• +233 20 230 9497

Month: March 2020

COVID-19: “I have not seen any memo from Haruna”—Prof. Oquaye

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Speaker of Parliament has denied categorically seeing any memo from the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu giving suggestions on how to fight corona virus, “I have not seen any letter from the Minority”, he lamented.

“Let me also say, we meet regularly every Monday before the House sits. This morning I met with the Majority Leader and Chief Whip, from the Minority side, we had madam Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, the Minority Leader has not been here neither Saturday”.

Professor Oquaye noted that if the Minority Leader had any good thing he could even tell him, and he was willing to accept any suggestions from any quarters especially from the Minority Leader in the House.

He expressed shock about a memo from the Minority in the media of which he is not aware of and hoped the Minority Leader is not keeping it away from him as a media secret. “I am shock at the mention of it before two gentlemen mention it this morning. There must be something in it I do not know of and I do not see why such a document should be kept away from me”.

He made this remarks on Monday when he had a media briefing with journalists at his conference room on the fight against corona virus.

In addition, he noted that he has good reasons he want to limit himself to the parameters of Parliament which he has mandate until the end of this year as this is the peoples House and I would like the cooperation of the people, and further advocated for Ghanaians to do something which goes beyond politics.

“We cannot do politics with every inch of grass in our country, let us think Ghana to save our Republic, in my mind I would do what matters most for Ghana”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker brief media on preparation to combat corona

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye on Monday briefed a selected media in Parliament on preparation being put in place so far to ensure that there is no spread of Coronavirus in the House.

Due to the limited space of the Speaker’s conference room, only a limited number of journalists in the House were invited to this press briefing.

He started by saying there are speculation out there as to why in this emergency times Parliament is still sitting. “There are matters of national importance which had to be tackled, whether it is war of weapon, disease, therefore we need to explain some of these for the public to understand”.

Also this is the House of the people where we enact a lot of laws and the public should know what we are doing for them, and pointed out that the media sees lawmakers wear facemask so we need to explain to the public.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament must go virtual—Dr. Apaak

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak is advocating for Ghana’s Parliament to go virtual in the light of the rapid spreading of the corona virus.

According to him parliamentary proceedings must be suspended given that ten of his colleagues and five parliamentary staffs are under self-quarantine.

More especially when his colleagues have interacted with some colleagues in Parliament and others.

“Folks, these are not normal times on all accounts of the confused understanding of how the virus is spreading and the late push back in Ghana I support a total lockdown”.

At the very minimum Accra, Tema, Kumasi must be locked down. The sooner the better, he said in a statement, adding, “I remain a citizen”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Ten MPs and five staff of Parliament in self quarantine—Oquaye

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye has revealed that ten (10) Members of Parliament and five (5) members of staffs who returned from official assignment abroad are currently in self quarantine.

Eight more has been revealed making ten to the already two initially mentioned on the floor of the House.

At a media briefing at the Speaker’s conference room on Monday journalists question the Speaker on the identity of the MPs in self-quarantine, but he told the media not to expect him to reveal the identity of the eight lawmakers.

“It is not done, they are under the supervision and advice of our medical doctor names and details are not issued just like that, this should tell you that we are handling this matter in a professional way”

The Majority Leader Osei-Kyei who revealed the names of the other two lawmakers on the floor of the House came in to explain that it was difficult to locate one of the lawmakers who had returned from abroad hence the identify was revealed.

The Speaker further noted that the self-quarantine is not punitive but rather for the lawmakers and staffs to protect themselves, their families and guests who visit parliament.

In addition, Parliament fumigated the whole parliamentary enclave on Sunday from morning to evening and was supervised by marshal, clerk and doctor of Parliament, the speaker said.

“Notice is all around parliament to prevent the spread of COVID-19, even the conference room that use to be cold is being kept warm per the advice of our doctor, unfortunately we have not cordon off the premises of Parliament, that is why we are advocating to have our own kind of enclave to keep us secured as much as possible”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
©

Parliament to move to AICC if … Majority Leader

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has given an indication that when it becomes necessary for Parliament to relocate to the Accra International Conference Centre it would embark on that.

According to him, Parliament at its current location is reasonably safe where it is, but quickly pointed out that if the change becomes necessary it would happen.

He further pointed out that Parliament as an institution is in consultation with the Clerk, Marshall and Director of Public Affairs on this issue.

This came up as a result of a media briefing by leadership of the Majority side of the House and the Speaker after Monday’s sitting at the Speakers conference room, to brief the media on measures put in place by the House to combat the spread of Corona virus in the House.

In a related development, Majority Leader noted in the wake of the corona pandemic and the House sitting the media is needed to transmit to Ghanaians what happened in Parliament.

He further emphasised the need for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to space themselves out in the wake of the pandemic and what the World Health Organization has recommended.

On his part, the marshal emphasised the importance of social distancing which has become a national policy and noted that on Monday he had to climb up to the press galley to appeal to the media to space up.

“We are not going to relax security as a result of the crisis and as members of the media we would scan your bags because we do not know who would want to take advantage of the current situation to cause a further damage”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Conduct of Muntaka unacceptable — Osei-Kyei

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has taken a swipe at the Minority Chief Whip, Mohamed Mubarak-Muntaka for speaking into the microphone when Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye had not given the opportunity when he raised the issue of quorum at Monday sitting of the House.

According to him, he finds the conduct of the Minority Whip very unfortunate as it is expected that the Leadership of the House assist the Speaker to maintain order on the floor of the House.

“An order included a member rising up and being recognized by the Speaker before he or she makes a presentation, you do not just rise up and talk into the microphone that is unacceptable in keeping order in the House”.

Mr. Osei-Kyei noted that if a leader is aggrieved and want to make a submission the person had to respect the rules of the House.

“In particularly if it relates to the conduct of the Speaker, the rules are very clear, again if it has to do with the Chief Justice or a member, the rules are clear, you need to come by a substantive motion under Order 93 (5). But to get up and start throwing tantrum, Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable, we should be regulated by our own rules”.

Just after drawing the attention of the Speaker to the conduct of the Minority whip, the speaker said, “We shall continue” and went on with the Corporate Insolvency Bill 2019 which was at the consideration stage.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker ignores Minority’s protest for being marked absent on Saturday

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye ignored protest from the Minority Chief Whip Mohamed Muntaka Mubarak that the House did not agree to sit on Saturday March 21, 2020.

According to the Minority Chief Whip he is not happy that on the Order paper for Monday 23rd March 2020, the Minority Members had been marked absent, but the Speaker ignored his plea.

The Speaker was of the view that if he has any issue he should address it with the table office and went on with proceedings in the House.

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised similar issue that there was no agreement that the House meets on Saturday, yet he has been marked absent. But the Speaker did not tolerate his plea and went on with proceedings in the House.

Member of Parliament for Wa West, Joseph Yiele Chireh drew the attention that two members of the House, Dr. Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem and Toure Mahama including staff who had traveled to Germany were asked to stay at home by the Majority Leader hence they cannot be marked absent.

“It should be absent with permission, Mr. Speaker what we have in the Order Paper is not right and the proper thing should be done”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament to arrange a spacious space for meeting — Speaker

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament has given indications that in the wake of the deadly corona virus, and to observe social spacing, the House is in a process of getting the Accra International Conference Center for proceedings of the House to take place.

Monday morning after prayers, the speaker in view of the social distancing directed lawmakers to observe the social spacing in the chamber by leaving empty seat in-between them.

“Indeed, this would make people realize that Parliament actually need space to do its work”, he announced to the House.

Meanwhile, as part of observing spacing to ensure that spreading of  corona virus is curbed facemask was provided for lawmakers and those seated at the public gallery were directed by the marshals office to observe spacing, same applied to members of the Parliamentary press corps.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Minority is not coming on Saturday to Parliament —Minority Whip

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minority chief whip Mohamed Muntaka Mubarak has given indications that his side would not be in Parliament on Saturday 21st of March 2020 as the Business statement has indicated and most of the Minority members were unhappy about.

According to the Minority whip if the Majority side want to run the country by not build consensus on issues they both disagree they should go ahead.

“They do not care as Majority and are doing thing they way they want we need to take care of our health so we are not coming”.

More than twenty five members of the Majority MPs were on the floor of the House to consider the Corporate Insolvency Bill 2019.

The sitting started 11:45am and as at 1:45pm when this story was being filed not a single member of the Minority who engage in law crafting could be seen at the premises of Parliament or in the chamber.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker’s directive for mask wearing was wrong—Muntaka

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Minority Chief Whip, Mohamed Muntaka has taken a swipe at the Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye for directing lawmakers, staff and Journalists on Friday, March 20, 2020 to wear facemask in parliament.

The Speaker’s directive came in the wake of the spread of the corona virus, and members have raise several issues indicating that MPs are at risk.

The Chief Whip made attempts to put his views on the directives of the Speaker on the floor but was not allowed.

“Putting on facemask is medically wrong, you need to ask those in the medical profession, you do that when you are taking care of affected persons. One needs to understand the wearing of the facemask otherwise you would be aggravating the situation”.

He further pointed out in an interview that MPs putting on the facemask keep talking and getting it wet, and at the same time touching in and putting in on their table in the chamber, “everybody is talking and still holding their facemask, you are going to increase the infection”.

“The Speaker himself was constantly holding his facemask, when you put it on you do not touch, the moment it is wet you need to remove it and dispose of it, meanwhile we have medical persons in the hospitals who need the facemask and are not getting it”.

He also added that it would be better to send it to the medical professionals, indicating that it was not his view he was expressing but putting out what the World Health Organization (WHO) is saying and it is at their website.

“Speaker Oquaye would not listen to me, he thinks the story I was about telling is not pleasant for him, what we do for our county sometimes makes me feel sad”.

He showed Ghanamps.com on his phone his point he was putting across on the WHO website.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com