and mentioned that he was already working closely with Mr David Tiahno Quarshie, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the area, for victory in the 2020 general elections.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has called for the immediate implementation of the National Fire Safety programme popularly known as the “Dumgya Project†to curb the frequent fire outbreaks in homes, commercial buildings, among others.
The project, which would afford every household to receive free fire extinguishers, would help minimize and eliminate the frequent fire outbreaks in homes and commercial buildings to save lives and properties.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Act of Parliament (Act 537, 1997) establishes the mandate to provide humanitarian service of preventing and managing undesired fires.
To this effect, government through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) has initiated the “Dumgya Project†to distribute free fire extinguishers to homes and commercial properties.
The members of the parliamentary select committee on Defence and Interior during a working visit to the warehouses containing some of these fire extinguishers expressed their frustrations at the delay of in implementing the programme.
The Ranking Member of the Committee, James Agalga questioned why government has shown no interest in implementing the programme as it has the potential of creating jobs as well as saving lives and properties.
Consequently, he called on government, the Ministry of Interior and the Ghana National Fire Service to roll out the programme immediately to help avert fire disasters.
The Managing Director of Dumgya Project, Akif Cogoit who took the Members of Parliament through the warehouses to inspect the fire extinguishers explained that the project in its comprehensive plan will ensure the establishment of factories in Ghana to manufacture cylinders of acceptable standards to extinguish fires.
He said jobs would be created for citizens through the manufacturing process and the distribution of the fire extinguishers.
Mr. Cogoit urged stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the project in order to reap its enormous benefits.
Members of Parliament eulogised former President Daniel arap Moi as a statesman who succeeded in holding the country together during a difficult time in the history of the continent, even as they called for forgiveness if the country has to move forward from its ugly past.
In emotional debates in the two chambers of Parliament, punctuated by a one-minute silence, the lawmakers showered the fallen president with praises that sought to justify what others have called an iron-fisted rule.
They declared that he had left the country a better place than he found it.
At the Senate, Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen paid tribute to Moi, saying that under his 24-year rule, the full authority of the state had been felt across the country.
He added that Moi expanded education and gave people from marginalised areas a chance to access education.
“Going through his life history and considering the way he was humble, one gets the impression that this was a man called by God into leadership,†Mr Murkomen said.
