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Month: January 2020

ECO implementation: 6 W/A English countries unhappy with French counterpart

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Ministers of Finance and Governments from the Central Banks of six West African English speaking countries have condemned their French speaking counterparts for unilaterally deciding to rename the CFA France as ECO by 2020.

At the end of a crucial extra-ordinary meeting on Thursday when they met in Abuja Nigeria under the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) on the ECOWAS single currency programme, Nigeria’s Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed on behalf of the Central Bank Governments and Finance Ministers presented the communiqué.

Mr.  Mamadi Camara, Minister for Economic and Finance of the Republic of Guinea, who chaired expressed worry by the declaration of His Excellency, Alasane Outtara, chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) on 21st December 2019 to unilaterally rename the CFA France as “ECO” by 2020.

The WAMZ Convergence Council emphasised that the action taken by their French speaking counterparts was not in line with the decision of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS for the adoption of “ECO” as the name of an independent ECOWAS single currency.

“WAMZ council reiterates the importance for all ECOWAS member countries to adhere to the decision of the Authority of Heads of States and Government towards the implementation of the revised roadmap of the ECOWAS single currency programme”.

The following Ministers of Finance and Governments of the Central Banks of member states of the West African monetary zone, Mambury Njie  Republic of Gambia Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta Ghana, Mamadi Camara Guinea, Samuel D. Tweah Junior Liberia, Zainab S. Ahmed Nigeria, Jacob J. Saffa Sierra Leone were present at the meeting.

Whiles, Mr. Buah D. Saidy senior advisor Central Bank Gambia, Ernest K. Y. Addison Ghana, Lounceny Nabe Governor Guinea, J. Aloyslus Tarlue Junior Liberia, Kelfala M. Kallon Sierra Leone, Godwin I. Emefiele Governor Nigeria attending the meeting.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC directs three Districts to appear before it today

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Public Account Committee of Parliament has directed that three Districts Assemblies from the Volta Region who failed to show up on Thursday January 16, 2020 appear before it today Friday the 17th of January 2020.

Chairman of PAC, Dr. James Klutse Averdzi gave this directive at the end of the Committee sitting on Thursday.

The three Assemblies are North Tongu, Ketu North and South Dayi, as the Committee considered the 2015 and 2016 report of the Auditor-General on Assemblies from the Volta Region, on the utilization of the Common Fund.

Meanwhile, the Committee would today consider the Auditor-General’s report on District Assemblies from the West North and Western Regions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

MP admonishes adults to stop abusing right of children

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare has admonished adult in Awosoase community in the Atiwa East Constituency, to stop abusing the rights of children by posting their pictures on facebook to solicit for funds for their upkeep.

She recounted a case in point when the father of some children died at Awosoase and their pictures were posted on facebook to solicit for funds for their upkeep.

The MP noted that the act does not put the community in good light as social welfare, the District Chief Executive and the MP can be of assistant.

“Putting the pictures of the children who had lost their father on facebook to raise funds is criminal, this offence should never happen again, they are children below eighteen years, they are supposed to be protected by adults”.

She made this remarks when she cut sod for the construction of an Astroturf at Awosoase in the Atiwa East constituency.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

NPP holds primary for sitting MPs in April

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) would hold primaries for its sitting Members of Parliament on Saturday 25th of April 2020.

Nominations would be opened from Saturday the 15th of February and close 29th of same month with vetting slated from Saturday March 7 – 12, 2020.

And the vetting report submitted to the National Executive Committee through the General Secretary not later than 16th of March 2020.

The National Parliamentary Appeals Committee would receive petitions from disgruntled or disqualified aspiring candidates from the 18th of March to the 20th of same month.

Notice of polls shall be published on the 28th of March, this is as a result of a National Executive Committee meeting held in Accra on Thursday the 16th of January 2020.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC should consider using police at public hearing—Atta-Mills

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem and a member of the Public Account Committee, (PAC) Samuel Atta-Mills has said the Committee should consider using the services of the police going forward.

According to Atta-Mills when an ordinary person on the street steals from a shop the person is called a thief, however public servants misappropriate funds and made to refund, which is not the case for the ordinary person.

“When there are problems the politician is blamed, but we do not sign cheques, it is done by the civil servants, Municipal Chief Executives are politically appointed they are made to respond”.

He said this in an interview at the ongoing PAC public hearing, when issues of infractions keeps occurring in the various Assemblies as the Committee examines how, Assemblies utilized the Common Fund as it appears in the Auditor-Generals report for the year 2015 to 2016.

As to what can be done to address the issues of infractions in the Assemblies, Ministries, Agencies, and Departments, he noted that it is an issue of indiscipline from the top to down.

“Where people feel they are politically connected to people at the higher level, but this is a country of rule and law, we need to crake the whip to compel people to do what they are supposed to do”.

He further pointed out that as a country, we  should not tolerate indiscipline from any quarters, “we have given you funds, come and explain why you misappropriated funds given to you, what is the difference between that and being an armed robber? There is not a difference”.

He also expressed worry over the conduct of some Assemblies, showing arrogance by not responding to the invitation of PAC, all because it is an election year.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Atiwa East MP cuts sod for construction of Astro turf Park

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Deputy Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa East, Abena Osei-Asare on Wednesday 15th January 2020 cut sod for the construction of an Astroturf at Awosoase, in her constituency.

According to the MP, the ruling government would do all it can to provide facilities that would benefit every community in the country.

She recounted the last time she visited the community and they appealed for an astro turf part, and today work has started on it.

The MP further noted that the people of Awosoase had a library and made a request of books which she also provided with computers.

“Awosoase is a strategic place in the constituency, I believe in the near future other teams would use our facility when it is completed, again this facility would open up economic activities and give people money”.

Also you did not have a school feeding previously, but now you have it here, and added that the little things that government is doing if they allow it to stay, it would continue with its good work.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

2017 AG Report: “Those who cause infractions would be surcharged”—Chairman

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr. James Kluste Averdzi has revealed that in February 2020 when the Committee start dealing with the report of the Auditor-General for 2017, “individuals” would be surcharged for infractions they cause.

According to the chairman, the Auditor-General after finishing its work on site and concludes exit conference a meeting between the audit staff and the various Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs).

Discussions would be held on their findings, and those they are satisfied with would not find their way onto the Auditor-General’s report; those that are not satisfactory would be given thirty days to give a response.

“If they fail to respond within the thirty days, the Auditor-General would make a recommendation and it would be in his report, the AG would surcharge you before you appear before us. We would ask ‘have you paid’?”

Dr. James Kluste Averdzi who was speaking in an interview with journalists at the Parliament House said that is the new position the committee is going to take, adding that enough time has been given for them to prepare of this.

“We would not tolerate the practice where money would not be paid, again money would not be paid from state resources, it would be paid from individuals involved”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament to commence fourth session Tuesday, 28th January 2020

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The first meeting of the fourth session of the seventh Parliament would commence on Tuesday the 28th of January 2020.

First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Joseph Osei-Owusu in a statement noted that by the powers conferred on the Speaker by clause (1) of Article 112 gives the Speaker the powers to recall Parliament.

Meanwhile the Public Account Committee (PAC) is holding public hearing to examine the report of the Auditor-General for 2015 to 2016.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Waija-Gabwe MCE hauled before PAC for his absence

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Chairman of the Public Account Committee, Dr. James Klutse Averdzi has demanded that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Waija-Gabwe, Patrick Kwesi Barko Kumor appear before the Committee which entered its second day of public hearing on Tuesday, the 14th of January 2020.

Coordinating Director of the Waija-Gabwe Municipal Assembly, Mercy Quansah told the Committee his MCE is absent because he indicated to her that she would be at the Results Fair which opened at the Accra International Conference hall on Tuesday.

According to the PAC chair, the MCE cannot dodge the Committee because he knew he would be live on television so he dashed down to the Results Fair at the Accra International Conference.

The Chairman asked that the Coordinating Director of the Assembly leave the Committee and ensure that the MCE is before the Committee.

“Result Fair, this PAC work is part of the result fair, we have given you money, tell us how you spent the money before you got the result which you want to showcase, if we have issues with the way you spent; call him and tell him we want him here”.

The Coordinating Director explained to the Committee that his MCE is a member of the Sanitation Committee that has to be represented at the Results Fair hence his absence.

Her response followed a request from the PAC Chairman demanding a letter indicating that the MCE was invited and actually has a role to play at the event. Meanwhile, no such letter was provided to the committee.

After Ningo-Prampram was through with its public hearing, Waija-Gabwe was recalled back, but the MCE was nowhere to be found after thirty minutes. It finally emerged that the MCE was not at the Fair but rather at the office.

The MCE Patrick Kwesi Barko Kumor however showed up after the Committee meeting had been adjourned for the day, but refused to comment on the issue.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC: Three Assemblies to reappear with six absentee Assemblies

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

At the ongoing public hearing of the Public Account Committee (PAC) three Assemblies Ningo-Prampram, Waija-Gabwe and Ga Central are supposed to reappear before the Committee next week Tuesday 21st of January 2020.

It came out  that the Committee was not satisfied with answers provided when the three Assemblies from the Greater Accra Region showed up on Tuesday, to be examined on the utilization of the Common Fund and other statutory funds.

Whiles some Assemblies gave unsatisfactory answers to the committee, others were not current on the 2015 report of the Auditor-General and were asked to go and prepare adequately and come back to face the Committee.

Meanwhile, the following Assemblies who had questions to answer did not show up at the public hearing of PAC; La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Adentan Municipal Assembly, Shai Osudoku District Assembly, La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, Ada West District Assembly, Ada East District Assembly, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Ga East Municipal Assembly.

Chairman of the Committee revealed that letters were sent to the Coordinating Councils for onwards transmission to the affected Assemblies.

“We do not see the reasons why they should not be here; we are issuing warning for them to appear before the Committee today”.

Checks conducted by Ghanamps.com revealed that as at the time the committee adjourned its meeting, the MCE of Adenta Municipality had showed up at the Committee sitting.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanadistricts.co