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Month: July 2016

Nkwanta North MP caught up in Montie FM saga

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Deputy Ministerial appointee of President John Dramani Mahama and NDC MP for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, has in a tape available to  Kasapafmonline.com, stated that the Chief Justice Georgina Woode is plotting war on Ghana together with the opposition New Patriotic Party.

It has emerged that the young Legislator was a member of the Montie FM Panel on 24th June, 2016 together with Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn who made contemptuous statements against Justices of the Supreme Court especially against Chief Justice.
John Oti Bless’s name has until now been out of the case, but observers believe that it was a deliberate move to save him from the contempt case by editing his contributions on the programme out of the tapes that emerged.

“Today we have a CJ who because of a Political favour done her will do anything to help the NPP. It is an agenda. The electoral commission should stop working and give it to Georgina Woode. Why? Meddling in the affairs of the Electoral Commission. And we have a whole CJ, look at how old you are; you have kids and grandchildren and yet you are at the Court doing politics; you deliberately appoint NPP Judges to do politics and scheme with NPP to give biased rulings. Are you not calling for war? Are you not calling for civil war? Are you not destroying this country?”, he said

John Oti Bless, whose vetting has been put on hold made further derogatory remarks and stated that the CJ has to be watched, claiming she was part of a plot to kidnap a child of Tony Lithur, who was Counsel for John Mahama during the 2013 Election Petition case.

“ We have to watch this Chief Justice. My brother Mugabe, I am telling you, when you go to the Supreme Court today, the Chief Justice is fighting one worker all because of politics. Let me give you a last filla. Do you know that during the Election Petition case, these people made a plot to kidnap a child of Tony Lithur, who was lawyer for our Excellency John Mahama so he would not concentrate on the case?”

It is instructive to recall, that one of the jailed panellists, Godwin Ako Gunn, referred to these submissions by John Oti Bless and based on them to make the comments that has seen him jailed for contempt.

Supreme court throws out Karpower suit against AG filed by MP

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed an application that sought to challenge government for purchasing a 250MW power ship from a Turkish company without parliamentary approval.

In a writ filed on behalf of Mr Assibey Yeboah, Lawyer Alexander Afenyo-Markin wanted the court to decide on the constitutionality or otherwise of the Attorney General’s position that parliament’s approval was not needed in the Karpower deal with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin run to the supreme court over the issue invoking provisions of Article 181 (Clause 5) of the 1992 constitution, which states that every international financial agreement by government must be brought to parliament for approval.

He’d persistently raised the issue on the floor of the house, in respect of Article for redress but to no avail.

However, the court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse threw out the case on Thursday July 28, and did not give reasons for the dismissal, but said he will file their entire ruling with the Supreme Court registry.

The power barge essentially a medium-term solution to the load shedding crisis that persisted for years is a  Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between the state-owned power distributor, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and Karpowership Ghana Company Limited.

Per the agreement, the two Powerships on-board will generate a total of 450 MW, to boost power supply from Ghana’s electrical grid for a period of 10 years.

Parliament calls for probe into controversy over $953m thermal plant agreement

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

An emergency power plant agreement worth US$953.4million which has been approved by President John Mahama but yet to receive the blessing of Parliament has sparked controversy with the cost of the plant being the bone of contention.

The plant which was initially agreed to generate 344 megawatt was estimated to cost US$647.7million.

However, a request for additional 56 megawatt shot the cost of the now 400 megawatt facility to US$953.4million.That means the additional 56 megawatt facility will cost the tax payer US$305.7million.

The deal which is currently before the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament has irked some panel members after the deputy Minister for Power, John Jinapor failed to convince them over the pricing of the facility when he appeared before them.

Jinapor, Kasapafmonline.com, has been told by the Committee to produce further and better particulars of the deal as why the cost of 344 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power plant with a request for additional 56 megawatt facility will balloon to US$953.4million when on the open market the same facility (400megawatt) cost US$600million.

Member of the Committee and MP for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah told this website that the Committee is not happy about the deal and have therefore requested for value for money (VFM) audit.

“We want to know whether it was the opinion of the auditors to accept the cost of the facility”, he noted.

The 400 megawatt power facility when approved by Parliament will be sited in Tema with Early Power Limited which is said to have entered into an agreement with the Government of Ghana, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Sage Petroleum Limited, Endeavor and EPL Holdings Cooperatie, UA, General Energy Investments (GE) IBV and Quantum Gas Terminals executing the project.

Daily Graphic Reporter apologizes to Speaker, Parliament

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Daily Graphic’s parliamentary correspondence, Mark-Anthony Vinorkor has rendered an unqualified apology to the Speaker and Leadership of Parliament for the inaccuracies in his two reportages over the CI 94 for the December general elections.

He put in the plea when he appeared before the Privileges Committee of Parliament on Tuesday to answer to questions over the said reportages which were published by his employers, Daily Graphic a fortnight ago.

Mr. Vinorkor was suspended from reporting from Parliament by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho after the House found inaccuracies in his reportage over the CI94.

The reporter’s attention was drawn to an earlier publication in the Daily Graphic over the same CI94 believing that he would use the opportunity granted him to correct the wrong.

But for unknown reasons, the correction was not done. Instead, another report similar to the earlier one was published, thereby irking the Speaker and the leadership of the House to subpoena the reporter, Madam Kate Addo and Edwin-Arthur to appear before the Privileges Committee.

Seth Terkper presents Supplimentary Budget today

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Finance Minister, Seth Terkper is set to present a Supplementary Budget and a Midyear Review to parliament (Monday, July 25).

The minister’s Budget billed to have been presented to the August House Friday, July 22 was delayed due to the funeral of the late MP for Abetifi, Peter Wiafe Peprah prompting the Budget statement to be deferred to a later date.

Terkper is expected to review most of the macroeconomic targets set out in the 2016 budget which, was presented, to Parliament in November last year, according to sources close to government.

Also the minister is likely to review the growth target from 5.4 percent to about 4 percent, whiles the end of year inflation target of 10.1 percent, as well the fiscal deficit of 5.3 percent will also be reviewed.

The supplementary budget will also, give details on revenue raised for the first half of the year, and possibly the revised target for the rest of the year.

The Finance Minister will also be seeking parliamentary approval to spend new revenues that have come in as a result of the energy sector levy.

One district, one factory agenda is possible – Agyemang-Manu

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, says, the party would fulfill its election promise to establish a factory in every district if elected to govern.

He told a local radio station in Dormaa Ahenkro, “Gifts FM” that it was not just an empty promise meant to deceive and win over voters.

The MP indicated that a survey and profiling of over 100 districts to assess the feasibility of the district industrialization project showed that this could be done.

The study, he said, was carried out between year 2007 and 2008, and that, it was done with strong involvement of the district agricultural offices.

He cited the establishment of the Ayensu Starch Factory and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) under the Kufuor Administration and said these showed that the party could be trusted.

Mr. Agyemang-Manu said he found it disappointing the way the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) was implementing the free senior high school education policy, an intervention, which was at the heart of the NPP’s 2012 election campaign.

He said it was not surprising that the government was messing up with the free SHS implementation policy because it had profusely argued that it was impossible to implement that policy.

CHANGE OF ELECTION DATE: Parliament shoots down Nov 7 date

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Parliament on Thursday shot down the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 which was seeking seeking to change Ghana’s date of election from December 7 to the first of Monday of November in an election year.

The Bill failed to get the required two-thirds majority of Members of Parliament for it to be passed following a secret ballot after a lengthy debate over the issue.

A total of 125 voted in favour while 95 voted against.

As predicted there were clear indications  that the Bill would be shot down by the House following the strong stance put up by the minority caucus coupled with the the absence of some MPs.

New Abetifi MP sworn in

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) new Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong has been sworn into office.

He took the oaths of allegiance to the Republic of Ghana and that of Parliament before a half-full of lawmakers in the Chamber of the Legislature Wednesday morning.

The oaths were administered by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho.
Acheampong’s election was occasioned by the sudden demise of Peter Wiafe Peprah, then MP for Abefiti.

He emerged victorious in a by-election which was conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) last Saturday, July 16, 2016.

He polled 14,015 out of the 15,329 valid votes cast, representing 89.97% to win the contest from his competitors, Vida Konadu Ennim from the Independent Peoples Party (IPP), Prof. Edmund Nkansah from the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), and Kenneth Nikoi Kotei from the United Front Party (UFP).

Vida Ennim, Prof. Nkansah and Mr. Kotei polled 469, 439 and 406 votes respectively.

Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu commenting on the event advised the new MP to utilize the few months ahead to the end of the Sixth Parliament to learn the Standing Orders of the House and that of the Constitution very well.

According to the Minority Leader, Mr. Acheampong could only be taken seriously if he demonstrates enough knowledge of the procedures and rules of the House.

Deputy Majority Leader, Alfred Agbesi on his part urged the new MP to also work with the rules of the House since “Parliament is a House of truth”.

He also reiterated the call by the Minority Leader for the new MP to learn the constitution very well.

The Ashaiman MP also urged him to always see himself as honourable and that his conduct within and without should reflect as a lawmaker.

“Don’t use your privilege of being an MP as a license to attack people who are not MPs”, he noted.

CHANGE OF VOTING DAY: Nov 7 polls cannot be postponed – A-G

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Attorney-General, Mrs. Marietta Appiah Brew-Oppong has dismissed proposals calling for the implementation of the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to be deferred to 2020.

According to the A-G, although such proposals are good, the postponement will not be possible since the Constitution does not allow it.
At a public forum organized by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on July 11, 2016, some stakeholders raised doubts about the preparedness of the Electoral Commission to conduct the 2016 elections in November.

They were of the opinion that the Bill be withdrawn or could be passed whilst deferring the implementation date to the next election year, which is 2020.

But the A-G in response has said since the exercise is a constitutional amendment, its implementation could not be postponed.

Her response was captured in the Report of the Constitutional, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs which was laid on the floor of Parliament on Monday, July 18, 2016.

The Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 2016, is seeking to amend article 112(4) of the Constitution to ensure that general elections are held the first Monday of November before the expiration of the tenure of Parliament to ensure an effective and smooth transition.

The proposed amendment was against the backdrop that the dates set aside in respect of the conduct of both Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the country is the 7th day of December while swearing-in of the President takes place on the 7th day of January in the ensuing year.

However, the one month period for the transition of one government to the other, has over the years proved insufficient for a smooth transition particularly, in instances where there is a run-off election as was the case in 2000 and 2008.

Gershon Gbediame defeated in Nkwanta South primary

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Incumbent Member of Parliament for Nkwanta South, Gershon Bediame’s dream of continuing to represent his constituents in Parliament in 2017 has been dashed.

This follows his defeat in the party’s primary held on Saturday.

He was heavily beaten by Geofrey Kini, a businessman who polled 7,637, with the incumbent garnering a paltry 591.

Other candidates, Dr Felix Anebor, a political science lecturer polled 2,342, with Solomon Bagme having 1,626 votes. Narayana Osei Nyarko Charles, Banker and Lawyer received 69 votes.

Over 17,000 card bearing members of the NDC voted in 90 polling centres across the constituency.

Hon. Gershon Gbediame  tutor,  at PRESEC, Legon, has been in Parliament since  January 1997 to date.

He has served on Parliamentary committees such as Committee on Poverty Reduction Strategy, Local Government and Rural Development, Special Budget Committee, Trade, Industry and Tourism.