Month: September 2013

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

Former Minister of Health under Ex- President Kufour, Dr. Richard Anane has come out of the shell to buttress the call by some members of the opposition New Patriotic Party to lead the party in the 2016 general election, though he was not prepared to commit himself fully to the demand of his people in the party.

Explaining his stand on the pressure from some NPP supporters to lead the party, Dr. Anane averred that “if majority of the members choose me to lead the party in the 2016 election, I think it is an honor, because for me, I don’t see politics to be anything other than honour and service”.

In a telephone conversation with the host of “Ghana Decides” program on Okay FM, he added that “I have been in this party as a student way back in 1979, I have worked with groups in this party till now, and I think I know my party and I believe that at the appropriate time whatever area I have to serve I will do”.

He however indicated that “as a team player in the NPP, I consult with the elders in the party whenever I decide to do anything and so if the team chooses me this time; it is an honour and service to accept the leadership of the party”.

He therefore said that “the decision to lead the NPP does not rest in my bosom and should not be at all cost but rather the other team players must instill the confidence in you before you can move on”.

Meanwhile several executives of the NPP have already declared their support for the twice defeated Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is on a political break.

Some party executives are calling on the leadership of the party to allow Nana Addo to lead the party for a third time ahead of the 2016 elections.

A beleaguered Kobina Tahir Hammond is warning a deputy minister of Information and Media Relations to get his facts right in the controversial sale of a $24m oil drilling ship to pay off a debt that has become the focus of a judgement debt commission.

Speaking to Joy News, K.T Hammond, a former Deputy Minister of Energy, says he finds it “so incredible and atrocious” for Murtala Mohammed to comment on the controversy without getting “his facts right”.

All the institutions concerned: the Ghana National Petroluem Corporation, Energy and Finance Ministries and the bank, Societe Generale have failed to provide the required details to unravel the mystery. Societe Generale says it has no record of receiving the purported $19.5m after the sale of the ship, and what happened to the balance of 3.5 million dollars is yet to be known.

The deputy Information Minister at the daily press meeting Wednesday said the Mahama administration is ready to offer legal assistance to the commission to assist in unraveling the mystery surrounding the sale of the ship.

The conduct of the two former principal state officials, Energy Minister Kan-Dapaah and his Deputy K.T Hammond who supervised the sale of the ship under the Kufuor administration, raises suspicion because of their contradictory statements, he underscored.

He said “I listened to an interview he [K.T Hammond] had….in one breath stated the money was given to President Kufuor and his boss [Albert Kan-Dapaah] came out to say the money was not given to the former president.”

This view has incurred the displeasure of K.T Hammond who believes the deputy minister’s utterances showed he did not “bother to listen to the tape”, New Patriotic Party MP for Adansi Asokwa said.

“Sad” and “getting a bit sick”, Mr Hammond refuted Murtala Mohammed’s claim that he gave the money to President John Agyekum Kufuor. Rather, it was a cheque which he said he gave to the Ministry of Finance and not money to the former President.

“He must be careful about comments that he is making when he hasn’t checked his facts”, K.T Hammond fumed.

“Where did I go on record that I gave the money to President Kufuor?” he asked.

The NPP MP who has been on several radio stations to explain the matter, revealed he was tired of over-flogging an issue and that it is expected for the Minister to play politics with the controversy.

The Deputy Minister of Information however insists that the tape which was played on Accra-based Asempa FM contains the contradictions of the former Energy Minister and his Deputy. He said the larger issues remain which company received the $19.5m claimed to have been paid by the NPP MP.

Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South West, Johnson Kweku Adu has donated 100 bags of cement to some communities in the constituency.

The beneficiary communities include Mpasaaso Dotiem , Adiembra,  Mpasaaso No.1, Wiawso Kindagarten, Kunsu Islamic School  and Afrisini camp.

 The building material is to be used in the construction of toilet facilities and renovation of school blocks depending on the needs of the communities.

Speaking to GhanaMPs.gov.gh, Hon. Johnson Kweku Adu disclosed that he has additionally distributed 20 packets of roofing sheets to some of the above mentioned communities to facilitate the construction works.

He stated that he was touched by the poor condition of some of the beneficiary schools which had its roof ripped off putting the lives of the pupils and teachers at risk, which also affected teaching and learning in those schools.

Hon. Johnson Kweku Adu was confident that the provision of these items will go a long way in creating a conducive atmosphere for quality teaching and learning

He added that he had also procured 30 packets of jerseys and 50 pieces of footballs for the various schools and communities in the constituency.

These sports kits he believed would be used during sporting activities among the communities to further foster the unity that exists between them, while sport talents are also unearthed among the students

A deputy Minister for the Interior, James Agalga is accusing a former Attorney-General Nana Akufo-Addo of failing to represent the interest of the state resulting in the $19.5m judgment debt given in a U.K court in favour of a French multinational bank Societe-General.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo was “reckless” in withdrawing the services of external solicitors who were representing the state after Societe Generale dragged the government of Ghana to court.

He was speaking on Multi TV’s Newsfile discussing matters arising from the sale of an oil drill ship to pay off a debt on the books of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The ex-GNPC boss Tsatsu Tsikata, revealed that prior to the sale of the drill ship, Societe Generale had lost two law suits filed against GNPC and suggested that the French company was on its way, to lose for the third time in a case it had filed in a UK High Court.

James Agalga says, all this changed when the 2012 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was appointed Attorney-General in 2001 by the Kufuor Administration.

Agalga says the new Attorney General terminated the services of Ghana’s external solicitors insisting that the department was taking over legal representation of the case.

The deputy Interior Minister continued that the A-G “consistently refused to show up in court” conceding an advantage to counsel for Societe-General to amend their writ and secure default judgment against the Republic of Ghana.

He insists the “blame lies on the doors of Akufo-Addo, K.T Hammond [deputy minister of energy who sold the ship] and government” of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

He is therefore challenging the former A-G to “to come and explain to us why they terminated the service of solicitors we contracted in the U.K”

Just as dust begins to settle on the just ended 2012 election petition, Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku,  David Tetteh Essuming is asking why the Supreme Court did not impose a hefty fine on the petitioners.

The senior member of the legislature insists that something must be done to ensure that the nation does not endure the same experience after  every election.

The Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on Water Resources Works and housing told RadioXYZ Parliamentary Correspondent Ibrahim Alhassan a fine would have sent a strong message to political parties and individuals not to rash to the SC without weighty evidence.

According to the MP, the petitioners wasted the nation’s time and resources thus must be made to pay for it.

“Because our time has been wasted, the nation’s time and resources have been wasted so I thought some level of cost could have been awarded against the petitioners for them to know that if you have to take such as a stand you will have to re-examine your stand,” the MP said.

David Essuming decried the incessant attacks on the personality of Dr. Afari Gyan, saying the EC Boss deserved better treatment than what is been dished out to him.

“Dr. Afari Gyan is one person that must be applauded in this country, he’s worked tirelessly for this nation and we shouldn’t treat him the way we are treating him. I think that he deserves better attention and recognition than we are doing” he stated.

He disagreed that a fine imposed on the petitioners had the potential of undermining our democracy. Rather, he said it would strengthen the institutions of Ghana’s democracy.

“Well, It’s all enhancing our democracy, I mean, if you want to take any step as far as democracy is concerned then you think of the consequences and so I believe that if that was done it would have also added to the strengthening of the democracy. Because you don’t just take any step without examining and re-examining”.

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The Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa North, Kwabena Amankwaa Asiamah has funded the reconstruction of a new foot-bridge for residents of Ahomahamaso, a suburb of Begoro in the Eastern Region.

The move according to him was to facilitate movement of goods and people to other communities which became very difficult as a result of the broken bridge.

Speaking to GhanaMPs.gov.gh, noted that over the period economic, education and other social activities were adversely affected especially market women who were unable to convey their wares to and from the market.

He however expressed his preparedness to ensure infrastructure development in the area when common funds are released.

Irene Kwakye/ghanamps.gov.gh

In line with measures by government to help bring healthcare services to the doorsteps of Ghanaians, the Member of Parliament for Upper West Akim, Joseph Sam Amakwanor  is planning to construct Community Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) centre for some selected communities in the area.

Beneficiary communities include, Asikasu, Alafia, Atimatim, Nyaoah and Oppong, all suburbs of the Upper West Akim district. .

In an interview with GhanaMPs.gov.gh, the MP said, this is intended to serve as first point of call in case of any health problem by inhabitants as well as help ease pressure in bigger facilities.

Mr. Amakwanor indicated that the project estimated to cost GHC 25,000 would be implemented with his share of the common fund.

He said the completion of the project on-board would enable inhabitants access primary healthcare services that will relatively meet the quality of life envisaged for people within the community and the whole district at large.

Rosemary O. Yeboah/ghanaMPs.gov.gh