Month: April 2015

The Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA), Dr. Nana Ato Arthur has indicated that for government to consider making students pay for Utility fees is unfortunate, as this will make the system less sympathetic of the plight of ordinary Ghanaians.

He said: “we should reckon that there is disparity in the conditions of life of every Ghanaian,” therefore not everyone can even afford the proposed cost sharing approach which had been introduced through the UPSA declaration.

Speaking on the Badwam platform on Adom TV on Thursday, April, 30, the KEEA legislator pointed out that the Utility fee under consideration currently is inappropriate for students to bear.

The UPSA declaration provided a roadmap for cost sharing between the government and tertiary institutions for the payment of utility bills.

THE UPSA DECLARATION

Representatives of major stakeholders in tertiary education in Ghana, suppliers of public utilities and allied institutions met at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), at the instance of the Ministry of Education, on 25th March, 2015 to:

•    Discuss strategies for sustainable consumption of utilities in tertiary education institutions;

•    Craft innovative alternative means of providing utilities in tertiary education institutions; and

•    Make recommendations to inform Government policy regarding the utilization of utilities in tertiary education institutions.

However, Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr John Alexander Ackon in his analysis on the phenomenon noted that its implementation was tenable, therefore Ghanaians must support it.

He said government shoulders many obligations; hence it expends more with a lot of financial commitments on its head. As such the fees, he anticipated will not overburden students as speculated.

“A ten cedi commitment by students is nothing serious which would have a far reaching benefit on the system for us; GHS 10 effect per head has a maximum significance in such instance. Is possible let’s manage it, he argued.

Jonathan J.Adjei/Ghanadistricts.com

The Electoral Commission will have to hold a bye-election in the Talensi Constituency very soon as the Member of Parliament for the area, Robert Doaneng Nachinab Mosoore, has been enskinned as the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area.

He was installed at a colourful ceremony at Nalerigu on Wednesday witnessed by several hundreds of people.

Hon. Mosoore in May 2007 lost the “skin” (Chieftaincy position) to the late Tongo-Raana  Sapaalug-Namalteng in Nalerigu after contesting with about thirty-two (32) candidates.

His new position means that he will have to resign as Member of Parliament, since the 1992 Constitution; Article 276(1) states “A chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.”

In doing so, his seat will be declared vacant paving way for a bye-election to be held.

The NPP was scheduled to hold its Parliamentary primaries to elect its Parliamentary Candidate in June, but with Hon. Mosoore’s exit soon, a new candidate will have to be elected to serve his remaining term of until the major parliamentary election is held in 2016.

He holds a Master of Arts Degree (Environmental Management and Policy), UCC, 2008; Diploma in Safety, British Safety Council, 1990 and he’s a Mechanical Engineer by profession.

Until being elected as MP, he was the Risk Insurance Manager at Tema oil Refinery (TOR).

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Atsime Community in the Keta Constituency in the Keta Municipality has been assured of measures to have their road constructed.

The Island community has been battling with poor road infrastructure over the years and residents fear the worse will happen as the rains set in with the roads still not attended to.

According to them mobility remains their greatest worry since the road becomes unmotorable during that period.

But the Member of Parliament for Keta, Hon Richard Quashigah who sympathized with them on the bad nature of the road said a lot of consultation has been done to have the road constructed.

“Discussions on the Atiavi-Glime-Atime Road has gone very far, and but for some hitches these roads would have been under construction by now. I can assure you that as soon as those hitches are resolved you would see serious construction going on these roads”, he stated.

The MP added that “but in the mean time, a major culvert to allow free flow of water from one end to the other will be constructed. This is hoped to reduce damage to the existing road when the water level rises”.

Mr. Quashigah said he has already procured about 6 reinforced concrete culvert pipes for construction of the culvert to begin “and as you can see they have started bringing them to cite. They vehicle conveying them has broken down at the moment and we are hoping they complete conveying the rest of the culvert pipes on time”, he stated.

He also announced that one Mr. Seth Fiati has also promised to provide some number of trucks of gravel towards the construction f the culvert.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Aburi-Nsawam, Mr Osei Bonsu  Amoah has underscored the widespread perception that government tends to impair the fight against corruption when Anti-corruption luminaries are offered government appointments.

“We shouldn’t discourage and weaken anti-corruption agenda by corrupting people who speak against corruption with government appointments”.

He said such token of appointments ultimately weakened the efficacy of their independent fight for corruption in the country.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP made the argument on the Badwam platform on Adom TV to extend the debate of Prof. Yankah’s comments which also held that the Presidency is tacitly becoming a safe haven for corruption.

Prof. Kwesi Yankah speaking at a Corruption conference organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs, mentioned that the presidency is making that office a “comfortable refuge for the corrupt”.

The IEA has conducted a survey which highlighted that the presidency was ranked the second most corrupt institution in Ghana.

On the country’s effort to rid itself of corruption, the former Deputy Education and Sports Minister in the Kuffour led administration said President is at the fore front of fighting corruption, in that he had the  ultimate power to fight corruption in applying his constitutional power to do so.

“Even before the Dzamefe report there was a Maputo report; How have we acted on the Maputo report, there is a person implicated in the report who is in government,” he questioned the determination and will of government to fight the canker.

Mr O. B Amoah has however said that Prof. Yankah only did an ‘intellectual exercise’ by commenting on the IEA’s survey, and that he shouldn’t be chided for his position expressed on the corruption issue.

He maintained that the CUC Professor whom he acknowledged as a respectable, objective and credible personality had a long history of fighting corruption, besides his argument was discerning.

But Alhaji Iddrisu Bature has opposed the argument made by Prof. Yankah as he blatantly tagged him as an anti-NDC person. According to him, the Professor had no basis to slam government because his views cannot be factual, besides Afriyie Ankrah’s case he cited was inaccurate.

He said Mr Ankrah has since the scandal-plagued Word Cup showing in Brazil not been indicted in any corruption scandal by a competent court of law therefore does not prevent him from holding further offices in government.

Mr. Afriyie Ankrah is now a Presidential staffer at the Flagstaff House.

Jonathan J. Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency, Isaac Osei has donated 2,500 mathematical sets to the Ahmadiyya SHS in Kumasi as part of the distribution of 21,000 mathematical sets to all JHS and SHS students within the Subin Constituency.

The MP is personally funding the initiative which is estimated at GHC105, 000.

In a brief speech, Hon. Isaac Osei adviced the students to take their studies seriously to ensure they become skilled professionals in the future, since the job market is becoming increasingly competitive.

He said the presentation of the mathematical sets which is an important tool for the students is to help them in their study of mathematics and other subjects.

Hon. Isaac Osei, who is also a former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, took opportunity of the donation exercise to inform the students of his decision to contest for a third term as their MP.

On his part, the Headmaster of the school, Alhaji Abubakar, thanked the Subin MP for his kind gesture and urged the students to put it to good use.

He further lauded the MP’s efforts at ensuring the development of the school by way of the construction of a mechanized borehole for the boy’s dormitory and a biogas digester system.

Meanwhile, Hon. Isaac Osei earlier visited a mosque which also serves as an Islamic school that was gutted by fire at Afful Nkwanta in Subin. He donated GHC1000.00 to the victims and assured to support in the rehabilitation of the gutted mosque.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Effutu says he may head to the Supreme Court to force the hand of Government to bring before Parliament, a contract that will bring in emergency power plants.

Afenyo Markin who is lawyer for New Juabeng South MP Mark Assibey Yeboah insists the deal cannot be wholesome without Parliamentary approval.

His client has already written to the President demanding that Government halts all work on bringing in the barges until Parliament considers the terms.

But the President is yet to respond.

While still waiting for that response Afenyo Markin says he will first file an urgent motion on the floor of Parliament to ask the Finance Minister why the agreement on the emergency power plants has not been brought to Parliament.

According to him, all attempts so far to get the Minister to come before Parliament with the contract have proven futile.

He added if Parliament fails to demand answers from the minister he would reluctantly proceed to the Supreme Court.
Agreement

According to Afenyo Markins, the 400 million deal to bring in two power barges to rescue Ghana’s crippling power crisis is an international deal and must receive Parliamentary approval.

The deal was signed between Electricity Company of Ghana and Turkish Company, Kapower last year. Government had promised that the power barges will be ready next year.

However, after a visit by MPs to ascertain the extent of work on the power barges, it was clear that the two barges were still under construction.

Instead of the April deadline given by Government, it is likely the barges may arrive in September.
Rip off?

While admitting the country was in crisis and needed the power barges, he said it should not be done under fraudulent circumstances.

“The fact that we are in crisis does not mean businessmen should rip us off,” he stated.

He does not understand how a contract for an emergency power plant would last for ten years.

It is “disappointing to see government officials appending their signatures to such a deal. If these government officials were running their own private businesses would they sign this agreement?” he asked.

“We are not here as father Christmas; this agreement should come to the House,” he insisted.
Banks’ Role

Afenyo Markin also questioned the role by the financiers, particularly, Ecobank in getting on with a deal that has not been ratified by Parliament.

He said Ecobank, which has issued bank guarantees for the power barges must be guided by the Supreme Court Ruling on the Isofoton and Waterville cases.

The court held in those cases that per Article 181 (5) of the Constitution those contracts were international transactions and needed Parliamentary approval.

He maintained the Kapower deal is another international transaction and should be brought to Parliament.

He said if the deal is brought before Parliament, there will be sound arguments that will lead to the reduction of the cost component in the deal.

Government will not comment except to say it is concentrating on getting the power barges.

Myjoyonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, in the Western Region, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says the New Patriotic Party is bound to face a major difficulty to breakthrough the 2016 elections.

He intimated that the perceived ‘Nana Say factor’ playing a major role in the decision of slots for the contestants will eventually limit their chances in the 2016 general elections.

According to him, eventhough the NPP party is allegedly massaging issues in its internal affairs, there seemed to be overwhelming moments of tensions for the NPP primaries due to some of these issues that have surfaced in the main opposition party.

Ahead of the NPP June 13 Parliamentary primaries, the National Chairman of the party, Paul Awentani Afoko has called on party officials to be united and eschew tendencies that have the potential of dividing the rank and file of the party at the various constituencies.

However, the Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing reacting to the fallout of the internal politics in the NPP on Tuesday Morning on the Badwam platform on Adom TV, predicted that the opposition party was severely reeling from undercurrent issues pertaining to divisiveness that makes it impossible to win an election.

But Catherine Afeku, a former NPP MP for Evalue Gwira has said that the NPP is only preparing earnestly to wrestle power from the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC).

She reiterated that: “the delegates are very discerning and will reward loyalty and service to the party”.

She said her party has only set guidelines to shape up activities in the right direction, however the ultimate decision comes from the delegates who will consider votes based on one’s competence, credential and service to the party, and how well you relate to the people.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

A member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta, Richard Quashigah, yesterday revealed at a public hearing  of the committee that his dead father who was a pensioner was wrongfully paid GH18,000 by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) because of system failure.

He indicated that his father died in January 2012 and that as a good citizen, he (Quashigah) prompted the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department about the wrongful payment but nothing was done to rectify it until December last year, by which time an amount of GH¢18,000 had been paid into the account of his dead father at the Teshie branch of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

“If I were to be an unpatriotic citizen, I would not have even informed the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and would be withdrawing that money for my private use,” he said.

The honourable member of the committee made the revelation when officials of the Finance Ministry and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, led by the Controller and Accountant-General, Grace Adzroe, appeared before the committee yesterday to defend the 2012 Auditor-General’s report on public accounts of Ghana as endorsed by Parliament.

He said he was particularly worried about the ineffective mechanism to check whether pensioners and government workers who had passed on were still being paid their pensions and salaries at the detriment of the nation.

“There are many pensioners like my father who have passed on to glory but are still being paid their pensions because their relatives have not informed the Accountant-General’s Department about such demise and may be benefitting from it,” he said.

According to the Keta MP, the actual payroll may also have such shortfalls where ghost workers also receive salaries, adding that the system ought to be urgently sanitised to save money for the government.

The Controller and Accountant-General, in her response, said her outfit had started a biometric registration of all workers and pensioners, which is called the biometric data registration system, to help eliminate such anomalies.

According to her, only people captured under the biometric data registration system are being paid salaries and pensions.

She however said that the new system has also created a little problem for some government workers who were not able to register, as a result of which their salaries do not hit their accounts.

She stressed that because of that new measures would have to be put in place for those not captured under the biometric data system to be paid their salaries.

Daily Guide

Member of Parliament for Talensi, Robert Doaneng Nachinab Mosoore has discounted rumours that he has resigned his position to contest to become the paramount chief of the area.

According to him, he will not hesitate to resign if he is victories and enskined as he will not be able to combine both positions.

This will be his second time of asking as contest with about thirty-two (32) candidates following his lose to the late Tongo-Raana  Sapaalug-Namalteng in Nalerigu on 23rd May, 2007.

Names such as Mr. Williams Zuugah Mr. Paul Alibo , Mr. Thomas Doanaab are said to be probable contenders who have expressed interest to contest the parliamentary primaries  to replace  the incumbent MP  should he be given the nod by the traditional authorities and enskined.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Bia East, Richard Acheampong has taken a swipe at the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament accusing it of doing very little to defend the interest of Parliamentarians against public attacks and baseless criticisms.

According to him, there continues to be lots of misconceptions about MPs, while false accusations have been made against them severally, which should have pushed the Public Affairs Directorate to come out to clear the false impression but sadly they remain quit or reticent.

Hon. Acheampong said the Public Affairs Directorate must be seen to be more efficient in engaging the public on relevant issues.

The MP vented his displeasure while contributing to a discussion on Multi TV’s Badwam show on Friday about a research done by National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) which assessed the performance of MPs and Parliament as an institution.

Per the report, sixty-two percent of Ghanaians think members of parliament are corrupt and use their position to accrue wealth for themselves without thinking about their constituents.

Over 53 percent also do not trust in the ability of parliament to safeguard the public interest. However the report also said 48% of respondents believe Ghana MPs are doing an average job. A less flattering result, 15.4% of respondents rated parliamentarians as performing a below average.

But Hon. Ricahrd Acheampong strongly disagreed with the findings of the report, stating that a lot of education must be done on what the functions of MPs are, and the difficulty they face in discharging their duties.

He said a lot of Ghanaians misinterpret the new cars MPs drive soon after they are voted into office to mean that they amass wealth illegally.

“Most People think that we suddenly become rich when we enter parliament, they don’t know that the new cars including the four wheel vehicles we drive are bought with car loans and that we pay for it, about GHC 1,800 is deducted from our salary as tax every month, among other demands that we need to meet from our constituents. I dare say that it is not as rosy for MPs as people think” Hon. Acheampong noted.

Ghanamps.gov.gh/Kwadwo Anim