Month: July 2013

The Member of Parliament for Obuasi West Constituency, Hon. Kweku Agyemang Kwarteng is calling on government to salvage monies which were fraudulently paid to Isofoton and Waterville holdings as a mean of rescuing the country’s recent economic hardship.

According to the outspoken Legislator, imposition of more taxes on some agricultural inputs and condoms will rather worsen the situation and expose the ordinary Ghanaian citizenry to undue hardship.

The MP who was speaking on Okay FM’s “Adeakyeabea” morning programme further indicated that fraudulent monies paid to Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development (GYEDA), Isofoton, Waterville and Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome was well enough to improve the country’ recent economic situation.

Hon. Kweku Kwarteng however challenged government to as a matter of urgency set up ways and means of recovering the 1.3 Million USD and 25 million Euros Judgment debts which were paid to Isofoton and Waterville holdings after the Supreme Court had ruled that those monies were paid through dubious means.

Meanwhile, the MP further debunked claims by government that the recent economic hardship should be attributed to the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) which was introduced by the NDC government some years ago.

He said if that was the case then government should boldly come out and name any institution whose salary adjustment is draining the state’s coffers.

Hon. Kwarteng also cautioned government over excessive borrowing from the local banks leading higher increased on interest rates and thus the country’s economic hardship since private individual could not afford to match up with payment of these interest rates.

Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Tolon constituency, Wahab Suhiyini Wumbei has indicated that he is willing to extend potable water to various environs and communities within the constituency, who have not yet been covered with potable water.

He again revealed that he was passionately working to ensure that about three more communities within his jurisdiction would shortly be connected to the national grid.

This was highlighted in an interview with Ghanamps.gov.gh by the MP whiles discussing his latest projects discharged for the people in the constituency.

He claimed water issue and electricity extension projects were his core priorities on his developmental agenda, in view of this he is working very hard to mobilize resources towards the implementation of such projects.

The main challenge for development up-north has been the difficulty in pushing electricity expansion programmes and potable water supply to deprived communities in the north, which has consequently stifled sturdy development for the people, especially those in the hinterlands and remote areas.

However, Mr. Wahab Wumbei says he is yearning to have a strong collaboration with the assembly to promote the quality lives of the constituents through a boost in provision of basic amenities and meaningful infrastructure projects.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

As part of efforts aimed at improving the education of brilliant but needy students in his constituency, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has presented scholarships to 99 students in tertiary and senior high institutions.

The beneficiaries, who were selected through a careful evaluation by an independent committee set up by the MP, include 69 in the senior high school, whilst the remaining 30 are in tertiary institutions across the country.

Amounts, ranging between GH¢300 and GH¢500, were received by parents of the various beneficiaries, and is expected to support the students towards the payment of their terminal fees.

The funds were mobilised through the MPs share of the Common Fund, Social Intervention Fund and assistance from private contacts.

Presenting the cheques at a short ceremony in his constituency office, Dr. Owusu Afriyie said about 700 students had so far benefitted from the educational package, which was started five years ago.

He said the objective was to support parents who do not have the wherewithal to fully fund the education of their children.

The MP said apart from financially supporting the students, a lot of investments had also been made in the area of infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning, stressing that the construction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres, refurbishment of libraries and the supply of furniture were amongst other interventions being undertaken to help improve education in the constituency.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie also mentioned that lots of women had benefitted from a training and employable skills programme introduced five years ago.

thechronicle.com.gh

About 70 percent of roads in the Manhyia North Constituency in the Ashanti are untarred leaving roads in deplorable situations and difficult to use by motorists.

Being one of the newly created constituencies in the region, the area lacks a number of infrastructures to support economic and social activities.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Collins Owusu-Amankwah said the challenges confronting the constituency are enormous, and with good road infrastructure lacking, residents are really not happy at all.

According to him, if not for nothing at all, the citing of the airport in the constituency should motivate government to improve the roads in the area and hopes an intervention is made soonest.

In the area of water and sanitation, Mr. Owusu-Amankwah disclosed that the situation is not different, adding that most communities lack access to potable water, and are either dependent on tankers, or have to walk long distances to access water. There is also the issue of inadequate dumping sites in most communities resulting in indiscriminate dumping of refuse at unapproved places.

The MP however stated that, efforts are currently underway to provide potable water at areas including Bokrom Estate, adding that he is working with some agencies including Community water and Sanitation Agency to help address the inadequate potable water for residents.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

Miss Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Member of Parliament for Dome /Kwabenya, has urged Muslims to use the ongoing Ramadan to pray for Ghana to remain peaceful after the declaration of the verdict in the ongoing election petition hearing at the Supreme Court.

She said the country was at a defining moment that only the “boldness and uprightness” of the judges hearing the petition, which will keep the peace of the nation intact, imploring the faithful to plead Allah’s direction to enable them (judges) give a verdict that will be in the supreme interest of justice and peace.

Ms Safo said this at a short ceremony when she presented some food items to the Muslim communities within her constituency.

The items included forty bags of rice, ten bags of sugar and ten cartons of milk.

The MP commended Muslims for remaining steadfast in their faith and for undertaking the annual ritual by sacrificing their stomach for the period of one month to fast and pray for the nation for Allah to protect the peace of the nation.

Muhammad Salisu Sulaimana, the Imam of the Dome Pillar, two branches who received the items, praised the young legislator for always showing care, and taking active interest in ensuring that the period of fasting become lighter for the Muslims.

He called on political leaders to emulate the concerns and interest shown by the Member of Parliament and asked for Allah’s guidance and protection for her.

Imam Sulaimana assured the Member of Parliament that he would implore all Muslims to offer special prayers to keep Ghana’s peace intact.

He also made a special appeal to politicians to desist from making pronouncement that that would antagonize the credibility of the Supreme Court Judges.

The Muslim cleric said Ghana had chosen the path of democracy that provided specific roles to specific institutions to strengthen the country’s democratic course, insisting that those roles should be respected by all and sundry to ensure the development of the nation.

GNA

The Energy and Petroleum Resources Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has advised residents in Western Region, especially those in the Ellembelle enclave, to pursue relevant courses to meet industrial demand of the area.

He said government was prepared to absorb only the required manpower to render services at the Adoabo gas project site.

Mr. Buah said though government upheld the local content policy, it could not employ locals when they did not possess the requisite qualification and the wherewithal.

The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP), for Ellembelle, laid the facts bare when he met with National Democratic Congress (NDC) zonal executives at Nkroful.

Mr. Buah reiterated that the NDC government remained sensitive and committed to the plight of Ghanaians and would continue to address their concerns through the creation of employment avenues.

He asked the people to rally behind the government as pragmatic steps were being taken to create the enabling environment and improve their living conditions.

GNA

The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) in parliament has alleged that certain international corporations could be forced to pull out of Ghana, if government imposes new taxes on imported mobile phones.

Addressing the media in Accra on Tuesday, Minority leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said certain companies may be forced to halt moves of setting up plants in Ghana if government goes ahead with the move.

“We are losing our competitiveness in the sub-region. Just two weeks ago when government came out with this tax on [mobile] handsets, we are told [a mobile phone manufacturer] wanted to locate in Ghana in the sub-region and use Ghana as a hub”

“But immediately they sent their agents to come to me for the bill and now there is inertia on their path; as a country we are losing our competitiveness and if we are not careful we will cascade further downwards.”

It is believed that Samsung has announced it intends to build an assembling plant in the country in a few years but according to the minority in parliament moves by government to introduce taxes on imported phones may push out companies like Samsung which will be one of many that will be severely affected when the law is passed.

Government however says the move is to protect the local industry and also make up for revenue shortfalls experienced in the first quarter of this year.

Citifmonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Menhyia South, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has denied insulting the people of Ashaiman while arguing with the MP for the area, Alfred Agbeshie in Parliament.

On Friday, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, told journalists that whatever he said on the floor of Parliament was directed at the person of the Ashaiman MP and NOT the people of Ashaiman.

His response comes after some youth and Queen-mothers of Ashaiman held a press conference calling on the Manhyia MP to retract his comments and apologize to the people of Ashaiman.

Last week, Mr. Opoku Prempeh reportedly exchanged words with the deputy majority leader, Alfred Agbeshie, which the people of Ashaiman found insulting.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Opoku Prempeh said he found it necessary to respond to the press conference of the people of Ashaiman because the banter in parliament had nothing to do with them.

“It was a banter between me and an honourable colleague, which had nothing to do with any third person. Nowhere in those exchanges was the word Ashaiman used. Hon Agbeshie comes from a village so why didn’t the village folk come and say I was describing them?”

He further mentioned, “It is just some people with a sinister motive who will go there to cause disaffection by being mischievous but I am saying it would not hold…”

Meanwhile, Ashaiman MP, Alfred Agbesi said it will be wrong for anyone from Ashaiman to attack his colleague MP from the Menhyia South Constituency.

“If the people are attacking him then it is unfortunate. I was with him on that very day and we left for Koforidua for a workshop. We even shared jokes at the restaurant,” he stated.

Click on the audio attached above to listen to the interviews with Hon Agbeshie and Hon Opoku Prempeh

citifmonline.com