The Counsel of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare has raised an objection against the presence of three other witnesses who are being investigated over the leaked tape on plans to oust the IGP.
Dr. Dampare was invited to appear before the Ad-hoc committee over the matter and earlier reports indicated that the hearing would be made in camera.
However, upon appearance, it was indicated that portions of the IGP’s testimony would be made public in the presence of other witnesses; former Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu, as well as COP Alex Mensah and Superintendent George Asare, who have already appeared before the Committee.
This, the Counsel of the IGP, Kwame Gyan, noted as “unfair, unjust, and unequitable.”
He added: “We strongly object to the presence of other witnesses.” He noted that the IGP should have been called in earlier interrogations to sit in.
The committee, chaired by Mr Samuel Atta Akyea has overruled the claims, noting that the committee has been just. He argued that there was no need to have brought the IGP in earlier, as no foul comments had been made against him then.
He also noted that the witnesses would not be allowed to put any question before the IGP.
“When they are here, it will not affect the IGP’s testimony,” he added.
A letter requesting the presence of the IGP over the probe by Parliament was presented to the head of the Police Service last Friday.
On July 25, the Speaker of Parliament appointed Samuel Atta-Akyea, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, as the chairperson of a 7-member ad-hoc committee tasked with investigating a recently leaked controversial audio recording. This audio recording revealed clandestine discussions about plotting the removal of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The audio, which exposed an alleged conspiracy involving a senior police officer and a prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to oust IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, sparked a debate in Parliament. The Minority called for a forensic audit in response to the revelation.
As part of its proceedings, the committee has heard testimonies from individuals such as the former Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu, as well as COP Alex Mensah and Superintendent George Asare, both of whom have made several allegations against their superior, the IGP.
The two officers claim that Dr George Akuffo Dampare masterminded the recording and has the original copy.
The Chairman of Parliament’s ad-hoc committee overseeing the investigation into the leaked tape involving discussions about the removal of the IGP, Samuel Atta Akyea, has disclosed that certain senior police officers have submitted a petition to the committee.
Although the specifics of their petition have not been made public, Mr. Atta Akyea affirmed the committee’s unwavering dedication to ensuring that the truth is uncovered.
This development follows the testimony of four crucial witnesses who appeared before the committee.
“Whilst we were sitting, the petitions were brought to us. We have not even read them but trust us as a committee that there is nothing of consequence that we will brush aside. It is going to be a very comprehensive process so if people want to aid us to do our fact-finding, we will not block them.
“But first of all, the rest are doing some serious reading of what is supposed to be the original tape and that will inform our next activity and what material is different from what we have used and then we will do what we call the proper analysis of the new tape and that will inform what we will do next.”
“If your name is on the tape and your role is significant when we are doing the proper fact-finding, then it is automatic that you will have to appear here before the committee. But the issue for determination, we will all decide if we do an obvious interrogation like the one we are doing on-camera or we do in-camera because of national security,” Atta Akyea explained.
Mr. Atta Akyea also mentioned that the committee will investigate a legal action filed against IGP George Akuffo Dampare concerning promotions within the police service.
“We have also just seen that some police officers have even taken the IGP to court in relation to their promotion. So I have instructed for the writ so we know the content of what is pending in court.”
However, Inusah Fuseini, the former Chairman for Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, expressed concern over the degree of political bias displayed by the police witnesses during their appearances before the committee.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the protest to the Head Office of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), originally scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, 2023, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 12th September, 2023.
According to the Minority in a statement dated Monday, September 4, protestors would use its earlier proposed route.
The march will commence from the frontage of Parliament House – Osu Cemetery Traffic Light Ministry of Finance – High Court Complex – Kinbu – Makola – Rawlings Park – Opera Square – Bank of Ghana.
According to the Minority, the change in date is the result of the outcome of proceedings in court today, September 4, 2023, following an injunction filed by the Police Service.
The court was unable to give an instant ruling due to the weight of the preliminary legal objections raised by the lawyers for the Minority in Parliament, and requested the indulgence of the Minority to give its ruling on Friday, September 8, 2023.
In its statement, the Minority noted that “the legal objections raised today were as a result of the incompetent processes filed in court by the Ghana Police Service seeking to restrain the protest along the routes proposed by the Minority and its broad coalition of Civil Society Groups.”
“As law-abiding citizens respectful of the judiciary, we have decided to reschedule our protest taking into consideration these developments,” the statement added.
The protest march by the Minority is to call for the resignation of Governor Ernest Addison and his two deputies over the alleged gross mismanagement of the Central Bank which has occasioned an unprecedented loss of GHS60.8 billion and a negative equity of GHS55.1 billion.
Also, the Central Bank has been accused of illegally printing over GHS80 billion for the government and being “reckless” for building a head office at the cost of over $250 million when the Public Procurement Authority initially recommended $81 million.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has called on all and sundry to remain resolute in the fight to protect the constitutional right to demonstrate.
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Haruna Yusif, has alleged that, Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has let down the residents of Kumasi due to the incomplete state of the Suame interchange.
He said the project has been abandoned, ensnaring the Kumasi populace in a cycle of unrealized expectations.
Mr. Yusif was puzzled by the fact that shops owned by traders operating in the vicinity had been demolished under the assumption that the interchange would be built. However, the interchange’s status remains unchanged.
“I used the Suame interchange when I was coming and I must confess, the Majority Leader has really failed the people of Suame,” he stated.
He, thus, appealed to the MP to fulfill his earlier promises of completing the project.
The Contract (Amendment) Bill of 2022 has been successfully passed by the parliament and enacted into law.
This move aims to enhance the efficiency of public sector contracts and alleviate the burden of unnecessary interest payments that have been a strain on state finances.
Before its amendment, the Contracts Act of 1960 (Act 25) lacked specific provisions outlining the individuals authorized to engage in contracts on behalf of the government. Likewise, it lacked a standardized method for calculating interest payments applicable to government contracts.
The report from the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs underscored that this absence of restrictions on who could enter into contracts on behalf of the government allowed individuals in positions of authority to do so without the knowledge or approval of the sector ministers who held the overarching responsibility and executive authority for sector administration.
Furthermore, the report highlighted that the flexibility in determining the mode of interest calculation in government contracts could potentially lead to misuse of discretionary powers by those involved in contract negotiations on behalf of the state.
The amendment, which was concluded by parliament prior to its recess, was crafted to eliminate ambiguities in the legislation.
It achieved this by precisely defining the individuals qualified to enter into contracts on behalf of the government. Additionally, the amendment introduced a standardized formula for computing interest payments for parties involved in state contracts.
“The bill, then, establishes clear provisions for those who are permitted to engage in business on the government’s behalf. The measure also stipulates that interest payments on any sums owed under contracts or transactions executed on behalf of the government will be computed at simple interest, according to a portion of the committee’s report.
The committee’s chair and Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim Central constituency, Kwame Anyimadu-Atwi, has outlined a new approach aimed at safeguarding the state’s interests concerning interest payments and, in effect, reducing the financial burden associated with state contracts or transactions.
In presenting the reasons for the suggested revisions to the committee, Deputy Attorney General Diana Asonaba Dapaah stressed the importance of uniformity in interest payment across all state contracts.
However, the committee, in its report, raised reservations about the proposed changes, asserting that they may infringe upon the principle of freedom of contract. This principle allows all parties in a contract to negotiate and establish terms without external interventions, such as state-imposed regulations.
This perspective was countered by the Deputy Attorney General, who maintained that the amendments are aimed at establishing a parallel condition as outlined in Article 181 of the 1992 constitution. This constitutional provision mandates parliamentary approval for all international transactions conducted by the government on behalf of the state.
Additionally, the Deputy Attorney General underscored that the proposed amendments serve as guidance for state authorities and other contracting parties involved in government contracts, specifically concerning decisions pertaining to potential state-funded interest payments.
Persons authorised to enter into contracts
The committee highlighted that the intended revisions are designed to grant authorization exclusively to state ministers or individuals expressly empowered by ministers to engage in contracts on the state’s behalf.
The underlying issue that the amendment aims to address, as articulated by the Deputy Attorney General, is the prevention of scenarios where individuals in positions of authority can form contracts on behalf of the state without the awareness or consent of the sector minister responsible for overseeing the sector’s administration, a role designated by the President.
Nonetheless, the committee observed that the proposed modification exclusively pertained to the executive branch of government and did not encompass the other two branches: the legislative and judicial arms. Unlike the executive arm, these branches are not led by ministers and are legally permitted to form contracts.
As a result, an additional amendment has been proposed to accommodate other individuals who possess legal authorization to enter into contracts on behalf of the state.
“A person who wilfully enters into a contract contrary to this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 5000 penalty units and not more than 10,000 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than 15 years or to both,” the proposed amendment states.
“The committee after extensive deliberations on the bill was of the view that the introduction of controls into government contracts with respect to persons authorised to enter into a contract on behalf of the state as well as mode of calculating interest payments due other parties in the contract is a right approach,” the report said.
The Minority caucus within Parliament has issued a demand to the Bank of Ghana (BoG), stipulating a seven-day timeframe for the provision of details concerning the expenses related to its forthcoming headquarters in Accra, as outlined in accordance with section 18 of the Right To Information Act (ACT 989).
The Minority caucus within Parliament has issued a demand to the Bank of Ghana (BoG), stipulating a seven-day timeframe for the provision of details concerning the expenses related to its forthcoming headquarters in Accra, as outlined in accordance with section 18 of the Right To Information Act (ACT 989).
The caucus is requesting various information from the bank, including details about the land procurement process for the new headquarters building, as well as the names of consultants and project managers.
This request was communicated through a press statement issued by Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, who is also a private legal practitioner.
“My name is Mahama Ayariga Esq and I am the representative of Bawku Central constituency in Parliament on the ticket of the NDC. Kindly provide information within 7 working days from the date of this letter.
“Could you also provide clarification on the acquisition of the land on which the ongoing construction of the Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters at Ridge in Accra is situated? Specifically, we request information on the procurement process, the associated costs, the arrangement particulars, and the parties involved,” he added.
In response to the scrutiny, the central bank released a statement on August 9, explaining that a structural assessment had deemed the current Bank of Ghana (BoG) Head Office building, constructed in the 1960s, inadequate for its purpose.
It further disclosed that the building could not withstand significant seismic activity or strong winds, and that the decision to construct a new headquarters aimed to support operational efficiency and establish a potential future regional Central Bank headquarters.
The controversy was sparked when the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, revealed that the BoG was allocating $250 million for a new headquarters while facing financial challenges.
Dr. Forson accused the Governor of printing money to fund the project, claiming that the Bank was financially strained.
He demanded the Governor and his deputies’ resignation within 21 days, stating that their actions set a concerning precedent. Dr. Forson stressed that their call for resignation was driven by concerns over accountability and transparency.
“The Bank of Ghana does not have money but spending $250million for a new head office, which means he is printing additional money to finance this project,” Dr Forson said.
“We have to get this Governor out and let us have a new Governor. If we allow him to stay in the office, we will set bad precedent for future managers to do the same,”
“We demand the immediate resignation of the Governor and his deputies within 21 days. We will march to occupy the central bank to save the Bank of Ghana if he fails to reign. The March will ensure accountability. He has messed us up so much that we cannot wait to see his back,” he said.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has presented substantiating documents to assert that the Bank of Ghana included a company, which had not been registered in Ghana previously, in the list of candidates for its upcoming office construction project.
In an extensive Facebook post dated August 17, the Member of Parliament provided a comprehensive account of several matters concerning the project. These ranged from its commencement date and procurement procedures to the fluctuating aspects of the project’s expenses.
He indicated that the initial expense began at a figure exceeding US$81 million and, in a span of eight months, escalated to reach US$121 million. He mentioned that the present estimate of US$250 million, as stated by the Parliamentary Minority, might be surpassed based on the information he possesses.
BoG, he revealed, got Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval to use a restricted tendering process for the contractors and came up with five foreign companies namely:
i) Messrs. WBHO Ghana Limited,
ii) Messrs. Man Enterprise,
iii) Messrs. DeSimone Limited,
iv) Messrs. Ronesans Holdings and
v) Messrs. Goldkey Properties;
His post read in part: “It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
“In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies.
“How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?” he asked
Ablakwa also claimed that he had intercepted another letter dated 4th September, 2020 also signed by PPA Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey which shockingly reveals that just within 8 months, the cost of the BoG Head Office project astronomically increased from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
The facility, which is currently costed at US$250 million according to the Minority in Parliament, has attracted a lot of reactions since the apex bank confirmed that it was indeed building a new head office.
The BoG in response to a press statement by the minority stated last week that the new office complex was necessary principally for security and other reasons, stressing that the current location was not safe in the case of an earthquake.
Ablakwa’s publication is the latest installment of pressure on the Ernest Addison-led BoG.
The Minority have demanded he resigns along with his two deputies over the 60 billion cedis losses recorded in 2022 as contained in an annual report released weeks ago.
The Minority has also served notice that it will picket at the premises of the bank if the governor refuses to resign after 21 days of their demand.
Read Ablakwa’s post below:
Unraveling the Bankrupt BoG Head Office Mystery— From an initial US$81.8million, suddenly escalating to US$121million & currently threatening to exceed US$250million
I have depressingly followed the national debate on what many outraged Ghanaians have described as the extravagant and wasteful US$250million new Bank of Ghana Corporate Head Office.
It is obvious from the Bank of Ghana’s feeble and anaemic defence that they have opted not to be transparent, candid and accountable to the good people of Ghana.
A shocking and embarrassing interview of Mr. Charles Elias Reindorf, Director of Finance at the Central Bank where he abruptly ended an interview following a harmless question on the cost of the project has since gone viral.
Instructively, the Bank of Ghana in all its public engagements has refused to disclose the current cost of the project, the procurement method, when the project was awarded and the scheduled completion date.
Some NPP propagandists including Mr. Richard Ahiagbah opportunistically jumped into the fray claiming that the project started under the NDC when Hon. Ato Forson served on the Bank of Ghana Board between 2013 and 2017.
Considering the deliberate distortion, lack of transparency, sponsored obfuscation and naked dishonesty; I decided to activate my constitutionally mandated parliamentary oversight role, so I could unravel the mystery in our collective national interest.
I can today report that I have intercepted unimpeachable, incontrovertible, irrefutable and undeniable documents from the Bank of Ghana and other credible sources which significantly reveal the following:
1. The Bank of Ghana commenced procurement processes for the controversial palatial head office on 14th January, 2020 when they wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to strangely use the Restricted Tendering Procurement Method;
2. The PPA by letter dated 28th January, 2020 signed by its Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey communicated approval of the Board for the BoG to proceed with its desire to use the Restricted Tendering Method;
3. From the intercepted documents, procurement for the project did not commence under the NDC or during the tenure of Hon. Ato Forson as Board Member, neither did it start during the presidency of H.E. John Mahama, contrary to the vicious fabrications by some desperate NPP apologists;
4. The BoG’s unacceptable use of the Restricted Tendering Method amounts to a blatant violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended in Act 914. Section 38 of Act 663 provides a limited scope for the use of Restricted Tendering in circumstances where goods, services or works are available only from a limited number of suppliers or contractors;
5. From the intercepted documents, the BoG handpicked the following companies: i) Messrs. WBHO Ghana Limited, ii) Messrs. Man Enterprise, iii) Messrs. DeSimone Limited, iv) Messrs. Ronesans Holdings and v) Messrs. Goldkey Properties;
6. It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
7. None of the BoG’s shortlisted companies can lay claim to any patent or exclusive capacity which other construction firms in that category do not possess and therefore warranting or justifying the use of restricted tendering;
8. It is obvious that Ghana would have had better value for money if the BoG had been less shady and opened up the process — opting for a full competitive tendering process;
9. In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies. How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?;
10. I intercepted another letter dated 4th September, 2020 also signed by PPA Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey which shockingly reveals that just within 8 months, the cost of the BoG Head Office project astronomically increased from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
11. Experts say this staggering US$40million increase in the project cost between January and September 2020 in a dollar denominated contract is absolutely mind boggling;
12. A 40% hike merely after tender evaluation in dollar pricing, not cedis, raises many critical questions for the BoG;
13. A credible full competitive tender process would have avoided this arbitrary cost escalation and guaranteed value for money;
14. Ironically, all these procurement breaches and sleazy price escalation at taxpayer expense was happening during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when President Akufo-Addo and Governor Addison had given Ghanaians assurances that they had put everything else on hold and were focusing on saving lives. Addison even claimed in June 2020 that the Central Bank was struggling in financing government because of Covid only to initiate this mega project on the blindside of Ghanaians;
15. Deeper investigations into the shady BoG head office project led me to discover another reckless and lawless conduct by the Addison-led Central Bank when they procured the services of a company known as MULTICAD to carry out project management through single-sourcing. (See PPA letter of 22nd September, 2021 as attached);
16. Section 40 of Act 663 provides the conditions for single-sourcing which do not apply in this instance;
17. There is no compelling genuine reason which justifies MULTICAD’s sweetheart deal of US$3.45million from Governor Addison;
18. What was Governor Addison’s special interest in ensuring that MULTICAD was single-sourced when there are hundreds of competitors out there who should have been allowed to compete for us to have value for money;
19. Curiously, this is a regime which made considerable noise in opposition against what they described as the dangers of single-sourced projects;
20. Strangely, MULTICAD’s articles of incorporation secured from the Office of the Registrar of Companies suggest that the company was registered on December 10, 2021 even though it received PPA approval on September 22, 2022. (See copy attached);
21. These numerous blatant procurement breaches, rigged procurement machinations, magical price escalations and lack of due diligence raise legitimate questions about the stewardship of PPA Board Chair, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi and his colleagues at the PPA;
22. Patriotic Bank of Ghana insiders working with me on this latest oversight project have expressed grave concern about how this BoG office complex which started at US$81.8million, surprisingly shot up to US$121million, and now variation reports are being prepared which are likely to exceed an incredible US$250million. This scary development invokes memories of the scandalous Akufo-Addo Cathedral which started at a US$100million and has now exceeded US$400million;
23. It is most astonishing for MisGovernor Addison who has presided over the BoG’s biggest losses in living memory of GHS60.8billion to initiate an US$81.8million head office project only to now saddle Ghanaians with a bill which is about three times more. The height of recklessness and gross mismanagement!;
24. Probably, MisGovernor Addison couldn’t be bothered about the frightening cost escalations for his new empire office project because he thought he could mindlessly continue with his illegal printing of cash;
25. This exposé clearly shows how MisGovernor Addison and his colleagues in management at the BoG have been deliberately lawless and remarkably destructive. Ironically, they punished others and collapsed their banks for far less.
26. All well-meaning Ghanaians must join the #OccupyBoGProtest. MisGovernor Addison and his fellow nation wreckers must go! Let us rescue our only country.
Parliament has reportedly summoned top military officials and heads of various security agencies within the country to address President Akufo-Addo‘s decision to deploy Ghanaian troops to Niger.
This deployment is part of the ECOWAS standby force’s effort to remove the newly established military leadership in Niger.
As per a report from JoyNews, the Defence and Interior Committee of parliament called upon the leaders of the Ghana Armed Forces and other security bodies to provide insights into the president’s alleged directive.
The meeting involved representatives from the Ghana Armed Forces, National Security, the Ministers of Defence and Interior, and leaders of the Ghana Police Service, among others.
The report highlighted that several issues were discussed, focusing on the constitutionality of Akufo-Addo’s choice to contribute troops to the ECOWAS standby force. It was also noted that Article 40 of the 1992 Constitution was a significant point of discussion during the meeting.
Article 40 outlines that the government shall, in its interactions with other nations:
(a) promote and safeguard the interests of Ghana; (b) pursue the establishment of a just and fair international economic and social order; (c) encourage respect for international law, treaty obligations, and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts; (d) uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth, the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States, and any other international organization of which Ghana is a member.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of the Defence and Interior Committee and also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, spoke with JoyNews after the meeting. He stated that specific details of the gathering would not be disclosed, but he indicated that the meeting was successful and part of a series of discussions.
Background: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered the deployment of a standby force to Niger. This decision was made by ECOWAS leaders during an Extraordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria on August 10, 2023. The summit was convened due to the alleged illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the Presidential Guard of Niger on July 26, 2023.
The communique issued by the ECOWAS Authority reiterated their strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’état and the ongoing unlawful detention of President Mohammed Bazoum, his family, and members of his government.
However, military leadership in Burkina Faso and Mali responded by warning that any forcible attempt to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum in neighboring Niger would be viewed as a declaration of war against them.
Numerous security experts have cautioned against the potential disastrous consequences of proceeding with the decision to deploy troops to Niger within the ECOWAS framework.
A former President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana, Mike Kofi Afflu, has lodged a formal request with the Auditor-General to initiate an investigation into the perplexing transfer of GH¢52.5 billion to an undisclosed account during the year 2020.
Afflu has brought attention to a letter dated October 5, 2020, sent by the Audit Service to the Managing Director of GCB Bank Plc.
This letter, addressed to the Auditor-General, prompted the bank to provide an explanation regarding the substantial sum of GH¢52.5 billion that had been transferred from the bank to an account of unknown origin.
In his petition, which bears the date August 11, 2023, and is directed to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, with copies furnished to GhanaWeb, Afflu pointedly voiced his concern over the lack of any elucidation offered by the Auditor-General to the taxpayers of Ghana.
He inquired about the specific whereabouts of the transferred funds, the authorized source of the transfer, the destination account’s details, and any correlated issues.
Afflu’s apprehension extends to the exchange rate between USD and GHS for the month of October 2020, which averaged 5.77522.
Based on this exchange rate, the sum of GH¢52.5 billion would correspond to approximately US$9,090,783 (approximately $9.1 billion).
According to him, “If this GH¢52.5 billion (from GRA Account) had been transferred to the Bank of Ghana as mandated by Law, Ghana would not have gone to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bailout of $3 billion.”
“I am therefore requesting the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament of which you are the Chairman, to invite the Auditor-General of Ghana to provide the necessary explanation to your committee and Ghanaians as a whole,” the petition noted.
“We want to know who withdrew that amount of money from the GCB Bank Plc and for what,” he concluded.
The Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy has highlighted the need for more sustainable funding avenues to materialize the strategic establishment of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC).
Currently, the PHDC, which is intended to position the nation as a leader in the petroleum and petrochemical products and services value chain in the sub-region, relies on funding from Parliament-approved funds, internally generated funds, grants, loans, and historical support from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
As part of its 2023 operational plan, the GNPC allocated US$3 million to support the PHDC. However, the Committee on Mines and Energy expressed concerns over the inadequacy of this funding in light of the challenges faced by the PHDC.
In response, the committee recommended that the Ministry of Finance explore more sustainable funding sources that align with the PHDC’s strategic importance.
Notably, GNPC’s projected expenditure for 2023 is US$1.4 billion, while the total revenue is estimated at US$1.2 billion, leaving a funding gap of US$172.82 million. GNPC intends to cover this gap through cash reserves, debt collection, and term loans.
Given this context, the committee argued that the PHDC, which aims to foster a competitive and sustainable environment for investments in the midstream and downstream petroleum industry, requires strong financial grounding to achieve its strategic goals.
The ambitious mega-project, expected to be completed by 2030, encompasses four oil refineries, two oil jetties, crude oil storage tanks, and two petrochemical plants. Located in the Western Region’s Jomoro municipality, the petroleum hub aims to be a comprehensive integrated complex adding value to Africa’s upstream and downstream oil and gas value chain.
Upon completion, the project will span over 20,000 acres, hosting an array of onshore, offshore, and auxiliary assets, with the intention of revolutionizing the continent’s petrochemical industry.
Enacted through a parliamentary Act, the PHDC also aims to generate around 780,000 jobs during and after the development phase. It foresees a positive economic impact, projecting an export tax of approximately US$1.56 billion by 2030 and an increase of about 70 percent in the gross domestic product.
Dormaa East Member of Parliament, Paul Twum Barimah, has urged the Auditor General to modernize the process of assets declaration, making it available online for easy access.
He emphasised that the computerization of assets declaration for public officials enhances its accessibility to the public, allowing individuals to conveniently update their information whenever necessary.
Paul Twum Barimah believes that if the Auditor General complies strictly with the assets declaration regulations, a lot of people will be put behind bars for non-compliance.
His comment comes on the back of the Former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah’s stolen money which is being probed by the office of the Special Prosecutor to identify the source of her wealth.
Speaking with the media in Parliament, the Dormaa East MP asserted that if the Auditor general implements the computerization of the declaration of assets, it will help to hold government officials accountable with respect to their assets.
“I think it is important that the Auditor General comes out clear for us to know how we can do this. And I am calling for them to as soon as possible computerize this declaration. Give me a code, and let me be able to sit behind my machine and open it and update it. If I update it and submit it, I can’t alter it and that is the way…And if they are saying they are going strictly by law, I can confidently tell you that there are a lot of people who will be put behind bars,” he stated according to Citinewsroom.com.
There have been numerous calls for the source of Cecilia Dapaah’s funds to be established amid speculations that her wealth was ill-gotten.
The office of the Special Prosecutor is conducting an investigation into the case to identify culprits and ascertain the source of Cecilia Dapaah’s wealth.
Graduate Assistant at the Regional Maritime University, George Obeng, has urged the government and all stakeholders in the maritime sector to consider assigning contracts to local engineers.
He emphasized that Ghanaian naval architects, mariners, and other professionals possess the expertise required to provide top-notch services comparable to those brought in from abroad for projects such as boat, canoe, and yacht construction.
Mr. Obeng conveyed that his team has set its sights on engaging various ministries, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to contribute to the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
Additionally, they aim to enhance safety along the coastal regions by supplying boats for patrolling water bodies in areas prone to galamsey activities.
During an interview with Ernestina Serwaa Asante, the host of BizTech on GhanaWeb TV, Mr. Obeng stated, “We are making an appeal to the stakeholders involved, highlighting our capability to accomplish these tasks within Ghana. Outsourcing is unnecessary.”
Furthermore, George Obeng encouraged Members of Parliament to collaborate with their team to provide training to fisherfolk on designing and constructing fiberglass canoes, thus enhancing their efficiency in their respective endeavors.
“The fishermen and those people around they can bring them, the MPs around those coastal areas and even inland, they can bring their people for us to train them,” he said.
You may recall that in July of last year, the government purchased five speedboats through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to aid in the fight against galamsey, or illicit mining.
The river banks at illegal mining locations will be continuously patrolled by the speed boats operated by the Ghana Naval Command and River Guards.
The Member of Parliament representing Bawku Central and a prominent figure within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has commended the regional organization’s decision to deploy its standby force for the purpose of restoring constitutional order in Niger.
Ayariga emphasized the significance of pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Niger, while also underlining the importance of showcasing ECOWAS’ military capabilities.
He noted that the military junta in Niger has shown reluctance to engage in dialogue since the coup on July 27, making it imperative for ECOWAS to assert its military strength as a means of reinforcing its diplomatic efforts.
“While we are firmly of the belief that diplomatic channels should ultimately prevail, it is crucial that the military option remains a viable consideration. The parties involved in Niger must grasp that ECOWAS possesses the capacity to enforce its decisions. Without this demonstration of capability, the efficacy of diplomatic avenues could be compromised. Thus, it is unsurprising that ECOWAS is preparing to exhibit its strength to the Nigerien junta, highlighting its ability to effectively enforce its directives.”
Ayariga emphasized that although dialogue remains the ultimate path to resolution, such discussions cannot progress without the Nigerien junta recognizing ECOWAS’ capacity.
In addition to his comments on the crisis, the Bawku Central representative urged the sub-region to collectively determine the core values it wishes to uphold throughout its developmental journey.
Ayariga emphasized that if principles like the rule of law and democracy hold significant importance, then all member states must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to uphold these values, regardless of the challenges that may arise.
“In our capacity as a sub-region, it is imperative that we establish a clear stance on the values that hold the utmost significance for us. If upholding the rule of law and democracy stands as a cornerstone, then we must collectively be prepared to face any obstacles in safeguarding these principles. No cost should be considered too high when it comes to preserving the integrity of these cherished values.”
Three weeks ago, Badamasi Mohammed embarked on a journey from Maradi, the second-largest city in Niger, leaving behind his wife and two children, headed towards Kano, a city located about 300km away (186 miles) in northwestern Nigeria.
However, since August 5, the 30-year-old freight truck driver has found himself stranded along with more than 20 other trucks at the Jibiya border post in Katsina, the state that connects Kano to Niger, the French-speaking neighboring country.
Nigerian border authorities have prevented him from re-entering his homeland due to ongoing sanctions imposed on Niger following a coup that took place on July 26. This coup resulted in the ousting of Mohammed Bazoum, who had been Niger’s president since March 2021. In response to the coup, the conspirators also sealed the country’s borders.
Over the past seven days, Mohammed’s truck, parked at the border, has transformed into a makeshift bathroom, bedroom, walk-in closet, and overall multipurpose facility for him and his two assistants. To support him during this ordeal, his employer in Maradi had to send funds through currency exchange agents to the bank account of a point-of-sale attendant in Jibiya. This intermediary then provided cash to Mohammed.
The situation is beginning to take a toll on Mohammed, who serves as the primary provider for his family. He’s unable to earn the average of 40,000 CFA ($67.25) he used to make per freight. His only solace is that he ensured there was enough food back home for his family to sustain themselves during his absence.
“I am not happy being away from my family, I am tired of being here,” Mohammed told Al Jazeera. “Each time I speak to my family, they always ask if people are being killed over here. They are not happy,” he said.
Landlocked Niger shares borders with seven African countries but the 1,600km-long (994-mile-long) border with Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is arguably its most important. More than a million people live along this stretch of land, and have shared commercial and cultural ties for centuries. Most of them are Hausa, the largest ethnic group in both countries.
The aftermath of the July 26 coup is now testing those ties as its effects spill across the borders from Niger, where life has also changed for everyone.
A flurry of sanctions Bazoum’s election was the first civilian-to-civilian transition in Niger since its independence in 1960 and in two years in office. His detention by members of his presidential guard and subsequent removal was the seventh coup across West and Central Africa in three years.
The coup also hurt the image of a country once seen as a reliable ally for the West in the Sahel, a region blighted by expansionist armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS (ISIL).
ECOWAS convened an emergency summit to determine an appropriate response.
The 15-member regional bloc swiftly imposed sanctions on Niger including the closure of land and air borders and giving a seven-day ultimatum to the coup leaders to reinstate Bazoum or face the potential use of force.
Multiple Western countries also cut funding to Niger, one of the largest by landmass – yet poorest – countries in the world, which relies on external aid for up to half of its budget.
Niger, the largest recipient of foreign in West Africa after Nigeria, received $1.8bn in aid in 2021 alone, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
So far, the coup leaders have defied them and the bloc, rallying support in Niamey, the capital even on August 6, the day the ultimatum expired. A 21-person cabinet was also announced late on Wednesday by the coup leaders on the eve of another summit by ECOWAS.
At the grassroots, the impasse is already affecting Niger’s 25 million people, half of whom live below the poverty line earning less than $2.15 a day.
Nigeria also cut the power supply to its neighbour, which depends on it for as much as 70 percent of its electricity. And food prices, already on the rise because of complications in global supply since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have risen yet again.
The post-coup sanctions and cessation of subsidies could hurt a country struggling with food security and one of the worst ratings on the human development indices in the world, experts said.
Mihidi Ameride works as a field officer at Projet Filets Sociaux (Safety Net Project), a project funded jointly by the World Bank and the Niger government.
His project caters to vulnerable and rural populations in 40 Nigerien communities through cash transfers and a cash-for-work (CFW) scheme. It also supports women artisans and keeps girls in school through scholarships.
Now that the World Bank has suspended aid to Niger, 66,000 households will be affected when the project ends, Ameride told Al Jazeera.
“There is great concern about the food security of populations subject to robbery, banditry and … personally, I’m affected, because my life depends on the sustainability of the project. It’s the only thing I do for a living,” Ameride said.
“I’m all for democracy and a coup d’état is not a good solution for an already poor country like Niger.”
The bloc also imposed sanctions on Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso, but lifted them later. The three nations have remained under military rule, and there has been a growing sense among international observers that sanctions were not working as a deterrent across the region.
“[The] junta will also be well aware that in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, similar sanctions were also applied in the immediate aftermaths of coup d’etats but were later rescinded after these junta governments disclosed a transitional timetable and released all imprisoned politicians,” said Ryan Cummings, director of analysis at Johannesburg-based Risk Signal consultancy.
“It is tough to say that the sanctions are working [to end coups],” he added. “If anything, their application has emboldened the CNSP putschists who are undertaking mechanisms to entrench their rule, particularly in terms of creating a government with civilian inclusion so as to purchase this dispensation some legitimacy.”
Still, the effect of the sanctions could lead to significant inflationary pressures which will affect the country’s population, since Niger lacks the fiscal leeway to offset these cost-of-living pressures over the near-to-medium term.
‘No one is happy’ Back at the borders between Nigeria and Niger, both countries are fully enforcing the “no entry- no exit” directive. Nigerian journalists were advised not to cross into Niger, as the relations between border officials of both countries had started to go sour as a result of the sanctions.
Commercial activities at the borders – including Jibiya, the busiest between both countries – have come to a halt with small business owners lamenting the adverse effects on their businesses. Nigeriens at the borders get most of their basic supplies from Nigeria; with zero movement, people in dire need are having to either crawl through the bushes or use a few unmanned crossings.
Cummings predicted that the Niger coup would likely play out in the same manner as other putschists in the West African region and called for diplomacy to avoid a conflict that could spread across the region and benefit armed non-state actors.
“To this effect, the junta will likely provide the international community, particularly ECOWAS, with some concessions. This may be the release of Bazoum – who is likely being held as a bargaining chip – and the provision of a transitional timetable which outlines the country’s return to constitutional rule,” he said.
Gbemisola Animasawun, associate professor at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, said there is a need for the deadlock to be resolved because Niger was already in a “pitiable situation”.
However, there will be an overlapping effect for both Niger and Nigeria because the borders only exist in the minds of the state actors, he added.
“War is not an option whether directly or by proxy. Stakeholders must engage the coup leader and develop a transition plan,” Animasawun told Al Jazeera.
For Mohammed who is apolitical and has not voted in the last three Nigerien elections, the conflict cannot end soon enough. He is already planning to find a way through one of the smuggling routes into Maradi.
“I am not happy and no one is happy,” he said. “Only God knows the best.” Freight trucks parked at the Jibiya border between Nigeria and Niger on August 10, 2023, due to the closure of borders between both countries
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has made a proposal that could reshape the linguistic landscape of the country, by calling for the adoption of a local dialect as the official language of Ghana.
The speaker made the call during a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Essikado, Nana Kobena Nketsia V, at his palace, at Essikado in the Western Region.
He justified his call with a claim that Ghana’s current official language – the English language belongs to another culture and that a society cannot progress using the language of another society.
“No society develops with the language of another society,” he maintained.
He, thus, has called on stakeholders to formulate a national policy to adopt a local language as the country’s official language.
“That is one of the challenges in Ghana, and we must get our language right as a country. For example, the Arabs are ahead of us in terms of development because they have adopted an official language of theirs which every citizen understands,” he stated.
Additionally, he noted that it would be wise for the nation to embrace a distinctive national identity that would promote harmonious interactions among its citizens, thereby expediting the country’s progress and development.
The Speaker’s visit constituted a portion of his interactions with essential stakeholders to garner their backing for the celebration of three decades of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy during the fourth republic.
Mr Bagbin emphasised that Ghana should draw inspiration from East and South African countries, which have chosen to use a local language, like Swahili, as their official language.
He mentioned that this approach would enhance inclusivity and involve all individuals in the nation’s endeavor to attain sustainable economic development.
He expressed that after three decades of practicing democracy as a nation, it was essential to review and reformulate certain facets of the country’s democratic principles to ensure their ongoing maintenance.
He pointed out that achieving this objective would require Parliament to actively interact with the public, understanding their perspectives and recommendations to shape policy revisions related to parliamentary affairs.
Mr Bagbin highlighted the importance of increased participation of traditional authorities in the governance process, emphasising their role as guardians of the land. He mentioned that traditional leaders were the authentic leaders of Ghana and Africa, as they held the trust and allegiance of their followers.
On his part, Nana Nketsia V commended the Speaker for his efforts to engage with stakeholders to consolidate and promote democracy in the country.
Mr Bagbin was in the company of Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle Constituency, Mr Joseph Cudjoe, MP for Effia Constituency and Mr Eric Afful, MP for Amenfi West Constituency among other dignitaries, when he called on the Chief.
Lawyer Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, the Member of Parliament for Techiman North was in the district capital where contractors had brought their machinery to replace the faulty traffic lights at her instance.
According to the residents of the area, it was her 2020 campaign promise to fix it to reduce road accidents at the intersection in question.
However, the Chief Executive of the Techiman North District in the Bono region, Everson Addo-Donkor ordered the police commander to stop the legislator from replacing the traffic light because it is not her government that is in power.
This resulted in a clash between the supporters of the two politicians, with those of the MP insisting that the contractor should go ahead with the work, while those of the DECE were against it.
Eventually, the police commander asked the contractor to leave the site and keep his tools at the police station for the disagreement to be resolved before he proceeds.
The development has angered many residents of Tuobodom who have vowed to ensure the MP is allowed to fulfil her campaign promise to them, which would also bring an end to the incessant loss of lives at the said section of the busy road due to the absence of a traffic light.
In a video shared by Joy News, some of the residents are heard wondering whether the DCE has the interest of the people at heart or he is just pursuing parochial partisan interests.
The Ghanaian Parliament is expected to approve the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, commonly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, by the conclusion of the year 2023.
According to a report from 3news.com, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, provided an affirmation of this commitment to a delegation representing the Coalition of Muslim Organizations of Ghana.
Led by Hajj Abdul Rahman, the delegation acknowledged and praised the speaker for his significant efforts in upholding and preserving Ghanaian values and traditions in the face of the LGBTQ issue.
In his acceptance statement, Alban Bagbin told the organization that parliament will pass the LGBTQ Bill by the end of 2023.
“Parliament will pass the anti-LGBTQ bill by the end of the year,” he said.
The Coalition conferred on the speaker the title Saifu_llah, which means the Sword of God, at Parliament House.
Alban Bagbin expressed appreciation to the group for the honour of conferring on him such a title.
Parliament debated the report on the bill by the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
The report emphasised the issues brought up by both supporters and opponents of the law.
According to the report, those who are opposed to the bill claim that “LGBTQ+ activities form part of what the Constitution contemplates under Article 33 (5) about recognition of certian rights and freedoms that are inherent in a democracy and which is intended to secure the rights, freedoms, and dignity of the people.
“Consequently, any attempt to prescribe different treatment to different people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender will be discriminatory and an affront to Articles 17(1) and (2) of the Constitution,” part of the report read.
Deputy Member of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson found a common ground over a friendly meal following recent spirited parliamentary debates.
This memorable occasion was to mark the birthday of Dr Ato Forson.
This instance of friendly interaction followed a vigorous exchange between Afenyo-Markin, the deputy majority leader, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the minority leader, during the deliberations on the 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review. The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, had presented the review on July 31, 2023.
While participating in the parliamentary debate, the Deputy Majority leader revived the familiar chant ‘eeiii Ato’ as he presented his argument countering the assertions put forth by the minority leader.
Brotherly gestures;
Afenyo-Markin and Ato Forson dine together at Ato’s birthday celebration Ei Ato 😁😁pic.twitter.com/1o25XBM4WF
However, rather than extending their disagreements outside the parliamentary chamber, the two politicians were observed seated at a table, enjoying a pleasant time together.
The deputy Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin teased that he had more physically appeal than his colleague, Ato Forson.
“I am saying to the birthday boy [reference to Ato Forson], I am more handsome than him. He should debate it,” he said to the amusement of everyone.
Dr Ato Forson on the other hand advised that, despite the political differences, they are one.
“We are brothers, regardless of the political differences.”
The deputy minority leader wished his colleague a happy birthday and they shared laugher together.
Eyewitnesses joined in to share the moment with both individuals putting their political differences aside and having a good time.
Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Alban Sumama Kingsford Bagbin has emphasised the essential contribution of the media in his political achievements.
He acknowledged that without the media, he wouldn’t have secured victory in seven parliamentary elections.
The Speaker, who advocated for safeguarding and formulating favorable working conditions for media professionals, highlighted his understanding of the media’s vital role in facilitating the proper functioning of the Government branches. He mentioned having a positive rapport with the media since 1995 and emphasized his support by funding the education of certain journalists at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
The speaker made this revelation in his speech at a press soirée in Takoradi marking 30 years of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
“I have been a true friend of the media and I have always appreciated and commended the media highly. If it wasn’t for the media, I’m not sure I will be a Speaker of Parliament. If not for the media, I wouldn’t have succeeded in winning seven successive elections and staying in Parliament up till this time. I recognised it very early and since 1995, I have worked with the media throughout. I sponsored and continue to sponsor media practitioners at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, but I don’t personally take ownership of any of them,” he said.
Alban Bagbin served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from January 7, 1993, to January 7, 2021 since he won all parliamentary elections held during the period. In 2021 he was elected Speaker of Parliament.
A Parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Tempane Constituency in the Upper East Region, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashiru, has asserted that he stands as the most qualified candidate to secure the parliamentary seat against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He calls upon NPP delegates to cast their votes overwhelmingly in his favor, leading the party to triumph in the forthcoming 2024 parliamentary election.
In his capacity as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer overseeing operations at the Youth Employment Agency, Ibrahim Bashiru will be contending with former Deputy Attorney-General, Joseph Kpemka, in the bid to represent the constituents in Parliament.
Following the submission of his nomination forms in Tempane, Ibrahim Bashiru, in conversation with the media, characterizes Mr. Kpemka’s administration as retrogressive and subpar. He expresses his commitment to enhancing the constituents’ well-being if entrusted with the responsibility.
“Under lawyer Kpemka’s leadership, the constituency has regrettably witnessed a decline instead of progress. We find ourselves moving backwards. This motivates my decision to present myself as an option to the people of Tempane, appealing to their awareness and asking for the chance to become the parliamentary candidate and subsequently the Member of Parliament, ushering in a change of direction.”
Bashiru underlines his unparalleled record of development within the constituency and implores for the opportunity to uplift the marginalized area.
He pledges to run a transparent administration and leverage his network and goodwill to advocate for projects that enhance the lives of the constituents.
“I have extended crucial job opportunities to the youth of this constituency. I’ve aided in the recruitment of over 40 individuals in the teaching sector, more than 1,535 in YEA, as well as many others across institutions such as COCOBOD, SSNIT, GWC, among others.
I am dedicated to representing the Tempane constituents in the Parliament effectively, advocating for development initiatives including hospitals, roads, schools, education, agriculture, and all other essential undertakings that contribute to a more meaningful life in Tempane.”
Furthermore, Mr. Bashiru urges fellow party members to refrain from using inflammatory language during the campaign period.
He affirms his commitment to supporting whichever aspirant emerges victorious in the forthcoming parliamentary primaries.
Parliament has given its approval to a $52 million loan agreement between the government of Ghana and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
This funding will be allocated to support the implementation of the PROSPER initiative, officially known as the Promoting Rural Opportunities, Sustainable Profits, and Environmental Resilience project.
The financial package comprises two components: a standard loan of $35 million and a concessional loan of $17 million.
At its core, the PROSPER project seeks to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers and businesses operating in the priority value chains within the Northern and Middle Ecological belts, thus promoting their integration, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability.
The strategic approach of the project involves capitalizing on the growing demand fostered by the national agro-processing strategy. This strategy aims to amplify the value added to the agricultural sector, ultimately boosting its contributions to the national economy.
Patrick Boamah, the Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee, provided an overview of the terms and conditions governing this loan arrangement. The repayment period spans two decades, allowing ample time for the government to settle the borrowed sum.
Furthermore, the loan incorporates a grace period lasting five years, affording an initial phase during which no repayment obligations exist.
The specifics of the loan agreement stipulate a service charge of 1.48 percent per annum, designated as the fee for IFAD’s administrative role in managing the loan.
Additionally, an annual interest rate of 1.36 percent will be levied on the remaining balance of the loan.
Anticipated outcomes of the PROSPER project include a substantial positive influence on the agricultural sector within the specified regions.
By bolstering the resilience and profitability of smallholder farmers and businesses, the project will actively advocate for sustainable practices and the preservation of the environment.
Students from Nakpanduri Business Senior High School, Nakpanduri Presbyterian Senior High School, Bimbagu Senior High School, Kingdom Stars Academy, and University of Ghana students embarked on an educational visit to Parliament.
The engagement in a circular shared on Parliament’s Facebook page on Friday, August 4, aimed to enhance the students’ understanding of Parliamentary Proceedings and governance in Ghana.
The visit proved to be a fruitful experience, fostering meaningful conversations and promoting civic awareness among the participants.
Speaker Alban Bagbin commended the students for their wonderful performance and urged them to remain steadfast in all their endeavors.
He pledged his support to the students and assured them that he would advocate for the construction of better roads in their constituency.
Furthermore, he advised the students to embrace determination as it determines their destiny and encouraged them to stand out in all their endeavours.
Their visit follows, a viral video footage on social media showcasing the students’ practice of parliamentary proceedings.
In attendance were, Hon. Abednego Azumah, MP for Bunkrugu, Bandim, Hon. Zuweira Ibrahimah, the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Hon. Oscar Liwaal, the Member of Parliament for Yunyoo, and Hon. Lamisi Lydia, the Member of Parliament for Timpani.
Hon. Abednego Azumah took the floor to acknowledge the various divisions within the parliament, specifically highlighting the pivotal role played by the Director of Public Engagement in ensuring the success of the event.
He emphasized the pressing need for improved road infrastructure in the constituency.
The Death Penalty Project UK has commended the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and Parliament for their roles in the repeal of the death penalty from Ghana’s statute books.
It will be recalled that the Parliament of Ghana on Tuesday, July 25 2023, and Thursday, July 27 2023, passed the Criminal and Other Offenses (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to substitute life imprisonment for the death Penalty.
These amendments which has been described globally by Human Rights watchers as historic were proposed by a private member who is a Human Rights and Public Interest Lawyer and Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Hon. Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu.
Prior to the amendments, the proposal had received widespread support from key stakeholders including the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, The Ghana Armed Forces, the Police and Prison Services, Religious Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the Diplomatic Community.
During a visit to Parliament, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Project UK, Saul Lehrfreund, said “As a Project, we will like to thank the Parliament of Ghana and especially Rt. Hon. Speaker for his historic leadership and guidance without which Parliament may not have been able to take these bold steps.”
The passage of the Bills form part of efforts by the 8th Parliament to ensure the realization of a free, open, prosperous, inclusive and secure society, where individual rights and freedoms and the dignity of All persons are truly respected and guaranteed as enshrined in Article 15 of the 1992 Constitution.
Following passage of the Bills, Ghana has now become the 29th African country to abolish the death Penalty from its statute books for ordinary offenses following neighbours including Sierra Leone, Zambia, Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad and Equatorial Guinea, among others.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin, has reaffirmed Parliament’s dedication to disability and inclusion in Ghana.
He emphasizes the importance of having physically challenged individuals as Members of Parliament and plans to establish a disability caucus by the end of the year.
“We need to have a number of physically challenged persons as Members of Parliament, it is one of the benchmarks for assessing parliaments in the world,” he said.
Members of the disability movement and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) met with Mr. Bagbin to advocate for an official disability caucus in Parliament.
The GFD aims to enhance discussions on disability issues at the parliamentary level and promote the re-enactment of the disability law.
The GFD also highlights the need for Ghana to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP), a step toward addressing disability matters using African perspectives.
Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, Mr. Clement Apaak, and Ms. Darkoa Newman, interim leaders of the disability caucus of Parliament, pledge their unwavering support to the disability movement and advocate for the formalization of the disability caucus.
North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asserted that Ghanaians must acknowledge the highly irresponsible model chosen for the national cathedral project, labeling it as the most reckless approach seen in any national endeavor.
Ablakwa highlighted the demolition of significant structures, including the Scholarship Secretariat, passport head office, Judicial Training Institute, Judges’ bungalows, and the residence of the Malian ambassador.
He warned of potential diplomatic tensions due to the latter’s demolition.
Ablakwa emphasized that the push for an inquiry into the stalled project, supported by a private member’s motion, is driven by concerns over irregularities, procurement breaches, lawlessness, and conflicts of interest.
The establishment of an ad-hoc committee by Parliament to investigate the National Cathedral project and related matters aligns with Ablakwa’s efforts. He clarified that the intent isn’t opposition to a place of worship but rather addressing the project’s governance and priorities.
In contrast, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, asserted that institutions affected by demolitions had been fully compensated and provided with alternative lands for relocation.
He dismissed claims of inadequate compensation, stating that affected institutions were operational in various parts of Accra.
Following the passage of a motion sponsored by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and some National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, Parliament has decided to conduct an independent enquiry into the National Cathedral Project.
The motion alleges significant impropriety surrounding the $400 million project, with claims that $58 million has already been spent, but the work done does not correspond with the expenditure.
Mr. Ablakwa urged the House to investigate the allegations of misappropriation and seek answers regarding the discrepancies in spending.
The project’s cost has reportedly increased from the initial $100 million to $400 million, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
The North Tongu MP previously provided evidence of what he believed were dubious activities related to the construction of the National Cathedral.
“This motion is a very important one and I pray that this House will approve this under Order 191. The Order provides that the House at any time by motion appoint a special or adhoc committee to investigate any matter of national importance. The National Cathedral of Ghana is potentially the most expensive project of Ghana.”
“Already, Mr Speaker as we speak this project has ballooned from an initial $100m to $400m and is still rising.
“So far, Mr Speaker about $58m has been spent on the project and what we see has become a subject of considerable controversy. We only see a hole and we are not too sure if it is really $58 million that has gone into the project,” he said.
In his social media posts, he shared documents related to the fundraising and incorporation of the project, suggesting criminal activity may be involved.
The decision to conduct an independent enquiry reflects the House’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised and ensuring proper oversight of this high-profile project.
Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana have expressed worry about the increasing number of refugees fleeing from neighboring Burkina Faso due to Jihadist attacks.
The MPs are concerned that some of the Burkinabes seeking refuge in Ghana may engage in unfavorable practices that pose security threats to their constituents and the nation.
To address this situation, three MPs, Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, Mohammed Adams Supkparu, and Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, call on the government to take immediate action in resolving the concern and implement urgent measures to ensure the security and well-being of their constituents.
The Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso have caused a humanitarian crisis, forcing innocent civilians to seek safety and shelter in neighboring countries like Ghana.
The influx of refugees has led to challenges such as cultural and social tensions, threats to communities from livestock brought by immigrants, and environmental issues like indiscriminate cutting of trees and clearing of forest reserves.
The Garu MP indicated that “The influx of people from different backgrounds has the potential of creating cultural and social tension. Apart from the fact that these immigrants are seeking asylum those who came with their livestock are causing threats to these communities, raising concerns about the safety of their crops as we are in the farming season.”
“The disregard for community rules and careless attitude towards the environment is posing serious challenges to these communities where they live. For instance, these communities have forest reserves but since their coming into these communities, refugees have been engaged in indiscriminate cutting of trees and the clearing of forest reserves that can harm severely our forest reserves and the survival of the ecosystem,” he stated.
Proper shelter for the refugees is a concern, and there is a need for better communication in communities sharing borders with Burkina Faso to differentiate between refugees and potential threats. The MPs call for the establishment of destitute camps in constituencies sharing borders with Burkina Faso to address the situation.
Additionally, one MP, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, attributes the refugee influx from Burkina Faso to the outbreak of Anthrax in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has indicated that a five-member Committee will be set up to investigate a petition submitted by aggrieved customers of Menzgold.
The Speaker made this announcement during a meeting with the customers of Menzgold when they called on him.
According to a statement from the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, the petition has now undergone the necessary procedures to become a motion, and it will be admitted before the House goes on recess.
The Committee will then consider the concerns of the aggrieved customers and present a report for debate when the House reconvenes after the recess.
During the meeting, Mr. Fred Forson, a leader of the group, described the challenging situations that the affected members have been facing, leading to 210 deaths recently. The group urged the Speaker to handle the motion promptly.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Kwame Etse Dafeamekpor, who submitted the Motion to the Speaker, acknowledged the challenges the motion is facing due to the matter being before the court.
However, he appealed to the Speaker to admit the Motion for the House to consider the committee’s report, as only the criminal case is before the court.
The group expressed gratitude to the Speaker and hoped that their concerns would be addressed and resolved promptly.
Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has hinted that he intends to set up a five-member Committee to investigate a petition by the aggrieved customers of Menzgold and report to the House for consideration.
According to the Speaker, the petition which has now gone through the right procedures of the House to become a motion, would be admitted before the House goes on recess and later set up a Committee to consider the concerns of the aggrieved customers and debate the report when the House comes back from recess.
The Speaker made these known when aggrieved customers of Menzgold paid a courtesy call on him.
Mr. Fred Forson, who is one of the Leaders of the group narrated the difficult situations the affected members are going through and how it has resulted into 210 deaths in recent times. He pleaded with the Speaker to work expeditiously on the motion.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Hon. Rockson Nelson Kwame Etse Dafeamekpor, who submitted the motion to the Speaker, acknowledged the challenges being faced by the motion because the matter is before court but pleaded with the Speaker that it is only the criminal case which is before the court therefore the Speaker can admit the motion for the House to consider the report of the Committee.
The group expressed their gratitude to the Speaker and prayed that their concerns would be addressed and brought to finality soon.
Menzgold
Menzgold attracted a significant number of investors by offering high returns on their investments in gold trading.
The controversy erupted when regulatory authorities in Ghana, including the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), raised concerns about the company’s operations and the legality of its investment model. The SEC ordered Menzgold to stop accepting new deposits and halted its trading operations in September 2018. The Bank of Ghana had also previously issued warnings about the company’s unlicensed operations.
Despite these warnings and regulatory actions, Menzgold continued to operate and attract investments. Many people, including celebrities and individuals from various walks of life, invested their money in the company, hoping to earn high returns on their investments.
As the controversy escalated, Nana Appiah Mensah faced legal troubles, including issues related to the company’s operations and allegations of money laundering. In January 2019, he was arrested in Dubai on unrelated charges. It took several months for him to return to Ghana after legal proceedings in both countries.
The Menzgold controversy led to protests and demonstrations by investors who were unable to access their funds. Many individuals claimed to have lost substantial amounts of money.
In a statement dated July 29, Menzgold announced its successful completion of the transaction validation process assuring to soon reimburse its customers.
On Tuesday, Parliament initiated discussions concerning the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
This review had been introduced to the House by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, on Monday, July 31.
Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, commenced the debate and expressed his opposition to the practice of providing tax exemptions to both individuals and corporate entities.
He reiterated that exempting individuals in the name of investment promotion created two problems; “the first is that we deny Ghana the opportunity of communicating that our investment climate is friendly because the taxes are in place”.
“But more importantly, Mr Speaker, by encouraging the practice of selecting individuals and exempting them from taxation, we are creating the opportunity for corruption.”
“I take this opportunity again to call on not just the Government but also on ourselves to ensure we get everybody to pay taxes.”
He emphasized the importance of each individual contributing their equitable portion of taxes and underlined that any reduction in taxes should apply universally.
Mr. Kwarteng pointed out that the habit of delaying tax payments while simultaneously granting specific individuals exemptions from these obligations was counterproductive.
We should tell everybody, Mr Speaker, to contribute to our efforts at mobilising domestic revenue.”
He urged Ghanaians, especially politicians, to stop prophesying doom for the nation’s economy, adding; “whilst our government is making the effort to ensure a vibrant economy for us, we sit here and we make damning statements about our own economy, just because we want to achieve political ends”.
He encouraged fellow Parliamentarians to engage in constructive debates that promote the enhancement of the economy, rather than adopting a pessimistic outlook.
He urged them to concentrate on promoting Ghana’s economic strengths and garnering international backing to help the nation achieve sustainable self-reliance instead of depending solely on aid.
Recalling his earlier statement on July 19, 2022, Mr. Ofori-Atta informed Parliament that Ghana had incurred losses of GH¢27 billion due to tax exemptions between 2008 and 2020. This decline, he stated, led to the country’s revenue dropping to approximately GH¢1.8 billion in 2020.
According to Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the contracts of school feeding caterers have lapsed.
The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Walewale, disclosed this information during her appearance before Parliament on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, in response to questions.
She informed the House that all 10,832 caterers’ contracts had expired and that she plans to initiate a thorough and rigorous process for awarding new contracts.
Dr. Clement Apaak, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, inquired about the number of caterers in the program and their recruitment process.
In her response, the Minister confirmed that all the caterers’ contracts had indeed expired. She revealed that the selection of new caterers would be carried out through a competitive advertisement process.
The Minister further explained that advertisements for prospective caterers would be published in national newspapers, and only qualified caterers would be chosen following the selection process.
The new selection procedure will encompass eight distinct steps, as follows:
Competitive Advertisement: We will advertise soon. The Ministry and Ghana School Feeding Programme National Secretariat will advertise nationally specifying the selection criteria and mandatory requirements.
Applications will be submitted: Caterers will apply online and submit required documents including registration certificates, financial statements, health certificates, and permits.
Assessment of applications: The National Secretariat will evaluate the applications based on the criteria and compile a list of qualified applicants.
Interview for selected applicants: An interview panel will assess the shortlisted caterers individually, considering their advertised criteria and the highest-scoring caterers assigned to the schools.
Submission and approval: The interview panel will submit the evaluation report to the National Secretariat, and the final list of qualified caterers, will be sent to the Ministry of Gender for approval and contracting.
Contracting Phase: The National Secretariat prepares caterer documents, including details of the caterer, and assigns school, and signatures officials. The contracts are distributed to relevant applicants.
Assigning a caterer to a school: The National Secretariat Officials will use the MIS through the digitisation process to assign the schools while selecting the appropriate classes.
Authorising a caterer assigned to a school: The National Secretariat reviews and approves validated caterer records at the district, regional and national levels.
The Minister stressed that the process involves advertisement, application assessment, interview selection, contracting, and assigning caterers to the schools, with necessary approvals at each stage.
Assemblyman for the Obuasi Electoral Area, Enoch Sarfo Asiedu, is facing a high-stakes legal battle, following a defamation suit filed against him by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North constituency, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi.
The MP is demanding an eye-popping GHS1million in damages as he accuses the assemblyman of spreading malicious lies that has tarnished his reputation and threatened his political standing.
In a statement of claim filed at a Kumasi High Court, the MP is requesting a declaration that specific statements made by the defendant on a local radio station are defamatory and have harmed his reputation and standing.
In the 17-point statement of claim filed by Kwasi Asokwa-Boateng of Appiah-Kubi & Associates of Nhyira Chambers, it is alleged that the defendant used offensive Twi language against the MP during a program on Salt FM radio on April 12, 2023. The MP contends that these statements have significantly impacted his political pursuits and resulted in a loss of support.
Additionally, the MP asserts that the defendant’s statements were motivated by malice, prompting him to request the court to issue an order compelling the defendant to retract the statements and issue an apology.
This, he said is the basis for the GHS1 million compensation he is demanding.
Nevertheless, during a court hearing on July 28, 2023, the MP was not present, resulting in the court imposing a penalty of GHS1,000 for his failure to attend. The case has been postponed to October 19, 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the Mid-year budget review in Parliament, disclosed that the government is actively engaging with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to tackle the issue of debt relief in the energy sector.
He emphasized the significance of resolving the challenge posed by IPP power payments, which has been affecting the economy.
To address the impact of excess capacity on the economy, the government is working in collaboration with IPPs.
One of the measures taken is restructuring the accrued outstanding balances and clearing arrears in the sector.
Moreover, efforts have been made to reduce excess capacity commitments by renegotiating the Gas Sales Agreement between the Volta River Authority (VRA) and N-Gas.
In the realm of alternative energy, the government is making progress towards establishing Ghana’s first nuclear power plant.
Vendor companies and countries have been shortlisted for this development, and the goal is to identify an economically resilient nuclear power technology that will serve as a clean energy source for the nation.
To alleviate the financial burden on the energy sector and ensure sustainable revenue collection, Mr. Ofori-Atta called for a collective effort to assist the Electricity Company of Ghana in its revenue collection exercise.
The implementation of the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) and Natural Gas clearing has contributed to the equitable distribution of revenues in the sector.
Looking ahead, the Minister emphasized the ongoing reforms of the CWM to ensure mandatory compliance, which will facilitate consistent cash flow to the IPPs and promote the stability of the energy sector.
Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Minta Akando, is improving in health after being held in detention at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for three days.
“He has been admitted for further observation and examination under the instructions of medics who saw to him,” A credible source at the hospital told Ultimate News,’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.
“Accidents might not result in open injuries but there could be internal issues. The medical doctors have recommended that he remains under observation,” he stated.
According to the hospital, it was unlikely the ranking member on Parliament’s health committee will be discharged on Monday as his medical doctor has not yet given that indication.
While returning from his constituency, the Member of Parliament was in a car accident on the Kumasi-Nyinahin road.
According to reports, the driver of the MP’s official vehicle with registration number GN 441-14 experienced a burst tire and subsequently swerved into the path of an oncoming 207 Benz bus while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
The lawmaker, along with his driver and bodyguard, were taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, while the other individuals who were injured in the minibus were admitted to the Nyinahin Government Hospital.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has cautioned legislators to take note of the amount of money they spend in catering for the demands of their constituents.
According to the Speaker, the necessary records must be drafted by MPs as they would be called to account for the funds utilised.
The Speaker noted that this forms part of efforts to foster accountability in the country, beginning with the arm of government that demands accountability from others.
“The first step towards accountability begins with oneself. Charity begins at home. We must hold ourselves accountable first before we can hold others accountable.
As you utilizing your funds, Honourable Members take note. You will be called upon to account for the use of Common Fund, GETFUND, National Health Insurance and whatever is entrusted into your care,” he warned.
Speaker Alban Bagbin made this known during the launch of the Citizen’s Bureau on Monday, July 31, 2023.
The objective of the Citizens Bureau is to facilitate engagements and information sharing between Parliament and Civil Society Organisations.
The Bureau is equally responsible for the formulation, implementation and reporting on Open Parliament Initiative under the Open Government Partnership.
Meanwhile, Speaker Bagbin has noted that Parliament led by the Parliamentary Service Board will be submitting numerous reports on the performance of Parliament.
These reports will also touch on the audited accounts of Parliament which will be deliberated on the floor of the House.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
The Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, has labelled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta‘s comments about Ghana’s improving economy “false and misleading.”
During the 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on July 31, Mr. Ofori-Atta asserted that Ghana was making modest gains in turning the economy around after facing severe economic hardships in 2022.
He highlighted the positive results of the government’s plans and programs and called on the nation to recognize the achievements of the past three years.
In response, Dr. Ato Forson contested the Finance Minister’s statements and presented evidence to the contrary.
He expressed concerns about the current state of the economy, citing a downward revision of economic growth from 2.8% of GDP to 1.5% of GDP, indicating a slower recovery than expected.
Additionally, he criticized the government for borrowing significant amounts from the T-Bill market, despite earlier assurances of not borrowing in 2023. He also attributed the depreciation of the Cedi to defaults in the payment of external interest and principal.
Dr. Ato Forson argued that, contrary to the Finance Minister’s claims, the situation has worsened under the Akufo-Addo government.
“The performance so far shows that we have turned the corner. Unfortunately, the evidence and the numbers before us, show us that he has rather deepened our woes,” Cassiel Ato Forson said.
“I say this because he has said to us today that he’s revising economic growth from 2.8% of GDP to 1.5% of GDP. Again, he said to us here and now that he has borrowed 5.5 billion Ghana cedis from January to June, from the T-Bill market. Mr Speaker, not long ago, this same Minister informed us that he will not borrow at all in the year 2023. And that going into the remaining parts of the year, he is going to borrow another 41 billion Ghana cedis.”
“Aside from that, the Cedi depreciation we are seeing so far, it’s largely because we have defaulted in the payment of external interest and principal. That is why the cedi has depreciated.”
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in a candid introspection, has revealed that the year 2022 proved to be the most challenging period of his tenure as a Minister.
Reflecting on the year, while delivering the Mid-Year Budget Review, he said the year was characterised by economic uncertainties and despondency.
“2022 has been a year of brutal inflation. It has been the most difficult year for me as a Minister because the country was going through economic uncertainties and despondency,” he confessed.
The Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament, delivered on July 31, 2024, is in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The Mid-Year Budget Review serves as a crucial stepping stone, enabling the government to embark on a transformative economic agenda for the latter half of the year.
According to the Finance Ministry, the Mid-Year Budget Review will lay out essential programmes and policies aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability, while propelling economic growth.
As part of the sub-regional integration process of bringing governance to the doorsteps of the people, Winneba, will in September 2023 host the Extra Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, in Ghana.
This would be the second time Ghana would host the ECOWAS Parliamentwhich convenes twice a year.
The 2023 First Ordinary Session of Parliament, opened on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Abuja and ended on Friday, May 26, 2023.
The session was convened under Article 21.1 of the Supplementary Act relating to the enhancement of the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament, which provided that Parliament should meet twice a year in Ordinary Sessions to provide a platform to deliberate and strengthen Member States’ position on issues of regional and continental importance.
As provided for in Article 32 of the supplementary Act, the Session also provides the President of the ECOWAS Commission to present a general report on the implementation of the Community Work Programme to the Plenary.
This allows the House to be updated on developments in the Community and followed by debates, expressed opinions and recommendations.
Further, National Delegates also have the chance to present their country’s reports to inform the Body of unfolding developments in their respective Member States and the status of implementation of their community’s texts.
Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the leader of the Ghanaian delegation announced in Monrovia – Liberia at the end of a joint delocalized meeting, when he interacted with the media.
He explained that the Conference being hosted out of the capital would bring governance to the doorsteps of the people and create an opportunity for the region by way of putting it on the visibility map for development.
“This will also allow Member States not only to connect to build consensus towards ECOWAS Development but also an opportunity to travel outside the capital city to familiarise themselves with neighbour countries,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, also the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament and a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament, further told Journalists that international programmes created opportunities for growth, development and tourism; and Winneba being the capital of one of the Municipalities in the Central Region was more than ready to welcome the ECOWAS delegation.
According to him, the Session would also market the region, the Effutu Constituency and the city which was a coastal city for greater opportunities.
He maintained that such Sessions projected facilities towards development and urged his colleagues to push for more opportunities and take advantage of such possibilities.
“We cannot always over-concentrate in the capital cities; we need to move out and spread opportunity to the people,” he said.
The Effutu NPP Member of Parliament (MP), told Journalists from Member that this will not be the first of its kind, particularly when Winneba 2021 successfully hosted a delocalised meeting and an Extra Ordinary Session, and therefore a precedent had been set.
… “We are optimistic that this will be better than before. The Ghanaian government will put in place the necessary protocols for all MPs, focal persons and staff, security arrangements will be in place. Winneba, which is the capital of my constituency, is just an hour’s drive from Accra on a good road,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that Members were already used to that route with facilities going to be there to host them, adding “As I did indicate, we hope to make it a pleasurable time, profitable time for all; we encourage all of you to come and take part in the programme,” he said.
The government has been urged by two anti-corruption bodies to expedite the process of presenting the Conduct of Public Officer’s Bill to Parliament for swift enactment into law, aiming to bolster the country’s asset declaration system.
The proposed bill encompasses provisions for amending the existing Asset Declaration Act.
The organizations, namely the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), expressed concern that the Conduct of Public Officer’s Bill has been under consideration by the Cabinet for over a year, without any definitive commitment to present it before Parliament for thorough review and passage.
This call aligns with a similar appeal made by the pressure group, OccupyGhana.
The joint statement by GII and GACC, released in Accra, underscores the importance of expediting the legislative process to enhance transparency and accountability in public service and strengthen the fight against corruption.
The reference pertains to a recent incident involving the alleged theft of significant sums of money and personal belongings belonging to Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her husband.
The reported stolen funds amounted to $1 million, €300,000, and an undisclosed sum in Ghana cedis.
Following the revelation of this alleged theft, discussions have ignited across various social media and traditional communication channels, with numerous individuals expressing apprehension regarding the origin of the money and its intended purpose. The incident has generated considerable public interest and scrutiny, prompting debates about accountability and transparency in relation to public figures’ possessions and financial matters.
The organizations have acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the alleged theft committed by the workers. However, they emphasized that regardless of the regrettable incident, inquiries into the origin of the money are entirely valid and must be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate competent authorities.
“Much as we applaud the announced resignation of Madam Cecilia Dapaah, it seems unconscionable to think of a public officer and a renowned political personality keeping such colossal amounts of money outside of the banking sector.
“This is why the news of Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s swift arrest and subsequent investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) must be commended, even as we ask for transparency in the investigations,” the statement added.
The organisations also called for protection of the two house helps named in the case since they served as prime witnesses to the unfolding narrative. The statement further called for the strengthening of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 2003 (Act 646), to provide for a reverse burden of proof in addressing illicit enrichment.
“What this case brings to the fore is that the time has come for the government to enact laws that will strengthen the Criminal Offences, Act 1960 (Act 29) and other anti- corruption laws to include reverse burden of proof in addressing illicit enrichment.
“We strongly urge the President to take a decisive action in addressing alleged corruption cases and back his rhetoric on fighting corruption in the country with action by expelling the popular perception of interferences in corruption investigations involving persons in government,” it said.
Prominent Ghanaian political figure and Member of Parliament, Sam Nartey George, has voiced his apprehensions regarding the current state of the nation.
With unwavering honesty, he has drawn attention to a precarious situation, asserting that Ghana seemingly fulfills the distressing characteristics of a failed state.
He recalled that during a programme he undertook at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, Ghana checked all the boxes of a failed state.
“When I did my programme in Kofi Annan. In one of our classes, we looked at the indicators for failed states and Ghana ticked all the boxes. All. A huge youth population, growing unemployment, desperation, we tick all the boxes.
“So the class ended with the conclusion that it was the grace of God that has kept Ghana away from failing because all the things that are classic indicators of a failed state exist in Ghana,” he added.
During his appearance on Good Evening Ghana, Sam George addressed several implications of the indicators, highlighting unemployment as a major concern among them.
“You just need to drive around Accra and look at the desperation in the faces of young people,” he stated, adding that the upcoming elections will be a battle of competencies, where candidates will be assessed and selected based on their skills and their competencies, and not just promises.
“The next election is not necessarily going to be about who’s got the best promises and slogans, it’s about who can appear to the youth of this country and give them practical solutions to unemployment,” he said.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, Parliament successfully passed the Wildlife Resources Management Bill 2022 after its third reading.
The motion was presented by Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio, on behalf of the Sector Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor.
The main objective of the bill is to revise and consolidate all laws pertaining to Wildlife and Protected Areas, aligning them with existing policies and emerging trends in the natural resources sector. Furthermore, the legislation will facilitate the effective implementation of International Conventions on Wildlife, to which Ghana is a signatory.
The newly passed legislation will also grant legal support to local communities in wildlife management through the establishment of Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs).
Additionally, the bill introduces stricter penalties and sanctions for wildlife offenses, aiming to serve as a deterrent and protect wildlife resources effectively.
The Government, represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, expresses its gratitude and commendation to all stakeholders and key actors for their valuable contributions and support throughout the review process, culminating in the successful passage of the Bill as a new piece of legislation.
Parliament has granted its endorsement to the Whistleblower Amendment Bill, 2023. The approved bill aims to strengthen whistleblower protection measures and encourage the reporting of misconduct, signaling a promising step forward in the nation’s fight against wrongdoing and malfeasance.
According to the report, the main goal of this bill is to amend the current Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), with the aim of strengthening the funding channels for the Whistleblower Reward Fund.
On March 7, 2023, the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, presented the bill before parliament. Following its submission, the bill was referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs for a comprehensive assessment.
The Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), was enacted to incentivize and establish robust structures to strengthen Ghana’s ability to combat corruption and other illicit practices that hinder sustainable development efforts.
One of the key sections of Act 720, Section 20, is what captures the Whistleblower Reward Fund.
It relied on voluntary contributions and budgetary allocations from Parliament as its primary funding sources.
However, the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, led by Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, in its report submitted to the House prior to the bill’s passage, noted certain shortcomings that needed to be addressed.
One major concern was the possibility of delays in releasing approved budgetary funds into the Whistleblower Reward Fund, which could affect the prompt payment of rewards to whistleblowers.
Additionally, Act 720 lacked clarity on the timeframe within which whistleblowers should receive their rewards for their efforts leading to the successful recovery of money or proceeds obtained from the sale of confiscated assets.
“The amendments proposed are, therefore, meant to cure the shortcomings in Act 720 by reducing over-reliance on budgetary allocations as the main sources of revenue into the Whistleblower Reward Fund and to also provide for timeliness for payment of the rewards to successful whistleblowers,” it said.
To rectify these issues, the proposed amendments aim to reduce reliance on budgetary allocations as the primary revenue source for the Whistleblower Reward Fund. This shift intends to ensure the timely payment of rewards to successful whistleblowers, thereby preventing demotivation due to delays.
The committee underscored the vital need to protect the identities of whistleblowers to shield them from potential hunts by powerful individuals in society.
Robust whistleblower protection mechanisms are crucial to encourage citizens to report misconduct, promote public accountability, and uphold integrity.
As part of the approved amendment, individuals and institutions receiving disclosures of impropriety, as per Section 3 of Act 720, are urged to maintain the utmost confidentiality and implement stringent protective measures to safeguard the whistleblowers’ identities.
The report further emphasized that motivating individuals to expose wrongdoing in both private and public sectors play a pivotal role in combating fraud, corruption, and unethical behavior.
Hence, continuous review and improvement of policies and legal frameworks that incentivize and protect patriotic individuals providing information on misconduct are essential.
The proposed amendment is seen as a crucial step in strengthening national efforts to combat corruption and reinforces the country’s commitment to promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.
On Thursday, Parliament successfully passed a significant amendment to the law, making the act of declaring, accusing, naming, or labeling someone as a witch a criminal offense.
This move aims to address the issue of witch accusations and its associated harmful consequences.
Furthermore, the approved amendment also prohibits individuals from practicing as witch doctors or witchfinders. This step is crucial in curbing the harmful practices and beliefs related to witchcraft in the country.
Speaking in Parliament, Speaker Alban Bagbin explained that the House amended the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29, “to prohibit the practice by any person as a witch doctor or a witchfinder, to proscribe the declaration, accusation, naming or labelling of another person as a witch and for related matters.”
In 2020, a tragic incident occurred in the Savanah region where 90-year-old Madam Akua Denteh was brutally lynched after being falsely accused of witchcraft.
The horrifying incident, during which she was slapped, kicked, and caned, was captured in a viral video.
The incident took place in Kafaba near Salaga, situated in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region.
Following the incident, six individuals, including the Kafaba Chief, Zackaria Yahaya, were arrested for their involvement in this heinous killing. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with many Ghanaians, including President Akufo-Addo, condemning the act.
In 2021, three Members of Parliament, representing the Madina, Pusiga, and Wa East constituencies, introduced a Private Members’ Bill aimed at amending the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
Dr. Godfred Seidu Jassaw, the MP for Wa East and one of the sponsors of the bill, expressed his expectation that the president would promptly sign the bill into law.
On the other hand, Francis Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina and a co-sponsor of the bill, revealed that if the bill is passed, it would lead to the disbandment of witches camps nationwide. He further mentioned that the Gender and Social Protection Ministry would take necessary measures to reintegrate the inmates of these camps back into society.
The spokesperson for the Alan Kyerematen campaign team, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has provided an explanation for the decision to put on hold the campaign trip of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant to the Ashanti Region.
According to Mr. Asamoa, the postponement was deemed necessary due to other essential government and parliamentary activities scheduled for that period.
Specifically, the decision was made to avoid interfering with public interest in the mid-year budget review, which is set to be delivered to Parliament on Monday, July 31.
He highlighted the significance of the budget review, as it is the first since Ghana entered the IMF program.
The review will assess whether the country is making progress, remaining static, or experiencing setbacks in its economic development.
“The Minister of Finance is slated to deliver the mid-year budget review to Parliament. That budget review, the first since we entered the IMF programme, will tell us whether we are making progress, we are static or we are retrogressing.
Given the importance of this event for the entire nation, the campaign team did not want their activities to compete for media attention during that week.
Mr. Asamoa stressed the significance of the budget review for Mr. Kyerematen’s campaign and his chances of winning the 2024 polls.
The team is conscious of the fact that the state of the nation’s economy will play a crucial role in the 2024 election’s outcome.
Therefore, they are keen on aligning their campaign with Mr. Kyerematen’s great transformational plan, which aims to build the economy following the IMF stabilisation period, focusing on a stable and sound macroeconomic environment.
The mid-year budget review is expected to prioritize policies aimed at securing economic stability and fostering growth.
It will also encompass several reforms, including the Post-CoVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG), which aims to improve institutions and controls in the country.
Other areas targeted for enhancements include expenditure commitment control and arrears clearance, debt management, governance, tax policy, tax administration, energy sector reforms, and cocoa sector reforms.
The outspoken businessman believes that the presence of the death penalty served as a deterrent to those who may seek to harm the nation or engage in heinous acts within society.
In his view, the abolition of the death penalty creates a conducive environment for increased corruption and violence.
According to Dr. Amoah, a more appropriate course of action for Ghana’s parliament would have been to review and refine the existing death penalty law, ensuring that it serves its intended purpose rather than completely abolishing it.
Writing on his verified Twitter handle, Dr Amoah said, “Instead of reviewing to strengthen the country’s death penalty laws to become credible deterrent of corruption, Parliament wants Ghana to be counted among the world’s countries who have abolished the death penalty … SMH.”
Dr. Kofi Amoah firmly asserts that Ghana’s decision to abolish the death penalty was not driven by any external pressure from a development partner. He believes that Ghana, with its unique challenges, should have retained such laws in its legal framework. In a tweet regarding the abolition of the death penalty, Dr. Amoah emphasized that the country’s specific circumstances warranted the continued existence of these laws in Ghana’s statute books.
“Parliament is wrong with the abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. Corruption and corruption-related offenses are KILLING Ghana, big time!
And this has also created a culture of “get-rich-quick-by-any-means”, poisoning the indispensable essence of honesty and hard work that are necessary for the advancement of any society. Instead of reviewing to strengthen the country’s death penalty laws to become a credible deterrent of corruption, Parliament wants Ghana to be counted among the world’s countries that have abolished the death penalty … SMH.
Do we really appreciate the challenges Ghana faces and the areas of governance we must differ so that we can also make progress and catch up with the “developed world” we wish to compare ourselves to?
A new progressive Parliament and Prez must propose more robust Death Penalty Laws for larger public discussion and adoption. We must remove the cancer that is killing our dreams for PROGRESS!!”
The decision by parliament earlier this week to abolish the death penalty means Ghana joins a long list of African countries that have done so in recent years.
The country currently has 170 men and six women on death row, whose sentences will now be replaced by life imprisonment. The last execution took place in 1993. Execution has been the mandatory sentence for murder in Ghana.
PARLIAMENT IS WRONG WITH THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN GHANA
Corruption and corruption- related offenses are KILLING Ghana, big time!
And this has also created a culture of “get-rich-quick-by-any-means”, poisoning the indispensable essence of honesty and hard-work that… https://t.co/7M8ii1CSAH
On Friday, July 28, 2023, Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta will participate in an extensive meeting with Members of Parliament.
This meeting serves as a preliminary discussion ahead of the forthcoming 2023 mid-year review and the potential presentation of a supplementary budget, which is scheduled for Monday.
Before the house, Speaker Alban Bagbin disclosed the meeting’s aim to be that,
“On Friday, the Minister of Finance will be available to hold an intensive meeting with Members of Parliament. This is an agreement entered into between leadership and the Ministry of Finance as a prelude to the presentation of the mid-year review and possibly a supplementary budget on Monday.”
An extensive meeting with MPs is expected to serve as a platform for in-depth discussions and consultations regarding the upcoming mid-year review and any potential supplementary budget proposals.
In the latest update, Parliament has officially confirmed a new date for Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to present the highly anticipated 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review. Originally scheduled for July 25, 2023, the presentation had to be rescheduled and will now take place on Monday, July 31, 2023.
The Mid-Year Budget Review, mandated by Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Financial Management Act 921, provides a crucial opportunity to reassess macroeconomic targets and present a comprehensive economic outlook for the remaining fiscal year.
This budget review holds significant importance as it marks the first major financial statement of the government since Ghana secured a substantial $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) extended credit facility.
During the session, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to provide Parliament with updates on the measures taken by the government to stabilize the economy in the aftermath of the IMF deal.
Accra High Court to deliver judgment in the case of the alleged galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang on October 12, 2023.
Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo presides, ordering the State to file their written address by September 20, 2023, and the defense team by October 11, 2023.
Prosecutors completed cross-examination of Aisha Huang, who faces charges of illegal mining, facilitating illegal mining, and unlawful re-entry into Ghana after deportation.
Aisha denies all charges and remains in custody.
During cross-examination, Aisha denies engaging anyone for illegal mining and refutes owning concealed passports.
“It is not true that I have engaged anybody to engage in illegal mining on my behalf. I swear, I have not engaged four Chinese nationals to work for me.
“It is not true that I took some Chinese Nationals to Bepotenten in Amansie Central, Ashanti Region, to mine for me. I have never engaged in mining activities.”
Prosecution inquires about alleged marriages; Aisha confirms marrying Anthony Fabian in China in 2009, the union lasted five years.
She denies marrying Daniel Oduro Acheampong.
“I did not contract any marriage with Oduro at Oda in July 2018,” she told the court.
Court adjourns the case to August 16, 2023, for mention, complying with legal requirements for adjournments.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has declared that there will be no parliamentary session on Thursday, July 26, due to a significant national event that will involve key authorities in the country.
This important occasion will bring together the President, Chief Justice, members of parliament, former presidents, ministers, and other prominent figures.
On the floor of the house, Speaker Alban Bagbin explained the reason for the adjournment, stating; “The house will not sit tomorrow, we have a very important National event hosted by our partners in the church and from his excellency through my good self, the Chief Justice, former presidents, some ministers, and all the important authorities in the country will have to reconvene to look at a very critical national agenda. In view of that, a number of members of parliament are compulsorily to be present and so we will not sit tomorrow. We will seat on Thursday.”
The Pentecost church is hosting a national event, leading to the adjournment of the usual parliamentary session scheduled for Thursday.
As a result, members of parliament will now convene on Friday, July 27, for the resumption of parliamentary activities after the event concludes.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has mandated its regional and constituency executives planning to run in the parliamentary primaries against incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) to step down from their current positions.
As per a party statement, the executives must resign from their positions by September 20, 2023, in order to qualify as candidates in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.
The directive also extends to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in constituencies where the party has sitting MPs. Those MMDCEs, according to the NPP, are not eligible to participate in the parliamentary primaries for those constituencies.
The directive, the NPP explained was borne out of a National Council meeting held on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
“Regional and Constituency Party executives who wish to contest in the primaries in Constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament shall resign from their respective positions not later than September 20, 2023. All such executives shall tender in their resignation letters to their respective Regional Party Secretariats not later than September 20, 2023.
“Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Constituencies where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament are not eligible to contest in the parliamentary primaries for those Constituencies,” the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said in a statement issued on July 24.
However, the party warned to deal with presidential aspirants who engage in unhealthy campaigns that will dent the image of the party.
“Any Aspiring Presidential Candidate, or his supporters, and party executives at all levels who act in contravention of the Code of Conduct, moving forward, shall be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines thereof and the Party Constitution. For the avoidance of doubt, the relevant portions of the guidelines dealing with the expected standards of conduct include the following: All Aspiring Presidential Candidates shall campaign on issues and refrain from levelling unsubstantiated allegations, personal attacks and vilifications against their opponents”.
Former Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi made a surprise appearance in a video during National Patriotic Party presidential aspirant Ken Ohene Agyapong’s campaign tour in Jirapa, Upper West Region.
The video capturing Mr Agyapong’s campaign tour in Jirapa, surfaced over the weekend. Of significance, the video showed the presence of former Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi among the party delegates.
The once-revered football administrator was spotted introducing himself in his local dialect. He publicly endorsed the Assin North MP as the most suitable candidate to lead Ghana in the 2024 elections, encouraging all voters to cast their ballots in favor of Ken Agyapong on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
Nyantakyi who doubles as a lawyer is a long-time confidant of the politician, who vehemently defended him after he was caught up in investigative journalism Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ exposé five years ago.
It will be recalled that in 2018, Nyantakyi was captured in Anas’ ‘Number 12’ exposé allegedly taking cash gifts and engaging in influence peddling.
This led to him resigning as GFA President, as well as losing his positions as FIFA Council Member and 1st Vice President of CAF.
Nyantakyi was subsequently handed a lifetime ban and fined 500,000 Swiss Francs by FIFA. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, and corruption by a public officer, but was later granted bail with some sureties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e06Xo3HY5HI
His lifetime ban was subsequently reduced to 15 years following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) three years ago.
Nyantakyi was in the company of Ken Ohene Agyapong when he filed his nomination form to contest for the NPP Presidential candidacy on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
