Chairman of the Constitutional, Parliamentary, and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has raised doubts about the implementation of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 (anti-LGBTQI bill), which Parliament is considering.
According to Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim Central, even though the bill has been fine tuned to ensure that it conforms with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, implementing it will be very difficult if it is passed into law.
Speaking in an interview on Neat FM on Friday, monitored by GhanaWeb, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) explained that prosecuting LGBTI activities in Ghana will be difficult because these activities are not done in the public.
“This bill tells the public that Ghanaians do not condone LGBTQ+ activities, but from where I stand, I think that the enforcement of this law will be very difficult.
“Because if people are engaging in these activities in their rooms, it will be difficult for them to be dealt with. Unless they come out to say they engaged in these acts, what evidence can you provide for their prosecution?” he said in Twi.
He added that the country already has a law which forbids ‘unnatural carnal knowledge’ and that the house will be considering issues surrounding people of the same sex adopting children, among others.
Meanwhile, Parliament is expected to debate and pass the anti-gay bill. This is after the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament presented the final draft of the, which was sponsored by a group of bi-partisan Members of Parliament, to the plenary.
In line with the passage of three significant revenue legislation byParliamenton Friday, March 31, traders who deal in alcoholic beverages and related products in Kumasi are forecasting declining sales and the failure of enterprises in the upcoming months.
The Excise duty amendment bill which is part of these tax bills will impose 20 percent on sweetened beverages and other products.
Wholesalers and retailers who are already lamenting hikes in the prices of these products say the passage of the tax billswill push many out of business.
A wholesaler who deals in beverage drinks and mineral water, Janet Akomeah told Citi News the only option to try and save their businesses is to pass the cost onto the customers.
“A lot of the customers complain about the price increases and some will come in and be saying that we are increasing the prices anyhow, but it is not our fault because the prices have also changed from our suppliers, and so we also need to adjust our prices to make some profit. We need more funds to be able to restock our shops and the only thing we can do now is to manage.
“There are wholesalers who may be having old stock and be selling at a relatively lesser price but if you go and take new stock and increase the price accordingly, the customers will complain that you have increased your price while others are selling at a lesser price, but it is not our fault and if things don’t change, a time will soon come that we will have to stop the business.”
The Ashanti Business Owners Association also shared in the plight of the traders and insisted the tax laws will affect livelihoods.
The Executive Secretary of the Ashanti Business Owners Association, Charles Appiah Kubi said it is disappointing that Parliament went ahead and passed the bills at the expense of the suffering Ghanaian business.
Director of LGBTQ+ Rights Ghana, Alex Kofi Donkor, has rubbished claims that the activities of the LGBTQ community are an abomination since animals do not engage in same-sex activities.
According to him, the comparison which has been made times without number does not hold water as animals are not human beings.
He noted that although members of the LGBTQ community have a different preference when it comes to their sex life, they remain human and ones with rights.
“It’s funny people make comparisons, that animals are not gays as they claim they don’t see male animals having sex, how can someone do that comparison? Are they in the animal world? How many animals have they studied to come to such baseless conclusions? People should allow people to be,” he is quoted to have said by MyNewsGH while speaking on Kumasi’s Ultimate FM.
“We are not animals and it is wrong to compare us to animals. We have rights just like any human being and we must be treated right,” he stressed.
He questioned the force at which some Ghanaians, particularly, MP for Ningo-Prampram Sam Nartey George, are opposing the LGBTQI community and its activities.
“I hear Sam George speak against us all the time. If he had a son or daughter who wanted to express his sexuality differently would he be doing what he is doing? If he feels he is a lion, he cannot be a lion on us. He has been called Gyata Gyata Gyata and he wants to act his name, not on us then he should go to the forest and do that,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has recommended that the House pass the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.
According to the Committee, a majority of Ghanaians are in favour of the legislation.
While admitting that the bill had “significant human rights concerns”, the Committee informed the House that it petitioned the Attorney-General for its opinion.
The driver of the vehicle that Mohamed Hardi Tuferu, the member ofparliamentfor Nanton, struck on Friday night, has given details of what happened.
The man, who gave his name as Kwabena told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday that the incident occurred at 9:00pm on Ghana Institute of Journalism road, from the Absa clubhouse.
“I work in Accra. I had closed from work and was on my way home. I normally use the GIJ route towards the Flagstaff house. Around 9:00 pm that faithful evening, I was on my way home as usual. When I got to the Absa clubhouse junction which is a T-junction. The MP was coming from the SDA church [side], and I was making a left turn to join the Independence Avenue road. Before I realised, the MP’s car ran into mine. He hit my passenger side. Witnesses can testify that the MP was speeding.”
“I was a bit unconscious for a while. I struggled before I was able to come out. Within a few minutes, I heard voices, that was how I regained consciousness. By the time I was up, I was told he had been rushed out of the scene. A police officer, who said he was from Parliament later came and gave me the MP’s number and said I could call. After that, a couple took me to the hospital.”
Kwabena further described the severity of the accident.
“My car is beyond repair. The impact was great. I do not know what he was speeding for. I believe it is God that saved me. If not that I managed to open my door, I would have been trapped in the car.”
The Member of Parliament for Nanton was involved in an accident ahead of a crucial vote on the government’s revenue bills currently being considered by Parliament.
The MP who is a member of the Majority Caucus was however sent to Parliament via an ambulance to report to the leadership of the House and later sent to the hospital.
Key business associations in the country are expected to converge in the capital to register their displeasure following the passage of three revenue bills by parliament.
According to GhanaWeb, businesses are unhappy about the decision of government to introduce new taxes amid the current economic challenges and its impact on livelihoods and businesses.
The business associations will hold a press conference in Accra on April 4, 2023 to lay down the concerns over the development.
Meanwhile, parliament on Friday, March 31 pushed through the passage of three revenue bills that government believes is necessary to help clinch a Board Level from the IMF and boost domestic revenue efforts.
The taxes passed include Income Tax Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill.
These Bills, when implemented, will lead to a revenue yield of approximately GH¢3.96 billion.
The Growth and Sustainability Levy is expected to raise approximately GH¢2.216 billion in 2023, while the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which amends the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) is expected to yield revenues of approximately GH¢1.29 billion.
The Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2022 amends the Excise Duty Act, 2014 (Act 878) and is expected to yield approximately GH¢455 million.
Although government believes it can rake in significant revenue from these bills annually, some Ghanaians have lambasted government over the move to introduce new taxes even as citizens continue to struggle to make ends meet amid rising inflation, fuel price hikes and among others.
In addition to this, businesses in the country are projected to downsize on their operations in order to stay afloat.
The Majority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has disclosed that the Member of Parliament for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tuferu’s, wounds were cleaned and stitched up in Parliament’s restroom.
Mohammed Tuferu was involved in an accident ahead of a crucial vote on the government’s revenue bills on Friday.
His car reportedly somersaulted several times before landing upside down.
The MP is reported to have suffered a deep cut on his forehead but was still taken to Parliament to vote before he was taken to hospital for further treatment.
Some Ghanaians have described the decision to rush the MP to Parliament after a near-fatal accident as reckless and insensitive but speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, April 3, Mr Iddrisu said safety precautions were taken before the MP was sent to Parliament to participate in proceedings.
“The time we were taking the voice vote, he had come to Parliament and I put him in the washroom, we didn’t put him in the Chamber, we put him in the washroom and brought the nurses from Parliament and a doctor to attend to him. The Majority Leader came, and the nurses from Parliament came to attend to him in the washroom”.
“He had minor bruises on his face, so they cleaned it up and even stitched it up. So he was stitched in Parliament in the washroom.”
Mr Iddrisu also dismissed claims that several other majority MPs were absent from Parliament.
According to him, no MP was outside the country and nothing untoward was done to pass the government’s new tax bills.
On March 31, lawmakers passed through the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
While government believes the revenue bills are key towards clinching an IMF Board Level approval for a bailout and boosting domestic revenue efforts, the Food and Beverages Association has vehemently kicked against the decision.
Spokesperson for the Association, John Awuni accused lawmakers of disregarding citizens’ cries and agitations while approving the revenue bills.
“We feel very disappointed that the three tax bills were passed by theParliament of Ghana, especially supported by the NPP MPs when no one was consulted on the new bills. We are disappointed in this action and the MPs must realise that they are representing the people of Ghana and not themselves,” Awuni is quoted by citinewsroom.com
He further bemoaned the absolute disregard of the Association’s petition against the passage of the three revenue bills adding that a simple dialogue could have prevented the passage of the draconian taxes.
“We petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, the Trade Committee, and the Finance Committee and even petitioned the Majority and Minority Leaders in Parliament, but Parliament still went ahead and passed the bills.
He continued, “We could have all dialogued and found different ways of achieving results without hurting businesses, but they went ahead and approved the bills with impunity simply because they have the power and authority.”
John Awuni however called on government to suspend the implementation of the new taxes and find alternative ways to rake in revenue to avert a collapse of businesses in the country.
In order to celebrate Easter, Parliament has been suspended sine die.
This came after parliament passed three revenue laws that the government had submitted in an effort to increase domestic revenue mobilization.
Alban Bagbin, Speaker of the House, advised the MPs to avoid making decisions that would undermine the proceedings of the house at the following meeting in his concluding remarks to the chamber.
Mr. Bagbin said, “In spite of the shock we had during this meeting, I urge all to still continue to give thanks to almighty God because that is his will.”
“We have really endeared ourselves particularly the leaders, my deputies to try and build more consensus. But we have had some rather sometimes inexplicable U-turns. And that sometimes saddens me. I hope we will not go through this experience in the next meeting. You have shown that Friday you all came prepared to work hard. So are some of the ministers,” he said.
The Speaker expressed his appreciation to the leadership of both sides and the clerks.
“My gratitude goes to the two deputy speakers for always stepping in to preside anytime I’m not around. And my appreciation goes to the leadership of both sides we tried many times to come to a consensus before Parliament starts. Sometimes we will not be able to carry through. But I pray and hope that w will improve on it. I want to thank the clerk and his deputies and all MPs for what we have achieved so far,” he said.
He advised the MPs to take good care of themselves as they journey to their various constituencies.
“I wish you travelling mercies as you go to your constituencies. What happened on Friday was an accident. Value yourselves so make sure that we all come back to meet in great hope. I declare Parliament adjourned sine die,” the Speaker stated.
Parliament on Friday, March 31, passed the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022 and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
The financial bills presented to Parliament by the government seek to rake in about 4 billion Ghana Cedis annually as part of domestic revenue mobilisation.
The bills are also crucial to aid the government’s quest to facilitate the Board Approval for the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme staff-level agreement.
The Minority in Parliament earlier communicated its opposition to the bills.
The Member of Parliament for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tuferi was involved in an accident ahead of the crucial vote on the new revenue bills on Friday.
The MP who is a member of the Majority Caucus was however sent to Parliament via an ambulance to report to the leadership of the House and later sent to the hospital.
But the Speaker said nothing untoward was done in the passage of the controversial revenue bills despite the absence of the Member of Parliament for Nanton.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has denied claims made by clients of the now-defunct Blackshield/Gold Coast Fund Management Company that the regulator is withholding their money from them even though it has been authorized by Parliament.
Although certain funds have been approved by parliament, according to the SEC, they are not only intended to be used to compensate the clients of the long-gone Gold Coast Fund Management Company.
“The purported release of ¢5.5 billion approved by Parliament was for all investors of the 47 companies that had claimed by investors and not for Blackshield/Gold Coast investors only”, a statement issued by SEC said.
It added that all investors with validated claims have been contacted by Amalgamated Fund and GCB Capital Ltd., the entities managing the implementation of the Bailout.
The statement explained that government is yet to release the full ¢5.5 billion to the implementing agencies of the Bailout.
“The update received by the SEC from the implementing agencies of the Bailout is that so far, ¢ 4.6 billion has been allocated as follows: ¢ 3.1 billion to Amalgamated Fund Tier 1 payments and ¢1.45 billion assigned to Amalgamated Fund Tier 2 payments”.
Providing more details, the SEC said the disbursement includes the partial bailout programme which entailed the payment of a sum of up to ¢50,000 to clients of Blackshield/Gold Coast and other companies who had not received Winding up orders from the Court by October 2020 but whose claims had been validated.
The total amount paid to Blackshield clients in the partial bailout is ¢1.34 billion covering a total of 73,541 investors. Out of this amount, a total amount of ¢757,539,141 has been used to fully settle 61,734 customers of Blackshield.
The statement pointed out that the decision to disburse bailout funds after validation of claims and an Official Winding-up order by the Court was to ensure that all claims are verified, and the assets and liabilities of the companies are transferred to the Registrar of Companies.
“In compliance with the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Act, 2020 (Act 1015), as amended by the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring (Amendment) Act 2020 (Act 1031), an Official Winding-up order can only be granted by a Court hence the ongoing court process between the Office of the Registrar of Companies and Blackshield/ Gold Coast. The SEC has complied fully with Blackshield/Gold Coast request for documents and is not delaying the court process”.
It stated that the Office of the Registrar of Companies has been granted 44 Official Winding-up orders by the Court and only 2 are outstanding, namely Blackshield Fund Management Company (formerly Gold Coast) and Kron Capital Ltd.
“The SEC has therefore cooperated with the court process to date and will continue to do so. The SEC wishes to inform clients of Blackshield that the firm’s lawyers were granted access to all documents when Blackshield appealed the revocation decision in November 2019. The server with critical information for Blackshield/Gold Coast was in the custody of Blackshield/Gold Coast from the date of revocation 8th November 2019 until SEC sought the help of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to retrieve the server in August 2020”.
“It is erroneous to accuse the SEC of delaying a process that it has cooperated with in good faith. The SEC wishes to appeal to all affected clients to remain calm and rely only on information provided by the SEC and the Official Liquidator”.
President of theGhana Union of Traders Association(GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, has voiced his displeasure over the three revenue tax revenue that has been approved by Parliament.
Dr. Obeng bemoaned the implications of the taxes approval and said it will affect the rate of tax compliance by businesses because it will be a discouraging act to honour.
He said Ghanaian businesses are particularly not competitive in the West African Sub-Region due to the high taxes that they have to pay.
“Businesses are not competitive in the subregion and that is why some of us have to go and buy goods from Togo, so additional taxes will really affect our trade. It is going to make us pay a multiplicity of taxes and that is why we called it an obnoxious tax system.”
Dr. Obeng further lamented the high commercial lending rate which he said is another big incentive for businesses in the country.
Commercial lending rate is at 40 percent, and how do you wantbusinesses to pay this and still have money to pay all these taxes? We are very disappointed at how we are producing our democracy here because it is all about imposition, this approval is going to impede our growth.”
Parliament yesterday, March 31, passed the Income Tax Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill which collectively, are expected to generate approximately GH¢4 billion per year to supplement domestic revenue.
Dr. Obeng also tasked the government to look at other sectors to raise revenue other than overly burdening local businesses with taxes.
We should curtail the leakages at the Free Zones and warehousing to help raise the needed revenue.
The sequence of events that led to a Member of Parliament being brought to the House in an ambulance is not entirely clear.
The facts, however, are that a gory accident happened involving the lawmaker in question, Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru who also doubles as MP for Nanton.
That he was brought to Parliament in an ambulance and he was rushed back to a hopsital to receive emergency care.
Situation one: Accident confirmed
Photos shared on social media platforms late Friday, March 31, 2023; showed a badly mangled saloon car the MP was purportedly riding in at the time of the accident.
The Nanton MP was reportedly on his way to parliament when the incident occured. It is yet to be established whether he was in the company of a driver or he was driving himself.
Situation two: Brought to Parliament in ambulance
Whiles there are no details of how he was fetched with the ambulance and when the decision was taken to take him to Parliament, some news reports have suggested that he was driven from the accident scene to Parliament.
His presence in parliament was to help the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) successfully approve three new taxes.
The three new taxes were: Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
Situation three: Taken back to hospital after tax vote
Starr News senior reporter Francis Abban and a number of Parliamentary correspondents confirmed that the ailing MP was taken straight to the hospital posting a video of the moment the MP was taken back to the ambulance after voting.
In the video sighted by GhanaWeb, four men believed to be colleague MPs are seen around the ambulance as one comes down to join before they head back into the main building.
Abban captioned the video thus: “That’s the video of the ambulance that is sending the Nanton MP Alhaji Tufeiru to the hospital for medical care. Source- @Starr1035Fm’s parliamentary correspondent @IBGlobe.”
That’s the video of the ambulance that is sending the Nanton MP Alhaji Tufeiru to the hospital for medical care. Source- @Starr1035Fm’s parliamentary correspondent @IBGlobe. 2 more bills to decide on by the house. We are in for a long night. pic.twitter.com/QujpQpKh4U— Francis Abban (@francis_abban) March 31, 2023
Bagbin defends mode of voting
Even though he was not physically available in the Chamber at the time of voting, Speaker Alban Bagbin justified the reason for allowing his vote to be counted stating that he only followed procedures.
”Members who are incapacitated shall upon reporting their incapacity to the Speaker through the Clerk shall be recorded. We have some of our members that are incapacitated and what I did was to ask the Whips to go and physically see them to assess their incapacitation and whether they are of sound mind.”
“I did not do anything untoward. I only followed the rules.”
Jacob Iddris, the member of parliament for Savelugu, has been given a bench warrant by the Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah.
The MP has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
On December 9, 2020, state prosecutors said they found an AK-47 rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition in an office they said belonged to the MP.
The National Democratic Congress had stated that the party office was an open space and the weapon could have been put there by someone else and not the MP. The party also raised concerns about the search which they alleged was conducted without the presence of the owners of the facility.
The search followed some shooting that led to the death of one person. An unknown assailant shot a 12-year-old dead and injured three others in Savelugu on December 8, 2020, after the declaration of the 2020 election result.
Divisional Police Command, DSP Twumasi Ankrah, at the time said the Police were able to retrieve AK47 guns upon their arrival at the scene.
The accused and his lawyer failed to appear in court on Friday when the case was called. The accused had written to the court about some pressing assignment he had to execute in Parliament and prayed the court to bear with him. The judge had earlier raised concerns over his absence in court.
The Chief State Attorney appealed for a warrant for his arrest following the absence of the MP in court. The plea of the state prosecutors was granted. The judge thus issued the bench warrant for the MP.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has asserted that no suspicious activity occurred during the passing of the tax Bills although the member of parliament for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tuferu wasn’t present.
The MP was involved in anaccidenton Friday while on his way to Parliament to partake in a vote on the financial bills under consideration.
The MP was driven to the house in an ambulance with the Whips on both sides of the house directed by the Speaker to confirm the situation.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin after proceedings clarified why the legislator was counted as part of the votes.
”Members who are incapacitated shall upon reporting their incapacity to the Speaker through the Clerk shall be recorded. We have some of our members that are incapacitated and what I did was to ask the Whips to go and physically see them to assess their incapacitation and whether they are of sound mind.”
“I did not do anything untoward. I only followed the rules.”
The former president John Mahama’s remarks on the poor condition of Senior High Schools (SHS) in the country have been supported byDr. Clement Apaak, the member of parliament for Builsa South.
According to him, the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) monitoring report supports the unpleasant nature of food supplied to schools.
This comes on the back of the formerPresident John Mahama expressing some concerns on the challenges that have bedeviled the SHS in the country.
Commenting on the development, the Builsa South lawmaker who doubles as the deputy ranking member on the Education Committee in Parliament questioned why unregistered tomato paste will be supplied to schools.
“JM is right. Our SHS students are fed insect infested beans, soup made from rotten groundnuts, banku made from weevil infested corn.
“Our wards are fed expired food items such as tomato paste, milk and mackrell. Will you feed such to your pet dog? Expect a detailed article soon,” Mr. Apaak stated.
He continued: “Auditor-General reports, the PIAC 2018 FSHS monitoring report support the case that our SHS students in some cases are fed unwholesome and expired food supplied by unscrupulous buffer stock food suppliers. Why will tomato paste not registered with the FDA be supplied to schools?”
Alhaji Mohammed Hardi Tufeirua, the Nanton Member of Parliament, is reported to have been involved in an accident on March 31, 2023.
Alhaji Mohammed Hardi Tufeirua
The accident is said to have happened while the MP who serves as the deputy minister for food and agriculture was traveling to Parliament to participate in business on Friday.
Nanton MP allegedly involved in an accident
The MP was reportedly taken to Parliament in an ambulance to participate in voting on the Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Income Tax Amendment Bill.
He has been transported to a hospital for treatment in the interim.
The Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan has asserted that rather than concentrating on passing revenue laws, thegovernment should reduce excessive expenditure.
The government is seeking approval for some revenue bills which are currently before Parliament to rake in about 4 billion Ghana Cedis annually.
The bills are the Income Tax Amendment Act, the Excise Duty Amendment Act, and the Growth and Sustainability Act.
Ahead of the consideration of the financial bills, the lawmaker spoke to journalists in Parliament.
“There are serious expenditure items that need to be looked at. One of them remains obviously to reduce government ministers and other wasteful expenditures like the National Cathedral and other things they intend to spend money on. I don’t want anybody to be telling us that without those things we cannot survive.
The lawmaker added, “we don’t need that together with anIMF programme. We have got countries that went to IMF without going through debt restructuring and these kinds of tax reviews, before they got the programme. They got the programme and worked through these things to achieve whatever the IMF wanted us to achieve”.
The government fears failing to pass the new tax bills on Friday, March 31, will jeopardize the country’s chances of a quick economic recovery and Board approval for an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Information Minister, is concerned that if these bills are not passed, plans to raise money to supplement domestic revenue will be thwarted.
“If we don’t do what we have to do for the country, we will have major challenges. So, this is a set of measures we must ensure is worth passing. This is a major bridge we have to cross in closing this revenue gap and ensure that there is more liquidity”, he stressed.
He thus appealed to the Minority in Parliament to support the passage of the revenue bills currently before the house in order to help the government secure the $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It was an emotional moment in Parliament on Friday, March 31, 2023, when Members of Parliament were recounting fond memories of their departed colleague, Kumawu MP, Philip Basoah.
Some MPs took turns to relive moments they spent with the deceased MP and also express their grieve over the incident.
Member of Parliament for Juaben, Ama Pomaa Andoh, was in the House and rose to contribute to the discussions.
The MP was recounting some fond memories of her ‘friend’ in the House and how they were strategising to win their primaries but could not finish her speech as she got choked with emotions and broke down in tears.
“I remember on Thursday we strategised on how the next four years or how the next two years we are going to work so hard and make sure that we win our primaries.
“I’m still in shock. He always mentors me. He always tells me to hold on. He was so hopeful and I still can’t believe that he’s gone but we miss him and we know that God will keep him safe wherever he is,” she said but just before she could land, she broke down in tears.
Realising her devastation, Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey, interjected and asked to continue on her behalf.
“Mr Speaker, I like to continue for her,” he said. But his gesture was greeted with an uproar of laughter as his voice cracked in the process of wanting to help.
Prior to his demise, Philip Basoah was the representative of the people of Kumawu in Parliament.
According to family sources he passed away Tuesday morning, March 28.
He died at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital at the age of 53.
On Friday, March 24, 2023, during a crucial vote to ratify President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees, Philip Atta Basoah was noticeably absent from parliament.
Neither his Personal Assistant nor anyone close to him knew his whereabouts until his room was forcibly opened, only to find him collapsed.
He was rushed to the hospital in comma but passed away while plans were underway to fly him out for further care.
He first came to Parliament in 2017 after winning in the2016 general electionsin the Kumawu constituency.
Prior to sailing to Parliament, Mr. Basoah was a Chief Executive for the Sekyere East District from June 2005 to January 2009 and was also a tutor at the Agogo State College.
In the 2016 Ghana general elections, he won the parliamentary seat with 21,794 votes making 78.2% of the total votes cast on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
In the 2020 Ghana general elections, he won the parliamentary seat with 14,960 votes making 51.1% of the total votes cast.
Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has called on the House to provide annual medical reviews for legislators.
The MP made this request while speaking on the floor of the House on Friday when he paid tribute to the late Kumawu MP, Philip Atta Basoah.
Mr Dafeamekpor noted that the unexpected death of his colleague has compelled MPs to reconsider and make good health a priority while offering their service to the country.
“As members and as a House, we should have a relook or re-evaluate how we work on this house.
“The work is sidentry, it is about 95 per cent sitting down and we sit for very long hours. So instead of asking members to produce their annual medical records when we are freshly elected, I want to suggest that now we have an annual medical review. So you are not medically reviewed every four years, like Parliament does,” he said.
According to the South Dayi MP, the late Basoah was quiet and diligent in performing his duties.
“We will miss him a lot on the Public Affairs Committee because of how he carried himself and worked together. I still can’t believe Honourable Basoah I saw on Thursday night fell sick the next day and is no longer with us,” Mr Dafeamekpor added.
Philip Atta Basoah is reported to have passed away on Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023, while receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
While receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital was scheduled to be flown outside the country for further medical attention.
Philip Atta Basoah, however, passed away before much could be done. Mr Philip Basoah represented the people of Kumawu in Parliament since 2013.
He served on the Lands & Forestry and Committee on Selection before becoming the chairman of the Employment, Social Welfare and Public Enterprises.
The Minority in Parliament have served notice of their intent to oppose the approval of some three revenue bills currently pending before Parliament.
This was disclosed by Tamale Central Member ofParliament, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed during an interview on TV3 on Thursday, March 30, 2023. He emphasised that the bills if approved will further compound the hardship imposed on the people of Ghana by the current government.
“We think that it is unacceptable that they will overburden Ghanaians with such taxes. In any case, there is no reason why the government will want to burden the people of this country with more taxes.
“These taxes have nothing to do with the IMF arrangement and that is the story that has been peddled out there.”
The minority on Friday, March 24, 2023, suffered a woeful defeat after resolving to vote against the approval of six ministers nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The minority had agreed to follow a directive by its party, the National Democratic Congress to reject all the nominees in demand for a reduction in the size of the government.
However, at the end of a secret voting process, all six nominees received the votes of some members of the minority to augment the majority’s votes for approval.
This development has led to accusations of treachery being levelled against the minority with various criticism made against the caucus.
However according to Murtala, the caucus will this time push for an open ballot and vote against all three bills.
“Sometimes one gets extremely worried speaking on it, the good thing is that this vote is not going to be done through a secret ballot, it is going to be an open ballot so we are just hoping that we get our 136 and we are very convinced that the 136 are going to vote against those taxes,” he stated.
He pointed that the upcoming vote will serve as an opportunity for the MPs who betrayed the party to redeem themselves.
“I think that those who unfortunately betrayed the cause, they would have realized that considering the backlash and they need to make amends,” he said.
The three bills currently before parliament are the Income Tax Amendment Bill, Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill.
The government is seeking to pass these bills to generate approximately GH¢4 billion per year to supplement domestic revenue in an economy that is currently ravaged by serious challenges.
The government is set to miss a March ending timeline for a Board approval by the International Monetary Fund for a $3 billion facility.
The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 (anti-LGBTQI bill), which Parliament is yet to review, has caused a debate between veteran attorney Moses Foh-Amoaning and Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh, an emerita professor at the University of Ghana.
Speaking in a GBC interview on Thursday, monitored by GhanaWeb, Prof Takyiwaa Manuh urged that people who engage in LGBTQI activities should be accepted because they already exist in communities in Ghana.
She suggested the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 (anti-LGBTQI bill), which is being championed by Foh-Amoaning and other Ghanaians, is driven by hate and should be rejected by the Parliament of Ghana.
The academic described Foh-Amoanging as her junior at the bar and said that the people championing the anti-LGBTQI bill have ulterior motives.
Reacting to this, Lawyer Foh-Amoaning, who joined the programme through a phone call, berated Prof Takyiwaa Manuh for demeaning him and for saying that Ghanaians should accept LGBTQI+ activities.
“What do you mean that I’m your junior at the bar, I’m your junior so what. You say we have an agenda, really! You (Prof Takyiwaa Manuh) don’t have an agenda. You think we don’t know those who are behind you.
“Do you know what homosexuals do, what are the practises of homosexuals? A lady of your age, you are saying that a man should take his penis and push it through the anus. Is the anus the aorist for sex? Professor, I’m asking you, is the anus the aorist for sex?
“How can you say that our culture accepts a thing like this that a man should take his penis and put it through faeces,” he said.
The lawyer also refuted the assertion that people who are championing the anti-gay bill are driven by hatred.
Meanwhile, the Parliament of Ghana is excepted to debate and pass the anti-gay bill today, Friday, March 31, 2023.
This is after the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament present the final draft of the bill, which was sponsored by a group of bi-partisan Members of Parliament, to the plenary.
Parliament on Friday paid tribute to the late Kumawu Member of Parliament, Philip Atta Basoah.
The MPs took turns to recount fond memories of the 54-year-old as well as make some recommendations to the House on how to ensure the safety of Parliamentarians.
Mr Basoah was confirmed dead on Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023, while receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The representative for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has criticised the Minority for increasing the size of government by approving all six of President Akufo-Addo‘s ministerial nominees.
The swipe comes after the Presidency released the report on the number of staffers at the Presidency.
The number of employees has increased from 934 in 2020 to 995 in 2021 and 1048 this year.
The North Tongu legislature believes rejection of the new nominees would have sent a strong signal to the government about the protest to its large size.
“I am sure that if last Friday, March 24, all 136 of us had voted rejecting those new 8 appointees, I don’t think President Nana Addo would have had the courage to do this. In the sense, I’m forced to blame some of my colleagues, the traitors among us who have brought us here”.
“Because we are basically emboldening this President, telling him that he can do his worst because allies within the opposition will continue to cheer you on in secret. We will continue to endorse your callous policies. And I am deeply pained, so horrified and hurt by the treachery of some of our colleagues”.
A document submitted to Parliamentby the Office of the President revealed that 1048 staffers work at the Presidency serving various administrative and domestic roles.
The report submitted to Parliament is in accordance with section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).
The report covers three key areas, namely the number of Presidential Staff employed at the Office of the President during the period, the ranks and grades of these staff, and employees of other Public Services assigned to the Office of the President.
The report revealed that during the reporting period, there were two (2) Ministers of State and forty-four (44) Senior Presidential Staffers at post. The other Political Appointees at the Office of the President numbered three hundred and fifteen (315).
The minority is against the new income legislation currently before Parliament, according toMahama Ayariga, the member of parliament from Bawku Central.
He said the Minority will vote against the bill when the time comes.
Mr. Ayariga indicated that, unlike the approval of the ministerial nominees where a secret vote was used, a headcount will be conducted to determine whether the new tax bills should be accepted or not and that will help in the rejection of the bills.
Making the declaration on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Ayariga disclosed that “it is going to be a voice vote where if you are not satisfied, we call for a division and then there will be a headcount and the matter will be determined, and I am very confident that all our members will be in the House and vote in line with our position to vote against the bill.”
“You will stand and be counted and everybody including your constituents will be watching and so if you don’t go with your constituents, they will see and measure you accordingly,” he further explained.
Mr. Ayariga stressed that the Minority would have been considerate if the government was making efforts at cutting down on its expenditure but so long as it is “only interested in asking Ghanaians to pay more taxes and not cutting down on the consumption of the taxes,” it will not allow such burden on Ghanaians.
Government is under pressure to have three new revenue bills passed by Parliament as it seeks to rake in GH¢4 billion per year to shore up revenue to fix the ailing economy and secure a Board approval for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The bills which include the Excise Tax Stamp and Excise Duty amendment bills, Income Tax amendment bill and Growth and Sustainability levy bill are already being rejected by some business groups.
Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak has condemned what he describes as extreme partisanship in Parliament.
According to the MP, the development has made it difficult for the national interest to be pursued. Rather party interests are always made paramount.
The comments of the immediate past Minority Chief Whip come days after his side voted to approve six ministerial nominees in defiance of party directive.
“We are taking too many entrenched positions on both sides, those in government taking too much entrench position, those in opposition taking extreme positions and I can tell you this is not helpful to our country, it is not helpful to us.
“The better both sides begin to think that there is a national interest above the NPP interest and above the NDC we will be sinking our country,” Muntaka stated.
First deputy speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu who was presiding in eulogizing the late Tafo MP indicated that the late MP has always called for good governance as stated by the Asawase MP.
“There is one thing as has been confirmed by honorable Muntaka, in spite of our differences governance must go, that was always his position,” Mr. Osei-Owusu stated.
The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has called on the House of Legislature to engage critical industry stakeholders before taking any action on the new taxes that have been laid before it.
Currently, three new revenue mobilisation bills have been laid before Parliament.
In a statement issued by the Federation, Thursday, 30 March 2023, and signed by its Secretary General Abraham Koomson, the GGL said: “Considering the plight of workers under the escalated cost of living as a result of the insensitive economic policies of the government,” it deems it appropriate to draw the attention of the members of the House of Legislature “to do the needful to halt further deterioration of the conditions of living of people to avert social upheavals.”
The federation noted that Parliament by “constitutional mandate is positioned to check profligacy of the Executive to ensure good governance for the benefit of the citizenry for development.”
However, “contrary to expectations of the people,Parliament is seen as being complicit in implementation of outrageous Government policies which threaten to destroy businesses and render joblessness.”
It referred to its petition to the Speaker of Parliament, on Friday, 3 February 2023 in which it “drew attention to the numerous taxes already being paid by existing distressed businesses and the harm any additional taxes will do to investments,” and called for a stakeholder engagement before the approval of any new taxes by the House.
“As the new Excise Tax Bill and other Tax proposals await approval by Parliament, we entreat members of Parliament to engage the critical industry stakeholders prior to any action on the new Taxes,” the federation added.
Attempted suicide has been decriminalised in the country after Parliament amended sections of the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960, which makes attempting to take one’s own life a crime.
Following the amendment in Parliament on Tuesday, March 28, persons who attempt suicide will be considered as having mental health issues requiring assistance by law rather than imprisonment.
Some legislators had earlier kicked against calls to decriminalise attempted suicide.
In 2019 during a conversation in Parliament on whether to decriminalise the act or not, former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said that attempt to commit suicide should be considered a crime and not be pardoned.
The Tamale South MP stated that calls to decriminalise the act should not be heeded and said suicide is unacceptable behaviour.
He added that the culprits of the act should be punished to deter others, especially the youth from engaging in the act.
“You do not want to think that when you have depression and distress, the ultimate thing is that you go and take your life since you cannot recover your life back,” he stated.
However, the Mental Health Authority CEO, Prof Akwesi Osei during the launch of a call centre in Accra, disclosed that it has initiated steps to have suicide decriminalised, saying it is a medical condition that needs health support rather than imprisonment.
This follows the “unprecedented wave” of suicide and attempted suicide cases, especially among the youth in 2017.
Prof Osei noted that even the choice of words used to describe suicide-related cases is worrying and stated that an attempted suicide should not be criminalised.
“I am trying harder not to say ‘people who wanted to commit suicide’ – it’s a language we want to move away from. So, don’t say ‘somebody who committed suicide’ because that criminalises the offence.
“We are trying to get us to understand that attempted suicide is not a crime, even though we don’t encourage it. It is [rather] a condition that requires support, largely mental illness.
“So, in all our discourses, let’s move away from ‘committed suicide’ to say ‘take his/her life by suicide’ or ‘die by suicide’,” he said.
To this end, Ghanaian health experts have since pushed for the law to be changed, saying attempted suicide is a medical condition that needs health support rather than imprisonment.
Some survivors of attempted suicide had also called for resources to be spent on prevention.
Meanwhile, 1,500 cases of suicide are reported nationwide every year.
Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo was warmly welcomed back to parliament by her colleague female MPs from both sides of the House.
This follows her absence from the chamber last week.
On yet another occasion, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker missed sitting in parliament when the majority caucus required her presence for a vote.
On Friday, March 24, 2023, the House conducted a crucial vote on the approval of some six ministers nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The equality in numbers on both the majority and minority sides of the house meant that every single vote was key in securing the badly needed approval of the nominees.
This was more important especially when the minority had served a clear notice of adhering to a directive from its party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reject the nominees.
Adwoa Safo, who had been absent during previous votings, failed to attend the sitting on Friday.
She, however, returned to the chamber on Monday, March 29, 2023, when the house reconvened.
In a video shared by Oyerepa TV and sighted by GhanaWeb, the MP beaming with smiles was seen being welcomed back to the House by other female MPs from both the majority and minority.
Her colleagues took turns to share a hug with the Dome Kwabenya MP amidst the exchange of pleasantries.
Ahead of the vote on Friday, some NPP members had expressed concerns about the truancy of Adwoa Safo when it comes to critical issues that required her presence.
Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Jennifer Queen likened Adwo Safo to an overpampered village girl.
“One our villages there are small some small girls who grow up to be stubborn and will not listen to anyone. When you ask her to go and bathe, she will not budge. With some twisted hair on her head, she won’t listen to anything and will grow up with such an attitude,” she bemoaned during an interview on Okay FM.
Rumors that the lateKumawu MP, Philip Basoah fainted in the House and was taken to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have been refuted by Solomon Basoah, the MP’s brother.
Philip Basoah, aged 54 was pronounced dead on the dawn of Tuesday, March 28, exactly a week after the passing of Dr. Anthony Osei Akoto, another stalwart of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Reacting to the rumour put out by the Speaker of Parliament that the Kumawu legislator collapsed in Parliament on Friday [March 23], Solomon Basoah said the account of Alban Bagbin is misleading.
“I heard the Speaker say that my brother collapsed in Parliament. That is far from the truth. My brother went to Parliament on Thursday [March 23] and returned home and the houseboy was expecting him to wake up on Friday [March 24] and when he didn’t come out, he called people to help break the MP’s door and saw him unconscious on his bed and took him to the hospital,” the brother of the late MP told Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM.
He added that when they broke his door and found him unconscious on his bed, “they took him to the LEKMA Hospital and then to Euracare Ghana Hospital, and finally to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where he died.”
He also dismissed the widely circulated rumour that the late lawmaker was brought in an ambulance to vote to approve President Akufo-Addo’s six new ministerial nominees.
“It is never true that he was brought in an ambulance to Parliament to come and vote to approve President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.”
Today, Tuesday, March 28 majority in Parliament wore black to parliament in honor of theirdeceased colleague, Philip Basoah.
He was MP for Kumawu in the Ashanti Region and the Chairman of the Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises Committee of Parliament.
Mr Basoah’s death came as a shock to many especially the Caucus, which needed him so much on Friday but was absent due to a sudden illness he suffered.
Philip Atta Basoah
The Caucus appeared in the chamber devastated and calm and in a mourning mood with little or no words emanating from the Caucus’ side.
Philip Basoah came to Parliament in 2013 and was part of 6th, 7th and 8th Parliaments.
He served on the Lands & Forestry and Committee on Selection before becoming the chairman of the Employment, Social Welfare and Public Enterprises.
Mr Basoah held a Master’s Degree (Human Resource Management) – 2012, B.ED (Education) – 2000, GCE A Level – 1994, GCE O Level – 1991 and MLSC – 1986.
He was also a teacher.
Meanwhile, the House has been paying respect to him.
The speaker ordered for a minute of silence to be observed in his memory and advised that legislators take issues of their health seriously.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has expressed shock over the death of colleague, MP for Kumawu, Philip Basoah.
According to family sources he passed away Tuesday morning, March 28.
He died at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital at the age of 53.
He is one of three majority MPs who were absent from Parliament on Friday during the debate and subsequent voting of some new Ministers.
He first came to Parliament in 2017 after winning the 2016 general elections in the Kumawu constituency.
Prior to sailing to Parliament, Mr. Basoah was a Chief Executive for the Sekyere East District from June 2005 to January 2009 and was also a tutor at the Agogo State College.
In a tweet, Mr Dafeamekpor expressed shock at the passing of the legislator saying he was very active in parliament the previous week.
“This is so tragic. Hon. Basoah you were so active just last week in Parliament. Very calm & focused yet very active, especially on the Public Accounts Committee where you & I serve. Fare thee well, my brother. My deepest condolences to your family & Constituents. You served well.”
Former Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu and his Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, have been exempted from the yet-to-be completed list of loyal MPs belonging to the National Democratic Congress.
It is reported that the party’s General Secretary, Fiifi Kwetey, is compiling a list of NDC MPs who adhered to the leadership’s directive to reject the six ministerial appointees presented by President Akufo-Addo.
On March 24, out of the 135 NDC MPs, 116 voted against the approval of K.T. Hammond, 98 opposed Bryan Acheampong’s approval (the least opposition), Stephen Asamoah Boateng garnered 122 “No” votes.
Mohammed Amin Adams received 117 “No” votes, 120 NDC MPs voted against Osei Bonsu Amoah’s approval and 123 rejected the ministerial nomination of Stephen Amoah.
About 39 MPs are said to have betrayed the NDC. Ahead of the secret ballot voting, the Minority pledged to reject the nominees as part of efforts to reduce the size of the government to reflect the current economic challenges.
So far, the identities of 46 loyal NDC MPs have reportedly been released by Mr Fiifi Kwetey via Whatsapp.
Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome (South Tongu MP), Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui (Awutu Senya West MP), Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman MP), Edward Abambire Bawa (Bongo MP), Yusif Sulemana (Bole Bamboi MP), Richard Kwame Sefe (Anlo MP) and Yao Gomado (Akan MP) are among those viewed as loyalists.
The Tamale South and Asawase MPs’ names are yet to appear on the said list.
It is being speculated on social media that the duo went against the party’s directive out of spite over the change of leadership in Parliament.
It’s public knowledge that this traitors are from Haruna and Muntaka’s camp.. They and their faithful are trying to hit hard the NDC leaders that overthrown them without notice..
At the beginning of the week, it was reported that some ‘traitor NDC list’ circulated on social media. Reacting to the news, former President John Dramani Mahama urged all and sundry to reject the said “fake” list.
“I am urging all NDC supporters to ignore it,” he said while engaging delegates at Kanokoare during his tour of the Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Mr Fiifi Kwetey is yet to add about 51 names to the ‘loyal NDC list.’
Reports making round is that General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiifi Kwetey, has released a list of NDC MPs who did not betray the party during the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.
On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Minority failed to halt the approval of six ministerial nominees (K.T. Hammond, Brian Acheampong, Amin Adam, O.B. Amoah, Stephen Amoah and Asamoah Boateng) as directed by the party as part of efforts to reduce the size of the current government.
Out the 135 NDC MPs in Parliament, close to 40 are said to have approved the nominees.
According to sources, Fiifi Kwetey, who together with other party leaders have condemned the recent incident, has provided the identities of 46 NDC MPs who adhered to the party’s directive via Whatsapp.
The said list is however incomplete as it is believed that about 38 NDC MPs betrayed the party. More names of loyal MPs are expected.
Below is the list of the 46 loyal NDC MPs:
Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome – South Tongu MP
Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui – Awutu Senya West MP
Ernest Henry Norgbey – Ashaiman MP
Edward Abambire Bawa – Bongo MP
Yusif Sulemana – Bole Bamboi MP
Richard Kwame Sefe – Anlo MP
Yao Gomado – Akan MP
Richard Gyan-Mensah – Gomoa West MP
Geoffrey Kini – Nkwanta South MP
James Klutse Avedzi – Ketu North MP
Kwame Governs Agbodza – Adaklu MP
Andrew Dari Chiwitey – Sawla-Tuna Kalba MP
Mark Kurt Nawaane – Nabdam MP
Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor – South Dayi MP
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah – Ellembelle MP
Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe – Akatsi North MP
Ablah Dzifa Gomashie – Ketu South MP
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings – Klottey-Korle MP
Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay – Afadjato South MP
Theresa Lardi Awuni – Okaikwei North MP
Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah – Ho West MP
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – North Tongu MP
Cassiel Ato Baah Forson – Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP
Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze – Central Tongu MP
Della Sowah – Kpando MP
Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed – Tamale Central MP
Bernard Ahiafor – Akatsi South MP
Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah – Amenfi Central MP
Clement Abas Apaak – Builsa South MP
Joseph Appiah Boateng – Afram Plains South MP
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare – Techiman North
Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo – Shai-Osudoku MP
Kofi Iddie Adams – Buem MP
John Oti Bless – Nkwanta North
Sampson Tangombu Chiragia – Navrongo Central
Peter Lanchene Toobu – Wa West MP
Agnes Naa Momo Lartey – Krowor MP
Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah – Afram Plains North
The head of the political science department at the University of Ghana,Dr. Seidu Alidu, claims that the subject is misconstrued if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of parliament are simply labeled as traitors for not voting down the President’s nominees for ministerial positions.
According to him, many factors have to be taken into consideration to determine the reasons that influenced the defecting MPs to vote in the way they did.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he explained that while outsiders may just simply view it as the MPs defying the orders of the party, it could be more than just that.
“You’re looking at relationships individual MPs have had with other MPs across the divide, but you’re also looking at group interests. So the group interests, the MPs operate in caucuses so we have Volta caucus, Eastern caucus, Ashanti caucus, Northern caucus, Muslims, Christians and all those things.
“So you have a member of parliament who is NPP and he has been nominated as a minister and he fellowships at the same church with you, he’s in the same caucus with you, you’re from the same region with him, and you know that he can dispense patronage to you when he becomes a minister.
“You’re in opposition you need a very bad road in your constituency to be fixed for you to win re-election, he has assured you he will do it for you, can you look him in the eye and vote against him?” he said.
He also added that the close friendships that some MPs have cultivated with MPs from across the political divide sometimes also affect the way they come to a decision in cases like these.
“Some of them are in-laws, some of them are very good friends even though they’re from the same divide, they sit together they eat together, when they’re out of parliament they’re together, they do a lot of things together.
“And then the personal interest, you see the NDC has opened up nominations, people need money to file, people need to justify their inclusion through projects, people need a lot and then somebody promises you ‘if you’re able to do this I’ll give you that.’
“So Evans, our analyses have focused largely on the formal institutions, the constituency, the party interest, the national interest. But we cannot also ignore that informal dynamics that occur daily among MPs and sometimes which are even stronger than some of the party, state and constituency interest,” he said.
Dr. Seidu Alidu further stated that the defecting MPs may have voted the way they did as a protest against certain actions taken by the party or by the party’s leadership in recent times.
Thus, while these MPs may have lacked the courage to raise their objections during group consultations with party leadership, felt the need to register their displeasure by breaking rank during the secret balloting.
“People may not be happy with a lot of things that have happened in the party or something that has happened in the party. When you engage them they won’t tell you, but they will have to prove to you that they’re not happy by the way they vote.
“And in national elections, protest votes do occur, and when protest votes occur what you need to do is to find out why people are protesting or defying the party three-line whip and then see how you can engage them,” he said.
“The MPs are so close that the Majority side knows some of the people who are disillusioned and disaffected and have challenges or don’t like what their leadership is doing or what their party is doing and the NDC knows on the NPP side those people.
“So sometimes it is very [easy] for them to just go straight to them, take advantage of their disappointments, offer them something that will make them very happy or to prove to them that they’re not happy with their leadership and they’ll go,” he added.
Meanwhile, he has urged that cool heads prevail and that the party leadership foment trust within the party’s rank and file to prevent a repeat situation in the future.
“So I think … that cool heads must prevail. There’s still a lot that’s supposed to happen up to the end of this parliament and 137-137 is more about the definition of politics – compromise and consensus building – you will have to create that element of trust within your rank and file, and that will give you the impetus to engage the other.
“Identify the people with the challenges in your rank and file and know how to bring them on board, other than that the other side will identify them and work with them,” he said.
He noted that should the NDC decide to witch-hunt the defecting MPs, it will “deepen mistrust and suspicion in the party,” and this would affect the party’s chances of reclaiming victory in the upcoming general elections.
The Members of Parliament who voted in favor of the six ministerial nominees on Friday demonstrated patriotism, according to the Majority Chief Whip,Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Monday, he explained that the NPP MPs “went out there to preach patriotism and the fact that our President has shown demonstrable readiness to downsize… for a long time, deputy regional ministers we don’t have them and so for me, it is a significant beginning.
“So we put all together and we reached out to our colleagues… ,” he said.
He added that “at the end of the day patriotism won over partisan.”
According to him, the outcome of the vote could mean that the NDC MPs “were tired of the party’s position.”,
He said that when pushed to their breaking point, people have the propensity to react, and that’s exactly what happened on Friday.
His comments come in the wake of criticism over the approval of Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees on Friday after some NDC MPs defied their party’s orders to vote to approve the nominees.
Reacting to the bribery claims, he noted that the NPP MPs did not bribe the Minority as alleged by Cape Coast South MP, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan.
He, however, stated that the Majority appealed to their sense of patriotism, adding that “we spoke to their conscience. We took advantage of their friendship.
He further challenged the Cape South MP to provide evidence to prove his claims.
“He who alleges must prove, if he has a basis that somebody was bribed, he should prove it,” he challenged.
“For us, we did not rely on any form of bribery, we spoke to their conscience, we took advantage of the friendship, we spoke and underscored the need for patriotism to win at the end of the day,” he clarified.
He further stated that the issue will be raised in Parliament on Tuesday when the House meets.
Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, has indirectly condemned the anti-LGBTQ bill formally known as Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill currently before Parliament.
In a joint presser with President Akufo-Addo on Monday, the US Vice President noted that she supports freedom and the equality of all including the LGBTQ community, a position the anti-LGBTQ does not support.
According to Kamala Harris, LGBTQ rights is human rights per her understanding and belief.
In response to a question posed by a New York Times journalist on the current bill, she said: “A great deal of my work has been on human right issues and equality across board including the LGBTQ community. I believe strongly in the supporting the freedom and providing equality on all people and that all people be treated equally. I will also say that this is an issue I consider to be a human rights issue and that will not change.”
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was introduced in July 2021 in Parliament by eight MPs as a private bill.
The eight are Sam Nartey George (MP, Ningo-Prampram), Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South), Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon) and Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi).
It has been close to two years and Parliament is still considering the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 which will amongst other things, prohibit advocacy of same-sex or homosexual practices in the Country.
International organizations have raised concerns that the Bill could infringe on the rights of LGBTQ+ persons who are a minority group in the country.
United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer has advised Ghanaians and their representatives in Parliament to respect international obligations and Domestic laws which centre on the need to protect the rights of all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation.
MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, believes otherwise. He says LGBTQ rights does not qualify as human rights.
Speaker Alban Bagbin, on the matter, has indicated that “the sexual rights and human values Bill that is being handled by the committee will definitely be passed before the next elections.”
Evidence of how some members of the minority caucus in parliament voted to determine the fate of six ministers nominated byPresident Akufo-Addohas surfaced online.
A video circulating on social media shows how Tamale Central Member of Parliament,Ibrahim Murtala Mohammedvoted in compliance with a directive by the National Democratic Congress against all six nominees.
“This is how I voted. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed…this one No, No, No, No, No, this one No…this is how I voted and I record,” a voice purported to be that of the Tamale Central is heard in the video of an individual ticking through the nominees’ list.
Prior to the vetting of the 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 last Friday conducted a secret ballot on the nominees, all six acquired 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.
Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the member of parliament for Akatsi North, has denied being one of the NDC lawmakers who disobeyed the party’s leadership’s directives not to support president Akufo-ministry Addo’s candidates.
The lawmaker claimed in a statement that his attention has been drawn to a list of NDC MPs whose names were circulating on social media on Saturday, March 25, 2023, and who were suspected of disobeying party directives by voting to approve the president’s various ministerial nominees on Friday, March 24, 2023. His name just so happened to be the 14th and last on the list, despite being misspelled.
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe noted that he is responding to “this wrongful accusation” because ever since he joined the NDC from its inception and on his entry to Parliament in 2013, he has never defied any instructions or directives from the Party. This, therefore, comes to him as a shock and an attempt to tarnish his image.
He disclosed that he has informed the General Secretary of his innocence and declared his readiness to subject himself to any internal investigation to clear his name.
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe further assured his supporters, rank and file of members of the NDC and the Branch and Constituency Executives of the Akatsi North Constituency not to be disturbed by “this calculated attempt to malign me.”
He prayed that in this period of Lent, God should fight “this battle for me as He has always done.”
“My tears and bitterness shall be a bath of generational curse on them that are behind this as it was on traitors and liars and wrongful accusers,” he cursed.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged members of the National Democratic Congress not to be dejected by the loss in the battle on the approval of ministerial and judicial appointees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to him, even though the loss was unbearable, the important thing is that the party comes together for the many battles ahead.
“I was naturally devastated last night but woke up surprisingly feeling stronger and convinced that we simply lost a battle and not the war.
“We necessarily have to regroup and soldier on for there are many battles ahead and I know with God on our side we shall win the war in the end,” the deputy majority leader wrote in a tweet shared, on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
“The victory of the NDC is coming again and nothing can stop it,” Armah-Kofi Buah, the Member of Parliament for Ellembele, added.
Parliament approves all six nominees, two Supreme Court Justices:
Parliament on Friday, March 24 approved all six ministerial nominees as well as the nominees of the supreme court of President Akufo-Addo after a heated debate, 24 hours prior and a tense voting process.
Final results declared by Speaker Alban Bagbin showed that all nominees got more votes than the minimum of 138 votes required because out of the 275 eligible voters, there were three absent.
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not adhere to the decision of the party to vote against the approval of the nominees.
Kobina Tahiru Hammond (MP for Adansi Asokwa) was approved as the Minister of Trade and Industry and Bryan Acheampong (MP for Abetifi) as the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
Other nominees who were approved include Stephen Asamoah Boateng, as Ministry of Chieftaincy; Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State (Ministry of Finance), and Osei Bonsu Amoah, Ministry of Local Government.
Stephen Amoah, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, was also approved as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
The Supreme Court nominees who were approved include George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court.
Former President John Dramani has expressed utmost disappointment over the outcome of the secret ballot which resulted in the approval of the six new ministerial appointees.
This comes after all six appointees were approved in Parliament on Friday, March 24, 2023, after a secret ballot was conducted.
Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament have been accused of woefully disappointing the party since they did not vote in accordance with the party’s “principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.”
Based on this, there were high expectations that the Ministers will not be approved. However, contrary to these expectations all six ministers were approved despite the Minority Caucus having a full house and the Majority side being short of two members.
Many members of the party including North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, have all expressed their disappointment over the outcome of the secret ballot. Latest to join the protest is former President John Mahama.
Taking to Twitter he said: “A couple of weeks ago, our NDC group in Parliament announced a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government. This position was supported by a broad section of Ghanaians and public advocacy groups.
“Unfortunately, Ghanaians were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the party. I am also disappointed,” he said.
He added that “those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.”
He further lamented President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to cut down on the size of his government, promising the next NDC government will not toe that line.
“Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned. Clearly in this time of crisis and excruciating hardships, President Akufo-Addo, his NPP administration and some of our MPs are out of tune with the mood of the Ghanaian people.
“I still believe, as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers. For our grassroots members and all Ghanaians who are disappointed by this insensitivity, I urge you not to despair. 2024 offers us an opportunity to work hard to defeat this reckless government that seeks to destroy our democracy and the very livelihoods of Ghanaians- an opportunity for us to work and build the Ghana we all want from January 07, 2025,” he added.
Angry supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress have expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of the secret ballot on the approval of six ministerial nominees by the House on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Despite the equal numbers on both the minority and majority sides (136 apiece) on the day, all six ministerial nominees got more than the minimum 137 votes when a secret balloting was conducted. It emerged that NDC MPs had actually voted for all the nominees.
Mortified and angered by the decision by some members of the caucus to break rank in voting against the directive of the party’s leadership, the NDC members are expressing their thoughts via social media.
Having been directed by their party to reject the nominees on the basis of the size of the government in the face of the country’s current economic crisis, the minority members remained clear about their objection against the approval of the nominees during the debate by the house on the matter.
However, the secret balloting proved otherwise.
For some members of the NDC, the result of the vote is a clear act of betrayal while others believe it is an embarrassing spectacle which casts a dent on the entire caucus.
Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, was no where in sight when Parliament was conducting a secret ballot to determine the fate of President Akufo-Addo’s recent ministerial appointees.
All members of the House were expected to be in the House to cast their votes on the matter, given the country’s hung Parliament.
Prior to the vote, the National Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) issued a statement directing all members of the Majority Caucus not to miss the day’s sitting.
However, the former Gender Minister was no where to be found during the day’s sitting.
It is unclear her whereabouts or whether she had sought permission to be absent from the sitting but when her name was mentioned by the Speaker, she was not in the House to cast her vote.
Aside Adwoa Safo, MP for the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Philip Atta Basoah, was also not in the House.
With the absence of the two, the President’s nominees are unlikely to be appointed if all the members of the Minority Caucus were present to cast their vote, and did so in accordance with the party’s decision.
Parliament is undertaking a secret ballot on the approval of ministerial nominees appointed by President Akufo-Addo.
The Appointments Committee in February vetted the nominees which include Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahiru Hammond, who is to head the Trade Ministry, Abetifi MP, Brian Acheampong, who has been appointed Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.
MP for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, has been appointed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
Nhyiaeso MP, Stephen Asamoah Boateng has been appointed Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Mr Hebert Krapah, Deputy Minister at the Trade Ministry has been moved to the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister-designate.
Dr Stephen Amoah is Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry. MP for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has been appointed Minister of State at the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Minority have threatened to reject the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s appointees due to the size of his government.
Parliament is expected to be involved in a heated debate today although Speaker Alban Bagbin has warned against recalcitrant behaviour.
The Minority caucus in Parliament is demanding that the voting onPresident Akufo-Addo‘s candidates be completed today.
After Speaker Alban Bagbin suspended the session because neither side could agree on how to vote for the confirmation of four Supreme Court Justices, as well as Ministers and Deputy Ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo, there was an uproar in Parliament.
The Majority demanded that voting for the Supreme Court Justicesand the Ministers be done concurrently, but the Minority insisted that voting and counting be done separately.
The Majority also demanded that MPs from their side openly display their vote, but that was immediately shot down by the Minority who demanded that voting be done in secret.
The Minority led by Cassiel Ato Forson vehemently rejected the proposal of the Majority and urged the Speaker to allow MPs to vote in secret.
Speaking after the sitting was suspended, the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson insisted that they will not have the voting any other day than today.
“We want the voting today, Friday, March 24, 2023, and not any other day. We urge those on the Majority side to return to Parliament immediately, so we vote.”
“We are ready with all our MPs and want the voting right away.”
Prior to the vetting of the newly nominated ministers on Monday, February 20, 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) directed the Minority group not to approve them, describing their appointments as an insensitive move that would increase the government’s expenditure in the midst of an economic mess.
The nominated ministers include the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond as the Minister for 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, was also appointed as the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng was appointed as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs among others.
President Akufo- Addo’s four candidates for the Supreme Court is up for debate in Parliament.
Barbara Ackah-Yensu and Samuel Adibu Asiedu have already received the House’s approval, however, Justice George Kingsley Koomson and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu are yet to.
The President stated that the appointments had gone via both the Judicial Council and the Council of State in his letter to Parliament in July of last year.
The Minority says Justice Gaewu’s past as a Parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) disqualifies him from such a position.
Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak insisted his approval will be a bad reflection on the House.
“When you set a bad precedent, tomorrow it becomes the yardstick for others to make this same demand,” he said on the floor on Friday.
On the other hand, the opposition MPs are holding back George Koomson’s approval because “he just joined the appeal court.”
“He also joined to meet so many senior colleagues,” he told the House.
He told the Speaker that if these two nominees are allowed to pass, “what we are doing to this country is simply telling our judges to be sycophants.”
Meanwhile, Ejisu MP, John Kumah says he is satisfied with the judges’ capacity to deliver on their mandate.
If the stalemate persists, the House is expected to put the approval to a secret balloting process.
The deputy minister of finance, Ms. Abena Osei-Asare, has backed the new tax legislation that are being introduced toParliament today, Thursday, March 23.
She alleged that these bills are critical in order to help the government’s attempts to raise funds and to boost the faltering economy.
Ms. Osei-Asare stated that the passing of these bills will also help the government provide aid to vulnerable individuals who have been severely impacted by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“This is to support the economy to get back on track and implement the agenda of supporting the vulnerable who have been hit hard by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war,” she said in an interview on Citi FM.
“Inasmuch as we are raising revenue, we also need to look at the vulnerable who have been hit hard and these are the revenues that we believe that if we raise we can use some to support them.”
She added that the bills are necessary for effective budget implementation and increasing Tax-to-GDP from less than 13% to the sub-Saharan average of 18%.
“As a country, we need to mobilise our own domestic revenue to pursue our own national development agenda and so these are some of the things we can do to raise revenue. As we speak if you compare the revenue we raise to our GDP we are still way below the West African target of below 16 to 18 per cent we are still doing 13 per cent and so there is more that we feel we can do.”
Today, Parliament will vote on several bills related to income tax, excise duty, excise tax stamp, growth, and sustainability levy.
If approved, these bills will allow for the implementation of the $3 billion IMF Programme staff-level agreement.
The government has completed various measures to meet the criteria set by the IMF, such as tariff adjustments, publication of the Auditor-General’s report on Covid-19 spending, and onboarding of various funds on the Ghana integrated financial management information system.
The international and domestic bond markets are currently closed, which means the government must rely on Treasury Bills and concessional loans to finance its programmes.
She argued that it was therefore critical for Parliament to consider and approve fiscal measures to help the country recover from the current economic crisis.
Member of the Minority Group in Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced the possibility of the caucus rejecting the budgetary allocation made to the Electoral Commission (EC) over the recent appointment made by the president.
The North Tongu MP in a Facebook post on Thursday asked Ghanaians whether it would be morally right for the Minority to shortchange the Commission over the appointment of Dr. Peter Appiahene, who is alleged to be a New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithful.
“With Prez Akufo-Addo’s unpatriotic & extremely reckless determination to convert Ghana’s Electoral Commission into an NPP HQ annex, would NDC MPs in Parliament be wrong in refusing to approve the budget of the EC until TESCON Patron Dr. Peter Appiahene is dropped? Your thoughts, please,” Mr Ablakwa wrote.
TESCON (Tertiary Students Confederacy) is the student wing of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) of Ghana that is instrumental in the party’s student and grass-root engagement and mobilisation.
Mr. Ablakwa felt it necessary to ask this question because the government has allocated an amount of GH¢386,047,606 to the Electoral Commission to be spent in 2023, which is yet to be approved by parliament.
The money, according to the 2023 budget statement, is to be used for compensation of employees, purchasing of goods and offering services, as well as upgrading or maintaining physical assets (CAPEX).
Background
President Akufo-Addo inaugurated the Electoral Commission’s new members on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Among the newly appointed commissioners are Dr. Appiahene, a TESCON patron, Salima Ahmed Tijani, and Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng.
While the government praised the new appointments as a move towards strengthening the Commission’s capacity, the minority has expressed concerns about the EC’s integrity.
Following the ceremony, pictures and videos implicating Dr Peter Appiahene of being involved in partisan politics emerged.
He is reported to be actively engaged in TESCON activities at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
Dr. Peter Appiahene, whom Akufo-Addo has appointed to the Electoral Commission with two others is a card-bearing @NPP_GH juggernaut. Its a plan!
He’s TESCON-UENR Patron, was once among considerables for Bono Regional Minister & had represented the NPP on several political shows. pic.twitter.com/1VzH6TeQN2
This revelation has infuriated members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who assert that the president is working to turn the Electoral Commission into an annex of the ruling party.
Director of the NDC’s International Relations Directorate, Alexander Segbefia, stated that Ghana’s democracy hangs in the balance as the government is allegedly working to alter the decisions made by Ghanaians when they exercise their franchise.
“It is clear that in a situation like this, it’s imperative that partisan colours for certain positions in this country should not be or cannot be overtly shown to have been demonstrated in the past because it means that on every decision that person is involved in, it will be scrutinised 10, 15, 20 times more than it should be, because there is already a fear and a belief that that person doesn’t approach it in a fair manner or a neutral position.
“And that, whether right or wrong, is the perception that is created, by allowing somebody who is clearly very overtly partisan but is coming into the position of a referee to actually hold such an office. I think it’s so obvious that I don’t know why it keeps being done.
“It has the ability to threaten our very democracy, elections in Africa are some of the most tense periods in the democratic dispensation of countries and any step that you take that is going to heighten that tension is not advisable within the African context,” he told JoyNews.
On the matter, former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to amend Article 43(2) of the 1992 Constitution to provide Parliament with power to approve new commissioners.
“Of course, the appointments of known party activists onto the Electoral Commission by our current President may require an amendment of Article 43(2), to provide for parliamentary approval of new Commissioners to the Commission. Let me assure you once again, I remain committed to these reforms,” he said.
He made the statement at the launch of his JM 2024 Campaign fundraising app at UPSA on Wednesday, March 22, 2022.
Article 43(2) of the 1992 constitution states that “ The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President under article 70 of this Constitution.”
A constitutional review is required, in order to restrict the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction according to Head of the Judicial Service by the Committee Chairman, Alhassan Abdallah Iddi,.
The Minority in Parliament expressed worry that the Supreme Court’s expansion from 11 to 14 justices would deplete state funds, contradicting the president’s assertion that he was safeguarding the public purse.
But speaking to Citi News after a three-day visit to the Judicial Service by the committee, Chairman Alhassan Abdallah Iddi said “look at the number of cases the Supreme Court hears. Almost every case comes to the Supreme Court holding all other variables constant.
“Many times, people are not satisfied at the Court of Appeal level. They definitely want to go to the Supreme Court. For us to have a cap as others call it, I think that better will it be for a constitutional review to reduce the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. I think that those who cry for the number of judges to the supreme court should look at it very well. It is tied to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.”
The Ghana Bar Association believes it is time for a cap to be placed on the number of Supreme Court judges Ghana has at a time.
Speaking to Citi News on the matter, the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Saviour Kudze, said “the way our constitution is now, if we don’t put a ceiling on it, it will not help us.”
For the limit to the number of judges possibly put in place, Mr. Kudze said, “it will depend on the work at hand.”
“Many more cases are going on appeal now and the Supreme Courthappens to be the highest and final appellate court, so for me, going forward, we need to look at it and see if you can have some ceiling.”
The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) is up in arms over some tax proposals currently in Growth and Sustainability Bill.
The Association’s Executive Director, John Awuni is urging Parliament to pull the brakes on the proposal as it will further deepen the woes of producers.
The Growth and Sustainability Bill forms part of measures by the government to rake in GHS 2.2 billion for the country by the end of this year.
However, the development will see taxes slapped on the profit before tax of companies and institutions operating in the country, including firms in the extractive sector, such as mining and upstream oil and gas firms.
Mr Awuni says “if the government really has their ears on the ground and properly researched they will not go further to bring even 1% or 0.5% of any type of tax in the name of the fact that the companies will bear it.”
“Companies will pass it on to the consumers. Consumers’ disposable income is very low so how can they afford it? So it goes back to the fact that the companies cannot even meet their budget or sales targets.”
The taxes will be spread across three categories dubbed A, B and C who are expected to pay 5% on Profit before tax, 1% of gross production, and 2.5% of Profit before tax respectively.
But ahead of its debate and possible passage, Food and Beverage producers are kicking against the bill over its propensity to kick many of its members out of business.
According to John Awuni, many of their members are already reeling under the implications of the economic turmoil and another imposition will throw them out of gear.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, FABAG boss urged government to rather widen the tax net instead than worsen the burden on tax-compliant businesses.
“So clearly what we are looking at is that let the government ensure that people who are outside the tax bracket [are roped in],” he said.
Economists such as the University of Ghana Business School’s Prof. Godfred Bokpin are worried that excessive tax burden on the populace will impede the economic growth expected.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, he noted that there are already existing tax avenues that can be explored to generate more income for the nation.
Prof Bokpin believed that the ineffective implementation of tax policies causes great loss to the nation.
“You get the sense that the players in the economy are overburdened with taxes. When you interact with the private sector, and households you get that impression. In as much as we support the need to generate more revenue, we need to be mindful not to undermine private sector competitiveness.
“To do so, we can increase domestic revenue without increasing existing rates or introducing new tax handles. Ghana’s VAT efficiency rate is around 45%.”
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has said that the late former representative for Old Tafo, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei was an effective lawmaker.
In Parliament today Tuesday, March 21, the Speaker said “Dr Akoto Osei was a very illustrious member, very effective, very well respected, a very true gentleman.
“The former Member of Parliament Dr Anthony Osei Akoto was not just a Member of Parliament but was also appointed a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and later became a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, he really distinguished himself at both the Ministry and in Parliament for Ghana.
“Before even joining politics he was a known face and very active civil society leader who worked in the then very vibrant economic NGO.”
Dr Akoto Osei’s death was announced on the official Facebook page of theParliament of Ghanaon Monday, March 20.
“Former Old Tafo MP, Hon. Dr Anthony Osei Akoto passes away. May he rest in peace,” Parliament announced.
Dr Akoto Osei was in the cabinet of President John Agyekum Kufuor as Minister of State for Finance and Economic Planning.
He was a member of Parliament for the electoral district of Old Tafo in the Ashanti region.
He worked as deputy minister for Finance and Economic Planning in May 2003 and was a major economic adviser to the government.
He was elevated to substantive Minister for Finance and Economic Planning after the death of the then Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu.
He served in that role until 6 January 2009 when the government was handed over to the National Democratic Congress who had won the 2008 General Elections.
In February 2017, Osei was sworn in as Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation after being nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo and going through the vetting process in the parliament of Ghana.
The ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation was a newly created Ministry to evaluate, monitor and plan review summits and forums in fulfillment of the government’s policies on evaluating the progress of its own ministries.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has described the death of former Member of Parliament for Old Tafo and deputy finance minister, Anthony Osei Akoto as shocking.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the former MP was a very good friend and brother whose “dedication to serving mother Ghana was unpaired and his fidelity to the country’s development was unquestionable.”
The death of Akoto Osei at age 64 was confirmed on March 20 by a post on the official Facebook page of Parliament.
“Former Old Tafo MP, Hon. Dr Anthony Osei Akoto passes away. May he rest in peace,” Parliament’s post accompanied by a photo of the deceased read.
“I paid him a visit just a few weeks ago and was happy that he was doing much better. The news of his passing has therefore come as a complete shock. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
“I am happy to have had a brother in you and to have worked with you. Rest in peace, my brother,” Bawumia’s Facebook post read.
Who was Dr. Akoto Osei
Dr Akoto Osei was in the cabinet of former President John Agyekum Kufuor as the Minister of State for Finance and Economic Planning.
Before becoming the finance minister under ex-President Kufuor, he served as the deputy minister for the sector.
In May, 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo named Dr Anthony Akoto Osei as part of his 19 ministers who would form his cabinet as the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation.
He was a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Old Tafo Constituency in the Ashanti Region. While in Parliament, he served as the Ranking Member for the Committee on Finance, and a member of the Interior and Defence committees of the House.
He obtained a PhD from Howard University in 1987, a Master of Arts degree in Applied Economics from the American University in 1980. He had earlier obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Economics from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1978.
On 27 March 2002, he became a member of the Management Board of Merchant Bank (Ghana) Ltd. Previously, he worked as Associate Professor at Dollard University (USA) and previously as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Policy Analysis (Ghana).
