Month: September 2013

The inability of government to release the District Assembly Common Fund and other statutory funds for the past nine (9) months is adversely affecting development at the various districts across the country.

Members of Parliament have in the past month expressed their disquiet over the unjustifiable delay   in releasing the funds and have thus threatened to boycott government business if the funds are not released upon resumption of Parliament.

One such area which is bearing the brunt of this unfortunate delay is the AhafoAnoSoth West constituency in the Ashante Region.

The Assembly’s caterpillar which has been used over the years for the construction of roads has broken down for the past four months, resulting in the worsening condition of the town roads.

Speaking to GhanaMPs.gov.gh, the Member of Parliament for AhafoAno South West, Johnson Kweku Adu  stated that the assembly has been unable to have the roads re-shaped as there are no funds available to repair the machine. The situation has created a lot of discomfort for motorists who ply the roads.

He stated that his checksindicate that the officials of the assembly are earnestly waiting for the release of the common fund to enable them put the machine back to order.

“As we wait for the release of the common fund to repair the caterpillar, the conditions of our roads continue to worsen especially as the rains have set in, the assembly says it has no money and so it is banking its hope on the common fund which has unusually delayed for the past nine months’’ he said.

He added that the assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) which could have been used to repair the machine is unfortunately nothing to write home about leaving the assembly incapacitated financially.

Hon. Johnson KwekuAdu was hopeful that the funds would be released as soon as possible to facilitate development in the area.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Walewale Senior High School(SHS) is reportedly facing serious  problems of encroachment in its compound  by certain unscrupulous persons.

Member of Parliament for the Walewale constituency, Hon. Sagre Bambangi in an interaction with Ghanamps.gov.gh has indicated that there is the need to secure the territories of the school and salvage it from encroachers.

He said if this continues without precautionary measures to duly protect the land and properties of the school, it will come to a time where there wouldn’t be any site to carry out additional development projects for the school when the need arises.

He said authorities of the school have solicited his assistance to help guard against encroachers by undertaking the construction of a fence wall around the school, adding that he has promised to lend them some form of support to enable them build the wall.

He claimed this however formed part of his immediate moves in education amidst other projects on his radar and will therefore discharge them accordingly when funds are ready.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has claimed, president John Agyekum drove him out of his residence in 2007, over his refusal to back the candidature of Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng ahead of the 2008 elections.

Mr. Agyapong also revealed, then Minister of Energy, Joseph Kofi Addah was relieved of his post by the president, on similar grounds.

The outspoken MP made the disclosure on Adom FM’s “Dwaso Nsem”, Wednesday, while grumbling about the needless factionalism in the party.

Speculations were rife in the run up to the 2007 presidential primaries that President Kufuor fully endorsed and supported the candidature of Alan Kyeremanteng – one of the front runners of the seventeen aspirants – to lead the governing NPP then, into the 2008 general elections.

The NPP’s failed bid to overturn the results of the 2012 presidential elections at the Supreme Court, has witnessed a sharp division among the leadership over who should lead the party into the 2016 elections.

Mr. Kennedy Agyapong therefore fears then events of 2007 which culminated in the party’s electoral defeat in 2008, could be revisiting it, as there are intense internal wrangling and jostle for position ahead of congress to elect new leaders.

The MP said this is causing anxiety among the rank and file of the party.
He accused some leading members of the party for being behind the current in-fighting and back-biting which he said, are endangering the party’s political fortunes.

Adomonline.com

Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South, Mark Assibey has donated sixty (60) units of security lights to communities in his constituency.

Electoral areas within Effiduase, Oyoko, Akwadum, Asokore, Jumapo and Suhyen which are the towns in the constituency connected to the national grid are to benefit from the MPs benevolence.

Speaking to GhanaMPs.gov.gh, Hon. Nana Agyei Boateng stated that his decision to donate the items which cost GHC 15,000 follow several complaints of residents in the above mentioned areas who feel unsafe to do their legitimate duties in the night due to the lack of adequate lighting.

He noted that under the cover of darkness some unscrupulous persons in the area have resorted to harassing lawful residents at night, a situation which he believes would soon be a thing of the past once the security lights are fixed to illuminate the areas.

Hon. Nana Agyei Boateng stated that the safety of his constituents remain dear to his heart adding that he would do everything possible within his means to ensure that his people live in peace and work together to develop the constituency.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Wing Commander Francis Kabenlah Anaman (rtd), has donated three mowers costing GHc1,0500 to two communities and a school in the district to improve sanitation.

The beneficiary communities were Tikobo No.1 and Half Assini as well as Annor Adjaye Senior High School.

The MP also presented two sets of jerseys and footballs to Arsenal and Apataku football clubs in the district.

Making the presentations at separate locations, Wing Commander Anaman, said the donation was his widow’s mites towards improving sanitation in the district.

The MP appealed to chiefs and people in the district to release land for a students’ hostel, health facility and a police barracks.

GNA

The Member of Parliament for Walewale constituency in the Northern region, Hon. Sagre Bambangi,has called on government to consider walewale and the surrounding towns for road construction projects,  as almost all the roads linking major towns and villages were in a bad shape.

He noted that the area do not have the best in terms of roads, noting that the only tarred road where one could enjoy an ease in transportation is the highway from Tamale-Bolga, but for the west roads like Walewale-Nalerigu,Walewale-Wungu-Jangaba linking the overseas communities were all in a terrible state.

He stressed that inasmuch as he is yearning to improve road network in the area, it must also be noted that road construction are not in the remit of MPs because of the capital intensive nature of such projects.

He said statutory funds allocated to them as MPs could not undertake road projects.
According to him, what he should be doing most was to spearhead and embark on maintenance works and play oversight responsibilities on road projects to ensure quality of work discharged on such projects in his jurisdiction.

He commended government for choosing to construct selected feeder roads like the Jaagsi-Jaagsi Junction road, and the Sakori road but pleaded with government to consider more areas within the constituency so it could boost transportation in the area.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah has endorsed the celebration of Founder’s Day on the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as the forefront who led the independence struggle but has vehemently opposed the exclusion of other heroes in the celebration.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP averred that it is significant to honor those who led the independence struggle but quickly added that “I think the government has to refocus the celebration of Founder’s Day so that other heroes will be brought on board to make it a total celebration”.

In an interview with Peacefmonline.com, he said that President Mahama and his government have to involve the other heroes to make the celebration and the history behind the independence complete.

Meanwhile, as one of the achievements of the late President Mills’ reign, September 21 has been chosen as the Founder’s Day by his government as a statutory public holiday, to celebrate the birthday of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

This is in recognition of his foresight and fortitude which led to Ghana’s attainment of independence from British colonial rule in 1957.

He therefore pinpointed that “when you single out one person in the celebration of the Founder’s Day, the rest of the families and parties will feel marginalized and will not share the thoughts of their fathers who were involved in the achievement to commemorate such an important day”.

Peacefmonline.com

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has asked political actors to focus on Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of peace and unity to spearhead development in Ghana and the African continent.

According to him, it was high time Africans lived the ideals of Dr. Nkrumah in the quest for a united Africa to accelerate the pace of continental development.

Mr. Buah, who is also the Minister for Energy and Petroleum Resources, said this during the launching of Founder’s Day to mark the 104th birthday celebration of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Ghana at Nkroful his birthplace.

The week-long celebration is on the theme: “Making oil and gas conducive for our environment through games”. Activities lined up for the occasion are inter-schools sports competition, durbar, musical and coral concert.

The event, which brought all the eight Senior High Schools in Nzemaland in a sports fiesta competition, is being sponsored by the Ghana Tourism Board and Creative Arts in conjunction with the Minister for Energy and Petroleum Resources.

Mr. Buah assured the people that the NDC government would continue to propagate the vision of Dr. Nkrumah to better the lot of the citizenry and challenged the youth to emulate the shining example of Dr. Nkrumah.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Mr. Daniel K. Eshun paid tribute to the late President John Atta Mills for instituting the Founder’s Day to reflect on Dr. Nkrumah’s achievements.

He asked the government to focus more attention on the development of Nkroful though the Assembly was trying its best.

Mr. Eshun appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to put the six-kilometre Esiama-Nkroful Teleku-Bokazo road in good shape in honour of Dr. Nkrumah, especially as considered in the oil and gas infrastructural projects.

The Nkroful Senior High School must be given a face-lift, establish a district hospital at Nkroful and a training college in Nzemaland

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nzema Event Management, Mr. Vincent Gyande Kangah said through education, the youth were being reminded of their commitment to propel the vision of Dr. Nkrumah.

GNA

Mr Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wougon, on Saturday joined the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana to undertake a cleanup exercise on the University Campus.

The four hour cleanup exercise aimed at helping to maintain clean surroundings on the Campus begun at 0700 hours from the main registry down to the main entrance of the University, the night market area, and ended at the SRC Union Building.

The exercise was dominated by members of the Commonwealth Hall.

Mr Agyarko commended the students for their initiatives and pledged his support to the SRC in such endeavours.

He later refreshed the students at the end of the cleanup exercise.

Mr Jones Ababio, a level 200 student of the Department of Psychology told the Ghana News Agency that the entire cleanup exercise was a huge success as they were able to cover almost the whole Campus.