Month: December 2010

The NPP Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, has commended the newly crowned IBF bantamweight champion Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko for his enviable feat.

Joseph Agbeko dominated Yonnhy Perez to win back his IBF bantamweight title. Agbeko put on a masterful performance against Yonnhy Perez in the main event on Showtime to reclaim his IBF bantamweight title in a rematch of their October 2009 clash.

Agbeko who outclassed his opponent was much too quick and too slick for Perez over twelve rounds of boxing. In a complete 180-degree turn, Agbeko opted to forgo his slugging style from the first fight, and made himself tough to catch; slamming Perez with right hands throughout the night, while making the former champion miss more often than not.

Though Perez kept coming forward, he simply couldn’t land enough of his big shots to put a dent in Agbeko’s gameplan. After Perez appeared to get back into the fight in the 5th and 6th rounds, Agbeko once again turned the tide in his favor with an impressive 7th round. Agbeko continued to fire off quick combinations and put himself out of harm’s way with the exception of a few right hands late in the fight.

Contributing to a discussion on Peace FM’s morning show, the Hon. Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, applauded the efforts of Joseph Agbeko for once again doing the nation Ghana proud with his victory.

He noted that until Agbeko’s recent victory, Ghana which has been known over the years for producing world boxing champions had none.

Hon. Amankwa Asiamah, however urged the champion not to be complacent with winning the International Boxing Federation (IBF) championship, but strive to move up into the more competitive and prestigious boxing divisions such as the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA).

Source :Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The youth wing of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has congratulated the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, on his appointment as Commissioner on the World Health Organisation (WHO)/International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Commission on Information.

The NDC National Youth Organizer, Ludwig Akpene Hlodze, in a statement issued in Accra on Thursday, said the appointment of Mr Iddrisu confirmed the confidence President John Evans Atta Mills had in the capabilities of the youth of Ghana, especially his appointees.

“On behalf of the Youth Wing of the NDC, I congratulate you on your new appointment and we hope you will bring your dynamism and hard work to bear on the Commission to make it more responsive to the needs of women and children’s health in Africa and across the world through Information Technology,” Mr Hlodze said.

The statement encouraged the youth of Ghana at home and abroad to commit their knowledge and energy into productive engagements that would engender peace and sustainable development for our own future.

The Commission, launched by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon at the MDG Summit in September, 2010, is part of the implementation of the Global Strategy for Women and Children’s Health.

Source: GNA

The Minority in parliament on Thursday called on government and its agents to desist from unduly meddling in the affairs of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and destabilizing Ghana sports generally.

Mr Asiamah Isaac Kwame, Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Mponua, addressing a press conference on Thursday, said the minority would use all legal means to protect the hard won reputation Ghana sports had gained in the past years through the diligence and hard work of patriotic Ghanaians. The conference was in reaction to the confiscation of computers, files, mobile phones and other documents of the GFA on December 7, 2010 by the Economic and Organised Crime Office.

Mr Asiamah described the act as part of attempts to intimidate and interfere in the affairs of the GFA.

He said under the Economic and Organised Crime Act, Act 804 of 2010, the objective of EOCO was to prevent and detect organized crime and generally to facilitate the confiscation of the proceeds of criminal activity.

Mr Asiamah said the Minority had heard the Executive Director of EOCO on several networks rationalizing the invasion of the premises of the GFA and the ransacking of their offices based on Act 804 enacted on September 6, 2010.

He said the Director had not stated that his office was investigating financial or economic loss to the Republic or any state entity or Institution in which the state had financial interest.

“They are not investigating money laundering, human trafficking, prohibited cyber activity, tax fraud or serious offence, which the Act defines to include terrorism, trafficking in narcotic drugs, illicit arms, smuggling, murder, armed robbery, corruption, extortion and forgery,” he said.

Mr Asiamah noted that regrettably the EOCO as successor to the Serious Fraud Office, appeared to use its office to harass and intimidate the GFA following the initial failed attempt by the then SFO to investigate the GFA in the same fashion of investigating and freezing the assets of the Ghana Olympic Committee.

“It is unfortunate that the EOCO was not learning any lessons from its encounter with the GOC in the law courts, leading to the definite pronouncement that the office was not created to meddle in the affairs of private organizations and to go on a wild goose chase,” he added He said the actions of EOCO were irresponsible and reckless, coming after the warning from FIFA and IOC about government interference in sports and following the government’s directive to the GFA to pay all world Cup proceeds into government accounts.

Mr Asiamah said it was obvious that the actions of government agencies like EOCO had given Ghana Sports a very bad image, brought the name of Ghana into disrepute, embarrassed all sports loving compatriots and destabilized sports in the country.

“The very reputable image Ghana has earned is rapidly fading due to the intransigent and bellicose attitude of certain persons purporting to act in the name of government but not courageous enough to own up for their irresponsibility and damage to Ghana Sports,” he said.

Source: GNA

Parliament Thursday afternoon has approved the controversial Clause 5 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.

The House approved government’s proposal to use expected revenue from the commercial production of oil to secure loans for other projects after a headcount of 97 in favour, 87 against and one abstention

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro Samia Yaaba Nkrumah who is not aligned to any of the sides in Parliament abstained.

The first Deputy Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho who sat in for the Speaker, called for a headcount after days of heated debate both on and off the floor of Parliament, including calls by the Minority for withdrawal of the Bill due to the many amendments proposed.

While the minority wants the revenue kept for future generations the NDC government contends that it would be imprudent to keep the proceeds in a holding account when it can be leveraged to secure loans to meet national demands now.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and MP for Nadowli West Wednesday launched a US$ 77.34 million sustainable rural water and sanitation project for six regions.

The International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank is providing US$75.00 million loan while the government of Ghana would provide US$2.34 million to support the project which is intended to cover 600,000 people in 54 districts in the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Central and Western regions.

Launching the five-year project in Nanton-Zuo in the Tamale Metropolis, Mr. Bagbin commended the World Bank for its support to the various sectors of the country’s economy.

He said the sustainable rural water and sanitization project would improve and increase access to water through the construction and rehabilitation of boreholes fitted with hand pumps and piped water systems in all the six regions.

He said when completed the project would contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals target of 76 percent and 56 percent in water and sanitation respectively.

Mr. Bagbin expressed worry about shoddy projects that were done in the past and could not stand the test of time and that the project would be monitored to ensure that shoddy works were not done.

He urged the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to see to it that the right procedures were followed and competitive tendering was used in the award of contracts.

Mr. Sam Nasamu Asabigi, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, appealed to development partners to consider giving some new facilities to the other districts in the region that were not going to benefit from the project.

He said only four districts in the region were benefiting while 10 would benefit from rehabilitation.

He expressed the concern that two major impediments were facing the region which included low access to ground water and the incidence of high fluoride.

Mr. Clement Bugase, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, said 1,200 boreholes, 40 limited mechanized water systems, 29 full scale mechanized water supply systems would be constructed.

He said the project would also rehabilitate 13 non-optimal performing small town water supply systems in the Northern Region while 400 broken boreholes in rural communities would also be rehabilitated.

Mr. Vanture Bengonechea, a Representative of the World Bank, said the project would assist the government to overcome the water and sanitation problems facing the country and in meeting the MDGs.

Source: GNA

Mr Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport and MP for Effutu, has commended Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), on its efforts to regain the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) category One status.

“As an authority required to provide regulatory oversight for the air transport industry in Ghana, the GCAA’s performance over the decade has been quite commendable”, he said.

Mr Hammah made the commendation during the 66th International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Day celebration in Accra. This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Safe, Secure and Sustainable Aviation on our Planet.”

The Day is observed annually on December 7, to raise awareness on the importance of the aviation industry, as well as the role of ICAO in the industry.

The ICAO is a UN body, responsible for maintaining international standards in order to ensure safety in aviation. He observed that air transport contributed significantly in attracting Foreign Direct Investments into the country, adding, “for us in Ghana, Civil Aviation has contributed immensely to economic growth”. Mr Hammah said in the tourism sector, about 70 per cent of international tourists entered the country by air, thus promoting the tourism industry, which had also been the fastest growing sector of the economy.

He said Ghana,soon to become an oil producing nation, provided “a unique opportunity for us to expand the aviation industry, to enable us build capacity for all aviation related components of the oil industry”.

Mr Hammah said GCAA and Ghana Airports Company Limited were working hard to complete the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) phase III development project, which after completion would mark the achievement of the vision to launch the KIA as the air transport hub and economic gate-way to West Africa.

He noted that ICAO had indeed fulfilled its mandate to promote safe and orderly aviation globally, through the formulation of regulations and setting of standards and recommended practices for the safe and orderly conduct of civil aviation worldwide. “Sixty-six years in the life of an organisation like ICAO is a significant milestone that deserves to be celebrated with pomp and pageantry”, he added.

Source: GNA

Parliament on Wednesday adjourned unceremoniously over innumerable amendments on the Petroleum Management Bill.

The unusually bulky 61 page Order Paper for the day had 256 amendments which according to Mr Joe Ghartey, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Esikadu/Ketan, was confusing.

“The amendments are just too many and worrying,” he said.

He wondered why amendments were still coming in even after winnowing had been done, adding that if care was not taken the product of the bill could be contradictory.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, NPP Member for Sekondi, said the bill must be immediately withdrawn for government to state its position clearly on it. “Government is not focused on the direction to which the bill must go,” he said.

“In the interest of Ghana the bill must be withdrawn and for meaningful progress to be made,” he said.

He said if care was not taken parliament would not be able to finish work on the bill and would be proper if the bill was reconsidered. Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Sene, said the withdrawal of the bill was not a viable option, arguing that more time should be given to the leadership of the House to do more winnowing.

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader, said government’s position in some areas had really changed but was not subversive to the spirit of the bill.

This again drew Owusu-Ankomah on to the floor asking that the bill should be withdrawn.

According to Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker who took the seat from Justice Joyce Bamford Addo, said government’s amendements must be made as a statement to the House and not as Mr Pelpou had stated it. He stated the bill had passed the winnowing stage, adding the best that could be done now was to do consultation with both sides of the house, especially on the controversial clauses.

However, Mr Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader, said since the amendments were too many winnowing must still take place to reduce some the proposed amendments.

He craved the indulgence of the Speaker to adjourn the House for the leadership to meet and consider the issue so that the process would continue tomorrow.

Mr Osei Kyei-Menah Bonsu, Minority Leader, said the House had limited time for the bill and that the withdrawal would have been the best way out. For this reason, he said the House should adjourn for consultations to be done.

Petroleum Management Bill 2010 was laid before the House in November this year. It is to provide the framework for the allocation of revenue that will accrue from the exploitation of Ghana’s oil which is expected to flow soon.

Source: GNA

The Minority NPP in Parliament today presented gift items to former President John Agyekum Kufour on the occasion of his birthday.

Today 8th December 2010 marks the 72nd birthday of the Ex President and it’s also the tenth anniversary of Mr Kufour leading the New Patriotic Party to victory in the historic 2000 general elections.

The plush Airport West residence of former President Kufour was a beehive of activities as lots of people from all walks of life including NPP “heavy weights “ such as former Vice President Aliu Mahama, NPP Party Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and several well wishers trooped to the house of Mr Kufour to wish him well on his birthday.

The Minority Leader, Osei -Kyei Mensah- Bonsu, who led the minority delegation in a short address, re-countered the many achievement of Ex-President Kufour not only in Ghana but also on the African continent.

He described Mr Kufour as a blessing to Africa as he helped to bring about peace on the continent by playing leading role as AU Chairman to bring about peace in Kenya when that country had power crisis after a disputed elections, and also ensuring peace in Ivory Coast after the 2002 crisis.

Hon. Osei -Kyei Mensah- Bonsu, added that Ghanaians will continue to revere Ex-President Kufour for the dignity he brought to the presidency in his eight years in office and the improvement in the standard of living of the ordinary Ghanaian.

Ex-President Kufour on his part restated that his government is the best since Ghana’s independence and therefore charged members of the NPP to spread the achievements of his administration across the country and beyond.

He believes this will let Ghanaians to vote out the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of power in the 2012 general elections.

Mr. Kufuor noted that most Ghanaians have regretted for not rewarding his excellent performance as a president by maintaining his party in power during the 2008 election.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Aburi-Nsawam and former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, O.B Amoah has condemned the Economic and Organised Crimes Office for the brutish manner in which it stormed the offices of the Ghana Football Association.

Personnel of the Economic and Organised Crimes Unit (formerly Serious Fraud Office), yesterday raided the offices of the Ghana Football Association and carted away documents and computers and also seized mobile phones of some of the employees in what officials say was part of investigations into the FA’s finances and reports the football governing body breached the country’s laws including tax laws.

The head of the EOCO, Mordey Akpadie, has insisted that the action was not targeted at any individual or individuals at the FA but O.B Amoah thinks otherwise saying in recent times the not too rosy relationship between the government and FA bears ample testimony.

Speaking on Oman FM’s morning show Wednesday morning, Hon. O.B Amoah stated that the shameful public display yesterday at the Headquarters of the FA is most unfortunate and unnecessary, as the Economic and Organised Crimes Unit could have devised and applied a more appropriate means of obtaining whatever documents it needed.

He noted that recent happenings in Ghana football such as an attempt by government to withdraw the name of FA President Kwasi Nyantakyi, as Ghana’s candidate for a Caf executive committee position as one of many issues that negatively affect Ghana’s reputation internationally.

Hon. O.B Amoah urged government not to interfere with the Ghana Football Association operations to avoid a ban from FIFA.

Meanwhile the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) will is expected to return the computers and files it seized from the offices of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) today Wednesday 8th December 2010.

A source close to the Crime Unit has said the body has finished sifting through the files for the necessary information and is returning the computers and documents that were seized.

Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh