Month: July 2011

A former deputy Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Nsuta/Kwamang Beposo, Kwame Osei Prempeh has urged President John Atta Mills to take a more significant position on homosexuality.

According to him President Mills has not been definite in his stance on the deviant act, adding that the Christian Council of Ghana must rather be commended for their strong position on homosexuality and not condemned.

The MP for Sene, Felix Twumasi Appiah has slammed the call by the Christian Council for Ghanaians to vote against politicians who do not openly declare their stance on homosexuality ahead of the 2012 general elections.

He also condemned the clergy, accusing them of hypocrisy. The clergy, he said, was refusing to realize that the incidence of homosexuality indicated that they had failed to convert more people to Christianity.

However speaking on Citi Eye Witness news on Tuesday 19th July 2011, Hon. Kwame Osei Prempeh stated that it was important the most powerful person in Ghana in the person of President Mills who claims to be a Christian comes out publicly to condemn the evil and abominable act of homosexuality.

He noted that President John Evans Atta Mills at a thanksgiving service in Sunyani after the NDC congress gave the assurance that government would institute measures to check the menace of homosexuality and lesbianism that were gradually gaining grounds within the social fabric of the country, but was surprise about the quick U-turn when a day after the publication the President denied making any such comments.

“ The President did the country a great disservice with the retraction and denial of the story, now that it is clear that the President had not made any such comments, it sends a wrong signal that the President himself does not see anything wrong with it’’ Kwame Osei Prempeh said.

He added that the laws of the land frown on homosexuality, adding that President Mills must ensure that homosexuals are seriously dealt with in the country.

Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Veterans Administration Ghana Bill 2010 on Monday passed the test of a second reading.

Defence Minister Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith (Retired) moved the motion.

When passed into law the bill will not only acknowledge the immense contribution of military service personnel to the country’s political emancipation, but also to world peace through service with the United Nations.

The bill is being initiated as a result of government recognition of the state of frustration, despair and helplessness of the veterans of the World War I and II, who had returned home only to realize there was no scheme for their resettlement and rehabilitation.

The Ghana Legion Act 1960, which was repealed in 1974, replaced the Ghana Legion Decree 1974 (NCRD 285). It was to cater for the welfare of the all ex-servicemen in Ghana and foster the spirit of comradeship among them and provide free legal aid.

However with time, new concerns emerged regarding the welfare of the veterans, which called for a review of the decree to make it more relevant in order to meet the needs of the veterans today.

The bill will create a governing body vested with the authority to seek and protect the welfare of the veterans of Ghana.

The 28-Clause bill is divided into four sections –Veteran Administration, Regional District Local Councils, Financial and Administrative Provisions and Miscellaneous Provisions.

Alhaji Abubakari Sumani, Chairman of the Committee for Defence and Interior, said the Committee proposed renaming the organization and was unanimous that “Legion” was no longer appropriate because it was colonial and an ancient Roman Army term and endorsed the “Veterans” as more appropriate to the ex-servicemen.

Supporting the motion, Mr William Ofori Boafo, NPP member for Akwapim Akropong, called on the Veterans Association of Ghana to liaise with similar associations in the world to be able to share ideas and experiences on the development of the Association as vibrant one.

He called for the establishment of the Veteran Fund that would be used to cater for the needs of the veterans, who sacrificed their lives for peace.

Mr Alfred Agbesi NDC member for Ashaiman said since the Second World War most of the veterans had lived in abject poverty and squalor with some of them living in their home towns in deplorable conditions.

He said nothing could be good than this bill that would take care of their welfare and called on all to support it.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah NPP member for Afigya Sekyere West said honouring the ex-servicemen must go beyond medals to embrace their welfare, adding that Ghana must emulate America that took good care of the veterans.

The veterans, he said, had contributed so immensely to the democracy of Ghana, adding that their efforts in modern times peacekeeping made Ghana very proud.

He noted that the veterans were well trained and stated that they could be productive in many sectors long after retirement.

Mr Kan–Dapaah said the practice of harassing veterans for their perceived affiliation with a political party was not good for Ghana.

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader, said the bill was very important as it would give hope to the young ones who joined the forces.

Dr Francis Dawaana Dakura, NDC member for Jirapa said the ex-servicemen deserved to be adorned as heroes and heroines for fighting for world freedom.

GNA

The Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing is asking the Ghanaian taxpayer to pay more for the ongoing renovation of the famous Job 600, a post independence structure originally built in preparation of Ghana hosting the OAU Conference of 1965.

When completed, the towering but sprawling edifice will house up to 250 modern offices for Ghanaian Members of Parliament, ending a two decade-long era of MPs using their car booths as offices.

It will also provide modern offices to house research assistants for the nation’s MPs.

But, in order to end what Adenta MP, Kojo Adu Asare, has called “an unpleasant era in the history of Ghana’s Parliamentary democracy where MPs eat virtually in the open, receive guests anywhere here in Parliament and above all use our cars as offices”, the Ghanaian taxpayer must dig deeper into his pocket to fork out more tax cedi to support the ongoing reconstruction works on the edifice, which was built by the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah-led Convention People’s Party government (CPP).

The Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing is asking for up to $39 million more to finance the completion of the five-decade-old structure into which the state has already sunk a loan amount of nearly $ 36 million dollars.

Although Parliament is yet to debate the details of the 39 million dollar loan agreement, the Minority group is demanding “full disclosure” as to the “fine details of the justification for additional funding for the Job 600 project.”

“I have serious problems with the government’s request for additional funding for this project,” Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, told The Globe in an interview, While raising issues with the structural integrity of the existing structure, the Suame MP said: “In fact I am of the firm belief that with 36 million dollars, we could have built an entirely new structure.”

He added that he had no doubt that it would have made “more economic and architectural sense” to pull down the entire Job 600 structure to make way for the construction of an entirely new office complex for MPs, instead of adding new structures and weight to a building that had been left to rot for so many years.

“That would have given the building a longer life-span,” he said, explaining: “It is my view that adding more weight to a 50 year old structure, whose structural integrity is for me problematic, will not give the new offices for MPs more than 70 years.”

The Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing, Hon Alban Bagbin, has declined to respond to the concerns of the Minority leader, explaining “any comment on this matter, which is currently pending before a joint committee of Parliament will be prejudicial to discussions on the floor of Parliament”.

But, officials of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing say the estimated cost of the renovation works on the structure has ballooned due to inflation and a sharp rise in the prices of building materials, a claim the Minority leader has challenged “saying that cannot hold because the cost of the project was dollar quoted.”

Also, two new blocks have been erected behind the original structure. One will serve as an auditorium; the other will serve as a kitchen.

The new structures have rooms for modern restaurants, a gym, offices for banks, fire station etc.

“So clearly, you can see that there is need to ask Parliament to approve additional funding for the Job 600 project,” Finance Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi told The Globe.

Source: Globe

Parliament on Friday performed the second reading ritual of the Transition Bill.

The bill seeks to design formulae for political transfer from one government to another in Ghana.

The 14-clause bill is a novelty in the history of the country as far as formal political arrangements for transfer of the reign of government is concerned.

It provides an institutional framework for solving transitional disagreements, promotion of transparency and accountability in the management of state assets, resolution of grey issues which often occasion dilemmas during transitions.

The Bill will also establish formalized arrangements for handing over notes as well as improved arrangements for vacation of office and official residence by state functionaries.

Mr Ebo Barton Oduro, NDC Member for Cape Coast and the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said the bill provided an inbuilt mechanism designed to promote, uphold, strengthen and ensure
transparency and accountability in the management of state assets.

He said the bill provided for periodic stocktaking and detailed inventory of executive assets thereby limiting expropriation of the assets which allegedly occur during transitions.

He made reference to Clause 9 of the bill, for example which enjoined the creation of a national register to cover lands vested in the president as well as other official assets both in the official
and private residences of key state functionaries, including ministers of state.

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua, Chairman, Committee on Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said the initiation of the bill was a further step to establish proper guidelines to govern transition in
government.

He said the proposals made in the bill were critical components of good governance.

Supporting the motion, Mr Isaac Asiamah, NPP member for Atwima Mponua, said there must be decency during transitions in the country whereby out-going government officials are treated with decorum.

He said past government officials who faithfully served the nation, were rather labelled devils contributing nothing to the development of the country.

He expressed the hope that this attitude would come to a halt with the initiation of this bill.

“We must stop this attitude and give respect to each other,” he said adding, exiting government officials who were to vacate government apartments must be given ample time to quit.

Mr Fritz Baffour, NDC member for Ablekuma South, said the passing of the Transition bill was overdue as it would have helped reduce the insults that politicians hail on each other during transition periods.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communication, said during transitions, the vacuum created must be managed in a way that parties involved must co-operate with each other.

He expressed disappointment that officials trained with state resources were only thrown off during transitions for being unsuitable.

He said most of these problems arose because of excessive partisan loyalty as against loyalty to the state.

He stated that politicians must face the reality that they cannot rule forever as some made Ghanaians to believe.

“Uphold the dignity of people who serve, and say thank you, ” he said, and called on exiting ministers to learn to prepare their handing over notes early.

Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, NPP member for New Juabeng North, said the introduction of the Transition Bill was leading Ghana to a more civilized way of governance, and thanked the Institute of Economic Affairs for initiating the bill.

Dr Yakubu Alhassan, NDC member for Mion, said parties in transition must face all issues with objectivity, while Mr Joseph Osei Owusu, NPP member for Bekwai, said the dissatisfaction created by the
way the two parties treated each other during transitions, necessitated the new culture of establishing a legal framework to regulate transitions in Ghana.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, said the title of the bill should be altered from Presidential or Transition Bill to Governance Succession Bill.

GNA

The Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, has questioned the propriety of government allocating a whopping GHC 20 million to the Eco Brigade module under the National Youth Employment Programme when work on the Accra –Kumasi road has stalled.

Construction work on the important road that connects the two largest cities in the country has been halted due to lack of adequate funds to continue the project.

The Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffour last week while delivering the supplementary budget to parliament stated that GHC 20 million has been assigned to the Eco Brigade to help clean up the beaches across the country.

But speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo show, the Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah stated that though the decision to ensure clean beaches is good, the completion of the all important road that connects Accra to the northern parts of the of Ghana should be the priority of every well- meaning government.

He noted that the dusty and bumpy nature of the road has made driving an unpleasant exercise as drivers have to contend with driving at a cautiously slow pace to avoid damages to their vehicles.

‘’Many commercial drivers have repeatedly changed their broken springs and shock absorbers, exhaust systems and other damage done to motor vehicles because of the poor state of that road’’ Hon. Amankwah Asiamah said.

The road has been under construction for the past five years, a situation which has resulted in incessant complaints from motorists who use the road. They claim five years is sufficient time to complete the road.

Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

The Court of Appeal (CA) on Monday gave the State seven days to file its affidavit in opposition to a motion of stay of proceedings filed by Adamu Dramani Sakande, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central.

This was after it had dismissed a preliminary objection raised by Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu, Principal State Attorney, with regard to the motion.

Mr Wiredu argued that the MP ought to have gone to the High Court with the motion and not the CA under the CI 19, Section 28.

He informed the court that he had not been served with the court processes because he was out of the jurisdiction for an official assignment.

According to him, he saw the matter on the court’s lists and he found it prudent to appear before the Court.

Mr Yonni Kulendi, who represented the MP, prayed the court to overrule the State’s argument and protect the sanctity of the court process.

The CA drew the attention of the Principal State Attorney to CI 19 section 27 indicating that the High Court could not stay its proceedings but could only do that through the orders of the CA.

The CA explained further that it was only in the case of stay of execution that the High Court could do so.

The CA, however, did not fix any date for the hearing of the matter.

On June 8, the High Court ruled that the recall of witnesses, although was discretionary, should clear ambiguity, establish truth and authenticate a version, which was unforeseen in a matter.

According to Mr Kulendi, the ruling should not have bordered on the recall of witnesses by the court, rather on the improper manner that the prosecution requested his client to identify documents, which bordered on the renunciation of his British citizenship and which were purported to have emanated from the National Security Secretariat (NSS) and other agencies.

On July 31, 2009, the MP was arraigned and charged with nine counts relating to his nationality, perjury, forgery of passport, election fraud and deceiving public officers to be elected as an MP.

He was, however, exonerated on six of those charges on July 8, 2010.

He is currently facing three charges of false declaration of office, perjury and deceiving a public officer.

GNA

National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has a deficit of 99 percent of logistics it needs to manage disasters countrywide, an audit report has indicated on Monday.

This means that the national disaster management body has only one percent of the logistics it needs to implement its activities nationwide.

“In the event of any major catastrophe, lots of lives could be lost,” the report presented to Parliament by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) said on Monday.

He told Parliament when he presented the report of the Public Account Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the preparedness of NADMO to manage disasters in the country.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said NADMO had staffing challenges and explained that it was difficult for NADMO to attract competent personnel as result of poor remuneration.

He called on the Government to depoliticize the organization to be able to win the confidence of Ghanaians.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, New Patriotic Party MP for Sekondi, in supporting the motion said NADMO must be reformed to move from the mere relief sharing function to a more professional body that coordinates with the security forces to manage disasters in Ghana.

“We need a core cadre of well trained personnel who can manage disasters in Ghana, so that it is not seen only as distributors of relief item,” he said.

He said NADMO must be assessed on the basis of its effectiveness for it to be established if it could manage disasters in the country in this modern times.

“Let’s make NADMO a more professional institution,” he said and warned against the political patronage of NADMO so that a change in government did not affect it in any way.

In running the affairs of NADMO, he said: “Let us not be interested in transient political advantage.”

Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, NDC member for Asawase said it was pathetic that most individual did not have any plan for disasters, adding that “we only depend on survival.”

He noted that flood, bush fires and fire outbreaks with the cadence at which Ghana experienced them could erode the middle income status Ghana had attained.

Alhaji Mubarak expressed disappointment at the one percent preparedness for disaster management by NADMO and told politicians to take their hands-off issues of NADMO, adding “for how long shall we continue with the tit for tat game.”

Mr Enoch T. Mensah, Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, said the planning units of district assemblies must be strengthened, energised and encouraged to lead the crusade of preventing developers from building on waters.

Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah, NDC member for Garu/Tempane called for the establishment of a contingency fund as stated in the article 117 of the 1992 Constitution.

He also called for higher budgetary support for NADMO to be able to effectively execute its mandates.

GNA

Ms. Bernice Beatrice Boateng, Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, has presented items valued at Gh¢100,000 to some basic schools and health facilities in the New Juaben Municipality.

The money was from the MP’s Common Fund, GETFund and HIPC fund.

The items included paints, 15 computers and accessories, books, 500 pieces of bed sheets and 50 boxes of street lights and its accessories.

The paints are to be used to paint the buildings and walls of the beneficiary schools in addition to one set of computer each the bed sheets were distributed to all health facilities in the municipality.

Some of the health facilities that benefited from the facilities include the Regional Hospital, private clinics and maternity homes in the municipality.

She said she had refurbished the Mother’s Hostel of the Regional Hospital to be able to offer better services to mother’s whose children had been admitted at the hospital and the female dormitory of the Nursing Training School.

Ms Boateng said GETFund had agreed to build a new six-classroom block with auxiliaries for some schools to end the shift system in New Juaben Municipality.

The Municipal Director of Education, Nii Lante Cleland who received the items on behalf of the schools, said most of the school buildings in the area had not seen painting for many years.

GNA