MP for North Dayi, George Loh has lamented his Gh¢4,000 take home pay is not enough for him in view of the many responsibilities he has to bear as a legislator.

Despite a gross salary of Gh¢7,000, he said MPs pay huge chunk of this money as taxes. They are up in arms with the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper to address the “huge” tax burden, he revealed.

“You can begin to think that an MPs salary is a lot but when you go into an MPs salary, it is next to nothing,” the lawyer pointed out on the Joy Fm Super Morning Show, Friday George Loh, MP North Dayi, Volta Region

The comments were made on the sidelines of revelations, each MP has been allocated Gh¢34,000 to monitor projects within their constituencies. Monitoring projects would be seen as an MP’s job. The North Dayi MP denied receiving any such monies.

Staying on the issue of his salary, he said “this is something I shouldn’t have put out”. He however went further to call for national debate to  “do a salary analysis of all other workers.. judiciary, education [and] health”.

“I have seen other people’s salary and the MPs salary is nowhere near them”, he challenged adding, to have an informed discussion, “let’s put the figures out”.

He explained, being in parliament is not as rosy as it looks despite fierce competition to get elected.

“There are several other deductions  that come out of your salary….and this is the same money you use to do funerals and others; it is not as good as it looks”.

George Loh is a legal practitioner and a new entrant to parliament after he defeated former Youth and Sports Minister Akua Sena Dansua by 12 votes in the National Democratic Congress’ primaries ensuring a straight forward victory in the NDC stronghold constituency of North Dayi in the Volta Region.

Myjoyonline.com

 

Tertiary and second cycle school in and around the Kwahu area in the Eastern Region have received 600 ICT text books from the Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw, Darfour, Kwakye Eric.

The MP said the books were donations he got from a friend in Canada upon his request to help improve the study of ICT in schools in his constituency. He however decided to include other close by schools in the Kwahu Area since they are all one and working for the improvement of their people, more so, Nkawkaw itself has only one government assisted SHS with few other private second cycle schools.

He said equipping the schools with computers is important but there was a need to add reading materials so they can help themselves.

Apart from the schools in Nkawkaw Constituency that benefited from the text books, Holy Family Nursing training school, Kwahu Atibie Midwifery training college, Kwahu Ridge SHS, Abetifi Training College of Education, St. Peters SHS at Nkwantia and Presby SHS at Kwahu Tafo all of which are located outside the Nkawkaw Constituency also benefited.

He urged the students to put the books to good use and called for their proper use to enable others after them benefit from it.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanaps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region has attended the third congregation ceremony of the Atebubu College of Education with a call on the students to be worthy ambassadors of their school.

The college which was established in December 1965, currently has a student population of 934 and runs programmes in Education, Social sciences, Languages, Mathematics, Science and Vocational studies.

In a welcome address, the chairperson of the governing council of the college, Hajia Joyce Zaynab Mahama stressed governments desire to upgrade existing colleges of education and expressed her gratitude to the Ghana Education Trust Fund GETFUND for the diverse ways it has supported the school.

She urged the graduates to accept postings wherever their services will be needed adding that with good conduct on their part opportunities opened to them will be unlimited.

The principal of the college Mr. Wayo Zakaria told the gathering that education is the bedrock of national development and drew a correlation between teacher quality and student attainment.

He said the graduates have gone through well structured and principled set of guidelines aimed at ensuring both quality and discipline.

Mr. Zakaria said in a bid to improve standards at the college, as many as 18 academic staff obtained masters degrees during the last academic year whiles plans are afoot to get all teachers tutored in proposal and research writing.

The Principal enumerated a state of the art ICT laboratory, a girl’s dormitory block, residential facilities for tutors and a 1500 capacity auditorium as some GETFUND projects at various levels of completion in the school.

Mr. Zakaria also catalogued some internal initiatives with the support of the SRC aimed at improving facilities in the school to include: the provision of classroom blocks, polytanks for harvesting water, rehabilitation of vehicles, the opening of a CHPS compound and the provision of solar energy for parts of the school.

He mentioned the bad road network in the school and the lack of a multi-purpose sport field as some of the challenges facing the school.

In all a total of 367 graduates for the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic years were awarded diplomas in basic education.

GhanaMps.gov.gh

 

A sound environment is very important for teaching and learning. But this was not the case for students of Agona Nyakrom Methodist B Junior High School.

Being an old school, the structure from the primary school to the JHS is so dilapidated people fear it may collapse at any time.

But intervention by the Member of Parliament for Agona West, Charles Obeng-Inkoom to rehabilitate all the school blocks has given some hope to the students and teachers.

The Member of Parliament who hopes to spend about fifty thousand Ghana cedis to make the structure strong and convenient for studies disclosed that GH25, 000.00 has already been spent from the HIPC fund and since the Finance Ministry has already approved another tranche of the same fund to be released, it will also be channeled to ensure the whole project is complete.

He noted that it was sad that school had to close any time there were signs of rainfall, a situation that deprive the students of  important instructional hours. He said the support is to give the students a better life and encourage them to study hard for their own good in future.

the Ghana Education Trust Fund, (GETFund) though recognized the difficult situation the school found itself started putting up a 6-unit school block for the school but this has also been abandoned at the foundation level for lack of funds. Hence, until the new GETFund project is completed, the school would have to rely on the current structure for their studies.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman in the Eastern region, Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, has invested a whopping one million Ghana cedis (GH¢1m) into the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The money, the MP says, is to help build the capacity of the over 130,000 polling station executives and members of the party towards the 2016 General Elections.

“This investment is a demonstration of what we believe should be done to win election 2016. We need to build on the capacity level of the polling station executives and that is exactly what I am doing,” he noted.

According to the business tycoon, he is not embarking on such venture as means of winning the heart of the grassroots but doing it “because it is his priority.”

He however did not rule out contesting the flag-bearership position of the party if the opportunity arises.

“I have never said anywhere that I have any intention to stand for presidency. The decision will be made by those who are empowered to make the decision. And if those decision makers at any stage see me as fit and proper for that position and they want to endorse me and declare me and present me for an election, I would oblige,” the former deputy minister for trade & industry averred.

In an interview with Today, the MP used the opportunity to condemn the upsurge of various youth groups in the party purporting to support candidates aspiring to be the party’s flag-bearer slot for the 2016 presidential election.

On Tuesday, May 27, 2014 a group claiming to represent the Greater Accra Youth Wing of the NPP demanded that the party allows 2012 presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to go unopposed for election 2016.

The group, consequentially, called for the withdrawal of all competitors for the party’s presidential primary scheduled for December, 2014.

But such call was immediately rebutted by Nana Addo the following day, May 28, 2014 when he issued a statement to distance himself from the youth group.

Also on Wednesday, another group from the NPP, calling itself Crusaders of Nana Akufo-Addo (CONNA,) pledged to ensure that the former Attorney-General & Minister of Justice gets 90% of the total votes when the party goes to the polls in December this year.

Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten has also had the backing of another group affiliated to the NPP called Get Alan Kyeremanten Elected (GAKE).

But the actions of these groupings, according to the Asuogyaman MP, are not in the best interest of the party since “it can only worsen the already enmity between Nana Addo and Alan Kyeremanten and their followers.

…And even though Nana Addo will come and disclaim – the question is who orchestrated it? So where is this taking us and why have we resorted to the media if there is a problem? Why don’t we write to the leadership of the party for redress?”

He added “If you look into our party, the object is to be able to sponsor a candidate for elections into any public office as required under the constitution of the Republic of Ghana, sponsor candidates for election, to win political power through democratic means in order to pursue the party’s agenda provided in the party’s manifesto for general elections. So, for anyone to come and say some people should not participate in an election when the nominations, guidelines as to who qualifies, has not even come out amounts to vile threats. And for that matter some intimidatory tendencies are raising its ugly head.”

“If these people are NPP members, we should investigate and deal with the situation which seeks to divide our front towards elections 2016,” he added.

He said what the NPP needed most at this time was unity.

Against this backdrop, the legislator also urged Nana Addo and Alan Kyeremanten to end attacks on each other as according to him, it is undermining party unity.

This, he noted, is the foremost component in winning power from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) rather than the self-centered interest that has crept into the party over the years.

Source: Today

The Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu and also a chairman of Select Committee on Lands and Forestry has asked mining companies to do everything to ensure that their operations conform to internationally accepted safety standards.

They should not only take measures to prevent accidents, but go to every length to safeguard the environment.

This was when members of the committee, led by its Chairman, Mr. Amadu Seidu, paid an official visit to the Chirano Gold Mines at Chirano in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District.

The legislators were there to acquaint themselves with its operations and the challenges.

Mr. Seidu asked the management to put premium on the reclamation of mined and degraded lands to restore the vegetative cover.

He also reminded the mine to live up to its corporate social responsibility, adding that, it should assist provide jobs for the people in the local communities and to train them in vocations and trades to give them alternative livelihoods.

He said that was necessary to reduce the tension that often existed between the mining companies and the local population.

Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, Justice Joe Appiah has cautioned New Patriotic Party (NPP) youth affiliated to certain flag bearer aspirants in the party to desist from issuing disparaging comments against each other.

According to him, such acts have the potential of deepening the rift among the Alan/Nana Akufo Addo faction that characterized the party’s last two previous presidential primaries; a development he said would spell doom for the party’s electoral fortunes in the 2016 elections.

The MP’s advice follows the springing up onto the political scene of splinter groups affiliated to flag bearer aspirants marketing their preferred candidates and, in the process, uttering comments that are vitriolic against other aspirants as the party prepares for its impending Presidential primaries slated for December this year.

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwabena Agyepong, has said emerging splinter groups in the party are alien to it and the party does not recognize any group except those recognized by the party’s constitution.

“We want to make it clear that all the so-called emerging groups are alien to the dictates of the party, and for that matter, the party abhors such recent development,” he declared.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon. Joe Appiah reiterated the need for the largest opposition party to remain united and present a formidable party at the polls to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship which is as a result of poor management by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

“Ghanaians are crying for the return of the NPP to deliver them from the mess that the incompetent NDC government has plunged them, and we cannot obviously win power with a fragmented party, we need to be united” he said.

He warned that the NPP will be at the receiving end of the trading of vitriolic comments as the ruling NDC is likely to use those accusations and words against them during the 2016 electioneering campaign which could affect the chances of the party.

On a separate development, the MP called on the Electoral Commission to convene an Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) with all the political parties in attendance as soon as possible to deliberate on the upcoming limited registration exercise of person of 18 years and above.

The EC has announced that it intends to open registration in June for prospective new voters, an announcement that has been met with mixed reaction from some of the political parties and a section of the public.

Hon. Joe Appiah was of the view that the EC should rather concentrate on cleaning the bloated voters register as was evident in the 2012 election petition case at the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court asked the EC to clean the register, nine months after the declaration nothing has been heard from the EC, they must be up and doing” he added.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon Nii Amasah Namoale and the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) have presented a set of books to two schools in the Municipality.

The donation is to improve the performance of Junior High School students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The schools, the 5 Garrison Basic Schools at Burma Camp and the Saint Paul Junior High School in La, are the first beneficiaries of the books, solely donated by the EPP Book Service, in line with the publishers corporate social responsibility, geared towards enhancing the preparation of students for the BECE in three weeks time.

Dubbed ESSENCO Series, the books covering all subjects offered in the Junior High Schools, is a collection of past questions and answers from all examinations dating back to 1990 till date. About 5,500 books valued at over GHC 100,000 were presented to the schools.

The books are designed to make for easier revision of the subjects by students and each book has a soft copy version attached to it. The two schools are also the first to have access to the books, which the EPP Book Service intends distributing nationwide through its outlets to improve upon the pass rates of students in the BECE.

Mr Namoale, who jointly presented the books to the schools with Mrs Rita Sowah, MCE for LaDMA, said they were resolved to ensure that the municipality and the constituency posted the best result in the BECE and that they would spare no efforts at providing the right input to attaining that goal.

He said each student would get a copy each of every subject, and advised them to make good use of the opportunity and make the Municipal proud.

We need you to score 100 per cent and improve over the pass rates in the previous year.The ones should come more, Namoale told the students.

The La Dadekotokpon Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Evelyn Owusu

Oduro, who received the books on behalf of the schools, stressed the need for consistency in investing in education to generate the desired effect.

She said education was the foundation for development, and that every citizen ought to contribute to make education the building block of the country.

Mrs Oduro said the donation by the EPP Book Service would greatly enhance the preparation of students for the BECE and improve their performance, judging from her appraisal of the materials.

She expressed gratitude to the EPP Book Service, the MP and the LaDMA for their contribution to enhancing education standards in the Municipality.

Member of Parliament for Banatama, Henry Kwabena Kokofu has said the Electoral Commission (EC)’s immediate focus must be on cleaning the current voters register which was used in the last elections and not to open a new register for people who have attained eighteen years.

According to him, the voter’s register used in the 2012 general elections is over bloated with persons who voted more than once, a claim he said was made evident in the historic 2012 election petition hearing which spanned eight months.

The MP’s comment comes after the EC disclosed that it intended to conduct a limited registration in June for people who have turned eighteen years and above after the last registration exercise was opened for the 2012 general elections.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, Hon. Henry Kokofu averred that though he does not have any qualms about the EC’s programme concerning the limited registration, he strongly believes that the Commission will do Ghana’s democracy and electoral growth a lot of good if it cleans the current register which has lost its credibility.

He posited that registration of the 18 years and above persons would have been made easier if the National Identification system was effective, since details of 18 years and above persons would have easily been migrated onto the register.

Hon. Kokofu was also not happy that during the upcoming registration exercise, persons attaining the age of eighteen could use ID’s such as the health insurance cards to claim their Ghanaian nationality and register.

“We have non-Ghanaians having the national health insurance cards to access healthcare, are we not worried that other nationalities could interfere and register” he asked?