Month: May 2013

The Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South Constituency, Samuel Atta Akyeah has announced plans to upgrade the Maafe Health Post to be able to cater for emergency health cases.

According to him, the facility currently lacks a number of things which hinder its effectiveness hence the upgrade will include providing some basic infrastructure that the facility lacks. He said even though it is not a new hospital that will be built, the facilities to be provided will be adequate enough to handle such advanced cases and reduce unnecessary deaths among residents in the area.

The MP noted that there is enough money for the project to take off by the end of this month.

In a related development, Mr. Atta Akyeah also revealed that the focus will also be on the Kyebi Government Hospital where major needs of the hospital would be assessed and measures put in place to resolve it.

Shirimori Dominic/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Saturday’s round of parliamentary primaries for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in constituencies where the ruling party has sitting Members of Parliament in the Greater Accra Region has produced some rather interesting and shocking results.

MP for Ada and Former Education Minister, Alex Tetteh-Enyo, MP for Adentan, Kojo Adu Asare, MP for Odododiodio, Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, MP for Ledzorkuku and former Deputy Minister of Sports, Nii Nortey Dua and MP for Sege, Alfred W. Ogbodzor Abayateye have so far lost their seats.

The NDC held parliamentary primaries in 18 Constituencies in the Greater Accra region on Saturday. The process was postponed last weekend to pave way for the party to address operational challenges and for some constituencies to complete branch auditing.

Mr Kobina Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NDC, in an interview added that it was also to ensure that all aspirants are provided with copies of delegates list seven days before the primaries in accordance with the party’s guidelines on elections.

Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, won the Ada Constituency primaries when she defeated the incumbent and former Minister of Education, Mr Alexander Tettey-Enyo.

She obtained 149 votes of the valid ballots cast as against 114 votes acquired by Mr Tettey-Enyo whilst Mr Moses MacCarthy had 64 votes, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission after the polls.

Another incumbent, MP for the Adenta constituency, Kojo Adu Asare lost woefully in an attempt to re-run on the ruling party’s ticket. Adu Asare managed only 17 votes while Nii Ashie Moore polled 77 votes out of the 158 delegates. Other candidates who contested the seat are Dr. Desmond Aryee-Boi, Samuel Anum Adjei, Alhaji Adam Mahama, Herty Laura Ken and Paulina Delali Adinyirah.

At the Odododiodio Constituency, Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye polled 389 votes to beat incumbent MP, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme , who had 71 votes and Mr Walid Anyertei Laryea, who had eight votes.

Former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Nii Nortey Dua has lost the Ledzorkuku constituency after just one term. Former Miss Ghana Benita Sena Golomeke has wrestled the constituency from the incumbent MP.

In the Sege constituency, incumbent MP Alfred Abayateye who alleged spiritual attacks on him by unknown persons also lost miserably. He polled 29 votes to Christian Odotei who polled 64 votes to win the primary.

Hon. Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover has pointed accusing fingers at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for raiding the office of Lawyer Gloria Akuffo, spokesperson for the NPP legal team.

“I smell the umbrella, to be involved in,” he accused.

He said if the NDC has anything to do with the Election Petition issue; the right thing to do was to do it in court and not invade properties of innocent persons. He repeated that Lawyer Gloria Akuffo was not even the head of the NPP legal team neither was she the chief witness hence describing the raid as uncalled-for.

“If you have an issue with the court case, the issue is in court, why is the NDC very desperate,” he asked.

This is the second time Lawyer Gloria Akuffo had had her office invaded.

Hon. Titus-Glover, MP for Tema East who was speaking on Multi TV’s AM Express today use the opportunity to commend KPMG for their stance to charge nothing counting the pink sheets ordered by the Supreme Court saying that the GH¢100,000 fee purported to be charged by them could be used for other development projects to help society.

He described the gesture by the KPMG as being “nationalistic”.

But Fred Agbenyo, a member of the NDC communication team who was also on the show did not agree with Hon. Titus-Glover concerning the accusations leveled against the NDC about orchestrating the raiding of Gloria Akuffo’s office and cautioned the NPP to refrain from politicizing everything.

Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Binduri, Noah Ben Azure has implored the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to expedite moves towards the installation and accomplishment of the about 16 borehole project which were started last year for the area.

The implementation of this borehole project, meant to improve the water situation in the district by government begun in June last year but was however abandoned in October.

Mr. Ben Azure in an interview with Ghanamps.gov.gh thus emphasized that installation of the boreholes were crucial because a good number of them were sited in some basic schools that have the Ghana School Feeding Programme ongoing for school children.

He said these schools undoubtedly would require potable water on daily basis to boost the programme and also ensure an enhancement in the hygiene conditions of the various schools.

However an additional eight number of the boreholes were lately sited in March by CWSA to open up the water situation of the district and give avenue for more household to access water in the district.

The MP therefore has called on the CWSA to give attention to the project and complete it within schedule so residents can get water to improve their livelihoods.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Odotobri in the Ashante Region, Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi has organized mock examination for 35 Junior High Schools within his constituency.

According to him, this was to prepare the over 1000 students for the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) which comes off in June this year.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon. Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi stated that his decision to hold the examination for the students was evidence of his commitment to ensure that students and pupils in his constituency receive the best of education to enable them become responsible and knowledgeable adults in future.

He disclosed that he expended GHC 5,000.00 on organizing the event which included motivation for the teachers for marking and distributing the papers.

Hon. Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi noted that since 2005 he has been organizing the mock examination annually which to a large extent has yielded positive results as results of the various schools have improved year after year.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Juaboso in the Western Region, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has begun an exercise where he makes unannounced visits to houses, opinion leaders and chiefs of communities within his constituency.

According to the MP, this move which would be done on a regular basis is to create an avenue for the constituents to easily have access to him and also familiarize with his people.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon.  Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated that he has so far visited for villages namely Agyemandiem, Asempanaye, Bonsunkwanta and Sayirano where the constituents welcomed him warmly and presented their concerns to him.

He noted that their concerns were mainly the need for increased access to portable water and the maintenance of the town roads which are in deplorable state.

Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who is also the Western Regional Youth Organizer of National Democratic Congress (NDC) stated that he intends to impress upon the Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies operating in the area of the need to help in the provision of social amenities for the people  as part of the corporate social responsibility.

He added that the cocoa buying companies make huge profits from their businesses which are done in the constituency noted for being among the leading cocoa growing areas in the country, and that the communities would not be asking too much from these companies if they asked for help.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minority Leader, has appealed to the police to do everything possible to bring to justice those behind the recent violent crimes in the Kumasi Metropolis.

The police need to restore public confidence and assure the people of adequate security protection, he said.

The plea comes in the heels of unresolved killings and robberies that had created anxiety and apprehension among the population.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi said the rising crimes should be a source of worry to all adding that, it must be dealt with decisively.

He called for daytime and night joint military-police patrols to stop the lawlessness and impunity.

The Minority Leader also denounced the situation where politicians, chiefs and other influential people in the society intervene to get suspected criminals arrested by the police, freed.

This, he said, is unhelpful to the fight to bring down crime and asked that the security services should be allowed to operate more professionally without interference.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu urged the people to provide useful leads to the police to help them to apprehend miscreants.

GNA

Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is alleging that Ministers and District Chief Executives are neck deep in galamsey operations in the country.

He is therefore proposing that ministers and DCEs are investigated before they are entrusted with any responsibility to deal with the activities of illegal miners.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto’s call comes at the back of President Mahama’s inauguration of a five member inter ministerial taskforce to tackle illegal mining.

The MP was speaking on AM Talk, a political talk show segment on the Joynews channel on Multi TV.

President Mahama commissioned the inter ministerial taskforce at the Flagstaff House yesterday with firm words for the committee members. Headed by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, President Mahama said he will not tolerate any excuses from the taskforce should it fail to flush out foreigners engaging in small scale mining, as well as seizure of assets of citizens engaging illegal mining.

But the Kwadaso MP says the age-long problem cannot be conquered unless top officials in positions of influence are fished out and made to stop meddling in illegal activities.

Even though he describes the move by President Mahama as long overdue, he says the ministers of state and party apparatchiks who are directly involved in illegal mining must be stopped.

But in a sharp rebuttal on AM Talk, Member of Parliament for Keta, Richard Quashigah described Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto’s comments as purely partisan and challenged him to provide evidence of top officials involved – a charge the Kwadaso MP was unable to provide but directed the MP to the Minerals Commission.

Mr. Quashigah argued that such a move by the President must be commended and fully supported by Ghanaians and not tinged with political slurs.

Myjoyonline.com

Students at the Akyease LA Junior High School in the Birim South District in the Eastern Region have been provided with a library and staff common rooms for teachers.

The construction of the library sponsored by the Member of Parliament for Achiase, Mr. Amoah Kwesi Robert and cost GH75, 000.00 is to ensure that students have convenient environment to study especially when they want do private study. The library is also a major source of reference for the students when the library is stocked with the right reference materials. The facility is also to serve as a safe place for books used by the students.

Meanwhile, the MP is calling on well meaning Ghanaians especially citizens to assist in raising fund or providing books to stock the library in order that it can serve the purpose for which it has been established.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

Defeated NPP Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, Grace Addo, has petitioned the party for a recount of last Saturday’s parliamentary results.

“I petitioned the regional chairman. I was expecting that they will call me but he told me he was going to Accra yesterday, when he comes he will get back to me, but he has not gotten back to me” Grace Addo told Joy News Wednesday.

Ms. Addo lost in the primaries by one vote. She polled 215 votes as against 216 by the winner Joseph Quarm.

She claims one delegate voted twice against her, compromising the integrity of the outcome. She told Joy News a recount will put to rest her suspicions.

“If somebody did something that is illegal is means there was some connection” she told Joy News Wednesday.

She said following the elections, a delegate has gone on radio to claim that an EC official told him, the defeated MP actually won by 7 votes.

She said the EC official has since denied telling this to any delegate. According to her, the EC official maintained that elections are won on paper not hearsay.

Meanwhile, the eventual winner Joseph Quarm has declined to comment on the allegations, but the district electoral commissioner is not available for comment.

NPP Ashanti Regional Secretary Sam Pyne acknowledged receipt of the petition.

“We are yet to sit on it,” he said.

Nonetheless the party has written to the EC to preserve all electoral materials if a recount becomes necessary, he added.

He revealed that a regional representative to the constituency’s primaries also reported that a recount was done three times.