Month: March 2012

The member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben North, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang has constructed a 6-unit classroom block at the cost of GH¢90,556 for the Methodist Primary School at Effiduase in the Eastern region to promote quality education in the area.

Inaugurating the project, Mr. Owusu-Agyemang commended the GETfund for graciously acceding to his request by providing the amount for the building.
The former minister of state, who was in charge of various portfolios including Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Water Resources and Works and Housing, and the Interior, said he offered to construct the classroom block after realizing that the one being used by the school was in a deplorable state.

He reiterated the critical role education played in the country’s development, emphasizing it was only well-educated people that could harness the numerous resources of the country to produce wealth in order to improve the standard of living of the people.

Mr. Owusu-Agyemang entreated the school authorities to take good care of the facility as well as endeavour to improve upon the academic performance of the school.

The New Juaben North MP, who has represented his people in Parliament since 1997, also admonished the pupils to take their education seriously in order to secure a better future for themselves.

Present at the inauguration of the project were the Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben North, Alex Asamoah; the Chief of Effiduase, Okoawia Dwomo Baabu II, who is also the Nifahene of the New Juaben Traditional Council.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Prestea/Huni-Valley constituency, Mr. Francis Adu-Blay Kwofie, has donated 17 computers, worth GHs 287,000 to the Bogoso St. Augustine’s Senior High School in the Western Region.

Making the presentation, he noted that the world had gone hi-tech and as such teaching and learning should be made simpler, with the use of computers.

Mr. Kwofie further assured that he would collaborate with the assembly to extend such amenities as electricity, water, health facilities and schools to areas which lacked them, to improve the living conditions there.

The Prestea/Huni/Valley District Chief Executive, Mr. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, hinted that the assembly would construct more schools, in line with the government’s “Better Ghana” agenda.

He revealed that the assembly was supporting teacher-trainees, nurse-trainees and brilliant but needy students, from the area.

Ghanaian Times

Parliament is expected to rise on Thursday, March 22, 2012 instead of the Wednesday 21st March 2012 as earlier stated.

This would enable the House to dispose of the tall order of business before it and also to allow the Public Election (registration of voters) Regulation, 2012 (CI. 72) come into force after the said date.

The Majority Leader Cletus avorka who made this know when he read the business statement for next week indicated that the business committee took the decision having regard to the fact that the house did lose some sitting days due to the 55th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration.

Meanwhile, four (4) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to response to 16 questions during the week. The questions will be on the following types; urgent – 4, oral – 12.

Bills may be also presented to the House for 1st reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.

Papers and committee reports may also be presented to the House.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanadistricts.com

The Electoral Commissioner, Afari Djan is scheduled to attend upon the House on Tuesday 13th March 2012 to appraise honorable members on the upcoming biometric voters registration exercise to be held throughout the country.

The House is expected to sit in the Committee of the Whole to receive the Electoral Commissioner and other officials on the said day.

MPs are expected to visit their constituencies to encourage them in the registration exercise to enable them exercise their franchise in the upcoming December elections.

The biometric registration exercise which is expected to commence on 24 March across the entire country will enable Ghana use a biometric register for the first time since it started practicing democracy 20 years ago.

The EC boss a fourth night ago held a pilot biometric registration exercise in selected areas across the country to test its preparedness for the national exercise.

The pilot exercise which was described as successful unearthed some problems which the EC have assured Ghanaians to rectify them before the national exercise.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanadistricts.com

The First Deputy Majority whip Hon. Mary Salifu Doforo has emphasized the need for Ghanaian women especially young girls to be given the right support and empowerment to help them in the nation building process.

According to her despite the fact that women contribute significantly to the economic development of our country, yet most of them are below the poverty line. She said that, in agriculture for example, women produce about 50% of the food grown and are also incharge of food security, undertaking about 90% of the activities in the food production change.

Hon. Salifu Doforo Said this in Parliament today in a statement to mark this years world women’s day which was under the Theme: “Connecting Girls and Inspiring Futures”.

She urged all stake holders, government, private sector and other women to connect with other women across the nation especially with the rural women to address this challenges.

She noted that they will be empowered through sharing of their experiences and to be able to poll resources to support one another effectively and also reduce poverty.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Members of Parliament on Friday continued with their debate on the President State of the Nations Address which he delivered in the House on February 15, 2012.

The Member of Parliament for Abokobi-Madina, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho praised the government for enhancing security in the country through the provision of new equipment for the fire service to boost their efficiency.

Hon. Sorogho who is also the Board Chairman of the Fire Service Council noted that prior to the NDC governments assuming office, there were a total of 90 fire tenders with 50 being serviceable, but the NDC government has increased the fleet to 121.

Additionally, 24 compressors have also been secured, all in an effort to improve security in the country.
On his part, the MP for Bimbila, Dominic Nitiwul lashed out at the government for failing to fulfill promises it made to the people of the Northern Region as it has failed to give the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) the GHs 200 million seed capital that it promised.

He stated that, the inability of the government to put enough resources to facilitate SADA but find enough money to pay Ghs 51 million judgment debt to Alfred Woyeme tarnishes the image of the government in the Northern region.

“The NDC government has 7 months to go and they must ensure that they redeem their promise to the people of the Northern Region,” he rightly said.

The NDC MP for Krachi East, Wisdom Gidisu, acknowledged the effort of the government at improving the state of health delivery in the country with the construction of 5 new polyclinics across the country including Lambussie policlinic among others.

He noted that the massive equipment provided by the government in the hospital in the country made it possible for Ex-President kuffour to undergo a successful surgery in the country which is a plus to the NDC government.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Members of Parliament have called for regular health attention for themselves and staff of Parliament to establish their health status.

According to them the job of a parliamentarian is stressful and takes a toll of their health hence the need to undergo regular health checks to be sure of themselves.

The legislators made the call following the announcement by the Majority Leader Cletus Avorka of the death of a former driver of the clerk of parliament which follows recent news concerning the death of the director of ICT in parliament.

The MPs claim that the Committee which has the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of MPs including such periodic health screening has not been effective in its duties.

The honorable speaker Mrs. Joyce Bamford-Addo who endorsed the need for such regular health check-ups urged the leadership of the House to take notice of the request and work towards realizing it.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea, has described President Mills visit to three markets in Accra on Tuesday as a populist act to score cheap political points.

President Mills paid a working visit to the Mallam Atta, Nima and Maamobi markets to learn at first hand some of the challenges encountered by the market women in the course of doing the work.

He promised to ensure that the Mayor Alfred Vanderpuije liases with the Ministry of Local Government to improve the condition at the various major markets in Accra, which will be part of a major rehabilitation exercise of markets across the country.

But speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme on Wednesday, Nana Akomea who is also the MP for Okaikoi South stated that the President’s visit is just a way of winning the sympathies of the market women as the election draws near, but said President Mills will do very little to change their conditions in the market place.

He said President Mills earlier promise in December 2010 of rehabilitating the Kotokraba market in the Central Region as parts of many projects that was expected to be done in 2011(action year) is yet to commence.

“ Not a single block has been laid at the Kotokraba market as a sign of beginning the rehabilitation of the market, if this major promise could not be fulfilled in the a whole year, why are we to believe that these three markets would be improved before December 2012’’ Nana Akomea asked?

He added that while the NPP works very hard to wrestle power from the NDC government in December it would continue to hold the government to the promises it has made to Ghanaians.

Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh