Month: December 2017

The Minister for Railways Development, Joe Ghartey has assured of his outfits commitment to harness the necessary resource to revamp Ghana’s collapsed railway sector.

Mr Joe Ghartey who is also Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan urged all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at revamping the sector for the betterment of the nation.

A total of 258,000 passengers and 599,000 tonnes of goods were trafficked via rail in 2017 according to report by the Transport Committee of Parliament on the Budget estimates for the Ministry.

Parliament has approved a total amount of GHC 544, 297, 260 for the implementation of policies and programmes of the Ministry of Railways Development for the 2018 financial year.

According to the report, in 2017, a total length of 20 kilometres of rail lines were maintained whiles 20 % of the railway lines rehabilitation was completed.

Government has also paid a total of GHC 195, 026, 085 which been in arrears for the Sekondi- Takoradi via Kojokrom sub-urban railway lines.

The Ministry apart from the payment of several arrears and commitments has also witnessed a budget overrun of Ghc 241,260, 643 due to the release of 20% mobilization to finance the Tema to Akosombo rail-line project.

The Ministry under the leadership of the sector Minister, Joe Ghartey is currently embarking on massive investment drive into the sector which is very key for the rapid transformation of the Ghanaian economy.

Various re-vamping and re-structuring exercises currently on-going includes the Western and Eastern railway lines.

Feasibility studies for the development of the Kumasi to Paga lines has also been done all geared at opening up economic opportunities for all citizens.

By Christian Kpesese ghanamps.com

Government has proposed the establishment of Military jungle and mountain warfare training school at the disputed land between Alavanyo and Nkonya traditional areas in the Volta region, Defence Minister has disclosed.

In a response to a parliamentary question by Member of Parliament for Hohoe, Dr Bernice Adikloo Heloo on whether the proposed military structures on the disputed land between Alavanyo and Nkonya are in place and whether training activities have begun in the area, Mr Dominic Nitiwul stated that the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the National Security Council Secretariat in February, 2015 proposed to establishment of the military base.

The objective of the take-over according to him is to provide accommodation for troops operating in the area in the long term, use it for a training camp for the Special Forces.

The long term presence of the military personnel will resolve the long standing protracted conflict as the military dominate the area.

Dominic Nitiwul has indicated that the military school is about 70% complete leaving outstanding areas such as; ablution, electrical works, water connections, access road to the site and fencing of the camp.

“In view of the fact that the structures are not fully completed, the school is not functioning currently as proposed. It is however envisaged that when funds are available in 2018, the training school will be completed for commissioning and operationalized” he said.

By Christian Kpesese ghanamps.com

The Minority Ranking on the Roads and Transport committee of Parliament, Kwame Governs Agbodza noted that the Minister of Roads and Highway sis willing to implement good policies for the road sector but does not have the money and resource to do so.

The Adaklu Member of Parliament observed that unfortunately the Ministry which is critical for the roads infrastructure development of the nation has not been given the required resources to function properly.

He expressed concern about reduction in the Ministry’s 2018 budgetary allocation as compared to 2017.

He urged Government to decap road funds to enable it bring in more money for the Ministry to undertake its numerous functions.

By Christian Kpesese ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for the Akwatia constituency in the Eastern region, Mercy Adu-Gyamfi popularly known as ‘AmaSey’’ has dazzled Parliament with her improved reading ability following her maiden statement on the floor urging government to hand over operations of a mine concession currently being managed by Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana limited to a more serious entity.

Members from both sides of the house were full of praise for her improved performance especially as a lady who has been criticized in the past for her inability to speak the English language fluently as an MP.

In a statement on the operations of the Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana limited, a mining firm located in the Akwatia constituency, Mercy Adu-Gyamfi urged the company to hand over operations to Government for a more serious company to handle.

According to her the Chiefs and people of the area are expectantly waiting for a more serious mining firm to take over operations of the site in order to create jobs for improved standards of living.

She stated that Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana limited which promised to invest US $ 100 million over a five year period has not performed even a single mining operation over the concession since August, 2011 when the company was outdoored as wholly-owned Ghanaian company by the then Vice President of the Republic.

AmaSey accused the company whose commissioning brought great hope to the people of reducing its core mandate to that of just selling spare parts, sand and stone and has failed to also honour its financial obligations since taking over the mine-site.

The Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana limited (GCDGL) formerly Consolidated African Selection Trust (CAST) promised to produced one million carats of Diamond within the period and create 2,500 direct and 50, 000 indirect jobs through support services.

It had also promised to turn the fortunes of the mine for the better by establishing an integrated Diamond mining and processing industry.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has inaugurated a nine member Ministerial Advisory Board to advice his outfit in the performance of its duties.

Inaugurating the Board in Accra, the Minister said it is the objective of the Ministry to serve as an interface between Parliament and the Executive and Civil Society.

The Ministry he said will also receive petitions on behalf of Parliament and prosecute the intents of same which so far been a challenge to the house whiles serving as a feed-back channel to Parliament and the Executive in a structured manner.

He noted that Ministry since its creation in the early years of the fourth republic has chalked significant achievements especially in reducing tension in Parliament resulting in cordiality.

The Ministry has also helped in reducing unhealthy competition between Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives during general elections.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who is MP for Suame and Majority leader stated that the Ministry was dissolved during the tenure of President Atta Mills due to the perceived assertions by analysts to the effect that its role was in conflict with the Parliamentary service thus weakens the institution of Parliament.

An African Peer Review Mechanism report released in 2014 claimed and suggested that the Ministry existed to as a device resorted to by the Executive to weaken Parliament

However the Minister assured that the rebirth of the Ministry will rather enhance collaboration in Parliament, promote good governance, reduce tension which sometimes degenerates and promote inclusiveness among others.

Members of the 9 member board are; Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minister, Nana Rex Owusu Ansah, former Clerk to Parliament, William Ofori Boafo, a former MP, Abraham Osei Aidoo former MP and Minister, Ace Ankomah, a private legal practioner, Yaw Boadu- Ayeboafoh, Director, News papers, Graphic Communications Group, Gifty Joyce Oteng Bosomprah, Deputy Director Finance and Administration, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs  Azu Sam-Aziakor, a Director at the Ministry, Dorothy Adadzewa Twumasie, Member Secretary and Personal Assistant to the Minister.

On behalf of the board, Abraham Osei Aidoo thanked the Minister for the opportunity to assist in developing its policies and programs.

“We will do our best, day or night to succeed” he said.
Abraham Osei Aidoo who spoke on behalf of the Board Members stated that it is time to enhance the collaboration with Parliament through capacity building for MPs among others.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs was established by Act 460 whose objective among others is to enable the leader of the house to gain deeper understanding of government policy to better relay them to Parliament.

People who have served as Ministers of the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry include; J H Owusu Adjepong, Dr Kwabena Agyei, J H Mensah,  Papa Owusu Ankomah, Felix Owusu Agyapong, Abraham Osei Aidoo and now OseiKyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

Members of the Board including the Minister took the Official Oath,Oath of allegiance and Oath Secrecy.

By Christian Kpesese ghanamps.com

Honorable Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah, A Deputy Health Minister and Member of Parliament(MP) for Weija- Constituency had led delegation from the Ministry of Health to a round table discussion to finalise some issues concerning the solar energy equipment to be procured by Government from the Redex international, a solar energy company with track of outstanding records in Europe.

Redex International is set to install 16.8 mega watts of solar energy in all Regional and District hospitals across the country at an estimated cost of €45million.

The programme will later be extended to include CHIPs compounds upon request by Government.

It is to be recalled that, the company visited Ghana 2 months ago to carry out feasibility studies on various hospitals in the country. Madam Tina Mensah led the delegation to inspect the facility of the company to assess its capability.

By: Alice Abubakari /ghanamps.com

Cocoa Farmers in the Northern part of the Ellembelle District will soon heave a sigh of relief following the rehabilitation of the 20 kilometer feeder road from Nyamebekyere to Sentaso.

The rehabilitation of the first phase of the road had become necessary as it had crippled the efforts of cocoa farmers along that stretch to cart their cocoa beans from their farms to the Produce Buying Company at Aiyinasi.

The move, which is being spearheaded by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah,follows a petition from the cocoa growing farmers to the office of the MP.

The on-going repair works on the road is being undertaken by a private contractor who is expected to work within schedule to alleviate the plight of the farmers.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during an inspection tour of the road, Mr. Kofi Buah noted that the northern part is the food basket of the district as such, his office could not look on unconcerned to allow the chunk of food notably cocoa produced from the area to go waste.

Mr. Buah said the phase two of the project would also commence after the on-going repair works of the phase one to make the Northern corridor road of the District from Aiyinasi through to Prestea and Tarkwa more accessible to boost commercial activities in the District and improve the living conditions of the farmers.

GNA

Member of Parliament for Juaboso in the Western Region Kwabena Minta Akandor has taken a swipe at the Chief Justice for questioning his use of the title honourable.

The CJ presiding over a case last week in which Akandor and the MP for Ashaiman Ernest Norgbey were praying the court to revoke the appointment of the Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba for failing to undertake the mandatory National Service Program chided the two for adding the title honourable to the writ they filed before the court.

According to her, the NDC legislators were not supposed to add such title to their names stressing that their use of it rendered them “dishonorable.”

In an interview with ghanamps.com, Mr. Akandor indicated that the Chief Justice’s outrage was because of the political party affiliation of the plaintiffs.

According to him, the rant of the CJ has embarrassed him and his constituents for no wrongdoing.

“She could have done this without behaving like that…in a decorous manner and I wouldn’t have any problem with that,” he said.

“So, if it is a genuine concern about the usage of the title why was she enquiring or why she wondering why Otiko Djaba was not described as honourable. So for me I am praying to the Almighty God that we shouldn’t get to the dictatorship of the judiciary,” he stressed.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu is demanding that the committee on Youth, Sports and Culture holds the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to task them to produce a blue print on how they intend to improve all the National teams to make them competitive in the country.

He further indicated that as the representatives of people, their hands are “tied”, all because they say GFA is independent, “but they cannot be independent of the people’s representatives”.

According to the Tamale South legislator, Ghanaians watching Arsenal play in the English premiership was exciting and interesting.

And added that, the Ghanaian sports could be developed to make our local premiership interesting but all boils down to money, and further indicated how the Sports Minister was struggling to get sponsorship for the Ghanaian premiership and division one.

He made this comments when the House approved GH¢32 million Ghana cedis for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Minority leader was quick to point out that the current budget is a decline from the previous GH¢46million.

Mr. Iddrisu said, “Mr. Speaker change has come, where the change is and must not reflect in the budgetary allocations”.

He recounted deplorable state of the Accra sports stadium, revealing pitch holes around parameters of the goalkeeper, as he engages in play football at the stadium on Sundays went in the capital.

And pointed out a similar situation at the Tamale sports stadium and urge the country to pay more attention to sports as it pays in recent times.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com