First Deputy Minority Whip and Member of Parliament for Banda, Ibrahim Ahmed, has indicated that a lot of MPs have shown interest in becoming members of the Ghana Brazil Parliamentary Friendship Association compared to other countries.

According to the Banda MP who is a member of the Ad-hoc committee set up to establish  this association, very soon the Speaker would be called upon to inaugurate the Ghana Brazil Parliamentary Friendship Association.

He made this remarks when the Brazilian Ambassador Maria Elisa DeLuna called on the Speaker to seek establishment of a Parliamentary friendship association.

Ghana imports from Brazil equipment like tractors for the purposes of agriculture and we have your contractors working in Ghana with Parliament approving facilities from Brazil, he told the visiting ambassador.

He further impress on the ambassador to encourage her country’s Senator not to only show interests in Ghana’s education sector but sports is another important area the committee  should look out to share ideas.

As Ghana’s local teams have been facing challenges and the National team being nick name the “Brazil of Africa”.

He noted that at the Executive level,  Ghana has good relations and it is time for the legislature to foster that relations.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu  has noted that most at times cooperation and relations with countries are left at the Executive level any time there is change in government, a situation that creates problem for the relationship.

According to the Majority Leader, the cooperation between countries should not be left at the Executive level alone, for long lasting relationships.

He made this remarks when the Brazilian Ambassador, Maria Elisa DeLuna called on the Speaker of Parliament.

Again both countries have some experiences we can share when it comes to the oil and gas industry and called for sharing of experiences as how to put to use funds realized from the oil and gas proceeds.

Ghana is experiencing deforestation, same applies to Brazil and asked what experiences could be share as they have effect on the environment.

And added that, with the destruction of the forest cover of both countries poverty would be experienced.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Adaklu Kwame Agbodza has said with the conviction of his former colleague Abuga Pele, a process initiated under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, the current government should take its members who are corrupt through the same process.

According to the Adaklu legislator, President Nana Akuffo-Addo’s government should stop setting up committees that “white wash corrupt officials in his government”.

“This cannot happen in perpetually, eventually when government change we will expect the law to take its course”, he said in an interview.

Mr. Agbodza said, the NDC is not afraid to let the rule of law work, even if it is against its own people, “I encourage the ruling government not  to white wash its members, their people should also go through the mill”.

Laws must work, Abuga Pele  is entitle to appeal I  support the rule of law, we  can fight corruption whichever way whether within or out. I am encouraging government to take steps to arraign its people in court especially those we are accused  of corruption, he added.

“I have a strong conviction in me that it would not be a happy day for those who have been accused and convicted”.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minister of Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh has told law makers that, the Act 898 establishing University of Environment and Sustainable Development did not specify that a campus would be established at “Somanya and Donkokrom”.

According to the Minister the Act 898 section 3 said “the University shall be established in Somanya with campus in Donkokrom and any other places as may be determine by the Council”.

“This is not law English”, the Minister made this remarks on the floor of the House when the Minority MPs kept asking follow up questions in various forms as to when the Donkokrom campus would be established. Despite the fact that the second deputy Speaker, Alban Kingsford Bagbin kept ruling out some follow up questions

With the vested interest and follow up questions coming from MPs, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh further revealed that €45 million Euros was approved by the House for the establishment of the University.

Again Mr. Speaker, the University is being built under construction at the moment no single staff has been recruited for the University, he told the House.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has taken a swipe at MPs taking signatures to throw out a Legislative Instrument (LI) to legitimise entrance exams to the Ghana School of Law by the General Legal Council (GLC).

According to the Majority Leader the issue is before a Committee of the House, the Subsidiary Legislation Committee. “If you have any concerns as an MP approach the Committee, you go outside Parliament to gather signatures, to do what?”

“We should take ourselves seriously, base on the report that would be presented to the House we can then take a decision that is how to go as a House”, the Majority Leader said.

Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has urged the chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee to give a hearing to the sponsoring authority of the LI and the Students Representatives so that concerns of all the parties are factored into the report to be presented to the House.

Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak and Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin are leading a camping to gather signatures to stop the LI from being passed, so far they have gathered 183 lawmaker’s signatures.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged MPs to take serious correction of Votes and Proceedings of the House and encourage members to be good editors of their own records as particular attention is needed.

According to the Minority Leader, the Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye has said, time and time again that, “Parliamentary source must be an authoritative source”, hence attention is needed to correct mistakes that would become official document.

Mr. Iddrisu urged the table office to work hand in hand with MPs to be their own editors.

The Minority Leader raised this issue on the floor of the House after attending funeral of the late Prof Allotey at the forecourt of Parliament House and noticed on the programme, instead of Frank Annor Dompreh, it was written Frank Annor Prempeh.

Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye added his voice to that of the Minority Leader by saying it is a very important issue and information to the House members should take serious note of the issue raised by the Minority Leader.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu is demanding that research assistants of Members of Parliament be posted and to start work on Thursday, the 1st of March 2018.

According to the Minority Leader, the Parliamentary Service Board had already decided on the minimum requirement a research assistant should have.

And added that the board has provided sufficient budgetary provision for this exercise and was worry as to why it is taking almost a year.

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader had urged MPs to submit list of their research assistant by close of work Friday 23rd February 2018.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com