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Month: November 2018

Second Ordinary session of ECOWAS Parliament underway in Abuja

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The second ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament of the fourth legislature, open in Abuja on Thursday the 15th of November 2018.

Lawmakers from the West African sub-region attended the opening of the ordinary session in their numbers, and is going to last for a month.

The first day witnessed consideration and adoption of the 2019 programme of activities; September 2018 extraordinary report, consideration of standing joint and Ad hoc committees and establishment of an ad hoc committee to consider the draft of the 2019 budget  of the community.

Today Friday the 16th of November 2018 would witness presentation of country reports for discussion by the community.

There would be committee meetings in this session which would last for a month ending on the 14th of next month.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Single African currency would promote integration—Professor Conteh

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Liberia’s permanent representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and Ambassador to Nigeria, Benin and Equatorial Guinea, Professor Al-Hassan Conteh has said a single African currency would promote integration in the region.

According to the Liberian Ambassador it is one of the agenda items for the second session of ECOWAS Parliament meeting for Parliamentarians to see how the converges can be done.

“We have French and English speaking countries coming together, there are a lot of micro economic issues that have to be worked out”.

He made this remarks in Abuja in an interview with journalists at the opening of the second session of ECOWAS Parliament on Thursday November 15, 2018.

Professor Al-Hassan Conteh further pointed out that, when achieved it would take Africa to the point that it would be competitive to other world regional blocs like the European Union and other united blocs.

At the West African sub-regional level he noted that, we are more than one billion people,  with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of two trillion, a for a formidable comparative advantage for West Africa as a bloc.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso//ghanamps.com

Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament cautions Nigeria MPs on absenteeism

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs

Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Moustapha Cisse  Lo   has cautioned Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Nigeria in the community legislature against absenteeism.

According to the Speaker, the second ordinary session is opening against the back drop of the electoral fever in Nigeria, which would have its Presidential and legislative elections in February 2019.

To elect a President of the Republic and members of the National Assembly, he wished the thirty-five (35) members of the ECOWAS well.

He was quick to add that, Nigerian must not use the process of election as an excuse for absenteeism and added that ECOWAS understands the time in which members of the Nigerian delegation are in, but was quick to point out that the second ordinary session is a budgetary session.

The first quarter of next year will, without doubt be affected by the general elections in Nigeria and Senegal, the role of the community Parliament in monitoring these elections will be crucial in strengthening and establishing the credibility of the election he said.

Speaker Moustapha Cisse-Lo further emphasised that in an agreement with the ECOWAS Commission, they have decided to include a budget for election monitoring in the 2019 budget; “number of Parliamentarians on the observer mission will be strengthened, but maintain in the ECOWAS observer corps”.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Finance Minister presents 2019 Budget statement to Parliament

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
In accordance with article 179 of the 1992 constitution, the Minister responsible for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta will in few minutes present Government’s Economic Policy and Budget Statement for the financial year ending December, 31, 2019 to Parliament.

This will be the third budget reading under the Nana Akufo Addo led government and will be the first post International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionality Budget under the New Patriotic Party Government.

Mr Ofori-Atta is also expected to present to Parliament the 2018 Annual report on the Petroleum Funds in accordance with section 48 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act  815) as amended.

The 2019 is largely expected to consolidate the gains chalked under the 2018 budget christened “Asempa (Good News) Budget.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) claimed the 2018 Budget was largely focused on consumption and has therefore urged the need for the 2019 budget to focus on production and infrastructure in order to generate growth and employment.

By Christian Kpesese/ghanamps.com.

Govt christened 2019 budget “Stronger Economy for Jobs and Prosperity”

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta said the 2019 Economic policy and Budget statement is on the theme: “a stronger Economy for Jobs and Prosperity” as he presents same to Parliament.

The budget he said is expected to “accelerate the programme of growing the economy, protecting the vulnerable, and creating jobs and prosperity for the Ghanaian people over the next financial year”.

According to the Minister, the seeds sewed today will achieve sustainable results by putting Ghana on an irreversible path of enviable empowerment.

He also intimated that the President is delivering on his social contract with Ghanaians.

“With all the humility I can muster, Mr. Speaker, permit me to say that I am proud to say that the Akufo-Addo government is delivering on this four-year resounding mandate that the people of Ghana has given us. This is evident in the impressive strides the nation has made in the past 22 months” he stated.

Christian Kpesese/ghanamps.com

Govt settles 80% of DKM customers- Finance Minister

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta has told Parliament that the New Patriotic Party Government has paid 80% of the troubled DKM customers.

“I would like to inform the country that out of the 99,858 claims, 79,708 (80 percent) have

been settled and depositors have been paid” he stated as he present the 2019 Budget statement to the lawmakers.

The situation he said has significantly changed under the current Government as steps are being taken to settle almost all claims of DKM customers since the previous administration failed to resolve the challenge.

Mr. Speaker, you would recall that DKM Diamond Microfinance Limited had its license revoked in February 2016 with considerable suffering imposed on depositors, without any meaningful response from the previous government.

He noted that the official liquidator received 99,858 claims and the validated claims amounted to GH¢502 million as government has set aside funds at the Bank of Ghana to pay the remaining 20 percent of depositors upon validation.

The Minister disclosed that an additional 12,612 claims have been fully provided for, but the customers have not as yet been able to show proof of deposit.

Former President John Dramani Mahama recently urged DKM customers to force the Akufo-Addo government to repay their claims as promised during the 2016 electioneering campaign season.

By Christian Kpesese/Ghanamps.com

Minister and MPs must be punctual budget day—Minority Leader

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu has admonished both Minister and MPs to be on the floor of the House early enough on Thursday 15th of November 2018.

According to the Tamale South lawmaker, the 2019 financial policy statement of the government would be presented to the House and he expects that MPs come to the House early as they would be engaging in an exercise of looking at government purse.

Minority Chief Whip, Mohamed Muntaka Mubarak on his part drew the attention of the business committee to take a second look at the dates for the post budget workshop as the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) would be electing its national officers on the 17th of November 2018.

Minority Leader, a member of the business committee jumped to the defense of the Minority chief Whip who presented the business statement for this week and said as at the time of their deliberation prior to the presentation of the business statement the data has not yet been given to the business committee.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

I am embarrassed using tricks in keeping the House —Osei-Owusu

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu lamented on Friday 9th of November 2018 that he was embarrassed for using “tricks” to keep business in the House going,  when issues of quorum was being raised constantly.

He further lamented over the practice where Members of Parliament (MPs) sign in the register and then go and sit in their offices.

According to  Joseph Osei-Owusu who has been presiding over affairs of the House,  most part of last week in the absence of the Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, “when you take the vote and proceedings of the House, over hundred members are recorded to be present, for me it is that part which is frustrating”.

“On paper we are present, but we are sitting in our offices and are not here in the chamber, I must also advice that if a quorum is applied for again, I would apply the rules strictly”, the Joseph Osei-Owusu cautioned the House.

He further warned that the House should be guided by what happened on Friday, the bell was rang for ten minutes, after three hours the numbers were still not encouraging, he lamented.

Out of the two hundred and seventy-five Members of Parliament (MPs) nine-one members needed to for quorum the whole of last week could not be obtain on the floor to do business.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

“If Majority continues with look warm attitude there would be problem”—Wa West MP

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The available Leader of the Minority, Joseph Yieleh Chireh on Friday 9th of November 2018 cautioned the Majority side should they continue with their look warm attitude this week without being serious with government there would be problem in the chamber.

According to the Wa West lawmaker the Majority side of the House should take the House serious and be punctual and bring government Business to the House.

“We have supported them in doing business this Friday, but I am just urging them if they continue like this next week there would be problem in the House”

Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was however of the opinion that the available leader of the Minority could not threaten his colleagues, “he knows our rules, he is a senior member and cannot do that”.

Both members laughed off, but the Majority Leader was quick to point out that it is important to attend to business of the House. As at Friday, he had to pick a flight to Northern Ghana, because his colleagues are there for a programme.

“I do understand the principles the Wa West MP is putting forward, we need to take the workings of the House very serious”, he emphasised.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

We need more people to pass a better RTI bill—Agbodza

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu Governor Kwame Agbodza has put a strong defense to have more members on the floor of the House to deliberate and pass a critical bill such as the Right to Information Bill 2018.

According to the Adaklu lawmaker the argument advance that in advance democracies like the United Kingdom there are eleven (11) or twelve  ((12) who  stay in the House of Commons to do legislative work, Ghana is not there yet.

He added that the more lawmakers the House has on the floor to do business the better product of law the nation would have such as the Right to Information Bill 2018.

Mr. Kwame Agbodza made this revelations in an interview in the wake of constant call for quorum by MP for Ningo-Prampram Samuel George Nartey and Kwabena Tahiru Hammond on three occasions this week alone.

“We need to pass a law that  would stand the test of time, I would not encourage that we copy what have in the House of Commons a critical bill like the RTI should not have only (12) members in the chamber to pass it”.

In a related development, he indicated that he is happy that his crusade to get the House start proceedings early has been successful but lamented over the numbers present in the chamber when business starts.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com