Month: October 2010

Ghana’s Parliament has officially written a rejoinder to the Editors of Africa Watch Magazine expressing dissatisfaction about its recently published political performance index which included MPs.

The Magazine’s grading of Ministers of State and the Executive, caused a lot of discussions and elicited condemnation from MPs who scored poor marks per the ratings.

The ratings which were released in October 2010 scored some 24 MPs ‘F’ which represents non performance. Although other MPs got fairly good ratings like ‘A-‘ and ‘B+,’ there appears to be a unanimous position from lawmakers that the Magazine’s findings are deceitful.

Parliament in a statement issued on Monday October 25, said “the appearance of MPs on the floor of the house could not be used as a yardstick to judge their performance”.

“Whereas it is absolutely necessary for an MP to be seen or heard articulating the concerns of his constituents in particular, and Ghanaians in general on the floor of the House, it is also important to let you know that there are rules governing debates on the floor. If you don’t “catch the Speaker’s eyes” you cannot make your contribution”. It is also important to let you know that since Parliament works within a time frame of four hours daily, it is not practically possible for every member to contribute to a particular motion on any given day on the floor. The feeling of the members is that, this alone cannot be used as yardstick to measure the performance.

The statement also reminded the Editors of the Magazine that the bulk of Parliament’s work is done at the Committee level which was not used as part of the performance indicators.

“Since the assessment done by Africa Watch did not include committee business and the role MPs play in the socio-economic development in their respective communities, the result cannot be accurate” the statement said.

“The third reason of the members’ discontentment is on those who were interviewed. One cannot state how many Senior Parliamentary correspondents you interviewed. Most of the “Senior Journalists”, who operate on daily basis when the House is in session, have indicated that they were not contacted.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education is worried about the poor state of accommodation facilities in some senior high schools.

The committee made the observation after touring schools in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions.

The tour afforded the MPs the opportunity to assess progress of work on dormitories and classrooms for fresh students.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Mathias Puozaa told Joy News the committee members observed that students did not have places for chop-boxes and the boxes were packed outside which they felt was not good enough.

He said the Committee instructed the authorities to find an immediate solution to the situation.

Mr. Puozaa, however assured that facilities being put up for the fresh students should be completed by next month.

He justified the decision by the Ghana Education Service to ignore earlier appeals to postpone the reopening date for fresh students.

For him, it would not have been fair to bar all schools from admitting new students when some of the schools had their facilities ready for occupation.

Source: joy fm

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Joyce Bamford Addo, has directed that the Editor of the Africawatch, Magazine, Steve Mallory, be hauled before the Privileges Committee of Parlaiment.

The Magazine in its October edition graded the Speaker and some Parliamentarians of which some 24 MPs scored ‘F’ which represents non performance.

Although other MPs got faily good ratings like ‘ A-‘ and ‘ B +’, there appears to be a unanimous position from the lawmakers that the Magazine’s findings are deceitful.

The grading of the MP’s generated a lot of uproar mostly from parliamentarians who felt they had been unfairly rated.

Speaker of Parliament, Joyce Bamford Addo, after several discussion on the matter on the floor of Parliament, was of the view that the publication has brought the august name of Parliament into disrepute.

Ghana’s Parliament feeling strongly about the issue has officially written a rejoinder to the Editors of Africa Watch Magazine expressing dissatisfaction about its recently published political performance index which included MPs.

Parliament in a statement issued on Monday October 25, said “the appearance of MPs on the floor of the house could not be used as a yardstick to judge their performance”.

“Whereas it is absolutely necessary for an MP to be seen or heard articulating the concerns of his constituents in particular, and Ghanaians in general on the floor of the House, it is also important to let you know that there are rules governing debates on the floor. If you don’t “catch the Speaker’s eyes” you cannot make your contribution”. It is also important to let you know that since Parliament works within a time frame of four hours daily, it is not practically possible for every member to contribute to a particular motion on any given day on the floor. The feeling of the members is that, this alone cannot be used as yardstick to measure the performance.

The statement also reminded the Editors of the Magazine that the bulk of Parliament’s work is done at the Committee level which was not used as part of the performance indicators.

“Since the assessment done by Africa Watch did not include committee business and the role MPs play in the socio-economic development in their respective communities, the result cannot be accurate” the statement said.

Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Mr. Joe Gidisu, MP for Central Tongu and Minister of Roads and Highways, has cut the sod for the commencement of work on the re-surfacing of two kilometers of roads at Yeji.

He gave the assurance that, the NDC government would ensure the fulfillment of its election promises in pursuance of its “Better Ghana” agenda.

Mr. Gidisu announced that the contract for the project had been awarded to Messrs Kenhentson Company Limited at a contract sum of GHC 775,685.84, to be completed by September next year.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at the ceremony at Yeji, the
Minister disclosed that, so far about 120 out of the 250 metres of concrete U-drains had been constructed.

He said other projects under the contract included the construction of trapezoidal block lined drains, 500 metres of concrete curb and the bituminous surfacing of two kilometers of roads.

Mr. Gidisu said it was the expectation of the government that, the project when completed, would help improve the living conditions of people in the area and appealed to the contractor to complete it on schedule.

Accompanied by some officials of the Ministry, including Mr Mawutodzi Abissath, Deputy Director in-charge of Public Relations, the Minister implored that, the contractor works according to agreed specifications.

He also appealed to people, who would be affected by the construction of the project, to co-operate with the contractor, saying appropriate traffic management plans would be put in place to mitigate inconveniences that would be caused to motorists and pedestrians.

Mr. Gidisu said the government would do its best to ensure that Yeji, as the capital of the Pru district, was provided with the necessary infrastructure to befit its status.

He added that, the government had so far, paid GHC 250 million, towards the completion of some projects, initiated by the Kufuor government, stressing that,
the provision of roads, in any community, helped to link people to others, to upscale their economic and social well-being.

The minister stated that, the construction of the Prang-Abease-Kintampo major road was at the heart of the government, and promised traditional authorities of the area that, at the appropriate time, the dream would come true.

Pemampem Yaw Kabrese V, Omanhene of the Yeji Traditional Area, thanked the government for its concern for the plight of the people in the area, noting that, the project would help curb the annual flood problem in the town.

Obviously worried about the devastating effect caused by floods at Yeji, the Omanhene suggested a gradual approach to solving the drainage problem in the town, to ensure effective work.

The Omanhene said, he had seen for himself, specifications for the town’s drainage system, and that there was the need for the authorities to take a second look at the plan, as it would only provide small gutters, instead of big and deep ones.

Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister said the provision of electricity, schools, water and other infrastructure could not materialize in the face of bad roads.

He said government would not fail the nation in the provision of the needed amenities, to make Ghanaians feel good about voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2008 general election.

Mr. Gidisu and his entourage later inspected a big gutter at Lafikura, a suburb of Yeji, choked with garbage, which the residents claimed, was the cause of the annual floods in the town.

The Minister later paid a courtesy call on Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, Omanhene of Prang and inspected the 100-kilometre road linking Yeji-Prang-Abease to Kintampo.

Source: GNA

Parliament concluded debate on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill 2010 on yesterday granting it a safe passage into the consideration stage where several proposed amendments are to be winnowed.

Curtains were drawn on the second reading which attracted huge attention and interest from both sides of the House at a time when demand for more debating hours were on the cards.

Ghana joined the pool of oil producing countries and in a dire search of best practices around the world in the management of the oil revenue to avoid the woes of many countries blessed with resource hence the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill which seeks to chart the course of proper and accountable use of the oil revenue.

Mr Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader, who was the last to speak commended government and the Western Regional House of Chiefs for the wide consultation and for adopting a civil approach in presenting their petition to the House respectively.

He also thanked all Members of Parliament for dropping their party colours and adopted a patriotic approach in their discourse. Mr Avoka however expressed surprise that the argument made by some that the bill emanated from government and that those in government should have criticized it.

“Let me say this house is not a rubber stamp”, he said, adding “I regret those lines of submissions.”

The Leader of Government Business noted that Parliament should not make laws that tied the hand of the executives in governing the state. He stressed that if Kwame Nkrumah were to be heckled by such laws in those days, he would not have built the Akosombo Dam, the Tema Habour, the Accra-Tema Motorway and some other development projects. Mr Avoka was apprehensive about the introduction of the Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) which according to the bill, would monitor and evaluate compliance with the act by government. He specifically questioned the legality of that committee especially the Queens who were members.

The Leader said the out look did not reflect the totality of Ghanaian nationhood since not every part of the country had queen overlords. He noted that Parliament had an oversight role to play. Mr Avoka endorsed the idea that revenue should not be pumped into the heritage and the Stabilisation Funds for at least five years and that proceeds be used for development projects because development was what the nation yearned for.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, argued that the ten per cent demand by the chiefs of the Western Region was a campaign promise made by the Vice President and that it was strange that the government was not were ready fulfil it.

He said the Western Region had contributed so much to national development such as cocoa, timber, bauxite and now oil but lagged in terms of development.

He called for a long term national development plan which all political parties which may form governments would be committed to it. “We must a structure devoid of political coloration”, he said. The Minority Leader argued that it was right for the framers of the bill to forbid the petrol revenue being used as loan security because that was what ran down Nigeria into debt.

He said was government wanted to use the oil revenue for the SXT deal and hence their U-turn on the project. This statement prompted Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister of Water Resource, Works and Housing, to rise to his feet. He said the Minority Leader that the project was still on going and there was no U-turn to it and challenged Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to prove otherwise.

He suggested the establishment of a Petroleum Fund parallel to the Consolidated Fund with project estimates that would be different so that projects that would be funded under such arrangement would be determinable.

He said such programmes and activities should be costed by the Finance and Economic Planning Minister. He said the National Development Planning Commission should apolitical so that it would trustworthy enough to be used by any government at any time.

Source:GNA

Government has firmly denied that President Mills has ordered the Civil Service Council to begin fresh investigations into the $20,000 which Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka was alleged to have allocated to himself whiles in office.

The Director of Communications at the Presidency Koku Anyidoho has said the Daily Guide’s report that the President has ordered fresh investigations into the matter could not be true since no such order had been given by the President.

The Daily Guide in the Thursday, November 25, 2010 edition reported that it had gathered credible information from the government indicating that the President had ordered new investigations into Muntaka’s controversial $20,000 saga.

The paper claimed that “checks from the seat of government revealed that the Presidency has directed the Civil Service Council to set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the mystery surrounding the $20,000 taxpayer’s money and who should be held accountable for it, despite the fact that the issue had been investigated by the National Security, upon which Muntaka was sacked.”

Koku Anyodoho who spoke on Radio GoldThursday morning, was categorical in refuting the paper’s claim adding that if any such directive had been issued by the President it would have been officially published.

The Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Muntaka was implicated in a financial malfeasance when 17 allegations of financial impropriety were leveled against him by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Albert Ampong and the Principal Accountant, Mr Adim Odoom.

Hon. Mohammed Muntaka resigned his position in spite of the fact that he was exonerated after an investigation by the National Security apparatus.

He has been invited together with other officials who were at the ministry during that period to participate in the hearing which is being held by the Civil Service Council in order to bring closure to the controversy surrounding the $20,000 which he is alleged to have pocketed.

Story by :Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiahmah, has urged Professor J.E.A Mills to immediately declare his intention not to contest the 2012 election, so that he can have his peace of mind to effectively rule the country till his term ends.

According to the MP, President Mills since assuming the presidency has continued to come under a barrage of severe criticisms and accusations from “big shots” within his own party including former President Rawlings, an action that has adversely affected the ability of the President Mills to effectively manage the affairs of the country.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace Fm’s morning show today, the Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah noted that the sometimes unnecessary and unwelcome criticism on President Mills, has rendered him destabilized and it is clearly showing in his inability to preside over the country well.

“If I were President Mills I will announce that I am not contesting the next elections so that I will have absolute peace to rule Ghana’’, he said.

‘’ Where in this world in a democratic dispensation have you heard or know a sitting President constantly being vilified by his own party members like is being done to President Mills, this is certainly unprecedented’’, he stated.

He said it was instructive to note that calls for President Mills to be dropped as the presidential candidate of the NDC’s in the 2012 election, begun just a year into his rule which is an indication of the fact that his own people have loss trust in him.

Hon. Kwabena Amankwa Asiahmah, noted that if the members of the NDC party continues to fight among themselves and travel the path of running down President Mills, certainly the NPP will be in an advantageous position to win the 2010 elections which is very crucial.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghannamps.gov.gh