Month: May 2013

Member of Parliament for Bia East, Richard Acheampong has donated 60 pieces of streetlights to be fixed in parts of the constituency.

According to him, his gesture is born out of his commitment to ensure the constituency is nicely light to illuminate the area and also guarantee enhanced security for the constituents.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon. Richard Acheampong stated that the non availability of the streetlights made the area darkened, a situation which was a recipe for miscreants to have a field day engaging in all manner of criminal activities.

He disclosed that he personally funded the purchase of the lights which cost him GHS 17,500.
He added that as MP for the area who has the welfare of his constituents at heart, he is compelled to find money elsewhere in the absence of his share of the MPs Common fund which is yet to be distributed to make his people comfortable.

Hon. Richard Acheampong said his dream is to realize an improvement in the living conditions of his people, a pledge he is deeply committed to.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Mr. Mohammed Habibu Tijani, Member of Parliament for the Yendi constituency is pressing the need for a final funeral rite to be performed for the late overlords of the two gates (Abudu and Andani) in the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute so it could clear the way for a new Ya Na for Dagbon traditional area.

The MP acknowledged the state of the relative peace and calmness which has returned to the area, but was quick to add that getting a new Ya Na will practically assist in churning out the lasting peace process for the Dagbon area.

Speaking on this issue with Ghanamps.gov.gh, Mr. Habibu Tijani said the cause of the protracted conflict was purely chieftaincy issues, hence called for the need to address the undercurrent issues bothering on the chieftaincy elements of the Dagbon crisis in the bid to resolve the issue once and for all.

He believed the new Ya Na for Dagbon could also liaise with the various stakeholders and speed up the customary process that could help achieve and preserve a lasting peace for the people of Dagbon.

He hailed the security apparatus, Opinion leaders, Chiefs for both sides who have contributed to the achievement of the relative peace in the area and also urged the people to solidly unite for the common purpose of attracting the needed development.

The Dagbon crisis however has gone through different levels of redress, including the Wuaku Commission,Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s Committee of Eminent Chiefs, the Accra Fast Track High Court, and the Appeals Court.

Meanwhile in line with measures to forestall possible threats of the security in the area, as well as promoting growth and development, the MP has lately interacted with the Heads of Departments and Security agencies to ostensibly chart the roadmap in attaining high point security and development for the area.

He thus maintained that this was relevant because Yendi was typically prone to conflict per the chieftaincy problems lingering in the area.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, Samuel Atta Akyeah is to institute incentive scheme for hard working teachers in the constituency.

The initiative according to the MP is to motivate the teachers to give off their best to mould the children under their care into productive and law abiding citizens.

He said education deserves better attention as it serves as the foundation to achieving any other goal.

He noted that teacher –to-pupils’ ratio is a challenge everywhere in the country hence every community must institute measures to attract more teachers by way of accepting posting to the area and also to retain them.

Mr. Atta Akyeah however noted that the situation calls for intensive monitoring to identify hardworking teachers committed to impacting positively in the development of the pupils.

To this end, discussions are being held with educational authorities to lay a solid foundation for the scheme, he added.

Dominic Shirimori/ Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Krachi Nchumuru John Majisi has bemoaned the absence of a senior high school in the constituency.

This he admitted was as a result of the newness of the Krachi Nchumuru District which was curved out of the Krachi West District in 2012.

He has therefore made it a priority and taken the necessary steps towards ensuring the establishment of SHS in the area.

According to him, a letter of appeal has been sent to the presidency and later forwarded to the Education Ministry for immediate consideration.

In a related development, Mr. Majisi revealed that plans are afoot for refresher courses to be organized for teachers with support from the British Council. Additionally, school connectivity programme is to be instituted where students from the constituency will have the opportunity to visit Britain for exchange programmes.

These initiatives the MP hopes will go a long way to improve academic performance and increase standard of education in the constituency.

Ghanamps.gov.gh/Dominic Shirimori/Eric Dzormeku

Electricity supply intended for the people of Nyerigayili in the Nanton district this year will materialized soon as works on the connection of the community to the national grid has reached the completion stages.

This is an energy project spearheaded by the Member of Parliament for the Nanton constituency, Ibrahim Muritala Muhammed to ostensibly support the assembly expand the energy delivery programme meant to help improve the living standards of people in the area.

In an interaction with Ghanamps.gov.gh, the MP disclosed that works on the project was receiving finishing touches as he cited that the project was about 90% complete in the project area.

According to him, the project when completed finally will give impetus for growth in the area since the move will give leverage in boosting economic activities and businesses for inhabitants.

Meanwhile the MP has committed an amount worth GHS 6,000 to procure roofing sheets for victims of a recent rainstorm whose roofs were ripped off in some parts of the district.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for the Upper West Akim Constituency, Joseph Sam Amankwanor has reaffirmed his commitment to assisting communities without potable water.

He said it is sad the ordeal some people had to go through daily just to get water which should have been a basic commodity for every individual. He thus expressed worry at the impacts of such situations which are usually low productivity and poor health.

As a positive step towards bringing the situation under control, the MP said five boreholes have been drilled to improve access to water. He said the next step is to mechanize all five boreholes in order to extend it to more communities nearby.

He gave beneficiary communities as Kwasinyako, Danso, Boateng, and Amakrom. The projects he indicated are being financed through a grant.

Ghanamps.gov.gh/Dominic Shirimori

Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Aye-Paye has questioned the propriety of the Ministerial Committee set up to investigate allegations of corruption in the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA).

According to him, it would have been more prudent if existing institutions with capacity to undertake thorough investigations like the Auditor General’s Department was employed to carry out the exercise.

Investigations by Accra based radio station Joy FM have revealed government pays Zoomlion GHS500 for each beneficiary. But the government has signed a contract with Zoomlion which allows the company to keep GHS400 of that money as management fees.

This revelation was part of Manasseh Azure Awuni’s investigative report into how questionable contracts government has signed with some service providers are robbing the nation of millions of cedis while beneficiaries’ service conditions worsen.

However contributing to a discussion on Net 2 Television on Thursday, Hon. Samuel Aye-Paye emphasized the need for specialized state institutions to be put to good use instead of spending tax payers’ hard earned monies to set up investigative committees.

“The Auditor General could have been easily instructed to investigate this issue and present its report to the President or the Public Account Committee of Parliament for onward determination instead of setting up another committee,’’ he added.

He noted that over the years previous committees that have been established by government to investigate corruption issues involving state officials have their findings not made public, while culpable officials are left off the hook.

Hon. Samuel Aye-Paye asserted that such committees are money making ventures set up just to put monies in the pocket of party members, as whatever decision they arrive at whether conclusive or not are made public and implemented.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Tano North constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, Hon. Freda Prempeh, has said Ghana for the past years has unearth great boxers from Bukom in the Odododiodio constituency but sees no reason why for the past years government has not built a single ultramodern gym in the community to train more boxers.

According to her, all Ghana’s great boxers who have excelled internationally with numerous world tittle belts come from Bukom, as such it is time to revamp the place to produce such great boxers again for future competitions.

Hon. Freda Prempeh who is also a member of the sport committee in parliament stated that, she will put before the committee and the Sports Minister to have a second look at the so called lesser known sports as well as fulfill governments’ promise to build the Cape Coast stadium.

“As a member of the sports committee, we will take up some of these issues to make sure government facelift the boxing situation in Bukom. We will also remind the minister that the legon stadium project is also pending as well as the Cape Coast stadium project which has appeared in serial budgets for several times and nothing has been done.

“…If we are not able to do all these things, there will be a time Ghana will not get any boxer to represent the country in some years to come”, she said.

Adding, “I don’t see the reason why other disciplines in sports should be referred as lesser known sports, there are no lesser sports. Boxing cannot be referred as a lesser sports. Can you imagine the number of punches a boxer receives in a ring? Can that be a lesser sport?”

Speaking on Happy FM, Madam Freda vowed that as far is she is a member of the sports committee; she will keep pressuring the Minister to build an ultramodern gym in Bukom before he leaves office.

Peacefmonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Agona West Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Charles Obeng-Inkoom has made known his intention to rehabilitate the Agona Nkum community health center to fit modern status.

According to the Legislator, a visit to the facility revealed a host of challenges facing it and thus called for a major rehabilitation works to be done on the facility to improve health care in the community and its surrounding environs.

He stated that initial estimate for the project is expected to cost about GHs 35,000.00, adding that funds will be secured from his own share of the MPs common fund to execute the project.

He express concern about challenges facing health facilities in the area and added that health delivery conditions could improve significantly if necessary attention is directed to rehabilitated these facilities to meet modern standard.

Hon. Obeng-Inkoom meanwhile noted that renovation works on the said health center is expected to start by July, 2013.

Emmanuel Frimpong/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The former Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Cletus Avoka, has reminded members of Parliament that the natural resource sector of the country remains the most delicate sector of any country’s economy, which must be accorded adequate attention.

He said building the capacity of MPs was crucial and that any compromise or lapses on the capacity of members of the committee would undermine the responsibility entrusted to the Committee on Mines and Energy and jeopardize the future of the country.

He said the sector could transform the socio-economic fortunes of the country and on the other hand could equally worsen the development challenges of the country if not managed well.

Speaking at Busua Beach, Takoradi, at the overview of key challenges and opportunities of the extractive industry to the country, he told the committee to ensure that the country benefited fully from its natural resources.

Mr Avoka said “It is therefore, refreshing to note that an induction workshop to sensitize the MPs on revenue management in the oil and gas sector as well as the mining sectors is being organized for members of the committee.”

He said the general consensus however, was that the associated problems that came with natural resources could be avoided if Members of Parliament with the support of civil society organizations discharges its responsibilities effectively by ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector.

“Fortunately, the Parliament of Ghana is receiving support to drive the needed blessing and also fortunate to learn from both the bad and best practices regarding legislation in the natural resource sector,” he said.

He said the country therefore, did not have any excuse to fail, saying “We must do all that we can to secure the future of this nation.”

Mr Avoka who is also member of Parliament for Zebilla Constituency, noted that in 2007, when commercially viable quantities of oil and gas was discovered, revenue from it was estimated about $1billion which was equivalent to the amount of development assistance the country received from the donor community every year.
He said it was therefore important that members step up the plate and grasp concepts to enable them deal with issues in the interest of the country.

Mr Avoka said the oil and gas sector no doubt was very dynamic in terms of policy directions and technology and to deal with issues, it was incumbent on the Members of Parliament especially members of the committee to be abreast with new developments in the sector in order to offer the best policy directions and legal frameworks in the plenary.

The Executive Director of Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana (STAR-Ghana), Mr Ibrahim Amidu Tanko said the extractive sector holds the key to the development of the country and ought to be managed well.

He said noted that the work of the committee was very crucial and that beyond the members of the committee, more MPs must have knowledge about the dynamics of the sector.

The programme which was supported by the European Union (EU), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and DFID was attended by members of the select committee, officials of STAR-Ghana, Revenue Watch and GIZ.

STAR Ghana said its overall goal was to increase responsiveness and accountability of government, traditional authorities and private enterprises to the citizenry and to enable citizens to hold government and other leadership accountable.

Daily Graphic