Month: May 2013

Three Members of Parliament have been nominated by the Speaker of Parliament and accordingly sworn in to assist in the operations of the National Media Commission (NMC).

They include the MP for Ablekuma South, Mr. Fritz Baffour, MP for Akuapim South, Mr. O.B. Amoah, and the MP for Kpando, Mrs. Della sowah.

The Chairman of the NMC, Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere, when delivering a speech at the ceremony advised the media to preserve the peace and unity of the nation through an unbiased coverage of proceedings at the ongoing electoral petition challenging the legitimacy of President Dramani Mahama.

“Neither should the media allow their platforms to be used by others to generate tensions nor false expectation about the case before the Supreme Court,” he stressed.

He therefore urged the media to allow the Supreme Court to “perform its historic duty” without subjecting the highest court of the land to any form of intimidation

For his part, Mr. Baffour in a short address on behalf of his colleague MPs pledged that he and the other MPs would support the NMC to ensure sanity prevailed in the activities of the media.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for the Binduri constituency, Noah Ben Azure has called on the Energy Ministry to facilitate moves for the swift implementation of the Rural Electrification Programme(REP) scheduled for some communities in the area.

The project meant to connect deprived communities within the district to the national grid is part of the NDC government’s promise made to Ghanaians to expand access to electricity and make the lives of ordinary Ghanaians meaningful through the “Better Ghana” agenda.

At least 20 communities within the Binduri district earlier on were earmarked for the project, but during the implementation of the project, about 10 of the communities were only captured remaining another 10 which needed to be connected.

The MP contended that the project is long overdue and communities considered for the project were still languishing in darkness without access to electricity.

He therefore pleaded with the Ministry to expedite plans for the completion of the other 10 communities which deserve to get light with regards to the programme on-board.

The implementation of the project was also designed to cover certain 20 number of communities under both Pusiga and Bawku municipality.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanadistricts.com

Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah has charged the Electoral Commission to assert its independence in the ongoing 2012 Election petition case at the Supreme Court.

According to the MP, the EC which is supposed to be neutral in its action, led by its counsel has since the beginning of the hearing sided with the counsel for the first and third respondents; a development that he contends neutralizes the EC’s independence.

Political activists and sections of the public and monitoring the proceedings in court have had cause to complain of the attitude of the EC’s Lawyer James Quarshie- Idun, who seems not to be able to decide for himself but only tows the line of counsel for other petitioners.

Contributing to a discussion on e.tv Ghana’s Breakfast TV Show on Wednesday, Hon. O.B Amoah expressed his displeasure over the EC’s counsel’s style in court, adding that the EC which was the referee in the election which has controversy surrounding it is supposed to assist the court arrive at the truth and not to side to side with one party.

“ I just don’t understand the EC, after all what is the big deal when you come out to admit you made a genuine mistake in the election you supervised’’ he quizzed.
Hon. O.B Amoah further had issues with the constitutional provision that shields the Electoral Commissioner from being dismissed from office until his retiring age.

“ That provision in the constitution must be changed, does it mean we can have a person stay in office for decades and cannot be removed even if the person is not efficient’’   he asked?.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Almost all the major trunk roads leading to Techiman in the Brong Ahafo region are largely being reshaped to guarantee smooth transportation for travelers.

Mr. Adjei Mensah, Member of Parliament for Techiman South constituency in a recent interview with Ghanamps.gov.gh has observed that it was only a small portion in between the Kumasi session and Kintampo which requires some attention to duly enhance the road network in the municipality.

He indicated that the road infrastructure is gaining some leverage in the area since some sessions like Kumasi and the Techiman-Kintampo roads have all been asphalted to facilitate business and some economic activities between the north and the South with the area relatively serving as a central point of the country.

However during a working tour yesterday in the Techiman municipality in the Brong Ahafo region by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemana, the MP called on the attention of the Minister to consider some maintenance works on the Techiman-Sunyani and the Techiman-Nkoranza roads respectively.

He said because the roads were both constructed long time ago they are gradually losing their quality which needed some level of maintenance.

Meanwhile some 7km stretch of roads is also currently under construction in the Techiman township which includes the Dwomor road, University road, Travellers court hotel road and the Kingsaquaa road all located in the district.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

About GHs20, 000 is being spent on the Nsawam /Adoagyiri markets to help improve conditions in the market to make it conducive for trading activities.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Frank Annoh Dompreh who is undertaking the facelift project stated that the current condition is not befitting especially the muddy nature which is worsened by the onset of rain. To this end, pavement of the market is currently underway. Other facilities being provided for the market are toilet facility and polytank to aid in harvesting water.

The MP has also taken a cue from the recent fire outbreaks in major markets across the country and is providing 12-fire extinguishers to be stationed at vantage areas in the market for easy access incase of any fire outbreak in the market.

Mr. Annoh Dompreh is also facilitating awareness creation in fire safety to be carried out by officers from the Ghana National Fire Service.

Ghanamps.gov.gh/Dominic Shirimori

Member of Parliament for Gomoa West Constituency, Hon. Francis Kojo Arthur has announced his visit to some communities within his area to have a firsthand look at various ongoing projects and also interact with inhabitants to ascertain their various grievances.

According to the MP, the tour is purely based on inspecting various ongoing projects especially those in the most deprived communities, adding that this will enable him identify the extent of work done these projects and deploy measures to ensure their completion in due course.

The MP who was speaking in an interview with GhanaMPs.gov.gh further revealed that all completed projects will also be scheduled for commissioning to ensure their purpose of construction.

He however insisted that provision are been made to ensure that works on the various projects in the constituency are completed by end of the year.

Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Obuasi East, Edward Ennin will next month inaugurate a state of-the -art library with a seating capacity of 250 people.

The facility which will serve the entire constituency both students and non students alike boast of 20 computers with internet access, 12 air conditioners, photocopiers  and a scanner.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Edward Ennin stated that the edifice which was started in 2007 cost about GHC 300,000 was funded with his share of the HIPC funds and part of his share of the MPs Common Fund.

He said this new project is an improvement on the earlier library which could contain only about 10 to 15 people at a time and it’s evidence of his commitment to ensure an improvement in the quality of education for students in the constituency.

Hon. Edward Ennin noted that the people of Obuasi East could not afford lag behind in the current world order, where information and knowledge is key to becoming successful in life, hence the provision of the library to equip the people with the needed knowledge that they require.

He expressed hope that the people do not allow the facility to be turned into a white elephant but rather make good use of the facility.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Honorable Mark Yeboah Assibey, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency has toured his constituency to pay homage to the chiefs and elders of the communities and the constituents.

The MP also used the opportunity to brief his constituents about some of projects he  intend to undertake in the various communities as well as listen to some of the challenges confronting the people which have not yet come to his attention.

He move he noted, is to get closer to the people and involve them in decision making in order to move the development of the constituency forwards.

Mr. Assibey advised the youth to spend their energies on productive activities that will benefit them and the constituency and particularly urged them to desist from engaging in unnecessary argument on the ongoing court case on the presidential election.

Ghanamps.gov.gh/Shirimori Dominic

Member of Parliament for Asene Manso Akroso Constituency, Hon. Boateng Owusu Yaw has intensified efforts to ensure a convenient and improved teaching and learning conditions in Asene and its surrounding communities.

According to the MP, series of infrastructure projects has for the past few years been embarked on in most schools within the constituency, adding that the recent development has significantly elevated the standard of education in the area due these timely interventions.

Hon. Boateng Owusu Yaw made the assertion when speaking in an interview with GhanaMPs.gov.gh’s correspondent, Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah.

The MP however revealed that work was swiftly ongoing on an ultra modern 10-seater Water Closet (WC) toilet facility for the Aboabo-Ohiaso Methodist Primary School to replace the schools current 2 seater KVIP toilet.

He noted that the project which secured funding from his own share of MPs’ HIPC fund is expected to be completed by June, 2013 to ensure its intended purpose.

Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Mr. John Kwame Bless Oti, the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North Constituency hopes to facilitate the connection of fifteen (15) more communities to the electricity national grid soon.

According to him, the electrification project approved by for the three regions in the north and Volta region to be undertaken by the China Water and funded by the government of Ghana is a good opportunity to ensure more communities in the Nkwanta North Constituency are also hooked to improve their chances of increasing economic activities.

Sadly, he noted, only five communities currently have access to electricity and this does not auger well for their desire for accelerated development.

Some of the hopeful beneficiary communities include Cinjase, Abunyanya, Pibilla, Mamaakora among others. He said he has already started lobbying for their consideration and inclusion and is hopeful things go well for the constituency.

Shirimori Dominic/Ghanamps.gov.gh