Month: November 2013

Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, says he is the representative of all residents of the area in Parliament and not only for members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Vanderpuye said this when he consoled victims of the fire outbreak at Old Fadama in Accra on Thursday.

Learning about the plight of the displaced persons, he ordered for some insecticide treated mosquito nets for distribution to them.

The Deputy Minister of Trade directed the community leaders to ensure that those directly affected by the fire, especially women, children and the vulnerable benefit from the aid package.

He expressed the hope to meet the family of a victim who lost his life during the outbreak.

Mr Bawa Hadi, a resident told the Deputy Minister who was accompanied by some Constituency Executives of the NDC and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) officials about the need for the provision of access roads.

Mr Daniel Nii Okai, NDC Constituency Chairman, asked the NADMO staff to liaise with the Urban Roads Department for the release of a bulldozer and a grader to facilitate the work.

Mr Okai noted that “fire is no discriminator of persons” and urged the people irrespective of their political affiliation to come together and find a solution to the rampant disasters in the area.

GNA

The Member of Parliament for Berekum East, Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah says society is to be blamed for the massive corruption in the country.

“In Ghana now, it pays to be corrupt because the society itself is pushing to be corrupt. If you are in government and you are not corrupt, you become the odd one out and so everyone is trying very hard to be corrupt”, he stated.

Dr. Twum Nuamah was commenting on the latest Gallup survey, which named Ghana as one of the corruption endemic countries in the world.

The survey conducted between April and May last year, saw Ghana named as the third most corrupt countries with a free press out of about 20 countries surveyed.

But government maintains that it has instituted measure to nib the situation in the bud.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah said he is not surprised about the research findings.

According to him, corruption in Ghana especially in government, is not a perception but a truism.

Dr. Twum Nuamah contended that politicians could not be blamed for being corrupt when in government because they are pressured by the insatiable request of their constituents.

“We live in a country, where when you are given a position in government, people think it is an opportunity for you to amass wealth. Our mindset is pushing politicians to become corrupt”, he bemoaned.

The Berekum East MP underscored the need for politicians to take the bull by the horn and say “enough is enough”.

He said if the society does not change their perception about politicians and public officials, the situation will degenerate.

Dr. Twum Nuamah feared if adequate steps are not taken to nid corruption in the bud, the society will degenerate and Ghana will become a “banana republic”

Myjoyonline.com

A former Majority Leader, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has pooh-poohed government’s measures to fight corruption in the country, saying much is left to be desired.

He said he was yet to see a semblance of political leadership and commitment to fight corruption which is said to have progressively worsened over the years.

Mr. Bagbin was expressing frustration at government’s handling of findings contained in an investigative report on the operations of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA).

A committee set up the government to conduct the investigations, cited some officials for complicity in shady deals and plain stealing and recommended their prosecution.

The report also recommended the abrogation of some contracts with service providers under GYEEDA.

But months after the report was submitted to the president, action is yet to be taken and Mr. Bagbin believes it has taken too long for government to act on the recommendations.

Asked if he thinks Ghana has the political leadership needed to deal with corruption, he said, “Well I haven’t seen it yet. I haven’t seen it yet…no no no I haven’t seen it”.

According to him, the way and manner the issue has been handled has “shocked all of us”.

Mr Bagbin, who is one of the three Wise Men in charge of government special projects, told Joy News’ Manasseh Awuni Azure that the decision by the ministerial committee to submit its findings to the presidency was itself problematic.

“It was even wrong for that kind of report to be sent straight to the presidency, so the presidency has a difficulty and has to set up another committee to look into the report”.

In his view, “the best is to get the allegations investigated by the police service with the Attorney General’s Department that is what should have been done”.

Mr Bagbin asserted that if it was done in the way as he suggested, Ghanaians would have seen result “long, long ago” – the culprits would have been brought to book.

Myjoyonline.com

A 7 unit classroom block project ongoing at the Tumu Sec-Tech in the Sissala East district is seriously gaining the needed attention from stakeholders, as efforts are underway to ensure its early completion.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Sulemana Alijata Gbentie has been the latest person to contribute towards this project to support the speedy completion of the school structure.

Some 100 bags of cement were donated early this week to the school for the smooth implementation of the project believed to have been initiated by the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) of the school.

Madam Sulemana Gbentie reiterated in an interview with Ghanamps.gov.gh that government is on its toes to promote access to quality education, hence it will continuously provide and invest in infrastructure to absorb the teeming youth in school.

Aside the material for the classroom block project, the MP also donated about 5 pieces of streetlights to help illuminate the school compound and rid it from activities of unscrupulous persons.

She claimed education was pivotal in the growth and development of the area, thus they will leave no stone unturned to meet the provisions required for improving quality education.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Residents of Adenta and its environs, near Accra, will heave a sigh of relief by December 2014 when they will receive sufficient water through their taps to end the perennial water problem in the area.

The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who announced this in Parliament yesterday, said the expansion of the Kpone Water Treatment Plant, which is nearing completion, would ensure adequate supply of water to the people of Adenta and its environs.

He was in the House to answer a question which had been filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, on the water situation in the area.

The MP wanted to know when the expansion of the Kpone Water Treatment Plant would come on stream to relieve the people of Adenta from the water crisis they had endured over the years.

Answering the question, Alhaji Dauda said the expansion works on the Kpone Water Treatment Plant were being done with a $260-million concessionary loan from the Chinese government and a $13-million support from the government.

He explained that the work, which started in June 2011, was expected to be completed by December 2014 and provide 40 million gallons per day to serve the eastern part of Accra through Adenta.

“The transmission pipeline, which has been routed through Dodowa to Adenta is 90 per cent complete. The water treatment plant, the booster station and the intake are nearing completion.

“Mr Speaker, I am glad to inform this House that the people of Adenta and its environs will be receiving sufficient water through their taps by the end of 2014,” Alhaji Dauda assured the House.

In the face of preparations by government to hand over the keys of state bungalow, number 2 Mango Street property at Ridge in Accra to New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Deputy Education Minister has noted that the court of public opinion will squarely judge him [Jake].

The comment of the deputy minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa comes after some irate youth of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) stormed the number 2 Mango State property, to prevent government from handing over the keys to the bungalow to Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey.

He therefore appealed to the NDC youth to allow the law to take it course and leave the rest for posterity.

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa was resolute in his conviction that the NPP chairman shortchanged Ghanaians in his purchase of a state bungalow.

He described the purchase of the Number 2 Mango Street property by the NPP top shot as “unpatriotic”, “selfish” and lacks moral values.

This follows a High Court ruling, ordering the state to hand over the property to its rightful owner [Jake] after Okudzeto Ablakwa and Dr. Omane Boamah failed to prove the corruption and conflict of interest claims in court.

The current occupant of the house, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, Deputy Trade Minister is expected to present the keys of the bungalow to the Public Works Department today.

But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Okudzeto Ablakwa said he is saddened by the latest development.

According to him, for an ex-Minister of Tourism and Beautification of the Capital City in the erstwhile Kufuor administration to acquire a state bungalow in the face of the huge shortage of houses for government appointees is unthinkable.

Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that about 30 Deputy Ministers in the Mahama-led administration don’t have a place to lay their heads due such shameful acts.

He wondered what will happen to the state if every Minister decides to buy their duty post for serving in government.

The Deputy Education Minister said even though the law court has ruled in favour of Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey, the court of public opinion will judge him [Jake] squarely.

Okudzeto Ablakwa appealed to the NDC youth to allow the law to take it course and leave the rest for posterity.

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