Month: November 2013

The popular music phrase “boys abr3” which means boys are tired has been trending on social media networks for the past few weeks to encapsulate the troubles bachelors go through finding their dream wives.

Somehow, the phrase has found its way into the corridors of Parliament with some MPs tagging the president as Mahama Abr3.

Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah told Joy News Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey that from all indications the president is tired of governing the country.

He was reacting to the president’s reaction to comments made by Alban Bagbin.

” The president is a young person and one would have expected him to have much energy to do the job but he has demonstrated that he is tired.

“It’s obvious that Boys abr3. The president is tired. Just after nine months in office he is tired of governing.

When Elton Brobbey chronicled the president’s rich political background to debunk Asiamah’s assertion, the MP was still adamant.

“That is strange for some of us. From all indications it is clear the president is tired.

“He lacks what it takes to be president of Ghana,” he fired.

Myjoyonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, Henry Quartey who was accused of inciting traders operating at Tip-toe lane against the police and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) during a demolishing exercise on Tuesday has denied the allegation and challenged the police to go to antoa nyama (a deity in the Ashanti region) for the truth to be brought to bear.

“I am a Christian, I have never done this before but I dare them that we should go to “antoa nyama” and anybody who says I brought people there to incite people, both of us should go and one of us will not return,” he said.

Officials from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Police on Tuesday demolished unauthorized structures at Tip-toe lane near Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The Director of the Operation, Chief Supt. Sylvester Boyou who spoke to Citi News indicated that the exercise started with little resistance from the traders until the MP arrived in the area.

In an interview on Eyewitness News Hon. Henry Quartey said: “I did not go there to incite people and I will never insight anybody against the police because I think that it is my duty and responsibility to help the people to help the police to discharge their duties professionally.

I want to use your medium to say categorically that as a member of parliament the last thing that I will do is to be an impediment in the way of the police and to obstruct the police in carrying out their duties.”

According to him, the allegations leveled against him are false and “very unfair” adding that he went there to find a better approach of going about the demolition exercise.

“I told them that I don’t have a problem with what they are doing. However I think that their position is wrong, bearing in mind the current situation in this country,” he added.

He also stated that, “in the same vein, I think that I will not sit and watch the police infringe on the very rights of the people they are supposed to protect.”

Citifmonline.com

Information and Media Relations Minister Mahama Ayariga has dismissed suggestions that President John Dramani is contemplating stepping down in 2016.

He said the president’s comments Tuesday that “For those who disagree with me and are anxious to see my back, [they are] not to worry, 2016 is not too far away,” could not have been interpreted to mean that the president will not seek re-election.

The president, he argued, was simply saying that “It is too early for people to begin to assess and try to conclude that the measures we are adopting [in fighting corruption] have failed”

Mr. Ayariga was clarifying comments made by President John Mahama at an orientation workshop for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives at the Local Government Training Institute in Accra Tuesday.

The president, apparently replying former Majority Leader Alban Sumana Bagbin, who publicly questioned his governance style and commitment to fight corruption, said, those who wanted to see his back ought to bide their time because 2016 was not too far away.

He added that “in this difficult job, the least one expects is comradeship and solidarity.”

It has been suggested that the president may not seek a second term but Mr. Ayariga believes those suggestions are misplaced.

He told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday that “It is we the grassroots members, the ordinary members of the party (governing National Democratic Congress) who want him to be there as president.”

Mr. Bagbin early this week said that the ordinary members of the NDC were disenchanted because they felt the government had become a government of President Mahama’s family and friends and did not represent their interests and aspirations anymore.

But Mr Ayariga said, “I can assure you that by 2016 we will still want him (Mahama) to be there as our candidate [for the presidential election] because clearly the approaches he is adopting to fight corruption would have succeeded and everybody would see the wisdom in that kind of approach.”

Members of Parliament on Wednesday called for urgent support from government and other corporate institutions for the Winneba Government Hospital which was gutted by fire a fortnight ago.

According to the MPs the continuous delay in re-equipping the hospital which had several of its drugs and other equipment damaged will endanger the lives of the residents as delivery of quality healthcare cannot be guaranteed.

The inferno which cause is yet to be established swept through the Pharmacy and the Stores Departments of the Hospital leaving in its wake lots of damaged items estimated to cost GHC 2 Million.

The MPs made the call when they contributed to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the Hon. Alex Afenyo Markin MP for Effutu on the unfortunate incident that befell the Winneba Hospital.

While sympathizing with the good people of Ghana, he emphasized the need for both government and private companies to help re-tool the health facility to ensure its continuous discharge of quality healthcare to the people of Winneba and its environs.

Hon. Afenyo Markin taking cognisance of the high spate of recent fire outbreaks recorded in the country urged government to ensure that such important national facilities are insured against unforeseen circumstances.

On his part MP for Wa West, Hon. Yieleh Chireh stressed the need for security at essential institutions such as hospitals to be enhanced to avoid the outbreak of avoidable accidents since it would be costly to replace the damaged items.

Also touching on the issue, MP for Dome/Kwabenya, Hon. Adwoa Safo bemoad the bad maintenance culture adopted at some of the public institutions as buildings and other infrastructure are allowed to rot. She further called on her colleague MPs to educate their constituents on fire safety and rescue techniques to help them in case of any eventuality.

Hon. Muntaka Mubarak adding his voice to the statement noted that most institutions ignore fire safety regulations established by the National Fire Service, which result in great damage to property in times of fire outbreaks.

He urged the Ghana Health Service (GHS) not to only check operations at the various hospitals but also check the general conditions of the facilities to avoid the outbreak of avoidable incidents.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy is asking members of the Trades Union Congress to stop behaving like spoilt children and get back to the negotiating table.

Dr Kwabena Donkor says the conduct by the TUC in the utility price hike controversy is unfortunate.

“I think they have been on the board of the PURC since the Act was promulgated.

“It is also an admission that they were not able to convince their colleagues on the board including AGI.

“It is just like being unable to make your case or playing football when we were children and you are not winning and therefore you say ‘makye me ball [ I have taken my ball]. I think TUC is better than that” Dr Donkor told Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey.

The comments come in the wake of the decision by TUC to embark on demonstration, strikes as well as the latest decision to suspend its membership of the PURC board: all in protest over the hikes in utility prices.

Dr Donkor was even more disappointed with the TUC for failing to attend a meeting organised by the PURC to dialogue on the controversial hikes.

“On one hand you are calling for engagement or dialogue, on the other hand you are absenting yourself from planned meetings. TUC is a trades union primarily. In this particular position it is a pressure group. Its secondary function. And i think as a pressure group they should be careful not to be seen as holding the country to ransom.”

“TUC must get back and engage. A temporary walk out [on PURC] is not strategic,” he advised.

But TUC has hit back.

The Secretary General of TUC Kofi Asamoah told Joy News the comments from Dr Kwabena Donkor were “misinformed.”

He said TUC has never shy away from dialogue in spite of the road map they issued in respect of the strikes and demonstrations.

He explained TUC was unable to attend the PURC meeting because it coincided with a scheduled meeting at the Presidency.

A letter intercepted by Joy News confirmed the letter written by the TUC to PURC explaining the reasons why they could not attend the meeting.

“It was not deliberate. We have nothing to hide from the PURC. We are more prepared to talk to them because we have a lot of questions to raise with them. And we will never at anytime run away from them.

“The minister was not properly informed and his comments were extremely unfortunate,” he added.

He confirmed the PURC meeting has now been rescheduled for next week Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Polytechnic Administrators has called on its members to join the demonstration and strike being organised by TUC to protest the hikes in utility prices.

The national president Yaw Kosoe told Luv News after a National Council meeting that the tariff hikes are unacceptable.

He further asked the PURC to, immediately reduce the hikes in utilities.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy is asking members of the Trades Union Congress to stop behaving like spoilt children and get back to the negotiating table.

Dr Kwabena Donkor says the conduct by the TUC in the utility price hike controversy is unfortunate.

“I think they have been on the board of the PURC since the Act was promulgated.

“It is also an admission that they were not able to convince their colleagues on the board including AGI.

“It is just like being unable to make your case or playing football when we were children and you are not winning and therefore you say ‘magye me ball [ I have taken my ball]. I think TUC is better than that” Dr Donkor told Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey.

The comments come in the wake of the decision by TUC to embark on demonstration, strikes as well as the latest decision to suspend its membership of the PURC board: all in protest over the hikes in utility prices.

Dr Donkor was even more disappointed with the TUC for failing to attend a meeting organised by the PURC to dialogue on the controversial hikes.

“On one hand you are calling for engagement or dialogue, on the other hand you are absenting yourself from planned meetings. TUC is a trades union primarily. In this particular position it is a pressure group. Its secondary function. And i think as a pressure group they should be careful not to be seen as holding the country to ransom.”

“TUC must get back and engage. A temporary walk out [on PURC] is not strategic,” he advised.

But TUC has hit back.

The Secretary General of TUC Kofi Asamoah told Joy News the comments from Dr Kwabena Donkor were “misinformed.”

He said TUC has never shy away from dialogue in spite of the road map they issued in respect of the strikes and demonstrations.

He explained TUC was unable to attend the PURC meeting because it coincided with a scheduled meeting at the Presidency.

A letter intercepted by Joy News confirmed the letter written by the TUC to PURC explaining the reasons why they could not attend the meeting.

“It was not deliberate. We have nothing to hide from the PURC. We are more prepared to talk to them because we have a lot of questions to raise with them. And we will never at anytime run away from them.

“The minister was not properly informed and his comments were extremely unfortunate,” he added.

He confirmed the PURC meeting has now been rescheduled for next week Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Polytechnic Administrators has called on its members to join the demonstration and strike being organised by TUC to protest the hikes in utility prices.

The national president Yaw Kosoe told Luv News after a National Council meeting that the tariff hikes are unacceptable.

He further asked the PURC to, immediately reduce the hikes in utilities.

Information and Media Relations Minister Mahama Ayariga has dismissed suggestions that President John Dramani is contemplating stepping down in 2016.

He said the president’s comments Tuesday that “For those who disagree with me and are anxious to see my back, [they are] not to worry, 2016 is not too far away,” could not have been interpreted to mean that the president will not seek re-election.

The president, he argued, was simply saying that “It is too early for people to begin to assess and try to conclude that the measures we are adopting [in fighting corruption] have failed”

Mr. Ayariga was clarifying comments made by President John Mahama at an orientation workshop for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives at the Local Government Training Institute in Accra Tuesday.

The president, apparently replying former Majority Leader Alban Sumana Bagbin, who publicly questioned his governance style and commitment to fight corruption, said, those who wanted to see his back ought to bide their time because 2016 was not too far away.

He added that “in this difficult job, the least one expects is comradeship and solidarity.”

It has been suggested that the president may not seek a second term but Mr. Ayariga believes those suggestions are misplaced.

He told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday that “It is we the grassroots members, the ordinary members of the party (governing National Democratic Congress) who want him to be there as president.”

Mr. Bagbin early this week said that the ordinary members of the NDC were disenchanted because they felt the government had become a government of President Mahama’s family and friends and did not represent their interests and aspirations anymore.

But Mr Ayariga said, “I can assure you that by 2016 we will still want him (Mahama) to be there as our candidate [for the presidential election] because clearly the approaches he is adopting to fight corruption would have succeeded and everybody would see the wisdom in that kind of approach.”

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, Henry Quartey who was accused of inciting traders operating at Tip-toe lane against the police and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) during a demolishing exercise on Tuesday has denied the allegation and challenged the police to go to antoa nyama (a deity in the Ashanti region) for the truth to be brought to bear.

“I am a Christian, I have never done this before but I dare them that we should go to “antoa nyama” and anybody who says I brought people there to incite people, both of us should go and one of us will not return,” he said.

Officials from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Police on Tuesday demolished unauthorized structures at Tip-toe lane near Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The Director of the Operation, Chief Supt. Sylvester Boyou who spoke to Citi News indicated that the exercise started with little resistance from the traders until the MP arrived in the area.

In an interview on Eyewitness News Hon. Henry Quartey said: “I did not go there to incite people and I will never insight anybody against the police because I think that it is my duty and responsibility to help the people to help the police to discharge their duties professionally.

I want to use your medium to say categorically that as a member of parliament the last thing that I will do is to be an impediment in the way of the police and to obstruct the police in carrying out their duties.”

According to him, the allegations leveled against him are false and “very unfair” adding that he went there to find a better approach of going about the demolition exercise.

“I told them that I don’t have a problem with what they are doing. However I think that their position is wrong, bearing in mind the current situation in this country,” he added.

He also stated that, “in the same vein, I think that I will not sit and watch the police infringe on the very rights of the people they are supposed to protect.”

Citifmonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini has denied media reports that he was chased away by irate NDC youth at a meeting in Tamale.

Speaking to Citi News, Alhaji Fuseini said he is still popular in his constituency despite opposition from some supporters of the party.

Alhaji Inusah Fuseini was reportedly chased away by irate NDC youth at a meeting in Tamale.

According to reports, the action by the irate NDC youth was meant to express their displeasure on their MP’s alleged neglect of his constituents since he assumed office.

But speaking to Citi News, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini who is also the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources said he commands respect and support from his constituents

“I spoke during the interaction and you could see the response. Infact you could even see the response when I was introduced.What have I done within the eight months to become unpopular? If you go to the my constituency there is no area in that has not seen any development activity that I undertook over there. What will I have done within the eight months that will render me unpopular to the extent that people will chase me away from the area?”

Citifmonline.com