Month: February 2013

The Minister designate for Employment and Labour Relations and Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Nii Armah Ashietey has pledged to implement policies that will ensure that casual workers are fairly treated by their employers, when he is finally approved.

According to him, the situation where some employees employ casual workers beyond six months in contravention of the Labour law is most regrettable and must be stopped.

It has been the practice among some employers to cheat casual workers by employing them more than six months or in some cases dismiss or lay off the employees few weeks to the six months, only to re-employ them for another lengthy period of time, a situation which is seen by many as exploiting the innocent worker.

However speaking to the issue during his vetting on Monday, Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey bemoaned that practice and assured to take immediate steps to address the issue by holding a stakeholders meeting with the National Tripartite Committee.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which provisions of the Labour law is flouted with impunity, adding that there’s the need for the labour laws to be enforced to ensure a peaceful labour front.

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The Van Ladies Club, a prayer and fasting group at Ayalolo in the Odododiodioo Constituency, affiliated to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has honoured the MP for the area, Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye

Speaking at the ceremony which was graced by the Attoney General designate, Mrs Mariata Brew Appiah Oppong, the Interim President of the group, Mrs Lily Okai, prayed for God’s favor for President John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of the NDC and for national peace.

She said the group decided to honor Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye for his commitment to the party and the development of the community, adding that, God’s favor was needed to direct the affairs of men, groups and countries if they were to be successful in their deliberations.

Mrs Okai said this explained the motto of the Group ‘The Lord is King’ and called on Ghanaians to unite and work for the peace and development of the nation since the country was all we possessed.

The Interim Vice President, Madam Mavis Lawson who led prayers for Mrs Oppong called for God’s favor and direction when she appears before the Parliamentary Appointment Committee saying that with the Almighty behind her she would be confirmed for the position.

A giant portrait of the MP was presented to him in recognition for his commitment to the development of the area.

In a citation accompanying the presentation read by the Interim Secretary, Miss Cassandra Okai, the group congratulated Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye and described him ‘ as a Champion of progress in the community’ who had encouraged the youth to uphold virtue and hard work.

The group acknowledged his efforts in the community and dedication towards education, sports and politics saying it was based on his capable qualities that led to his election as an Assembly Member for the Korle Workon electoral area at a very young age.

The citation recalled among other things his appointment as the personal secretary of the late President John Evans Atta Mills and Director of Operations at the Presidency and commended him for his grass roots support he developed and the acceleration of development for the entire Constituency.

The group praised him for being God fearing, humble, truthful and kind and described him as ‘the most popular Ga-Dangbe personality alive’.

Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, on behalf of his family, said he was overwhelmed with the honor and gesture of the group.

He commended Mrs Oppong for her voluntary legal services to NDC in the Constituency and prayed that God would reward her with her with confirmation as the Attorney General.

Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye said where others had failed she would succeed to become the best Attorney General for the nation and promised that she would receive their support when she appears before the Appointment Committee.

Mrs Oppong said she offered her voluntary legal services for the Odododiodioo NDC out of her love for the party.

Present at the ceremony where the Mr Daniel Nii Okai, Constituency Chairman of the NDC, Mr Joseph Otoon the Secretary, and other executives.

GNA

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie has described the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a party is disarray.

According to him, the NPP at the moment lacks leaders who are highly esteemed and can call erring party members to order, a situation he contends has resulted in a lot of indiscipline in the party.

His comments follow an altercation between the incumbent MP for Assin North, Ken Agyepong and former MP for Asikuma Odobeng Brakwa, P.C Appiah Ofori that ensued on radio after Hon. Ken Agyepong expressed publicly his disagreement with the NPP over its boycott of vetting ministers and other functions in Parliament, blaming his colleague MPs of allowing the party’s National Executives to dictate to them.

But Appiah Ofori in an obvious response chastised him [Ken] and urged him to use the proper party channels to get his concerns addressed.

Yet, the cantankerous Assin Central MP became incensed, ‘descended into the gutter’ and used very foul language to describe his party member and even threatened to teach him a bitter lesson if he continues to attack his person.

However commenting on the issue on Asempa FM’s Ekosii sen programme on Tuesday, Hon. Tetteh Chaie stated that the NPP’s lack of respect for even ex President Kuffour has contributed to the woes of the party and the difficulty in which it finds itself now.

“They don’t even respect their own party elder former President Kufour who lots of Ghanaians hold in high esteem and so no one calls the wayward people to order’’ he said.

He urged his colleague MP for Assin South, Ken Agyepong to use temperate language in public as he is a Member of the august institution of Parliament with the title ‘honourable’ and as such is expected to exude proper behavior.

Hon. Tetteh Chaie added that the on-going orientation course for Members of Parliament should mould the attitude of MPs both on the floor of the House and outside.

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The Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alex Afenyo Markin has urged the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be humble enough to commend and acknowledge the efforts of the erstwhile NPP administration for building the Presidential Palace, known as Flagstaff House, now that President Mahama readies to move to occupy the facility..

According to him, the NDC despite all the harsh criticisms against the then NPP government for constructing the building must now recognize that the NPP had the interest of Ghana at heart when it decided to have a decent office and residential facility for future Presidents.

Government has announced that President John Dramani Mahama will on Thursday officially move from the Castle-Osu to the Flag Staff House, the multi-million edifice which had been left for over four years since the late President Mills declined to relocate there upon the advice of his security chiefs.

A statement signed by Information Minister Mahama Ayariga said “there will be a short ceremony to commemorate the movement at 10 am at the Flag Staff House” on Thursday, 7th February, 2013.

Commenting on the issue on e.tv Ghana’s Breakfast show on Wednesday, Hon. Afenyo Markin stated that it is refreshing to note that after the huge propaganda the NDC made out of the Presidential Palace in the run up to the 2008 election, it has now found it prudent to make use of the building.

“It is good that the NDC has now found it right to occupy the Presidential Palace, that is welcoming because we need to build our state institutions and make full use of them since they are built with the tax payer’s hard earned monies’’ he remarked.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh