Month: August 2017

Former Second Deputy Speaker of the sixth Parliament of the fourth Republic and Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan Joe Ghartey says “Speakers of Parliament should not be allow to decide whether they will allow motions or not”.

He noted in an interview with ghanamps.com that Tuesday’s precedent where Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye allowing Kobina Tahir Hammond’s motion is a good development for our democracy it gives everybody the opportunity.

The Adansi Asokwa MP moved an urgent motion that the House rescinds its decision to approve the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group LIC (Ameri Energy) for the installation of ten GE TM2, 500+ aero derivative gas turbines, operate, maintain transfer and provision of support services that the House took on March 20,2015 for reasons of gross misrepresentation.

According to the former second Deputy Speaker, if the Speaker has not allowed K. T Hammond’s motion it will mean a right is being given to the Speaker to decide whether or not to bring motion before the House.

He further noted that, the Adansi Asokwa MP could not have jumped straight with his motion to the Committee. “Our rules does not allow that, rather there should be a referral from the House”.

Everything that the Minority leader wanted to say I had things to say to those things will be said at the committee level then the committee will bring its report, in fact the committee may disagree with K T Hammond or may agree with him, Parliament as a whole is not bound to agree with the committee, he said.

Also fundamental rule of justice is that nobody should be condemned without being given a hearing,people who are affected by the decision we are about to take, are people who cannot appear before Parliament when we are sitting in the plenary.

The affected people may appear before a committee of the whole in Parliament but how can parliament sit as a committee of the whole to decide on this matter, he remarked.

In addition what comes back to the House is not what K T Hammondthinks, it is the combination of what he thinks all the facts properly advised then it comes back to the people, the reason why agreements come to the House is that it is because you have the presentative of the people here and they should decide, he said.

“What the Minority leader was doing was wrong this is not a court of law, Speakers have rules on that and in Parliament when a motion is moved then you can make your point before the point could be made the Speaker in his wisdom has referred the matter to the committee”.

He said when you are speaking on the floor and the Speaker rules against you that is the end of your speech, you should not continue speaking if you disagree with him you come by a motion and there are ways of disagreeing and there are procedural way of doing that.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The honorable Member of Parliament for Agona East, Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr is keeping to her promise in the performance of basic functions required of her as a mother to her constituents.

Maame Pokua as she is affectionately called graced the first graduation ceremony of the Salvation Army Basic School in AgonaDuakwa as a demonstration of her concern for the welfare of the children.

Obaatanpa provided educational materials and packaged lunch of jollof rice and chicken for all the 527 children of the school and also donated an appreciable amount of money to the school.

The Agona East MP promised to provide financial assistance to needy children who will excel in their academic pursuits in the area.

Through the instrumentality of Maame Pokua, a modern six unit classroom block is currently under construction to enhance teaching and learning in the area.

Obaatanpa was also at the Duakwa Islamic school in fulfillment of a promise to spend time each year with school children during their “Our Day” celebration where she interacted with the children numbering about 300 and provided them with packaged lunch.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

In order to enhance Ghana’s Parliamentary democratic practice, there is an urgent need for the caucuses of Parliament to establish research centers, Minister responsible for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah –Bonsu has said.

According to him it is crucial that legislators resort the use of accurate research data to effectively function in their line of duty.

The only way to ensure availability of that data is for the caucuses of the house to have research departments.

MrOsei Kyei mensah-Bonsu who is the Member of Parliament for Suame in the Ashanti region made the call during the Information Week celebration by the Inter- Departmental Research and Information Group (IDRIG) of Parliament.

He acknowledged that those working in research and information department play very key roles in making parliament more functional.

The leader of government business in Parliament also advocates building network among all stakeholders especially civil society organization to enable Parliament work effectively.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

The honourable Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey is advocating logistical support for the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to tackle disasters as the rainy season sets in.

According to him NADMO lacks the basic logistics in preparedness to fight unforeseen disasters which is its primary responsibility hence the need for all stakeholders to join hands in resourcing it.

The June 3, 2015 flood in Accra remains the harshest spinoffs of disaster in the country history as it killed over 150 persons and displaced hundreds of residents along the Odawriver in Accra Metropolis.

The lawmaker recounted several other disasters including May, 9 2001 Accra Sports Stadium disaster,the annual spillage of the BagreDam with its attendant floods, the Melcom disaster which occurred in Achimota.

In a statement on the floor of parliament recently in remembrance of the June 3, twin disaster, Hon Norgbey said, “the June 3, 2015 disaster will forever be talked about, not because we enjoy talking, rather the nation was hit hard by the magnitude of that disaster”.

NADMO he noted has a solid structure which when adequately resourced can support not only victims of disaster but also complement the nation’s efforts in fighting the galamsey menace, reconstruction of our lands and water bodies as well as create employment for the teeming unemployed youth of this country
Parliament on July 28th 2016, passed the NADMO new bill and later assented by president to become NADMO Act, Act, 927.

The Act among others grantsa 3% share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to be paid into Disaster Fundto help manage disasters in the country.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Parliament on Tuesday ratified an agreement for the 2 Gitmo to stay in Ghana after the Supreme Court order ruled that their stay in the country is unconstitutional without Parliamentary approval.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway informed the House that, her ministry, interior and national security ministry will work on an “exit plan” by the time their two year stay in Ghana expires on January 6, 2018.

She further noted that there will be “no further obligation to keep Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby unless the Ghana and the United States of America agree otherwise and in accordance with due process”.

Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby of Yemeni origin are among 17 detainees transferred from the prison camp in Cuba by the United States.

The decision to host the detainees in Ghana provoked a firestorm of controversy and outrage among Ghanaians, with many expressing fear that the move would undermine Ghana’s internal security and expose the country to attacks from religious extremists.

Committee on foreign affairs in their report noted that the agreement will strengthen the bond between the government of Ghana and that of the United States of America.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com