Month: January 2013

The NDC MPs are angry at their counterparts in the Minority, for the NPP’s decision to boycott Monday’s inauguration ceremony for President-elect, John Dramani Mahama.

The Majority MPs described the decision as shameful and pathetic.

The NPP took the decision after a National Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, saying attending the swearing-in ceremony of the President will run counter to the case it has filed at the Supreme Court, challenging the election of John Mahama.

But the NDC MPs say the decision clearly portrays the NPP and its MPs as bad losers.

MP for Ashaiman Alfred Agbesi poured his anger on the Minority, describing them as “a bunch of confused people”, who do not want to see the country progress.

Mr. Agbesi rejected suggestions that the action by the Minority will dent the image of the country internationally.

Deputy Majority leader Abdul Rashid Pelpuo said the move by the Minority “amounts to clear intolerance in the face of failure to win an election”.

He said the NPP has consistently showed that they cannot accept results when it goes against what they expect.

Mr. Pelpuo they are unfazed by the decision by the Minority since the NDC has a good majority in Parliament.

But incoming deputy Minority leader, Dominic Nitiwul has told Joy News that subsequent to the boycott of the inauguration, the Minority caucus will in consultation with the party, take other actions in the interest of the party, its supporters and the country until a verdict is announced by the Supreme Court.

Myjoyonline.com

Members of parliament on Thursday paid glowing tribute and observed a minute silent in memory of their departed colleague and former Volta Regional Minister HenryFord Kamel.

He has been representing the people of Buem in Parliament since 2005 until his untimely death which occurred on Christmas day 25 of December 2012 in his hometown Guaman in the Volta Region.

Though Parliament have not officially been informed of his demise Rt. Hon. Speaker Joyce Bamford Addo allowed tribute to be paid in his memory as today marks the last sitting of the fifth parliament of the forth Republic.

Paying tribute on behalf of the Volta caucus in Parliament MP for South Dayi, Hon. Asimah Edem describe the late Hon. Ford Kamel as a hard working, tolerant, very accessible and a great unifier who worked tirelessly to bring peace to the Volta Region, citing his role in ensuring peace during the Hohoe conflict between the indigenes and the Muslims in the area.

On her part, MP for New Juaben North Beatrice Boateng said he will remember the deceased Minister for the smile that she always wore on his face and his respectful nature which endeared into several people.

Hon. Alfred Abayateye, MP for Sege noted that Hon. Ford Kamel’s ability to quickly find solutions to problems he encountered ensured he performed creditably in both his work as MP and Minister.

Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament in his tribute emphasized the need for MPs to take good care of themselves and called for a compulsory medical examination for MPs to ensure they are fit enough to serve the country.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Minority NPP MPs are expected to boycott the inaugural ceremony of President- elect, John Dramani Mahama on Monday January 7, 2013.

It has been the tradition that MPs from both sides of the House grace the occasion but the NPP sites a pending court case of which it is challenging the outcome of the December 2012 election as its reason for the boycott.

The party reached that decision at it National Executive Council meeting held in Accra yesterday.

The party claims its presence at the inaugural ceremony will make nonsense of its suite at the Supreme Court.

Kwadwo Anim/ Ghanamps.gov.gh

Registration for new members of Parliament will end today after a week of organizing data for the next Parliament and to also facilitate orientation for the new members.

According to the Public Affairs Director of Parliament, Jones Kugblenu, members of Parliament who are unable to register would have to notify the House beforehand.

The house is expected to host President Mahama as he delivers the last State of the Nation’s Address on Friday, December 4, 2012.

All 274 MPs-elect are expected to complete the process which is the first phase of a detailed plan to collect primary data from all the men and women who will form the next Parliament.

Personal details such as dates of birth, profession, the constituency to be represented and educational backgrounds of the various MPs-elect are being compiled during the registration process.

The number of MPs however, has dropped from 275 to 274 due to death of Volta Regional Minister and MP-elect for the Buem constituency, Henry Ford Kamel.

The 274 members of Parliament however include 97 new entrants and 177 from the current Parliament.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) would dominate the House with 148 seats, with the opposition New Patriotic Party grossing 122 seats.

Four independents are expected to join the House, with one member from the People’s National Convention.

Citifmonline.com

Seats in the main chamber of Parliament house are being replaced with rather smaller ones to ensure that movement within the Chamber is made comfortable for members.

The Fifth Parliament of the Forth Republic had 230 Members of Parliament even though the chamber of the house was fitted with 250 seats, Joy News has learnt.

With the coming into being of CI 78, the Members of Parliament would increased to 275 in the Sixth Parliament making it necessary for renovation works to be carried out in the chamber to accommodate additional 25 seats. And the works department of parliament is working on it.

However, the need for smaller chairs, Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey gathered, has become necessary following complaints by Members of Parliament that the inner chamber was not spacious enough and restricted free movements.

A Chinese firm has been contracted to undertake the renovation works in the main chamber, he said.

Our correspondent also reported that the last sitting of the current parliament would be on Friday paving way for the dissolution of the Fifth Parliament over the weekend.

He was also informed by the Public Affairs Directorate that the leadership of the House was in a meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss the time to inaugurate the Sixth Parliament.

Meanwhile orientation for new MPs has been concluded but both new and old members are still going through the registration process to be part of the next parliament.

Officers from the Ghana Navy also held their final rehearsal for the commencement of the new parliament, works department of parliament increasing the chair.

myjoyonline.com

New Members of parliament yet to be sworn in for the next parliament are resuming their registration process on Wednesday.

The registration exercise for the MPs elect was suspended to make way for the festive season.

The new MPs have been providing their particulars to aid in organizing data for the next parliament which will be dissolved by midnight on Sunday.

Speaking to XYZ News some of the new MPs expressed how anxious they are to play their roles effective in the house to strengthen the work of the legislature.

They are hopeful that their contribution to the democratic process will be substantial as lawmakers and are therefore preparing feverishly to ensure that they bring their competence to bare on the activities of the House.

Radioxyzonline.com

The sixth Parliament of the forth Republic of Ghana will on the January 7, 2013 elect the next Speaker of the House to swear in Members of Parliament.

The Director of Public Affairs of Ghana’s Parliament, Jones Kugblenu in an interview with Citi News stated that both sides of the House will have to arrive at a consensus or resort to voting to approve the majority’s candidate.

Explaining the process Mr. Kugblenu said: “Normally the Majority caucus presents a candidate to the Minority caucus and if they agree with the position of the Majority, the person is elected. If the Minority caucus has any other candidate apart from what has been presented by the Majority, then the Chair, who is the Clerk will then call for balloting.”

He added that “when the Speaker is elected, the Chief Justice will then swear in the Speaker, and then the Speaker will then swear in members elect.”

Citifmonline.com