Month: June 2011

The Minority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is pushing for some constitutional reforms to enhance the work of the legislature.

He is suggesting among others, amendment of Article 187 to allow parliament to work closely with the Auditor General to ensure judicious use of state funds.

He is also calling for the amendment of some Standing Orders of Parliament to give more powers to its committees.

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was reacting to the latest African Parliamentary Index which revealed that Ghana’s parliament does not have much oversight responsibility over the Executive’s use of state funds.

He said work was currently ongoing on the Job 600 building hoping the works will be completed by the end of next year so the next parliament can have offices for members of the House.

The African Parliamentary Index also gave Ghanaian MPs a low grade for their accessibility to their constituents.

The Minority leader is hopeful this will improve when office projects for Ghanaian MPs are completed.

Source: Joy News

The National Democratic Congress Member of parliament for the North Tongu constituency and Minister for roads and highways Joe Gidisu has stated that the party in the Volta region is stronger now than it used to be and will win the 2012 elections decisively.

He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its leader Nana Akuffo Addo should stay clear from the Volta region as the people in the area will not succumb to their lies and yellow propaganda.

He said, the Nkwanta North parliamentary seat which was won by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the last elections was a mistake on the part of the NDC in the region but has resolved to annex all twenty two seats in the area in the upcoming elections.

‘’The seat that the NPP won in the Volta region is a borrowed one which was as a result of the party’s own internal wrangling and I can assure you that come 2012, despite the intrigues of the NP in the 2008
elections. We are more solid now than before and we are going into the 2012 elections as resolute as ever and winning the Nkwanta North seat is a foregone conclusion’’. He said.

The roads and highways minister indicated that Volta region is part of the NDC and NDC is part of Volta region and no matter where their people are located they demonstrate passionate love for the party and not any individual.

Hon. Joe Gidisu noted that the Volta region (VR) is a very reliable region, wherever we are our people demonstrate their passionate and support for the party. He told Radio Gold on the fringes of the presidents three day tour of the Eastern region whiles the entourage was ferrying across the Volta lake to the Afram plains, whiles supporters of the NDC where in canoes demonstrating their impeccable love and confidence to President Mills and the NDC that, the level of confidence among the people of the Volta region is as a result their believe in the ideology and beliefs of the NDC.

He insisted that the Volta region is not carried away by materialism and for that matter people should begin to look at the party and not focus on individual loyalty. He said despite the seeming challenges in the NDC, Voltarians are very optimistic and hopeful that the party shall overcome.

Joe Gidisu said ‘’ when you lie prostate facing the sky that is where people expect you to be seeing God. NPP lied, they laid prostate facing the sky but could not see God in the Volta region and now that they are
lying with face to the ground how can they see God in the Volta region.’’

The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency said it is an illusion and a mirage for the NPP to think that they can make any meaningful impact in the Volta region.

‘’Let me send a signal to the NPP and its leader Nana Akuffo Addo that it is impossible to make any political gains in the NDC in the Volta region. Let’s wait and observe whether they will get half of the votes they got whiles in power from 2000-2008 and now that they are in opposition. He said.

He noted that, despite the difficulties the region has seen significant developmental projects in the area and those developments are immeasurable to the NPP’s eight years in the area, and the people are satisfied with the president Mills led government.

Source: Radio Gold

The Member of Parliament for Adentan, Kojo Adu Asare has stated emphatically that any break away party which would be formed out of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not stand the test of time and is bound to fail.

His comment comes in the wake of reports that the former first family (Rawlingses) are planning to break away from the NDC party in the event that former first lady Nana Konadu who is contesting the flag bearer position of the party fails to win in the upcoming congress in July 2011.

The NDC goes to its national delegates congress in Sunyani to elect the party’s presidential candidate to lead the party to the 2012 general elections which promises to be keenly contested between the ruling NDC and the largest opposition party the NPP.

As the July Congress approaches, the Nana Konadu 2012 campaign has severally complained about intimidation and harassment of its supporters by its competing group the Get Attah Mills Elected (GAME).

Political analyst believe if Nana Konadu loses the position which will deepen the waning of the Rawlingses grip on the party, the former first couple will eventually form their own political party, a move if taken could negatively affect the ruling NDC party.

However contributing to a panel discussion on e.tv Breakfast TV Show, the Member of Parliament for Adentan Kojo Adu- Asare stated that the Rawlingses should take a cue from the other splinter parties like the DFP and Reform Party which came out of the NDC, but made no electoral gains in the history of Ghanaian politics.

“They must not waste their time, energy and resources to try to form a breakaway political party as it will not be in their best interest to do so’’ he said.

He called for all NDC members irrespective of their affiliation to either the Mills or Nana Konadu camp to seek the larger interest of the NDC to win the 2012 elections which would be an uphill task.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Minister for Water Resource, Works and Housing and the Member of Parliament for Nadowli West, Alban Bagbin has strongly debunked reports by the Dispatch news paper that he is being considered to partner Mrs. Rawlings in the 2012 general elections if she emerge winner of the July NDC congress.

The Daily Dispatch in its Wednesday edition published a list it claims was dropped by a member of the Konadu campaign team as potential players in a future Konadu government.
But in an interview with Citi Fm, an Accra based private radio station , Mr. Bagbin denied ever being contacted on such a move and expressed surprise that the paper did not consult him for an input.

He said in as much as he respects former President Rawlings and wife for the key role they have played in the NDC and in Ghana as a country, he did not think it is time for Mrs. Rawlings to lead the party.
“I have unflinching support for Mills that is why I accepted to be his Minister of water resources”.

Mr. Bagbin blamed the media for the widening differences in the party, saying” you the media make capital of every simple issue thereby creating sharp division in the party.

Contrary to reports that there has been several efforts at settling issues between the sitting President and former President Rawlings, Mr. Bagbin said there has been no efforts until recent times.

Kwame Danso Acheampong/Ghanadistricts.com

Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing on Monday challenged the Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to institute competent strategies in the operations of urban water system.

He pointed out that the focus should be production, transmission, distribution and collection of revenue.

Mr Bagbin who is the Member of Parliament for Nadowli West made the call at the handing over of the Management and operations of the country’s urban water sector by Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) to GWCL in Accra.

The Government five years ago entered into a management contract with AVRL to operate and improve the country’s urban water systems. However, over the period AVRL failed to deliver on its contractual agreement and pressures from civil society organisations compelled the government to abrogate the contract.

Mr Bagbin announced that Cabinet had approved a new governance structure for the sector to be managed by Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL) of GWCL.

He explained that under this arrangement, Ghanaians would be in-charge of the management for a year to show their worth and capability. Mr Bagbin expressed the hope that World Bank and Dutch Government that had made huge investments in the country’s water sector would continue to assist GWCL in its operations.

He assured Ghanaians of effective leadership from the Ministry to ensure that GUWL positioned itself to deal with the problems and challenges in the urban water sector.

Mr Martin Nijsse, Managing Director of AVRL said when Management begun its operations in Ghana five years ago, its intention was to reduce non-revenue water by five per cent annually but could not achieve the target.

He said even though Management could account for a little over 50 per cent of water it produced, there could have been improvement to clarify issues.

Mr Nijsse said during its operations, AVRL established meter workshops in Accra and Kumasi, call centres for toll free enquires, house-to- house customer survey and provision of bulk meters to ensure reliable services to the urban population at an affordable price.

He noted that despite some difficulties in relations between AVRL and GWCL they learnt to respect each other over the five years. “We achieved the results together and without investment there would= be nothing to operate” he added.

Mr Kweku Botwe, Managing Director of GWCL assured the public of Management’s commitment to ensure provision of reliable urban water supply. He said the new structure being instituted to manage the 81 urban water systems in the country would be 100 per cent owned by the State and managed by Ghanaians.

Mr Botwe said despite support from development partners for urban water systems more assistance was required to further extend services in the rapidly growing urban areas.

Source: GNA

The Member of Parliament for Bimbila, Dominic Ntitiwul has discounted assertions by Ex President Rawlings that former President Kufour has amassed wealth that will enable him finance the New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaign in the impending 2012 elections.

According to the MP, this baseless claim is highly preposterous and should be treated with the contempt that it deserves.

Former President Rawlings in an address during the 32nd anniversary of the June 4th revolution in Kumasi last weekend alleged that President Kufour during his tenure indulged in massive corruption stealing a lot of state funds for his personal good. He further claimed that the Mills led Administration had failed to prosecute the culpable NPP officials simply because the government was in bed with ex President Kufour.

However speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show, the Member of Parliament for Bimbila Dominic Nitiwul stated that the unsubstantiated comments is very typical of Rawlings who is well noted for throwing out allegation but always fail to give evidences to back them.

He recalled that the NDC together with Ex President Rawlings in the run up to the 2008 elections severally accused the NPP of corruption with the then opposition NDC party providing a list of NPP functionaries who had huge accounts at Prudential bank which turned out to be false.

“We were here when the NDC made a wild allegation against the NPP of stealing cold bar reserves which was palpably false, do we take such people serious when they make such spurious allegation.

Hon. Dominic Nitiwul contended that the NPP does not require stolen state finances to prosecute its campaign since the NPP in opposition in the year 2000 gathered its own funds to support an effective campaign that ensured victory for the party.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Minister of Communications Haruna Idrissu, has told Parliament that no telecommunication company in the country is capable of tapping or intercepting messages on the phones of consumers.

The minority who were not clear about the minister’s assertion where quick to ask whether there exist a software that enables someone to tap another person’s phone or not.

The issue of phone taping became topical recently when the Campaign Coordinator of Nana Konadu 2012 campaign, Michael Teye Nyaunu, claimed that officers of the national security had tapped his phone and he was aware that the National Security Apparatus had a machine which enabled them to do so.

His allegation raised a lot of eye brows among sections of the public who thought their privacy would be compromised, however the national security was quick to rubbish this claim.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South said for a telecommunications operator to be able to tap phones, there must be a switch installed at the operator’s end which he can say on authority that no telecommunication company has been authorized to purchase one, adding that the laws of Ghana even frown upon that practice.

According to the Minister even the National Security is not allowed under the laws of the land to invade anyone’s privacy by tapping their phones.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh has said President John Evans Attah Mills apparent distancing himself from this year’s June 4th commemoration amounts to inconsistency and hypocrisy of the highest order.

According to the MP, President Attah Mills cannot now pretend not to have anything to do with the June 4th commemoration when he rode on the ideals of the same event to win power.

Tomorrow June 4th 2011, marks the thirty second (32nd) anniversary of the mass revolt of junior officers and men of the Ghana armed forces which led to the overthrow of the General Acheampong led SMC regime in 1979.

Following the uprising, an Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was set up under the chairmanship of Flt.-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. The AFRC carried out a house-cleaning exercise in the armed forces and society at large which led to a lot of excesses including deaths and seizure of property, while restoring a sense of moral responsibility and the principle of accountability and probity in public life.

Political analysts have wondered why President Attah Mills who has over the years been attending the commemoration ceremony every year has boycotted this year’s event and has remained silent on the issue. Others believe his decision to shun the event is as a result of his constant criticism by Ex President John Rawlings.

However contributing to a panel discussion on e.tv’s Breakfast TV show on Friday 3rd June, the Mp for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh, stated that since the ruling NDC party has over the years pride itself with the June 4th event, President Mills should not now disassociate himself from that grievous event.

“President Mills has always attended the June 4th commemoration when he was the Presidential candidate and even when he became President since 2009, so why is he now boycotting the event’’ he asked.

He noted that the NDC has failed to live by the ideals of the June 4th revolution of probity, accountability and transparency from which the NDC party was born.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh