Month: September 2013

Mr Amankwa Kwabene Asiamah, Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa North, has donated an Ambulance valued at GHc 40,000 to health facilities in his constituency.

The MP used part of his share of the MPs National Health Insurance Find to purchase the vehicle, which has been allocated to health facility at Dedesewerako.

Mr Amankwa said he presented the ambulances because people in serious health conditions and women in labour had to travel long distances to health centers which has been causing maternal death.

Speaking with ghanamps.gov.gh, the MP expressed worry that some expectant mothers in the community had lost their lives because they could not get transport to convey them to health centres early.

Mr Asiamah appealed to the Regional Health Directorate to supply health facilities in the communities with anti-snake test-tube since the people, mostly farmers suffer from snake bites.

He also appealed to authorities at the health facility to assist in the maintenance of the vehicle to ensure its long life span and usage.

Rosemary O. Yeboah/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has told Members of Parliament (MPs) that government has issued a cheque for the payment of outstanding statutory funds.

Angry MPs, especially those from the Minority side, issued various threats, including legal action after an unannounced freeze on their HIPC accounts and several months delay in the disbursement of funds into the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), District Assemblies’ Common Fund and the Health Fund.

But after a closed door meeting on Wednesday September 18 between the MPs, the Finance Minister, Seth Terpker, and Acting Controller and Accountant-General, Francisca Adzroe, the MPs calmed down.

Reacting to the Speakers announcement, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, expressed appreciation at government’s quick response to what he previously described as “sheer maladministration”.

The MPs indicated they will call off any planned action against the government.

But still some MPs are not impressed by government’s gesture. Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annor Dompreh, says although they are calm now, if the payments don’t hit the various statutory accounts by Thursday, they will continue applying pressure on government.

In a related development, Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, will later Thursday take the Presidential Oath as acting President.

This follows President Mahama’s decision to attend the inaugural ceremony of Mali’s President-elect, Ibrahim Abubakar Keïta. Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur is already out of the country on holidays.

Ms Freda Prempeh, Member of Parliament for Tano North, has expressed worry about the delay in the release of government funds for development.

“We are almost in the last quarter of the year, no Common Fund, no GETFund, no NHIA Fund, no HIPC fund”, she told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Duayaw-Nkwanta on Tuesday.

Ms Prempeh expressed the fear that creditors would soon flock the corridors of parliament to demand refund of loans many of the MPs had taken for national assignments.

“Apart from our core mandate as legislators, we are also to ensure the welfare of our people, and how can the MP work effectively without the necessary logistics and funding?”

The MP said it was disheartening that the District Assembly Common Fund meant for development had also not been released since January.

Ms Prempeh noted with regret that the government had widened the tax net, increased road tolls and intended to increase the Value Added Tax as well, a situation which had worsened the plight of the ordinary citizenry.

“The NDC government has disappointed the good people of Ghana. Teachers, nurses, doctors are all embarking on strike while contractors not are paid”, she said.

Ms Prempeh later conducted the GNA round some on-going projects she is undertaking in t her constituency. Work on the renovation of the Subriso CHPS compound is 80 percent complete while a mechanized borehole at Subonpang is progressing.

At Duayaw-Nkwanta, a 20 seater aqua pricy toilet is almost complete. Ms Prempeh presented 50 street lights to some assembly members to be distributed to some selected communities in the constituency.

GNA

A Deputy Minister of Education (In charge of Tertiary) and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa is demanding an immediate halt to the sudden drifting from what he referred to as “peace industry during the election petition to an electoral reform industry after the August 29 judgment” of the landmark case.

According to the Deputy Minister, those who channeled their energies towards crusading for peace before the election petition verdict, instead of calling for serious public debate on the need for radical reforms in sectors of the Ghanaian economy that impact directly on the lives of Ghanaians, have suddenly changed direction to a new venture and are now championing for reforms in the country’s electoral system.

This superfluous reform crusade, Mr. Ablakwa said is not only undermining the globally acclaimed and cherished electoral system of the country, it is also leading to unconstitutional demands from the opposition New Patriotic Party and their surrogates like the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) who are demanding a resignation of the Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan.

In an exclusive chat with The Al-Hajj on Monday, the North Tongu MP stated that “the unconstitutional call by AFAG for the resignation Dr. Afari Gyan as if he is an appointee of the President takes its root from the ‘reform industry’ crusade by the same people who were heard calling for peace ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on the election…I want to be engaged in serious public discussions on reforms in our educational sector, housing, health and road sectors, instead of this needles calls for electoral reform.”

Since it is public knowledge that the EC has after every election since 1992 made some changes in the country’s electoral system, Mr. Ablakwa said, he finds it strange that people have embarked on an “unnecessary reform project as if the last election was the first election the EC had conducted and the Commission has not done any reform in its existence…we must stop this and focus our attention to other serious things.”

The Deputy Minister said, he sees the demand for electoral reforms untenable, adding “the petitioners did not go to court to seek reforms; in fact that was not part of their claims…per their claims, what they sought to tell the court was that, they agree with the electoral process but some aspects of it was breached in the last election…if not why will they have called for a cancellation of votes to declare Nana Akufo-Addo president if the electoral systems was as porous as they want as to believe?” he asked.

After the August 29 judgment of the election petition which the NPP lost, there have been calls by several individuals, organizations and groups for radical reforms in the country’s electoral system to the extent that the NPP and its appendage pressure groups have gone further demanding the resignation of the EC boss, Dr. Afari Gyan even before his constitutionally guaranteed retirement age.

According to the deputy Education minister, to the extent that the Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey “as part of the craze for electoral reforms recommended the need for the involvement of IPAC in the selection of a new Chairman of the Commission after Dr. Afari Gyan retires”.

Rejecting such a suggestion, Mr. Ablakwa said the recommendation by the IDEG Executive Director was a clear violation of articles 42 and 70 (2) of the 1992 constitutions which talks about the mode for appointment of Chairpersons of the EC.

He added that instead of this calls, civil society groups and religious bodies interested in the development of the country must focus their attention to calling for reforms in areas like the admission of students into the nation’s medical schools, which he said is facing serious challenges when it comes to intakes.

Citing the Medical School at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Deputy Minister stated that, out of a total 470 students who had grade ‘A’ and qualified to be admitted into the medical school, the school can only absorb 70 due to lack of space.

“This is what must attract our attention…we have to call for reforms in those areas, we need to train more doctors to fight the difficulties we are facing in the health sector when it comes to doctor to patient ratio which ours does not meet the WHO standard,” he noted.

Al-Hajj Newspaper

Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher, President of the Ghana Bar Association, has said Ghana required national policies to bind governments to decisions by their predecessors.

He said Parliament must also refrain from passing laws vesting unrestrained discretion in the President and that these measures are crucial to curtailing partisanship and preservation of national unity.

Nene Amegatcher was speaking at the 2013-2014 annual general conference of the Association in Ho, under the theme, “the role of the Legal Profession in Developing a Public Private Partnership (PPP) regulatory framework for national development.”

He said “Section 12 of the recent Presidential Transition Act that provides for the automatic dissolution of all boards on the assumption of office of a new President is a regrettable addition which promotes division and partisanship rather than unity.”

Nene Amegatcher said conventions must be adopted to complement the constitutional provisions for national development, and to meet changing challenges.

“Conventions are an instrument of national cooperation and the spirit of cooperation is as necessary as the Constitution itself,” he said.

He said conventions could be developed to enable key stakeholders to be consulted by the President before certain appointments though not binding could be made as this would enrich the process and democratic governance.”

Nene Amegatcher questioned the propensity of governments to change for instance Vision 2020 to Vision 2015, the duration of the Senior High School from three years to four years and again back to three years.

“Why should we have one government build and give a name Jubilee House to the Presidential lodge only for another to change it to Flagstaff House without any national debate whatsoever?”

He identified corruption as one of the serious challenges that the country must tackle.

“We must declare a national crusade against corruption. We must be willing to put in place bold and audacious measures…” Nene Amegatcher said.

On the international front, he called on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to reconsider the decision to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka following the dismissal of that country’s Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake “after an unfair impeachment process that was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.”

Nene Amegatcher said “Sri Lanka has demonstrated complete disregard for the Rule of law and judicial independence.”

GNA

Member of Parliament for Sene East in the Brong Ahafo Region, Dominic Napare has donated 3,000 pairs of shoes to primary and Junior High Schools in the district.

He said his kind gesture was made possible with support from a Non-Governmental Organization, Bright Generation Foundation who in recognizing the deprived nature of the area decided to help the students in this regard.

In an interview the Hon. Dominic Napare stated that he was touched by the plight of the students some of who went to school barefooted, a situation which to him was dehumanizing and needed to be addressed.

He noted that his move is also to compliment the good efforts of the government which has distributed free school uniforms to the students.

“This will ensure the kids dress neatly to school and be more presentable in class, that will also entice the teachers to give off because when there is decency in the classroom and the classroom environment is conducive, teaching and learning goes on, that is the rationale behind it’’ he said.

Hon.Napare emphasized his dedication to ensuring that the standard of education in the area receives a major boast.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr J. B. Danquah-Adu, was at the weekend honoured by the Apostolic Church of Ghana for his financial assistance to the church and the community.

This is the third time within a month that the MP had been honoured, the first and second by the Osiem branch of the Church of Pentecost and the Old Tafo branch of the Presbyterian Church respectively, which benefited from Mr Danquah-Adu’s largesse to improve their infrastructure.

Mr Danquah-Adu presented 100 bags of cement and an amount of GH¢25,000 two years ago for the construction of a new building for the Ati Assembly in the Tafo Area of the Apostolic Church.

Having realised that the amount was insufficient, the MP further pledged to finance the cost of fixing the floor tiles of the chapel.

In honouring Mr Danquah-Adu, which coincided with a joint service of the Tafo Area of the church, the President of the Apostolic Church of Ghana, Apostle Ebenezer Nsesa Abrebrese, described the MP as a man who had helped to improve not only the infrastructure of the Apostolic Church but all denominations within the constituency, which, to him, was helping to mould the moral character of the people.

In a sermon on the theme: “A season of Blessings”, which was based on Psalm 102, Apostle Abebrese told the congregation that anybody who assisted to improve the work of God was amply rewarded with blessings.

He said the good works of Mr Danquah-Adu, which were not seen only in the improvement of the infrastructure of the various religious denominations but also in the lives of the poor and needy in society, would follow him, adding that God usually transformed ordinary people to be extraordinary so that they would render services to man and God.

In response, Mr Danquah-Adu, who received a citation on a plaque embossed with the church’s emblem, stated that he was hopeful his assistance to the various religious groups would enable them to mould the character of their members for a peaceful and prosperous society.

He expressed appreciation to the church for the honour done him and gave an assurance to continue assisting it.

Earlier, the minister in charge of the Tafo Area of the church, Apostle S.K. Teye, traced the history of the Ati Assembly, as well as the entire Tafo Area, which, he indicated, had grown both spiritually and physically.

Daily Graphic

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho will be sworn in as acting President of the Republic of Ghana on Thursday by the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Woode following plans by the President, John Dramani Mahama to travel to Mali tomorrow for the country’s Presidential Inauguration.

The planned swearing of the Speaker as acting President has become necessary  becuase Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur, who should have stepped in as the interim President, has also traveled to the UK, making it mandatory for the Speaker Doe Adjaho to be sworn in as acting President, who is the third on the heirarchy in to the  Presidency.

Find below the full statement from the presidency

ABSENCE FROM GHANA

In accordance with article 59 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana, I write to inform you that I shall visit the Republic of Mali on Thursday, 19 September 2013 to witness the swearing in of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

During my absence from Ghana the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament shall in accordance with article 60, clause 11 of the constitution act in my step because His Excellency the Vice President will also be away from Ghana on an official assignment.

By copy of this letter, the attention of her ladyship the Chief Justice is being drawn to requirement of article 60, clause 12 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

Kindly accept Right Honourable Speaker the assurances of my highest contribution.

…..Signed…..

John Dramani Mahama

Minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has suggested that his party must consider minimizing the number of persons that contest as presidential candidates during primaries.

He is one of a few people within the NPP who suggest that at least three candidates be allowed to contest during primaries for the flagbearer slot.

He said such a mechanism greatly helps to reduce the animosity and perceived misplaced agenda of political parties.

“The reasoning behind this proposal is that, in every party there are the moderates, the extremists and those that tow the middle line, so I think that our politics which is intra-party will begin to be shaped by that idea” he argued.

The lawmaker for Suame told XYZ News that political parties must begin to centre their activities on concrete and productive ideologies that will propel the growth of the country.

Recently, there have been rumors that leading members of the NPP like Alan Kyeremanten, Dr. Konadu Apraku and Richard Anane are likely to run for the flagbearership position of the party.

In the wake of the global concerns to fight malnutrition cases in contemporary societies, the Member of Parliament for Lawra constituency, Abu Samson in conjunction with MEDPLUS connection USA has advanced a platform to deal with malnutrition in the district.

Thus to help address specific cases of malnutrition amongst children in the area, a newly established Nutrition centre meant to house malnutrition cases and churn out education to mothers in the Lawra district hospital has been handed over to authorities at the hospital.

The fully completed facility which cost about GHS 65,000 will largely serve as a specialized centre that will manage a number of different nutrition disorders amongst the young population in the district.

Hon. Abu Samson, interacting with Ghanamps.gov.gh on the facility intimated that this support was advanced because of the high cases of malnutrition in the area. He said the premises of initiating such a move was as a result of his high involvement in the health sector as the health services administrator for the district some years back.

He revealed that this ostensibly paved the way to acquaint himself with some of the challenging health issues that requires massive intervention, thereby engaging his US partners to support in getting a centre that addresses this problem for the people.

Malnutrition is a major public health concern in lower socio-economic level and in developing countries, which directly poses as one of the greatest single threat to the World’s public health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in half of all cases, therefore have introduced some nutrition-specific interventions, which addresses the immediate causes of under nutrition, as well as long term measures fostering nutritionally dense agriculture by increasing yields.

It also makes sure negative consequences affecting yields in the future are minimized.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh