• +233 20 230 9497

Month: January 2020

Absence of Central Regional Minister cause postponement of PAC public hearing

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The absence of the Central Regional Minister on Monday January 13, 2020 forced the Public Account Committee of Parliament to call off its public hearing on its utilization of common fund by the Assemblies in the Auditor General’s report for 2015 to 2016.

In an interview with the chairman of PAC, Dr. James Klutse Averdzi noted that the Central Regional Minister   Kwamena Duncan   said they had not received the invitation letter hence they had to call the meeting off.

He further pointed out that they will investigate into the issue because other regions that are supposed to appear before the Committee had given indications that they have received their letters to appear before the committee.

“On the 6th of this month we sent letters out Grater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Oti, Western and West North Regions have confirmed they have their letter, we are cross checking”.

Dr. Averdzi pointed out that a new date has been given to the Central Region Assemblies Tuesday 21st January 2020.

Meanwhile, Greater Accra Assemblies are to appear before the PAC Tuesday 14th January 2020 to answer questions on utilization of District Assemble common fund and other statutory funds.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC to tackle 2017 Auditor General’s report in February—Chairman

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) Dr. James Kluste Averdzi has revealed that they would start taking the 2017 report of the Auditor-General next month, as they are poised to end  the 2015 to 2016 report 21st of this month.

According to the chairman they would start with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the Greater Accra Region.

He further added that when the Committee is through with the MDAs they would move to the Assemblies to deal with their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and Common Fund.

“This year being an election year, we want to speed up so that by August of 2020 when the House would be rising for campaign we would have finished with the 2017 report completely and then start work on the 2018 report”, he said.

Dr Averdzi noted that before the election they should be done with the 2018 report.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC to hold a week public hearing on Auditor General’s report

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Public Account Committee (PAC) of Parliament would start a week of public hearing to examine the reports of the Auditor General referred to it by the Speaker of the House, to be submitted to the plenary.

PAC would start its public hearing today Monday 13th January 2020 to Monday 20th January 2020 and will look at report of the Auditor-General on the management and utilization of District Assembly Common Fund and other statutory fund for the year ended 31st December 2015 and 2016.

Assemblies in the Central Region had been cited in both the 2015 and 2016 report and would be appearing before the Committee today.

In an earlier interview with the chairman of PAC, Dr. James Kluste Averdzi, he noted that the Committee could not hold public hearing during the third meeting of last year because it was a budget meeting and the focus was on the 2020 budget.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Atiwa East MP celebrates Christmas with children in her constituency

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare fetes children in her constituency as part of the Christmas festivities.

The occasion benefited children in three communities including Moseaso, New Jejeti, and Krobom.

The lawmaker noted that as the Lord has blessed her, she is replicating same by sharing with the children in the constituency and indicated that she had adopted three communities this year to celebrate the Christmas as she does for communities since becoming MP for the constituency.

And added that most of the time it is not the wish of the children to be stubborn and not to go to school, all they need is to be shown love by the parents and guidance’s.

Mrs. Abena Osei Asare admonished parents to show love to their children by talking to them and creating platform to discuss with them.

“If you talk to the children in love, they will listen and do it, if they do the wrong things let us rebuke them in love as Christ our Lord does to us”.

Also it is the wish of every child to be obedient to their parents the lawmaker said and added that by so doing, when the children grow up to become parents in the future they will ensure that same is transmitted to their children.

She further thanked the children for praying for her and she believes the Lord hears the prayers of little children.

Chiefs from the three Zongo Communities, parents and communities leaders and party executives of  the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency were at  the event to give their support to the Atiwa East lawmaker.

District Chief Executive for Atiwa East, lawyer Nkansah urged the children to pray for the MP to be victorious in the upcoming 2020 parliamentary elections so that she can do more for them.

“A year like this when she is victorious we will call you all together like we have done today, pray for long life and good health for her”.

Party Chairman for Atiwa East, Albert Antwi on his part urged the children and their parents to pray for the MP so that whatever vision she has for the constituency the Lord will let it come to pass.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

We need more debate in the fifth legislature—Edwin Snowe

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
As the life span of the fourth Legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), comes to an end on 3rd of February 2020, Leader of the Liberian delegation to the Community Parliament, Edwin Melvin Snowe is calling for more debate in the next legislature.

According to Edwin Snowe, the fourth Legislature had been quite exciting with a number of good and bad sides, but noted there are a lot that will have to be improved.

“I would say it is a glass half full empty, with the passage of the supplementary Act which enhances our power there is a lot of responsibility on the Parliament, as we move into the fifth legislature it is expected that we build on what we have, the positives to make the fifth legislature better”.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja Nigeria Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior further advocated for a more robust  fifth legislature that will see lawmakers debate and not just one person just talking, (Speaker).

“We want to put issues on the floor and be more proactive, if there are issues in our region like an upcoming six elections in the West African sub-region we should have engagement and have MPs going to different countries collaborating with their colleagues to ensure there is peace and security in the sub-region”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

New Jejeti Zongo chief admonish kids to take their education serious

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The New Jejeti Zongo chief in the Atiwa East Constituency, Alhaji Salifu Musah has admonished children to take their education seriously in order to become prominent and responsible people in the future.

According to him, if the children want to become like the Member of Parliament (MP) Abena Osei-Asare, they need to take their education seriously.

He made this remarks when the MP and Deputy Minister of Finance threw a party for children in New Jejeti, an annual event she normally organizes during Christmas where she selects three or four communities and throws party for the children during Christmas festivity.

Alhaji Salifu thanked the MP for her benevolence and added that he had never witnessed such a thing before in the community, stating that such events where children are organised during Christmas, fed and given books and allow to play with facilities are only seen in the big cities.

“We ask for long life for the MP so that years like this we will get more than what we have witness now”.

He charged parents to take education of their wards seriously and added that the children should obey their parents, in other to become responsible leaders in the community.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Former Liberian Speaker advocates election of ECOWAS MPs

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Former Speaker of the Liberian Parliament and Leader of the delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Honorable Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior has joined the crusade to push for the election of lawmakers to the Community Parliament.

According to the former speaker and leader of the Liberian delegation, when this is achieved it would be like the European Parliament (EU) where they have dedicated lawmakers as part of the ECOWAS supplementary Act.

He further pointed out in an interview that the move would need budgetary allocation and once that can be done it would boost Committee work.

“We should start electing our MPS like is done in the EU a lot should be done, again we should start to legislate like is done in the EU Parliament I think a lot would be achieve as it is now a lot needs to be done”.

Another issue of importance was attendance of lawmakers to the Community Parliament work that saw the Speaker of the fourth Legislature lash out at absentee lawmakers and put in measures to block their allowance for work not done.

Mr. Snowe noted that he would want to see high attendance in the fifth legislature, as he had, had reason to complain of absenteeism of lawmakers at Ordinary Sessions especially his colleagues from Nigeria.

“MPs come sign and leave the next day and come again”, but was quick to point out that the current First Deputy Speaker from Nigeria seems to be very interested in the work that goes on in the Community Parliament. “And with Nigeria having the highest delegation we hope they take attendance seriously, once Nigeria leads others would follow”.

He emphasized that the Parliament represents the people of the West African sub-region; “until we get the full commitment to the workings of the Parliament it would not succeed”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

Give Nana Addo four more years to continue his good governance — Deputy Minister

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
Member of Parliament for Atiwa East and Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei-Asare has urged members of her constituency to renew the mandate of President Nana Akufo-Addo for another four years mandate ahead of 2020 presidential elections.

According to the Atiwa East lawmaker her call is to enable the President to continue with the good governance he has started since coming to power.

She made this call when she threw party for children in three communities; Moseaso, New Jejeti and Krobom in the Atiwa East constituency.

And further urged the children to pray for their parents so that when they go to the polls they would vote for the current president for him to continue with the good things he is doing for mother Ghana to sustain the school feeding project they are enjoying.

Communications officer for Atiwa East and Assemblyman for Awosoase Krobom Electoral Area lauded effort of the MP for the Atiwa East and asked for four more year for the President Nana Akufo-Addo and MP.

He further assured residents of Awosoase Krobom that they will see for the first time tarred road in the community this year.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ghana welcomes adoption of ECO by UEMOA in 2020

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
Government of the Republic of Ghana has welcomed the declaration made by the President of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) His Excellency Alassane Ouattara on the decision by eight (8) West African Member States to discontinue the use of the CFA Franc.

Director of Communications at the Presidency Eugene Arhin in a statement noted that the move in favor of the proposed, new common currency of ECOWAS, the ECO beginning of 2020 is welcome news.

He noted that Ghana sees it as a good testimony to the importance that is being attached not only to the establishment of a monetary union, but also to the larger agenda of West African integration.

“We in Ghana are determined to do whatever we can to enable us join the Member States of UEMOA, soon in the use of the ECO, as we believe it will help remove trade and monetary barriers, reduce transaction costs,  boost economic activity, and raise the living standards of our people”.

The statement further urged other Member States of the Community to work rapidly towards implementing the decisions of the Authorities of ECOWAS, including adopting a flexible exchange rate regime, instituting a federal system for the ECOWAS Central Bank, as well as other related agreed convergence criteria, to ensure that “we” achieve the single currency objectives of ECOWAS as soon as possible for all the Member states.

In addition we have a historic opportunity to create a new reality for the peoples of ECOWAS, a reality of general prosperity and progress, the statement said and urged the Member States to take advantage of the opportunity.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Atiwa East MP celebrates Christmas with children in her constituency

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare fetes children in her constituency as part of the Christmas festivities.

The occasion benefited children in three communities including Moseaso, New Jejeti, and Krobom.

The lawmaker noted that as the Lord has blessed her, she is replicating same by sharing with the children in the constituency and indicated that she had adopted three communities this year to celebrate the Christmas as she does for communities since becoming MP for the constituency.

And added that most of the time it is not the wish of the children to be stubborn and not to go to school, all they need is to be shown love by the parents and guidance’s.

Mrs. Abena Osei Asare admonished parents to show love to their children by talking to them and creating platform to discuss with them.

“If you talk to the children in love, they will listen and do it, if they do the wrong things let us rebuke them in love as Christ our Lord does to us”.

Also it is the wish of every child to be obedient to their parents the lawmaker said and added that by so doing, when the children grow up to become parents in the future they will ensure that same is transmitted to their children.

She further thanked the children for praying for her and she believes the Lord hears the prayers of little children.

Chiefs from the three Zongo Communities, parents and communities leaders and party executives of  the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency were at  the event to give their support to the Atiwa East lawmaker.

District Chief Executive for Atiwa East, lawyer Nkansah urged the children to pray for the MP to be victorious in the upcoming 2020 parliamentary elections so that she can do more for them.

“A year like this when she is victorious we will call you all together like we have done today, pray for long life and good health for her”.

Party Chairman for Atiwa East, Albert Antwi on his part urged the children and their parents to pray for the MP so that whatever vision she has for the constituency the Lord will let it come to pass.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com