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Tag: parliament

  • You are not destined to be president – Maurice Ampaw tells Kennedy Agyapong

    You are not destined to be president – Maurice Ampaw tells Kennedy Agyapong

    Legal practitioner, Maurice Ampaw has asked candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer position, Kennedy Agyapong, to assess his skills and decide against running for president because that is not his calling.

    If one is not called or born with such aptitude, being president will be challenging, according to Ampaw, who believes that the office is about a divine calling.

    “I’m telling Kennedy Agyapong that; you weren’t born to become president. You’re aware that you were not given a presidential talent so why are you forcing yourself to become a president? Kennedy Agyapong you are a fighter.

    “God told David that he can’t build the church because his hands are full of blood (filth),” he said.

    Speaking on the March 19, 2023, episode of Mmra Ne Abrao Mu Nsem on Wontumi TV, Maurice Ampaw added that politics is a game filled with evil, falsehoods, and deception, that he thinks he would have died by now if he had entered earlier.
    Meanwhile, Kennedy Agyapong has revealed that he was driven to join the presidential race after he sighted a video of Prophet Amoako Attah’s prophecy in March 2022.

    Prophet Francis Amoako Attah, who is the founder of Parliament Chapel International, prophesied that God had a special assignment for Kennedy Agyapong which goes beyond being a Member of Parliament.

    “Nobody can stop Hon Kennedy Agyapong from his vision to become a president of Ghana. I saw in the realms of the spirit that the star of God picked Hon Kennedy Agyapong.

    “Many people love him from their heart but they are not professing it to the general public. It will start gradually and all of a sudden, all the youth in the Country will Support Kennedy Agyapong,” he said.

  • Parliament likely to be disconnected from national grid over GHS13m electricity bill

    Parliament likely to be disconnected from national grid over GHS13m electricity bill

    Failure of Parliament to settle an outstanding debt of GHS13 million debt it owes the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) may lead to the disconnection of the House from the National Grid.

    In view of this, Parliament is currently in discussion with officials from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over the debt.

    The outcome of this discussion will determine whether the House stays connected to the national grid or is plunged into darkness.

    A disconnection team is at the premises as the negotiations proceed.

    This forms part of the Company’s bid to retrieve a total of about GH¢5.7 billion in unpaid bills across the country.

    Parliament is advancing talks to pay GH¢1 million upfront out of its GH¢13 million debt in order to keep the lights on for now.

    “It looks like Parliament is offering some GH¢1 million upfront to prevent the disconnection but the ECG will have none of that,” JoyNews’ James Avedzi said on the Midday News.

    The ECG on March 14, disconnected the power supply to the Energy Ministry which plunged the entire Ministry into darkness for almost half a day. 

    According to the sources, power was, however, restored to the Ministry after it paid its debt bill in full.

    The power distributor will from Monday, March 20, embark on a massive disconnection exercise in a bid to mobilise revenue.

    The exercise is using almost all ECG staff from top management to junior officers to retrieve all the monies owed to them.

    The Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, said the company is owed over GH¢5 billion from the month of September 2022 to February 2023.

    He added that the agencies that would refuse to settle their bill immediately will face the same consequence as the Energy Ministry.

  • Haruna Iddrisu pledges 90,000 votes for NDC as he files application for sixth term in parliament

    Haruna Iddrisu pledges 90,000 votes for NDC as he files application for sixth term in parliament

    Former Minority leader and a five-time Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has pledged to secure more than 90,000 votes for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general elections.

    The representative for Tamale South Constituency in the Northern Region, poised to win the Tamale South constituency seat for the sixth time said this when he formerly filed his nomination to contest the Parliamentary primaries of the NDC over the weekend.

    The Tamale South MP on Sunday, March 19, 2023, was accompanied by some NDC Northern Regional Executives, Constituency Executives, Members of Parliament among other bigwigs of the party to submit his nomination at the constituency office.

    Addressing journalists in Tamale, Mr. Iddrisu said, “If you’ve seen me this morning, it’s for an important reason, I’m here to evince my intention to renew my mandate as the Member of Parliament for Tamale South.”

    “I believe this would be my sixth term running, so I am here to honour the NDC party constitutional requirement of filing my nomination as the NDC unbeatable candidate for Tamale South for the 2024 general elections” he added.

    The former Minister of Trade stated that the day only marked the beginning of the journey to the victory of the NDC in 2024.

    “And for Tamale South, it remains a formidable NDC constituency. Indeed, Tamale South – those who say Haruna is this, Haruna is that, let anybody challenge me that he contributes more votes to NDC in Northern Ghana than Haruna Iddrisu and probably beyond. I can extend my numbers beyond Bono Ahafo towards some other regions,” he stated.

    He argued further that the Tamale South constituency in the last presidential and parliamentary elections made a significant contribution of 69,000 votes and pledged to increase it to 90,000 for John Mahama or whoever wins the NDC Presidential primaries.

    “Tamale South in the last presidential and parliamentary elections made a significant contribution of 69,000 votes, my pledge this year with you, with your assurance and support is 90,000 for John Mahama or whoever wins the NDC Presidential primaries,” he stated.

  • Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament files nomination to contest Ellembelle seat

    Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament files nomination to contest Ellembelle seat

    Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the deputy minority leader in parliament, has submitted his nomination documents to run for the Ellembelle seat a fifth time.

    After ousting the outgoing NPP Chairman Freddie Blay, who was then the Convention People’s Party‘s representative in Parliament, Armah-Kofi Buah first won the Ellembelle seat in 2008.

    Speaking to Citi News after filling his nomination form at Ayinase which was marked with a massive float by supporters to the Ellembelle NDC office, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said his motivation to contest the seat again is because the people want him to continue the good works he has been doing in the constituency.

    “The last seven years of governance has been a disaster. Almost every development project we’ve tried has come to a stop. I believe that I have earned the right to be in a position to help the District to develop, so that is why I’m running again. Look at the enthusiasm and the support base and I believe the people of Ellembelle want me to continue the good works I have been doing, and I’m proud to serve them,“ he said.

    Although two other persons have their posters in town to contest the sitting MP, the Ellembelle NDC constituency Chairman and other executives told Citi News they are supporting Armah-Kofi Buah because of how well he has changed the face of Ellembelle in a positive light since he became an MP.

  • Make post-secondary degree a criteria for becoming MP – Afenyo-Markin

    Make post-secondary degree a criteria for becoming MP – Afenyo-Markin

    Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the deputy majority leader, has called for a review of Article 94 of the 1992 constitution in order to make post-secondary education a requirement for individuals seeking to become member of Parliament.

    The constitutional provision specifies, among other things, the standards by which someone can be regarded as qualified for or disqualified from serving as a member of Parliament.

    Speaking at the 2023 GIMPA Law Conference, Afenyo-Markin, noted that the public has been critical of many happenings in Parliament including debates which occur on the floor.

    He believes that making post-secondary education a criterion for entering Parliament will ensure improvement in the quality of persons who get to be Members of Parliament.

    “We have often heard the members of the public talking about the quality of debates and sometimes our grammar is marked, our reasoning powers are questioned and I agree. It is fair. It is part of your bona fide as critical observers…looking at or interrogating what we do in the Chamber. For that purpose, I think that it wouldn’t be far-reaching to suggest perhaps that Article 94 be looked at.

    “Maybe not talking about university degrees….first degree as a minimum qualification, but we can look at post-secondary education. Somebody may have some post-secondary education which may not even be a tertiary training but would have gathered some experience. We may have to look at that all aimed at ensuring that those who enter Parliament have the necessary capacity to do that,” Afenyo-Markin said.

  • Retrenched COCOBOD workers picket Parliament over outstanding benefits

    Retrenched COCOBOD workers picket Parliament over outstanding benefits

    Aggrieved former workers of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) have petitioned Parliament over their unpaid salaries.

    The group calling itself the 1993/1994 retrenched Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Officers Association on Wednesday, March 15, picketed at the entrance of Parliament to petition the Speaker over what the members of the group say is the underpayment of their benefits by COCOBOD.

    The group bemoans that members were laid off in the years 1993 and 1994 without due diligence by COCOBOD.

    However, following legal action against the dismissal, the court directed COCOBOD to pay the required benefits to the former workers.

    Speaking to journalists, the spokesperson of the group, William Boafo said the funds paid by COCOBOD do not correspond to their entitlements hence the need for the Speaker of Parliament and the Office of the Special Prosecutor to probe the matter.

    “We were at various departments, and various divisions working in various areas throughout the country and we were laid off in 1993 and some in 1994.  It became a court issue and in 2019 the court gave a ruling that Cocobod should pay us our benefits but in 2020 COCOBOD started issuing cheques to us, and it was nothing to write home about.”

    Mr Boafo added that some of the former workers received as low as GH¢400 which was woefully inadequate. He added that several pleas and meeting with officials of COCOBOD to rectify the anomaly has proved futile.

    He revealed that over 14, 000 workers were affected by the retrenchment by COCOBOD.

  • You are practicing investigative terrorism, not journalism – Judge tells Anas Aremeyaw Anas

    You are practicing investigative terrorism, not journalism – Judge tells Anas Aremeyaw Anas

    Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has been informed by the Accra High Court that what he does is “investigative terrorism,” not investigative journalism.

    This came after the court dismissed a GHC25 million defamation lawsuit Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central, had filed against a journalist.

    The media indicated that Judge Justice Eric Baah, determined that the MP refer to Anas as “evil, corrupt, a blackmailer and an extortionist.”

    He added that “I find claims by the plaintiff (Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed.”

    Background

    Sometime in 2018, the ace international investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas dragged the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to court for defaming him.

    Anas was asking the High Court to award aggravated damages to the tune of GH¢25 million arising from defamatory materials published by the MP.

    He said the MP had been publishing materials in his bid to discredit him after releasing an explosive piece on the rot in Ghana football.

    Displeased with the MP’s actions, Anas, through his lawyer, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, sued Mr Agyapong for the award of general damages for defamation in the defendant’s publications.

    A journalist, Mr Listowell Yesu Bukarson, has been granted the lawful attorney to stand in for Anas.

    Publications

    The publication complained of are May 29, 2018, live programme in Twi on Adom TV, where Mr Agyapong categorically stated that Anas was a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist and evil.

    According to the statement of claim, the defendant, in a similar manner, published defamatory words on May 31, 2018, via Oman FM, a private radio station owned by the defendant.

    The statement of claim also stated that the defendant published more defamatory materials against the plaintiff via other platforms to the extent of releasing pictures purported to be those of the investigative journalist in his bid to blow the latter’s cover.

  • West Hills Mall: MPs demand independent probe into death of man

    West Hills Mall: MPs demand independent probe into death of man

    An oversight investigation into the events leading up to the death of a young man at the West Hills mall in Accra has been demanded by members of parliament (MPs).

    Video footage showed some people abusing 32-year-old Shadrack Arloo while he was tied on the floor of the mall and was later confirmed dead at a hospital.

    A police investigation into the matter revealed that the suspect died of asphyxiation and obstruction of his airway by a foreign body suspected to be marijuana.

    In a statement on the floor of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey together with some Members of Parliament urged the house to constitute an independent commission to investigate the matter.

    “I call on this August House to invoke its legislative authority to set up an independent police commission and grant it the powers to investigate, for example, instances where the police stand accused of unlawful killing. Such a response will help curb actual or potential cover-ups in the future”.

    “Mr. Speaker kindly permit me to state that I have petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the horrifying human rights violation meted out to against Shadrack. Let me also use this opportunity to urge the Commission to quicken its investigation into the matter to give the grieving family closure. I humbly pray that the statement be referred to the Committee on Defence and Interior to conduct an independent parliamentary probe into the true circumstances leading to the death of Shadrack,” she said.

    The police pathologist found eight zipped packets of dry leaves that were likely drug-related in the deceased’s throat, tied with a piece of black polythene.

  • COCOBOD workers calls on Parliament to intervene over unpaid benefits

    COCOBOD workers calls on Parliament to intervene over unpaid benefits

    On Wednesday, March 15, a group calling itself the 1993/1994 retrenched Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Officers Association has petitioned parliament alleging COCOBOD had underpaid its employees’ benefits.

    The group bemoans that members were laid off in the years 1993 and 1994 without due diligence by COCOBOD.

    However, following legal action against the dismissal, the court directed COCOBOD to pay the required benefits to the former workers.

    Speaking to journalists, the spokesperson of the group,William Boafo said the funds paid by COCOBOD do not correspond to their entitlements hence the need for the Speaker of Parliament and the Office of the Special Prosecutor to probe the matter.

    “We were at various departments, and various divisions working in various areas throughout the country and we were laid off in 1993 and some in 1994.  It became a court issue and in 2019 the court gave a ruling that COCOBOD should pay us our benefits but in 2020 COCOBOD started issuing cheques to us, and it was nothing to write home about.”

    Mr Boafo added that some of the former workers received as low as GH¢400 which was woefully inadequate. He added that several pleas and meeting with officials of COCOBOD to rectify the anomaly has proved futile.

    He revealed that over 14, 000 workers were affected by the retrenchment by COCOBOD.

  • Data on roads before Akufo-Addo assumed office available – Amoako-Attah

    Data on roads before Akufo-Addo assumed office available – Amoako-Attah

    According to sector minister Kwasi Amoako-Attah, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has records for every road built in Ghana, both before and after Akufo-Addo became president.

    He has therefore asked all persons doubting Mr Akufo-Addo’s comment that his administration has built more roads than any other government in the Fourth Republic to visit the Ministry for the data to do the analysis.

    He told Parliament on Wednesday, March 15 that Mr Akufo-Addo’s comment is factual, inconvertible and backed by data and further urged Parliament to set up a bipartisan committee, if need be, to interrogate the claim of the President.

    President Akufo-Addo in the address in Parliament on Wednesday, March 8, said that “Mr Speaker, I would like to state categorically that this Government has built more roads than any government in the history of the 4th Republic, and Mr. Speaker, the details of all these roads are attached in the annex to this message.”

    He added, “I have done so because, last year, when I made a similar pronouncement, I was met with howls and gasps of incredulity from the Minority benches, and so I thought it’s appropriate, this time, to present it as an annex to the statement, which will be part of Hansard.”

    But his comments were challenged by the Minority in Parliament.

    The Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza said the President’s statement contained factual inaccuracies.

    He described President Nana Akufo-Addo’s comment as a ”barefaced lie.”

    In a statement, Mr Agbodza who is also the Ranking Member of the Roads and Highways Committee of Parliament said “the claim that the Akufo-Addo government has constructed more Interchanges between (2017 – 2022), than the NDC (2009 – 2016), is an unfortunate fabrication that should not be peddled by no less a person than President Akufo-Addo.

    “The attempt to expropriate for his government, the following projects, is most scandalizing and such dishonesty must be called out and condemned by all; Pokuase Interchange; Tema Motorway Interchange Phase 1; Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange Phase 1; Flowerpot
    5. Suhum Interchange

    “Funding for these projects was secured by the erstwhile Mahama/NDC administration, contracts signed and works ongoing before President Akufo-Addo and the NPP came into office in 2017. The Suhum Interchange project for instance was about 85% completed when the Mahama/NDC administration exited office in 2016. It is therefore disingenuous for the President to peddle such a confident lie and insist that this be recorded into the Hansard of Parliament as truth.”

    But Mr Amoako-Attah who is also lawmaker for Atiwa West said “The President stated categorically that this government has built more roads than any government in the history of the Fourth Republic. The details of all these roads are attached in the annex to his message.

    “These statements made by the president was factual, the statement was credible, the statement was dependable, the statement was incontestable, the statement was undisputed, the statement was incontrovertible and above all statement is verifiable by anybody who cares.

    “It is backed by empirical data which is available at the Ministry of Road and Highways. I challenge any member of this House or any member of this country. This House can set up an independent bipartisan committee to investigate the data.”

  • Reduce Parliamentary seats from 275 to 200 – Afenyo-Markin

    Reduce Parliamentary seats from 275 to 200 – Afenyo-Markin

    Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, has suggested that the 275-seat in Parliament be decreased to 200 seats.

    According to the member of parliament from the Effutu seat, this will reduce the strain on the public coffers.

    “I must say that one critical thing to look at is to put an upper limit on the number of MPs that we must elect each year. It is unpalatable that a small country like Ghana with its many financial problems has 275 MPs. In contrast with all its financial muscle, Australia has 151 and 76 senators. We need a change in the law to stop the unnecessary expansion in the number of seats in our Parliament.”

    The Effutu legislator made the comments at this year’s GIMPA Law Conference on Wednesday, March 15.

    He added that Ghana needs an Upper chamber which will be known as the House of Elders. To this end, he has proposed that the Council of State be converted to serve this purpose.

    “I hold the view that Ghana needs an upper chamber, it should be known as the House of Elders whose election shall remain non-partisan and whose primary role shall be to moderate the current parliamentary excesses and extreme partisanship.

    “Thus the Council of State should be converted into the Upper Chamber of Parliament…I am not suggesting that the current Council of State is not helpful.”

    Mr. Afenyo-Markin also lamented challenges regarding the role of MPs stating that they have become development agents contrary to their lawmaking and representation of electorate functions.

    This he said has made some MPs retire as paupers and live miserable lives. He added that claims that some MPs are corrupt are completely untrue if one looks at the life of some MPs after they leave the House.

    “Although lawmakers are not strictly speaking development agents, many MPs have had to dig so deep into their private pockets to provide public infrastructure to benefit underserved communities in their constituencies. In the process, many MPs have retired as paupers and have to deal with the pain of paying for private loans they contracted in their time in office to provide for the needs of their constituents.”

  • Former AGI President blames Parliament for Ghana’s economic woes

    Former AGI President blames Parliament for Ghana’s economic woes

    Former President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson has blamed Parliament for the prevailing economic downturn.

    Dr. Kludjeson says he does not blame the President.

    “To me, I don’t blame the President, I blame Parliament. Our Parliament, 275 young brilliant people in Parliament are supposed to ensure or pass laws that will benefit Ghana, not politics or election,” he said.

    Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, Dr. Kludjeson lamented that the country does not have viable equity laws.

    He said passing an equity law that gives a higher percentage of shares in key establishments to the state could have generated more than the $3 billion bailout the country is seeking from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    “Ghana, you don’t have equity laws which say that you know, GNPC 7 or 9 per cent of our gold, our oil. Even the state does not have it. We need to have an equity law that says that to be able to do business in this country, the owner is entitled to 30 per cent. All these IMF issues we’re talking about are only 3 billion dollars. But then you see publications that gold has brought in 6.6 billion dollars and Ghana has 5 or 6 per cent equity in it. You’re not going to go anywhere,” he explained.

    Touching on government’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy, Dr. Kludjeson posited that many of the factories do not manufacture their own products. He alleged that they have contracted other industries to produce them.

    According to him, in order to benefit hugely from the policy, universities within the communities where the factories are located should be sensitised to deploy students to work in those factories.

    Dr. Kludjeson has also recommended that the factories although may not be yielding the desired profits currently, should not be “cancelled” and “we should not run them down,” saying that it does not require huge sums of money to manage those factories.

    According to him, investing in “technology and knowledge” in managing the said factories would be a commendable starting point.

  • Ashaiman military raid must be investigated and aired – Security analyst

    Ashaiman military raid must be investigated and aired – Security analyst

    A commission of inquiry should be immediately established by Parliament to look into the military’s attack on certain Ashaiman citizens, according to security analyst Emmanuel Kotin.

    The military’s operation on Ashaiman on March 7 in an effort to find the murderers of Trooper Imoro Sherrif, a military official, was criticized by the security analyst.

    Mr. Kotin admonished that the actions of the military in the community be taken seriously and probed considering the worrying rise of terrorism in the Western African Sub Region.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Kotin said the recorded incidents of assaults by the military on civilians are becoming one too many and need to be amicably resolved to discourage the festering of terror activities on the borders of Ghana.

    “What has happened is one too many and if we don’t begin to set examples, it will continue to keep repeating and that is why the call on Parliament to represent the people and probe this issue.

    “A commission of inquiry should be set up, its work must be telecast live so that we will know who ordered what and who did what, and then sanctions be applied so that people who would conceive things of this nature will not even think about it again.”

    Mr. Kotin also called on Parliament to review its policy on the grant for the establishment of garrisons across the country given the unlawful use of force by the military.

    “I am calling on Parliament to as a matter of urgency, review its policy in granting Legislative Instruments for the establishment of more garrisons across the country because it is not going to help our democratic dispensation given the past the soldiers have demonstrated and continue to do. They must realize that they are bounded by the laws of the country and are not laws unto themselves.”

  • Here are all MPs that head committees in parliament

    Here are all MPs that head committees in parliament

    To lead various specific topics brought before it, the parliament has established 29 committees.

    Due to the quantity and complexity of parliamentary activity, the House formed these committees to guarantee that adequate time is provided for an effective study of the issues before the House.

    Each of these committees has a Chairman, a vice, and a ranking member.

    In this piece, we bring to you a compilation of all the chairs of these committees in parliament:

    Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin

    Standing Orders Committee

    Francis Manu-Adabor

    Lands & Forestry Committee

    John Osei Frimpong

    Food, Agriculture & Cocoa Affairs Committee

    Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi

    Local Government & Rural Development Committee

    Isaac Kwame Asiamah

    Works & Housing Committee

    Kwame Ayimadu-Antwi

    Constitutional, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee

    Nana Ayew Afriyie (Dr.)

    Health Committee

    Cynthia Mamle Morrison

    Communications Committee

    Kennedy Ohene Agyapong

    Roads & Transport Committee
    Defence & Interior Committee

    Bryan Acheampong

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng

    Youth, Sports & Culture Committee

    Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah

    Education Committee

    Samuel Atta Akyea
    Mines & Energy Committee

    Emmanuel Marfo

    Environment, Science & Technology Committee

    Philip Basoah

    Employment, Social Welfare & State Enterprises Committee

    Carlos Kinsley Ahenkorah

    Trade, Industry & Tourism Committee

    Joseph Osei-Owusu

    Appointments Committee

    Joseph Osei-Owusu

    Privileges Committee

    Patricia Appiahgyei

    Government Assurances Committee

    James Klutse Avedzi

    Public Accounts Committee

    Dominic A. Ayine (Dr.

    Subsidiary Legislation Committee

    Andrew Asiamah Amoako

    Members Holding Offices of Profit Committee

    Francisca Oteng Mensah

    Gender & Children Committee

    Abdallah Iddi Alhassan

    Judiciary Committee

    Benson Tongo Baba

    Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

    Special Budget Committee and
    Business Committee

  • Democracy requires attention – Akufo-Addo

    Democracy requires attention – Akufo-Addo

    Ghanaians have been urged by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remember that democracy is a process that requires ongoing care rather than a static accomplishment.

    “We must always remind ourselves that in the political history of our nation, the return of Parliament to its rightful place has always represented the return of power to the people,” he continued.

    The request was made by President Akufo-Addo yesterday during his address to Parliament in Accra on the state of the nation.

    Symbol

    He described Parliament as the symbol of democracy and its values, saying that the country had chosen to travel on the path of democracy and at the heart of that journey was the idea that the government could only govern with the consent of the people.

    He said after 30 years of democratic practice, Ghanaians might be tempted to take it for granted and that there was a need to remind all, including the young ones with no personal recollection, of the struggles that got to this point in its development. 

    “In the same way that only a small percentage of our population can recall life under colonial rule, similarly the memory of dictatorship, one-party rule and military rule is receding into the dim past and the struggles that have brought us so far are disappearing into the recesses of history,” President Akufo-Addo added.

    However, he said because Parliament, directly represented the citizens, it would always be a reminder of those struggles.

    He said the early years of the return to democracy were fraught with challenges but the years had seen the deepening of democratic culture to a point where a candidate of the Minority side in Parliament, presided as the Speaker.

    Doomsday

    President Akufo-Addo noted that given the way the numbers shaped up in this House after the 2020 elections, many cynics and sceptics predicted a doomsday scenario for this Parliament.

    He said instead of a meltdown, Ghanaians had witnessed considerable cooperation and unity of purpose among all parties and factions. 

    “This is to a large extent a measure of the maturity of our political culture and democracy. We will need even more of such bi-partisan maturity to meet the challenges confronting us at this time,” he added.

    Free speech

    President Akufo-Addo said the country currently had complete freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and political affiliation. 

    He said the freedom of speech had now reached such heights that even members of the diplomatic corps felt able to join in the national discourse and pronounce on matters that would be problematic for Ghanaian diplomats in their countries of origin. 

    “Nevertheless, it seems to me the important thing in our free speech environment is actually to try and hear each other, instead of raising the decibel level of our individual points of view,” he added.

  • Parliament ready to probe happenings in Ashaiman – Defense Committee

    Parliament ready to probe happenings in Ashaiman – Defense Committee

    Vice Chairperson of the Defense and Interior Committee in Parliament, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, has noted that there is a high chance that the committee will probe the ongoing mayhem in Ashaiman.

    Speaking to the press, she noted that the Ashaiman MP, Ernest Henry Norgbey, is yet to make a statement on the matter.

    “When that statement is made, the Speaker has the right to refer and definitely, he will refer it to us. That is when we also move in to the committee for a fact-finding mission to ascertain what happened,” she added.

    On Tuesday, officers of the Ghana Armed Forces invaded Ashaiman and subjected some residents to unlawful activities. This was in response to the murder of one Sherif Imoro over the weekend.

    Per a statement from the Ghana Armed Forces, the swoop was sanctioned to enable the military capture the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

    Many individuals including former President John Dramani Mahama have condemned the happenings in Ashaiman.

    According to reports, 150 out of the 184 individuals detained have been released. They were in police custody.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Disappointing remarks on the COVID-19 audit report – Agbodza to Akufo-Addo

    Disappointing remarks on the COVID-19 audit report – Agbodza to Akufo-Addo

    The Minority in Parliament finds it regrettable that President Akufo-Addo has denied allegations that the government deliberately misappropriated monies allocated for the nation’s fight against COVID-19.

    According to the Auditor General’s 2020 report on the government’s COVID-19 expenses, just 25% (GH5.5 million) of the US$ 2.5 billion mobilized for the battle against the pandemic was spent on health.

    According to violations cited in the audit report by the Auditor General, the Information Ministry improperly compensated its employees GH¢151,500 for COVID-19 insurance while failing to deliver $81 million worth of government-paid vaccines.

    The state among other things is said to have spent US$607,419.02 out of US$4,049,460.12 for the acquisition of 26 ambulances, but the vehicles were never delivered.

    According to the report, the remainder of the monies was spent on government programmes such as Free SHS, LEAP among others.

    But President Akufo-Addo presenting the State of Nation Address on March 8, 2023, noted that the COVID funds were not misused. 

    “The economic consequences of the pandemic have been devastating. It is precisely because the economic fallout from the pandemic was so widespread and long-lasting that it is important to show clearly that the COVID funds were not misused. It is critical that we do not lose the confidence of the people that a crisis that they were led to believe we were all in together was abused for personal gain,” the President said.

    Reacting to the matter, Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza said the President’s comment on the issue came to them as a surprise. 

    “I’m somehow extremely disappointed in the President who sought once again to even clear members of his government who are suspected of doing wrong things in the COVID-19 expenditure.

    “It doesn’t lie in the mouth of the President to decide to become an auditor of his own government by pretending that nothing went wrong with the COVID expenditure. Mr. President you are not an auditor, leave that to the professionals to do,” Minority Chief Whip said.

  • Gold for oil policy is already paying off – Akufo-Addo

    Gold for oil policy is already paying off – Akufo-Addo

    The President Akufo-Addo, has said that, the Gold for oil program aimed at boosting the economy “is already bearing fruit”.

    Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Wednesday, the President said the policy, which is aimed at reviving the economy “is already bearing fruit.”

    “Firstly, it will help us preserve foreign exchange, especially the US dollar, and secondly, it will enable us to stabilise the price of oil products such as petrol and diesel on the domestic market.”

    He indicated that some successes have been seen on both fronts, “with the price of US dollars and petroleum products falling since we announced the policy and began to implement it.”

    “The average price of petrol at the pump, which had risen to twenty (20) cedis a litre, in the middle of December 2022, is now thirteen cedis and eighty pesewas (GH¢13.80) a litre. The price of diesel had risen to more than twenty-three cedis and seventy pesewas (GH¢23.70) a litre and is now selling on the average at thirteen cedis and eighty pesewas (GH¢13.80) a litre, which is a reduction of almost ten cedis a litre.”

    “We expect this trend of falling fuel prices to reflect soon in our daily lives, since transport fares affect the price of everything. I hope the trend of prices going up and coming down become a regular feature of our retail economy as is being demonstrated in the fuel prices. Because, as we all know, prices, especially of petroleum products, used only to go up in our country,” he further indicated.

    The Gold for oil policy was announced by the government to help reduce the pressure on the cedi and bring in cheaper fuel.

    So far about 100,000 metric tons of fuel have been brought into Ghana under the policy.

  • Parliament excuses Health Minister over vaccine shortage

    Parliament excuses Health Minister over vaccine shortage

    The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has been excused from Parliament due to the measures being taken to solve the nation’s scarcity of pediatric immunizations.

     the Health Minister who was scheduled to appear before Parliament on Tuesday, March 7 to provide answers for the vaccine shortages was excused by the Speaker.

    This is the second time the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu failed to appear before the House as he was unable to honour a February 28 scheduled appearance.

    Notwithstanding reports by the National Health Insurance Authority that more than GH70 million had been authorized for the purchase of the vaccines, certain regions of the country have been affected by a lack of vaccines in recent months.

    The Head of the Health Committee of Parliament, Nana Ayew Afriyie, became concerned about the precarious situation and and requested that the Minister of Health and other agency heads be present at an urgent meeting on Tuesday, February 28.

    Meanwhile, the Paediatric Society of Ghana has revealed that over 500 cases of measles have so far been recorded in the country due to the unavailability of essential vaccines.

    Dr Hilda Boye, the newly elected President of the Paediatric Society of Ghana said the situation is quite worrying because the delay in the arrival of the vaccines can potentially escalate the disease.

    “As we speak, we are looking at about 500 suspected cases of measles. So we are worried because we are just sitting and watching, and it is getting worse by the day and that is expected also because it is an infectious disease, and we really shouldn’t have come to this place in the first place.

    “We know how bad these illnesses are, and we know that there is a solution and everybody had to sit up so that we don’t get to this point,” Dr Boye said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, March 7.

  • One Doctor left to cater for 90,000 residents in Wa East as colleagues abandon post

    One Doctor left to cater for 90,000 residents in Wa East as colleagues abandon post

    The Wa East District of the Upper East Region has only one doctor, after other medical professionals posted to the area fled due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.

    With a population of over 90,000 people, the district is served by approximately 10 health centers.

    Speaking to the media, the district director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the region, Dr. Kingsley Pascal, said serious consequences may occur should the scenario persists.

    “Because of the nature of the district, the terrain as well as network challenges and the relatively deprived nature of communities, it is very difficult to attract doctors. The facilities there do not have teacher services so usually when they are posted and come around and see the place, they go and do not return. There is no guarantee that things will be addressed in the shortest time.”

    He added that although the District Chief Executive and Member of Parliament, have been informed about the issue, not much has been done to solve it.

    He adds that, while relevant stakeholders such as the District Chief Executive and Member of have been made aware of the situation, little has been done to address it.

    “The support is not coming as we expect. The stakeholders haven’t really prioritized what we are looking for. For more than six months we haven’t gotten that attention for things to be sorted out”, Dr Pascal added.

  • Akufo-Addo to present 2023 SONA on Wednesday

    Akufo-Addo to present 2023 SONA on Wednesday

    On Wednesday, March 8, President Akufo-Addo will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament.

    This is in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, which states that the President shall deliver a message on the State of the Nation to Parliament at the start of each session and before the dissolution of Parliament.

    The address, which was rescheduled from last month, is expected to highlight the government’s key policy objectives for the coming year as well as provide information on how the government intends to address economic conditions.

    Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, explained why the meeting has been rescheduled.

    “After extensive discussions, the address has been shifted to the 8th of March. It is for good reason that the President agreed to the date. The 6th is an important date for all of us and there will be national event in Ho and the President is expected to be there. On the 7th also, definitely for good reason, it cannot be held. So, we have agreed to sacrifice some assignments and do the SONA on 8th.”

  • Appointment committee’s reports did not include six nominees

    Appointment committee’s reports did not include six nominees

    Six Ministerial nominees were not included in the report that the Appointments Committee laid.

    This comes in response to a protest made by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the minority leader and ranking committee member.

    Adansi Asokwa MP, who is visiting the Trades ministry on Thursday, lamented that the committee’s report was still pending more than ten (10) days after the nominees were vetted.

    Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the majority chief whip, prayed for the report to be laid before the house.

    Ato Forson disagreed, claiming that despite his contributions to the draught report, he had not seen the final version.

    The objection however did not go down well with vice Chairman of the committee and deputy majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin who explained there was an agreement with the front bench of the Minority for the report to be laid.

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin then ruled the report should go back to the committee for approval by members before a presentation to the plenary.

    Subsequently, Afenyo-Markin stated the hurdles had been cleared for the report to be laid. That, however, could not happen to mean the nominees will have to wait a while longer to know their fate especially given the directive by the leadership of NDC for its MPs to reject the nominees.

    The speaker took the opportunity to reprimand the leadership of some committees for failing to produce reports on time.

    He singled out the Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee which has failed to produce a report of the Anti-gay bill since last year for a mention. The former Nadowli-Kaleo MP warned of consequences if Committees fail to work as directed.

  • Wa killings: 27 suspects arrested

    Wa killings: 27 suspects arrested

    Some 27 individuals have been arrested in relation to the murder of five security guards in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, when he appeared before Parliament to answer some urgent questions filed by some members of the House on March 2, 2023.

    Eight suspects have been discharged per the Attorney General’s advice.

    The sector minister added that no arrests had been made regarding the three missing security guards, and the police were still working to arrest the perpetrators.

    He assured that the ministry has been sensitising the youth in the area to be vigilant and be on the lookout for the activities of serial killers.

    He also revealed that National Counter Terrorism Unit and the National Small Weapon and Armour Team (SWAT) had been deployed to augment the strength of local police within the Atebubu and Yeji of the Bono East region to combat armed robbery.

  • Parliament to establish committee to probe National Cathedral

    Parliament to establish committee to probe National Cathedral

    The National Cathedral and all related issues will be investigated by a committee, according to a private members’ proposal accepted by the Speaker of Parliament from the Minority caucus.

    The Committee will also make appropriate recommendations for consideration of Parliament.

    The National Cathedral project has been engulfed in several controversies and has also faced stiff opposition with a section of the public being of the view that the project is not relevant considering Ghana’s economic woes.

    But President Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions stated that he will build the cathedral regardless of the opposition from the public.

    The Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral in January this year also resolved to subject the project to a “normal statutory audit”.

    This followed what the Board said are recent nagging issues that have enveloped the construction process.

    It has engaged the services of an audit firm, Deloitte for the audit work to begin.

    “The Board is already in discussions to engage Deloitte, which accepted to be the auditors when the National Cathedral was registered, to commence the normal statutory audit”, the Board through its Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah said in a statement.

    The Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Kusi Boateng has also been fingered by Okudzeto Ablakwa for having multiple identities and receiving some 2.6 million cedis for no work done.

    Two members of the Board of Trustees – Founder and Leader of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba, President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries have called for an immediate suspension of the construction of the National Cathedral pending an audit of the project.

  • Arguments against removal of guarantor system weak – Ayariga

    Arguments against removal of guarantor system weak – Ayariga

    The majority group in parliament, according to the member of parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has not offered any convincing rationale for the Election Commission’s proposed repeal of the guarantor system.

    The EC’s new proposed constitutional instrument seeks to use the Ghana Card as the source document for voter registration for the upcoming elections.

    Because of the difficulties in obtaining the Ghana Card, the Minority group in Parliament has been vehemently opposed to the policy.

    Meanwhile, the Majority claims that the new C.I will not deprive citizens of their right to vote but rather will sanitize the electoral process.

    “I do not think they make any sound argument on why we should take out the guarantor system. That is really the issue. We all know that any Ghanaian who is eligible to register to vote and has a Ghana card, that will be the first document to be presented. It is when they don’t have it that they will use the guarantor system. So the argument is that we shouldn’t make it the source document. So, let’s focus on the NIA being able to cover everybody, so they go with their Ghana card”, Mahama Ayariga said.

  • Majority Leader questions NDC over Ghana card

    Majority Leader questions NDC over Ghana card

    Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has raised concerns as to why the minority in parliament is shying away from the use of the Ghana Card when former president John Mahama endorsed it after acquiring one in his home town.

    According to the majority leader, John Mahama said he believed in the Ghana card system as it has integrity and can be relied on.

    He, therefore, described the Minority opposing to the use of Ghana as the sole documentation for registration as something beyond understanding.

    “…after the issuance of the Ghana card to former president John Dramani Mahama, he said today he has seen and he believes that this system has integrity and can be relied on, now you people (NDC) are shying away from it and they are saying that we can’t use it. It is beyond comprehension,” Kyei Mensah Bomsu said.

    The Minority in Parliament rejected the justifications given by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) for the new CI seeking to make Ghana card the only identification for voter registration.

    Chairperson for the EC, Jean Mensah on Tuesday February 28 2023 told Parliament the new CI is to safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process devoid of foreign interference.

    Mrs. Jean Mensah also justified the scrapping of the guarantor system. When questioned about the existence of the same system for Ghana card registration, the EC boss argued that, that system is more robust.

    Addressing the media, Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson asked the EC to adopt the NIA system following the claim of the chairperson.

    “We are quite sure many of you followed and reported on events in the Chamber last night, which showcased our opposition to an attempt by the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission to introduce a Constitutional Instrument before Parliament.

    The said C.I, the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Instrument, 2022, seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for the registration of voters onto Ghana’s electoral roll.

    “What Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution requires, is evidence of citizenship and not evidence or proof of identification. Any evidence of citizenship should therefore qualify a person to be registered. That is why under the current C.I 91 as amended by C.I 126, Ghanaian Passports and guarantor system are allowed as evidence of citizenship,” Mr. Forson stated.

  • Ghana to receive measles vaccines in the next 14 days – Annoh-Dompreh

    Ghana to receive measles vaccines in the next 14 days – Annoh-Dompreh

    In the coming two weeks, the country will assess some measles vaccines provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), according to Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the majority chief whip in parliament.

    Several parts of the country have been hit with a shortage of vaccines in the last few months despite claims by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) that over GH¢70 million has been released for the procurement of the vaccines.

    Frank Annoh-Dompreh was reacting to a statement by the MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini on the outbreak of measles in the Northern Region, due to the shortage of vaccines in the country.

    He said government is committed to addressing the challenge.

    “It is a fact that it’s now three vaccines that are in shortage. The BCG, measles-rubella and oral polio. For all the other 10, we have enough in stock. I am also told that the Ministry has made some commitments. Some good monies have been paid to UNICEF and the vaccines relative to measles are delivered through air freight per the arrangements with UNICEF, the vaccines should arrive in a fortnight”.

    Alhassan Suhuyini has expressed fear over the possible closure of schools in his constituency following the outbreak of Measles.

    The lawmaker says schools in his constituency are likely to be closed down as a result of the shortage of vaccines in parts of the country.

    “It’s beyond my area, and it’s alarming because it’s a very contagious disease, if care is not taken, very soon many schools will have to close down. It’s shameful that we should be talking about the outbreak of Measles given how far we have come. I’m greatly worried, it’s so disturbing that we couldn’t store the necessary vaccines for some of these preventable diseases.”

    The Paediatric Society of Ghana last week disclosed that 120 cases of measles were recorded in the Northern Region by end of December 2022 due to the shortage of essential vaccines.

    The shortage of vaccines has the potential to increase the vulnerability of children to the diseases the vaccines seek to protect them against.

  • Courage is not a criteria for appointing Ministers- Bagbin to Armah Buah

    Courage is not a criteria for appointing Ministers- Bagbin to Armah Buah

    The speaker of parliament has indicated that courage is not a criteria for appointing a minister of state or deputy minister to serve for the country.

    According to him, there are very important factors that are considered for one to be appointed in governance leadership.

    His comment comes after the deputy minority leader questioned Afenyo-Markin if he had held a ministerial or deputy ministerial position after the latter said he (Emmanual Armah Kofi-Buah) was not courageous and honourable.

    Emmanuel Buah who had an exchange with Afenyo-Markin said; “…Afenyo-Markin will have the courage to tell me, honourable Kofi Buah, a four-term member of parliament who has worked 20 years in the cooperate world, who has served as deputy minister properly vetted, served as a minister of state that I don’t have the courage. I am a courageous man that is why I served this country honourably. Have you ever been a deputy minister in this county since I have been here? You?” Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah fumed.

    In reaction to this, the speaker of parliament said “…we don’t appoint deputy ministers, ministers of state based on their courage. So that one is not a good bases to say that because you serve as a deputy and minister for state you have courage. Courage is something else oo,” Alban Bagbin said.

    With Europe previously having been by far the largest market for Russian oil, that narrowed the nation’s pool of buyers dramatically. It also meant the barrels had to be discounted at the point of export to compensate for relatively high delivery costs.

  • MPs may approve new Ministers through secret ballot – Joe Wise

    MPs may approve new Ministers through secret ballot – Joe Wise

    Members of Parliament may approve the newly appointed Ministers through secret ballot, the Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee has said.

    This, according to Joseph Osei-Owusu, is a result of the Minority’s reluctance to second the Majority’s validation of the officials at the committee level.

    It follows the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) earlier directive that its Minority Caucus declines approval of the new ministerial nominees.

    Joe Wise, as he is popularly called, indicated that should the Minority MPs toe their party’s line, this may force the committee to do so even though “our recommendation will be that, the Minority says yes, the Minority says no.”

    “If we recommend approval by consensus, then, the decision is taken by voice vote. But when it’s recommended by a majority decision, then the report is adopted by a secret ballot,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo on February 7, nominated six NPP members to replace some outgoing ministers.

    They have been vetted by the Appointments Committee awaiting approval by Parliament.

  • Ministers-designate may be approved by secret ballot – Joe Wise

    Ministers-designate may be approved by secret ballot – Joe Wise

    According to Joseph Osei-Owusu, the chairman of the parliamentary appointments committee, some of the president‘s nominees for ministerial positions may be approved by secret ballot.

    He said the Minority’s refusal to support the approval process at the Committee level will force a secret ballot when the report is presented to the House this week.

    “Our recommendation will be that, the Majority says yes, the Minority says no. If we recommend approval by consensus, then, the decision is taken by voice vote. But when it’s recommended by a majority decision, then the report is adopted by a secret ballot.”

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on February 7, 2023, nominated six members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to replace some outgoing ministers.

    They have subsequently been vetted by the Appointments Committee awaiting approval by Parliament.

    But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had earlier directed the Minority Caucus in Parliament not to approve the new ministerial nominees.

    NDC described the nominations as insensitive and will affect government spending in the midst of an economic mess created by president Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    The NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said: “the NDC has long expressed concern over the very large size of the current government and shares the views of most Ghanaians, including civil society, that it must be reduced bearing in mind the current massive economic mess the country has been plunged into by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.”

    The party said it has appealed to the government and president Akufo-Addo on numerous occasions to cut down on the number of appointees, but the president has remained adamant.

    It said the option available to the party to attempt to compel the president to cut down the size of his government is to direct members of the party in Parliament to reject the nominees.

  • Livestream: EC, NIA bosses engage Parliament over voter registration law

    Livestream: EC, NIA bosses engage Parliament over voter registration law

    Parliament is expected to engage the Electoral Commission (EC), Finance Minister and the National Identification Authority (NIA).

    Jean Mensa and Ken Atafuah for the EC and NIA, respectively, are to answer to the House over the voter registration law.

    Mr Ofori-Atta is also expected to brief the House on the same matter.

    Parliament last Thursday held a heated pre-laying debate on the report of the Special Budget Committee on the Draft Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2022 and other related matters. 

    In the new Constitutional Instrument (CI) the Electoral Commission (CI) has expressed the intention of using the Ghana Card or ECOWAS Card, as the only form of identification or medium to qualify a citizen of Ghana who is legible to vote to registered or enrolled onto the voters’ register. 

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Meet the 5 MPs voluntarily retiring from lawmaking

    Meet the 5 MPs voluntarily retiring from lawmaking

    In Ghana, people of all ages compete to represent their numerous constituencies in parliament, and being a legislator is a big deal.

    But while some people are dying to enter the legislative house, others are getting out voluntarily. As the major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party have already begun processes in preparation to battle for victory in the 2024 general elections, some sitting lawmakers have chosen to not seek re-election.

    Some of them say they have done enough and the time has come to step aside for other people to serve, while others want to run for president.

    1. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu

    Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu

    Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs who represents the people of the Suame constituency in the Ashanti Region has indicated that he will not seek re-election. He is currently serving his seventh term in the legislative house after entering in 1996.

    2. James Klutsey Avedzi

    James Klutse Avedzi

    The Member of Parliament for the Ketu-North constituency is retiring from lawmaking. He is serving his fifth term in parliament. He was the former Chairman of the Finance Committee in the parliament of Ghana from 2009 to 2017. He is currently the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of parliament and also the immediate past Deputy Minority Leader for the NDC in parliament.

    3.Benjamin Komla Kpodo

    Hon. Benjamin Kpodo

    He is the Ho central Member of Parliament. He entered parliament in 2013 but reports indicate that he is not seeking re-election.

    4. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong

    Kennedy Agyapong

    The Member of Parliament for the Assin-Central constituency entered parliament in 2000 and has retained the seat since. He is retiring from parliament because he wants to contest the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearership race to become president.

    5. Cletus Avoka

    Cletus Avoka

    The NDC Member of Parliament for Zebilla Constituency announced during an NDC Youth Wing meeting and dinner ceremony that he will not seek re-election.

    He served in the first parliament from 1993 to 2005 before losing the seat to the late John Ndebugri at the time the constituency was known as the Bawku West constituency.

    In 2009, he re-entered as the second MP for the Zebilla constituency.

    Cletus Avoka was also the MP for Garu Tempane from 2000 to 2004. In the year 2000, he won the general elections as a member of parliament for the Garu-Tempane constituency of the Upper East Region of Ghana. He won as an independent candidate in that election for the Upper East Region.

    He would have served his constituents for 24 years in parliament by 2024, so he thinks the time to allow another person to represent the people of Zebilla is now.

  • Will you deny the 3.5m without Ghana Cards from voting? – Haruna asks EC

    Will you deny the 3.5m without Ghana Cards from voting? – Haruna asks EC

    According to a member of parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority will oppose any attempt by the Electoral Commission (EC) to utilize the Ghana Card as the only form of identity for voter registration.

    He says any such move by the EC will hurt the right to vote and be voted for.

    Speaking on the Big Issue via telephone on TV3 Monday, February 27, the former Minority Leader indicated that there are 3.5million people who are without Ghana Card.

    He questioned whether the EC is going to deny all these 3.5 million people from exercising their right to vote because they do not have a Ghana Card.

    “There is the right to vote and be voted for, the NDC will defend that right,” he said.

    “We are contesting the use of Ghana Card as the sole reference for purposes of getting registered as a voter,” he said.

    He stressed “the right to vote and be voted for is sacred. 3.5 million people don’t have the card, can you tell these 3.5 million persons not to vote?”

    The Minority have been raising issues against the proposed CI.

    On Thursday, February 23, they rejected officials from the EC and the National Identification (NIA) who were in Parliament to brief the House on the proposed  CI.

    They were expecting Madam Jean Mensa herself to appear.

    But a statement issued by the Commission on Monday, February 27 said “The EC received a letter from Parliament on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 inviting the Commission to brief the leadership of the House on the draft CI on the registration of voters on Thursday 23 February 2024.

    “At the time the chairperson had traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of ECOWAS/ECONEC for a peer exchange and election observation mission. That notwithstanding Dr Bossman Asare Deputy Chair for Corporate Service attended the meeting together with other directors of the commission.

    “Surprisingly, the meeting was canceled as the Minority side insisted on the presence of the EC Chairperson at the meeting. We wish to state that contrary to the news item that the EC chair has returned to Ghana, the chairperson is still in Nigeria. She has not returned to Ghana.”

    The EC added “The Commission, especially its chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC.

    “The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.

    “The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting at a time the chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”

  • Kotoka International Airport raised over GH¢136 million in 4years

    Kotoka International Airport raised over GH¢136 million in 4years

    The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has disclosed that the Kotoka International Airport has raised over GH¢136 million within four years.

    According to him, the accumulated revenue was from its opening in September 2018 to December 2022.

    Kwaku Asiamah made this known during a presentation in Parliament last week.

    “Mr Speaker, Terminal 3 of Kotoka International Airport became operational in 2018 up to today, revenue generated from September 2018 to December 2022 is GH¢136,525, 961 million from these private entities.”

    The Kotoka International Airport (KIA), was originally a military airport used by the British Royal Air Force during World War II in 1946.

    The facility was later handed over to civilian authority after a successful pull-out by the military.

    In response to globalization and the growing demand for air travel at the time, a development project was launched to reconfigure the structure into a terminal building in 1956.

    The airport is operated by Ghana Airports Company Limited, which has its offices on the airport property and serves as a sole international airport.

  • Invitation was sent late, Jean Mensa didn’t violate Parliament’s order – EC

    Invitation was sent late, Jean Mensa didn’t violate Parliament’s order – EC

    The Election Commission (EC) has debunked reports that its Chairperson, Jean Mensa, rejected Parliament’s invitation.

    The EC disclosed in a statement that the letter inviting the Chairperson to brief Parliament on the draft CI on the registration of voters was received a day prior to the scheduled briefing when Jean Mensa was already out of the jurisdiction.

    “The Commission especially its Chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC. The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.

    “The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting, at a time when the Chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel, she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”

    The EC added that the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, is yet to return to Ghana contrary to reports that she had returned from her trip to Nigeria.

  • Parliament at 30: Prof Gyampo renews calls for cut in number of MPs

    Parliament at 30: Prof Gyampo renews calls for cut in number of MPs

    A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has advised that a limit be placed on the number of legislators.

    His comments come in the wake of the increase in the number of parliamentarians. Ghana’s Parliament began with 140 members then it increased to 200 legislators, then to the current 275 MPs.

    According to him, if a limit is not placed on the number of parliamentarians, Ghana should be prepared to build a stadium to meet the rising numbers.

    “It does make sense, otherwise one day we will have to construct a stadium where members of Parliament will operate,” he said.

    Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, he stressed that the number of MPs could easily be reduced if some constituencies are merged.

    “We have to re-align constituencies and put some together, so that we can even reduce the numbers,” he suggested.

    The Political Science lecturer expressed disappointment in the legislature saying “parliament has not lived up to expectation.

    He said, “Over the week, I gave an assessment of Parliament and I felt that if you asked me to score them, I will give them 3 over 10 and some people came for remarking, so I increased it to three and a half over 10.”

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Akufo-Addo to deliver SONA on March 8

    Akufo-Addo to deliver SONA on March 8

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been rescheduled to address Parliament on the state of the nation on March 8, 2023, instead of February 28 as earlier announced.

    Presenting the House’s business statement for the ensuing week, Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, said: “the message of the state of the nation would not come off as earlier advertised.”

    He didn’t give reasons why the address was rescheduled to the chagrin of the Member of Parliament for Tongu North, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    According to him, the delivery of the state of the nation address is the most important constitutional assignment in the current meeting of the lawmaking chamber and must be prioritized.

    For him, rescheduling it without any reason is unacceptable.

    Mr Annoh-Dompreh, however, disagreed, arguing that the committee’s action, as regards the scheduling of the date, is within the provision of the law, and has not faulted.

  • SONA 2023 postponed to March 8

    SONA 2023 postponed to March 8

    President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) has been rescheduled to March 8.

    The President was supposed to address the country on Tuesday, February 28.

    The postponement was announced by the majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, when he delivered the business statement for the third week ending Friday, March 3.

    The majority leader did not give any specific justification for the postponement.

    If nothing changes, the address will take place two days after the Volta Region’s 66th independence anniversary celebration.

    A sitting president must perform the exercise in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution.

  • Haruna Iddrisu bemoans failure of EC to hold limited registration exercise since 2021

    Haruna Iddrisu bemoans failure of EC to hold limited registration exercise since 2021

    Former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has bemoaned failure of the Electoral Commission (EC) to hold a limited registration exercise since 2021.

    He says the EC has sinned against the Constitution by not holding any exercise in that regard.

    According to him, this has disallowed some citizens who have come of age, the opportunity to enroll as voters.

    He asked to be challenged on his assertion with facts and figures.

    “Mr Speaker, for the record – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, Ghanaians who have attained the age of 18 years have been denied the opportunity to be captured as registered voters. This is a constitutional wrong,” he said.

    This situation, he noted, is unacceptable to a country committed to multiparty constitutional democracy.

    “Mr Speaker, the right to vote and to be voted for is so sacred. Even for you elected Members of Parliament – one of the minimum qualifications for you to get voted as MPs is to show that you are a registered voter, that is the Constitution imposes in Article 94,” he added.

    For this reason, he stated that the “Electoral Commission by virtue of their existing CI have no reason to tell anybody and this August House why they have still failed to capture Ghanaians who have attained 18 years.”

    For this reason, the Tamale South MP said the EC must not be allowed to lay its new Constitutional Instrument (CI) in Parliament.

    The ECs new CI makes the Ghana Card the only identification document to be used to guarantee citizenship.

    The Minority is also opposed to a regulation in the CI which requires persons who want to register to do so at an EC district office.

    According to Haruna Iddrisu, these regulations will disenfranchise Ghanaians, thus must not be allowed to go through.

    “The Electoral Commission was now informing the Ghanaian public through Parliament that only the national ID card issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA) will be a sole reference document for the purpose of registration. Mr Speaker, that is the intendment of what is referred to as a draft CI,” he said.

    “Again, Mr. Speaker, our committee found problems with that designation where it says a district office of the EC or any other place that the Commission considers appropriate. Mr Speaker, throughout history in 1993, since the establishment of the Electoral Commission, voter registration exercise is done at polling stations, not district offices,” he added.

    But speaking in defence of the EC’s proposed Constitutional Instrument, MP for Akuapem South, O.B Amoah said the EC is justified in seeking to use the Ghana Card as the sole identity document.

    He contended that the guarantor system has been abused, “in the sense that people override, detain guarantee contractors where they join the queue, get registered, they stand by and say that they are waiting for 10 or five people.”

    Mr Amoah described the abuse of the guarantor system as a worry and must be taken into consideration.

    “… If you look at this report, he seems to acknowledge that the guarantor system has been abused. Even as practitioners, the thought behind the guarantor system was to acknowledge that where a prospective registrant did not have any means of identification, they could fall on their parents, spouses, children to guarantee and sign a form that really I know this person,” he explained.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Scores of Duffour’s fans troop to NDC Headquarters as he picks nominations form

    Scores of Duffour’s fans troop to NDC Headquarters as he picks nominations form

    Scores of National Democratic Congress enthusiasts trooped to the premises of the party headquarters to join their preferred flagbearer candidate, Dr Kwabena Duffour, as he picked up his nomination forms.

    Dr. Kwabena Duffour, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana who has indicated his intentions to contest for the flagbearership position of the party picked up his nomination forms on Thursday, February 23, 2023.

    Scores of individuals believed to be in the camp of Dr. Duffour, thronged the NDC headquarters, singing and cheering for him.

    Dressed in party colours, with various party paraphernalia and wielding placards with posters of Dr. Duffour, these enthusiasts threw their support behind Dr. Duffour, while one of the party’s theme songs played in the background.

    Dr. Duffour however did not pick up the forms personally, he designated the Ashanti Regional Women’s Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Gloria Huze, and his spokesperson who represented him.

    This comes after representatives of Former President, John Dramani Mahama, Former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu, and Businessman, Ernest Kwaku Korbeah all picked up their nomination forms on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

    The forms pegged at 30,000 Ghana Cedis will be filled and returned to the party’s Elections Committee. Candidates will then be vetted and when approval is given, they can then begin campaign. This was reiterated by Chairman of the Elections Committee, Kakra Essamuah.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Speaker Alban Bagbin launches 30th anniversary celebration of Parliamentary democracy

    Speaker Alban Bagbin launches 30th anniversary celebration of Parliamentary democracy

    Speaker of the 8th Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in his colourful Ghanaian kente cloth on Wednesday, launched the much anticipated 30th Anniversary Celebrations of Ghana’s Parliamentary democracy.

    Recounting a brief history about the Fourth Republic, the Speaker noted that “in 1960 we jettisoned the 1957 Constitution which was fashioned according to the Westminster model of parliamentary practice. We adopted our First Republican Constitution on 1st July 1960. We then had military interruption between 1966 and 1969.

    “The Second Republic, which was ushered in in 1969 also got interrupted: that subsequently paved way for the Third Republic in 1979. In 1981, that was also truncated until 1992 when we had our Fourth Republican Constitution adopted through a referendum. It has been a journey of vicissitudes toward the peaceful democracy that we enjoy today,” he added.

    Commenting on the programmes lined up for the celebrations the Speaker Bagbin mentioned that the yearlong celebrations will zone the country into six (6) zones where activities such as lectures, mock parliaments, football competitions, health walk among others would be organised.

    The Speaker also used the opportunity to congratulate the past speakers of the Fourth Republic for their immense contribution towards Parliamentary Democracy.

    He mentioned Rt. Hon. Daniel Francis Annan (late), the pioneering Speaker of the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, who served from 7th January 1993 to 6th January 2001, Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey (late), the Speaker of Parliament from the 7th January 2001 to the 6th January 2005, Rt. Hon. Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes Speaker of Parliament from 7th January 2005 to 6th January 2009, Rt. Hon. Justice Joyce Adelaide Bamford-Addo, the Speaker of Parliament from 7th January 2009 to 6th January 2013, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho Speaker of Parliament from 7th January 2013 to 6th January 2017 and his immediate predecessor, the Rt. Hon. Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, who took over as the Speaker of Parliament on 7th January 2017.

    In a speech read on behalf of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by the Chief of State, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the President noted that it is for the good of the country that Parliament continues to develop the capacity to insist on accountability in all aspect of the lives of the people of Ghana, stressing that no institution is better suited for this than the representatives of the people.

    “As President of the Republic, I assure you that, out of duty to our children and grandchildren, and to generations yet unborn, my government will do everything it can to help strengthen Parliament,” he assured the House.

    In his welcome address, the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Cyril K. O. Nsiah, said the Parliamentary Service remains resolute in performing its non-partisan role of providing the requisite technical and procedural support services required by Parliament to execute its constitutional mandate.

    “We will continue to emulate the rich culture, values and norms of independence, non-partisanship and diligence inherited from the lineage of experienced former Clerks to Parliament and former staff of the Service as we assiduously pursue organisational objectives and goals through the needed structural and institutional reforms to optimise our service delivery capacity in order to assist Hon. Members of Parliament carry out their functions” he indicated.

    The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu and the Minority Leader Ato Forson, believed that even though 30 years of Parliamentary Democracy might seem relatively young and little to celebrate as compared to countries like United Kingdom and United States of America, considering where Ghana find it self with a number a parliamentary and constitutional crisis within West Africa, the 30th anniversary is worth celebrating.

    The year-long celebration is under the theme “Thirty Years of Parliamentary Democracy under the Fourth Republic; The Journey Thus Far”

    The launch of the 30th anniversary celebrations which was done in the Chamber of Parliament, saw MPs from both sides of the House, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Staff of the Parliamentary Service and other invited guests dancing happily to the local musical melodies courtesy Voices of Democracy and the Ghana Armed Forces Band.

    Source: Parliament of Ghana

  • Ghana needs a constitution with ministerial limit – Kyei-Mensah

    Ghana needs a constitution with ministerial limit – Kyei-Mensah

    The leader of the majority party in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has asked for a new constitutional provision that would impose a limit on the number of ministers that the President may designate.

    His call follows demands by the Minority caucus in Parliament for President Akufo-Addo to downsize his government in the wake of the economic challenges.

    Speaking at the launch of the 30 years of parliamentary democracy, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu outlined a series of benefits to be achieved with the consideration of constitutional reform.

    “We need a constitutional order that would mitigate the winner takes all attitude and prevent the do-or-die combat associated with our elections. We need a new constitutional order that would prevent the constant increase in the number of seats in Parliament.”

    “We need a new constitutional order that would put a cap in the number of ministers of state. We need a new constitutional order that would ensure that the Speaker of Parliament is a serving member of Parliament,” the Suame MP said.

    The Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso has also called for an entirely new constitution contrary to calls for the 1992 constitution to be amended.

    Prof. Antwi-Danso holds the view that a new constitution written by a committee so established will repair any defects that currently plague the country’s democratic dispensation.

    “I believe that if we have something new (new constitution), politicians will jump to it to serve a better purpose,” he stressed.

    On proportional representation, he believes it will be the best for a true representation of the people in parliament, but fears implementing it may be fraught with challenges.

  • Watch how MPs danced in Parliament to commemorate 30 years

    Watch how MPs danced in Parliament to commemorate 30 years

    Today’s scenes in Parliament are vibrant as the House celebrates 30 years of democracy in Ghana.

    Some MPs could not help but dance heartily to the tune by a choir who performed to crown the celebration.

    Ayawaso West Wuogon legislator, Lydia Seyram Alhassan took the lead with the ‘agbadza’ dance.

    She was joined by Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu and Dzifa Gomashie of Ketu South among other colleagues.

    Watch the video below:

    A spectacle, however, ensued when the choir performed a musical interlude.

    The ‘agbadza’ dance is said to have evolved from an old war dance and is usually performed by the Ewe people of the Volta Region.

  • Apologise to us if you want us to work with you – Minority to Afenyo-Markin

    Apologise to us if you want us to work with you – Minority to Afenyo-Markin

    The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has been urged by the Minority in Parliament to apologize to the group for his remarks regarding their decision to reject ministerial nominees.

    The Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah speaking to journalists said the Minority caucus will stop working with Mr Afenyo-Markin if he does not apologise and proceeds on the tangent of insulting members of the minority group.

    “We believe that we are in a serious time of crisis and this House is a serious House. It is not a house of insults, and we are not going to descend into that gutters with him. If he is going to be serious in engagements, then he should, if he goes on this path then we will not deal with him as a leader.

    “We will urge him that he should apologise, so we can move on because clearly, our focus is basically to fight for the people of Ghana.”

    Mr Armah-Kofi Buah’s comment comes after the deputy Majority Leader, Afenyo-Markin described as political immaturity, the position of the Minority not to approve any of the ministerial nominees.

    “We in the Minority wish to make it clear that we remain committed to ensuring greater scrutiny and will spare no effort to protect the public purse. In line with this, we are taking part in the vetting process so that at the very minimum, we can scrutinize the President’s decision in bringing up those nominees. However, the Minority will not subscribe to a consensus vote at the level of the Appointments Committee.”

  • Let’s harmonise our religions to bring peace to ourselves – Asabee

    Let’s harmonise our religions to bring peace to ourselves – Asabee

    The designate minister for chieftaincy and religious affairs, Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng (Asabee), has appealed for inter-faith harmony.

    The Minister-Designate made the appeal when he appeared before the Appointment Committee of Parliament for vetting on Monday.

    “We are supposed to also harmonise our religions to bring peace to ourselves and to also help in national development,” he said.

    “Yes, unfortunately, there are religious groups that spring up, sometimes nobody knows who they are and what they do. So, there is the need for the Ministry to embark on research and also to get data collected and make sure we have database and ensure sanity,” he added.

    Mr Asamoah Boateng noted that the 1992 Constitution of Ghana also provides for freedom of religious practice.

    He said once Ghanaians were conscious of the provision in Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution, they must ensure to live in peace.

    He said Moslems, Christians, Traditionalists and other religious bodies in the country, must endeavour to live in peace and harmony with each other.

    The Minister-Designate said the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs existed to develop an effective interface between Government, Religious Bodies and Civil Society on matters relating to Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the promotion of peace and good governance.

    He said when given the nod by the House, he would make sure that traditional authorities were lifted higher to the dignified and noble status.

    Touching on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ), Mr Asamoah Boateng, said he was opposed to same-sex marriage in the country.

  • Presbyterian God is mighty, and I have a pure conscience – Bryan Acheampong

    Presbyterian God is mighty, and I have a pure conscience – Bryan Acheampong

    The minister-designate for food and agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has referenced God’s omnipotence to support his claim that he qualifies for appointment as a minister.

    Speaking during his vetting before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, who was also the Minister for National Security during the time the violence of the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election happened, said that he has been vindicated of any wrongs.

    He explained that he has always known a day like this would come up when he would have to clarify his involvement in the matter.

    Indicating that he has a clear conscience, he referred to the God of the Presbyterian Church to make his case.

    “The Presbyterian God is a powerful one and I knew that a day would come when I’d get the opportunity to explain, and lift the veil surrounding the Ayawaso West Wuogon, and I’m grateful that I have the opportunity today.

    “For those who want to believe me, I’m sure they’ve moved on, and for those who don’t want to believe me, I don’t think this will even provide the opportunity, but as long as I’ve been heard and my conscience is clear, I think I will be able to move on.

    “But, secondly on the matter of me being indicted, I think that I applied to become a candidate of the New Patriotic Party in the 2020 elections and I was accepted, and it pre-supposes that nothing holds me from becoming a minister of state,” he said.

  • Chieftaincy ministry to have database of all religious bodies in the country – Asabee

    Chieftaincy ministry to have database of all religious bodies in the country – Asabee

    The minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng (Asabee), has stated that the ministry will work to create a database of all the nations’ religious organizations.

    He said this will ensure sanity in the country’s religious affairs. The minister-designate was responding to a question on how he intends to sanitize chieftaincy and religious affairs in the country, when he appeared before the Parliament’s Appointments Committee to be vetted on Monday, February 20, 2013.

    “Unfortunately, there are religious groups that spring up and sometimes nobody knows who they are and what they do. So, there’s a need for the ministry to embark on research and also to get data collected, to make sure we have a database and ensure sanity,” he told the committee.

    He said while the constitution provides for freedom of religious practice, there is a need to be conscious of the provision and Article 21, to ensure peaceful co-existence among religious bodies.

    “Don’t also forget that constitution provides for freedom of religious practice. So, while we are conscious of the provision and Article 21, we also have to sanitize it and make sure we all live in peace, with Muslims, Christians… other religious bodies, and traditional religion. Hindus are here, Rastafarians are here, so we need to harmonize that,” he said.

    The nominees who appeared before the committee included Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, K.T. Hammond, the Minister-designate for Trade and Industry and the MP for Nhyiaeso, Stephen Amoah (Sticka) who would be serving as his deputy.

    MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong was also nominated as the Minister for Food and Agriculture while Stephen Asamoah Boateng is going to the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry as minister.

    Karaga MP, Mohammed Amin Adam, was named by the president as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry while Herbert Krapah was nominated deputy Minister for Energy.

  • Playback: Osei-Bonsu Amoah, others face Parliament’s Appointments Committee

    Playback: Osei-Bonsu Amoah, others face Parliament’s Appointments Committee

    Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, who is the Minister-designate of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development has been vetted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

    Yesterday, Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, the Minister-designate of Trade and Industry faced the panel chaired by Joseph Osei Owusu.

  • K T Hammond queried over how he disbursed $900k proceeds from sale of GNPC drill ship

    K T Hammond queried over how he disbursed $900k proceeds from sale of GNPC drill ship

    MP for Adansi-Asokwa and Minister designate for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, was questioned by the Minority in Parliament over how he disbursed $900k proceeds from sale of GNPC drill ship.

    Mr Hammond had appeared before the vetting committee when the question was posed to him.

    There is grave concern from the Majority leadership in Parliament that the Trade and Industry Minister-designate, KT Hammond, may not be passed by Parliament’s Appointment Committee.

    Both the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu and his Deputy, Alex Afenyo Markin on Monday sounded the alarm and attempted to get Parliament’s Appointments Committee to resolve what they believe to be a key constitutional matter.

    The controversy revolves around KT Hammond’s involvement in the controversial sale of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) drill ship as Deputy Energy Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

    A commission of inquiry had questioned how Mr. Hammond disbursed some $900,000 after he sold the drill ship.

    The question was put to him by the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Agbodza when Mr. Hammond appeared before the Appointments Committee.

    “KT Hammond’s disbursement of $900,000 to the law firm, Constant and Constant to cater for future debts of GNPC to other operations. Were you queried as to whether the $900,000, which mandate you had to expend that money?” Mr Agbodza asked.

    But in response, Mr Hammond replied in the negative.

    “No, I was not queried about that. Mr Chairman, you see, you guys should be a little careful.

    “Mr Chairman, when a report like this is presented to the government, the government comments on the back of the report, and not to make its own findings. That part over there was an addition by the government which had have no reflection in the report presented by Mr. Justice Appau. Actually, it is really unfair,” he added.

    There was a heated argument after this response because Mr Hammond accused Mr. Agbodza of reading from a paper and not the document presented.

    Mr Agbodza then asked which company purchased the drill ship. “And do you have any relationship with the company that bought the real estate?”

    Mr Hammond replied in the negative.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • I’m not the right person to address this – K.T. Hammond on large size of govt

    I’m not the right person to address this – K.T. Hammond on large size of govt

    The Member of Parliament of Adansi-Asokwa Constituency, Kobina Tahir Hammond has said that he is not in a position to tackle issues regarding the size of government and whether or not it should be reduced.

    Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee to be vetted as a nominee for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, he said concerns about the size of government should be addressed to the President.

    “That’s (concerns of government size) a matter for the president who was voted for by the whole country. He’s the Executive President so these are matters I think he can comfortably deal with,” Mr. Hammond said.

    The Minister-designate for Trade and Industry mentioned that he is very concerned about the state of the economy but Ghana is not the only country with an economic crisis.

    “Ghana is not an island, isolated on its own, we are a formidable part of the global world, there’s a difficulty in the whole world brought about by certain economic factors, exogenous and internal ones, its difficult but I tell you that’s not the end of the world,” he said.

     K.T. Hammond continued that he believes ‘burden-sharing’ is part of the sacrifices both the government and the people of Ghana can do to relieve the nation of its tough economic crisis but its operation should be discussed.

    “The burden of economic recovery, yes every hand on the wheel, we’re all together making sure that we get back to where we were before COVID and others ravaged the economy” he indicated.

    On Monday, February 20, 2023, the ministerial vetting of six nominees started in Parliament.

    Scheduled for today is Kobina Tahiru Hammond who has been nominated for the position of Minister of Trade and Industry, Bryan Acheampong, for the position of Minister of Food and Agriculture and Stephen Asamoah Boateng, nominated for the position of Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

    Source: myjoyonline