Month: April 2013

The member of Parliament for Afram Plains south, Mr. Joseph Appiah Boateng has assisted 10 students with education scholarships.

The beneficiaries who are all students of the St Phidelis Senior High School in the constituency included 6 boys and 4 girls. The scholarship packages include payment of school fees, boarding fees and other relevant materials as they may require.

In an interview with Ghanamps.gov.gh, Mr. Appiah Boateng said his focus is to give as many of the youth in the constituency the opportunity to have formal education which will prepare them for the future.

He said about 30 students have also registered to be assisted and look forward to extending similar assistance to them. According to him, even before he was elected the MP, he assisted the school with 200 student mattresses, 200 plates, 200 buckets 150 blankets and 400 cups. The items were meant to provide comfort to students to be able to learn in a peaceful atmosphere.

The MP said youth development must be given the necessary support if the country wants to achieve accelerated development and he hopes to do his best in contributing his widow’s mite in this direction.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Rachel Nana Adwoa Appoh has rallied support for women’s soccer by urging corporate organizations to sponsor the National women’s football league as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

According to her, sustaining the women’s football league will not only serve as a ground for selecting players into the various national teams, but also create an avenue for women to discover their talents and subsequently realize their dreams as professional footballers.

She has further entreated the team management committee members of the various women national teams to identify talented players for future national assignments for Ghana.

In a press release on the just ended Ghana National Women’s Football League, the Hon. Rachel Appoh who is also a member of the parliamentary, select committee on youth and sports commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for putting up this competition for the women in the football fraternity.

She noted that the sustenance of the league and subsequent creation of divisions in the near future will also grant a platform for entrepreneurs to enter into partnership with the government agencies and other identifiable organization for business.

The youthful MP appealed to the team owners to name their clubs such that a common person on the street could identify him or herself with the team for a massive supporting base.

While commending all the teams that competed in the league for their participation, she singled out Hasaacas Ladies for praise for winning the maiden edition of the tournament.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Sulemana Alijata Gbentie has donated a total of One Thousand and Ninety (1,090,000) pairs of Chinese canvas to twenty one (21) schools in her constituency.

According to her between 22 to 122 pairs of the foot ware were presented to individual schools depending on the number of children found to have need for the canvasses in those particular schools.

Speaking to GhanaMPs.gov.gh, Hon. Sulemana Alijata Gbentie stated that she was inspired by the need to support the children who have had to walk long distances barefooted to schools, a situation she described as worrying and one which affected the academic performance of the pupils.

She said it was even more disheartening to see the pupils walk barefooted on the sun especially during the harmattan season which left their feet cracked and badly hurting and also prevented some of them from attending school.

The MP who is also the immediate past District Chief Executive for Sissala East stated that the presentation of the items put smiles on the faces of the pupils who saw the items as a great relief.

Hon. Sulemana Alijata Gbentie noted that the donation was made possible through the support of Bright Generation Foundation, an NGO based in Kumasi.

She indicated that she further distributed a total of 200 solar torch lights to women groups in the area, while 50 pieces of the solar torch lights were presented to teachers in five villages in the area namely: Dimajaun, Wuru,Kwatun,Danu and Dasisan.

Hon. Sulemana Alijata Gbentie expressed her believe that the teachers who teach in these areas which have no electricity will go a long way in aiding the teachers prepare their teaching notes at night to impact knowledge in the pupils who are future leaders of Ghana.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Nabdam constituency, Hon. Boniface Agambilla has contended that several road projects suspended and abandoned in the area were as a result of what he described as ‘management lapses, lack of vision and laziness’.

A number of road projects were within the last 4-5 years awarded for tarring to boost the road infrastructure in the district but these projects were however halted as contractors assigned to discharge works claimed that there were insufficient funds to complete the projects.

The MP in an interaction with Ghanamps.gov.gh expressed worry on the issue and therefore assured to embark on a follow –up to ascertain the real state of the various projects which have been neglected.

These are major feeder roads which include Asonge-Zanlerigu-Pelungu, Pelungu-Sakote, Sakote-Kusunaba, and Pelungu-Nangode junction roads which were awarded for reshape under the ambit of the Department of feeder roads.

Mr. Agambilla said he would double up efforts to ensure that contractors get back to work early as possible to improve the status of the road network in the district.

“MPs are not spending officers, but they can only advocate so the executive will dispatch financial provisions for work to be done”, Mr. Agambilla stressed.

Meanwhile the MP has stated that he would direct attention to improve the water situation and energy delivery programmes in the short term to enhance the wellbeing of his constituents.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Electoral Commission has set Tuesday, 30th April, 2013 to hold by-election in the Kumbungu Constituency in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region, in accordance with Article 112(5) of the Constitution as amended by section 3 of Act 527.

The Member of Parliament for the constituency Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni abdicated his seat following his appointment as the Secretary-General of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

A statement issued by the EC and signed by its Chairman Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said the Commission will take nominations for the said by-election on Tuesday, 16th and Wednesday 17th April 2013, at the district office of the Commission at Kumbungu District Assembly from 8.00am to 12.30pm and 1:30pm to 5:00pm.

Nomination forms can also be obtained from the the Regional office of the Commission at Tamale, it said.

The statement asked candidates for the election to provide two recent photographs (bust) with red background on the submission of their nomination forms.

Candidates would pay GH¢1,000.00 as the filing fee for the election.

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni was endorsed by the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) to serve the unexpired term of Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas as General Secretary of the ACP after the latter was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini as the Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

The Member of Parliament for Lower West Akim, Gifty Klenam, has launched a scathing attack on the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament for its inability to explain the rationale behind the payment of ex-gratia for MPs in the 5th Parliament.

According to her, the refusal of the Directorate to do its work of explaining issues from the perspective of Parliament to the public, has resulted in a situation where MPs have had to defend themselves in the media often with a lot of emotion which has contributed to public resentment against MPs.

All 230 Members of the 5th Parliament of the fourth Republic, who exited the House on 7th January 2013, have been paid their ex-gratia totaling GHC 39 Million.

MPs who did not return to Parliament after the 2012, December 7and 8 elections, received GHC 211,000whereas those who maintained their seats had between GHC270, 000 and GHC 275,000 depending on whether or not they were in leadership position.

The payment of these hefty amounts to MPs at the current harsh economic conditions at a time when government has said it has no money to pay striking teachers and Doctors has sparked a lot of public antagonism against the Legislators.

Speaking on Okay FM’s Morning show on Monday, Hon. Gifty Klenam expressed her indignation at the inertia on the part of the Public Affairs Directorate as they are paid to do exactly what they have failed to do saying “I’m wondering if the people at the Public Affairs Directorate are for us or against us they have failed woefully when we needed them most’’.

She entreated the public not to see the MPs as suddenly rich people since most of them are likely to go home with a small amount of their ex-gratia because they contracted huge loans from banks and used their ex-gratia as collateral.

Hon. Klenam noted that MPs have prevented mass of people from going directly to the seat of government to demand monetary support to improve their living conditions as they serve as the first point of call for their constituents in their time of needs, and as such must rather be appreciated when their ex-gratia entitlements are given them.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Berekum East, Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah,  has said he would summon the Energy Minister before the Government Assurance Committee of Parliament, if the promise made by President Mahama over the current load shedding is not fulfilled.

According to him his job as a member of the important committee is to ensure that promises made by the government is accordingly honoured, adding that he is keenly watching to find out if the promise made will be fulfilled..

The President on Sunday 7th April 2013, at the National Thanksgiving service at the Independent Square assured Ghanaians that his administration will end the off-peak load shedding and the entire load shedding exercise by the end of April this year.

He further stated that government will take steps to ensure that never again will the country experience electricity load shedding in the coming years.

However commenting on the President’s assurance on Oman FM’s National Agenda show on Monday, Hon. Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah, stated that he‘s unconvinced of the President’s promise as earlier dates he gave for ending the power crisis proved not to be true.

The Medical Doctor turned politician noted that though he is prepared to give the President the benefit of the doubt this time around, the government has not yet amply demonstrated its capacity to deal with the current energy crisis.

“I can assure you that I will be the first to drag the minster responsible for Energy to Parliament to explain why the government could not honor its promise should it fail to do so’’ he said.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has donated 14 set of jerseys worth GH¢5,000 to first cycle schools in all the seven circuits in the area.

The gesture followed a request placed before the MP’s desk by the District Sports Federation (DSF) to come to their aid. The MP said the donation formed part of his commitment towards the promotion of sports in schools in the district.

The District Coordinator of the Non-Formal Education, Mr. Issaka Shaibu made the presentation on behalf of the MP to climax the District Inter-Schools annual sports competition of the eight schools in Aiyinasi South.

The Aiyinasi Anglican Primary beat Menzezor Catholic by 3 goals to 2 on penalty with the Menzezor Catholic JHS taking the trophy home by beating the Akoto District Assembly (D/A) 2 goals to 1.

Mr Buah appealed to school authorities and sports officials to consider the selection of students and pupils through the scale, which disqualifies fat students from participating in sporting activities.

The MP, who is the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, appreciated the efforts of circuit sports officials and announced plans to reward their efforts in due course.

The District Physical Education (PE) Coordinator, Mr. Alfred Kudzo Kumah told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the sports activity would enable the all the seven circuits to select teams towards the District Inter Circuit Sports Competition somewhere in May this year.

He said the winning school in each circuit would go home with one set of jersey and a silver cup.

Mr. Kumah said the District placed 5th in Sports Competition last year at the Regional level.

District Director of Education, Madam Caroline Dinah-Gyimah urged school authorities to be serious with extra curricula activities to unearth the latent talents of students.

She used the occasion to appeal to sports officials to allow girls to partake in football games and appealed to Mr. Buah to help the District with goal post nets.

Madam Dinah-Gyimah maintained that the selection of players to participate in football and volleyball games would still be based on the scale to determine their weight.

GNA