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Month: April 2020

Majority of MPs desert chamber during law crafting stage

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Majority of lawmakers from both sides of the House deserted the chamber during law crafting stage on Friday May 29, 2020.

A House of two hundred and seventy-five lawmaker’s was left with less than twenty lawmaker.

On Friday afternoon less than ten lawmakers were actively participating in law crafting with the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill 2019 at the consideration stage.

Whiles the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu was in the chair presiding over affairs, some MPs who could not contribute towards the Bill which was at the consideration stage were seen busily discussing their own business.

Again, some lawmakers were eating at the café shop whiles other MPs were seeing heading towards the office at Job 600.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Prof. Oquaye, Speaker of the Seventh Parliament is 76years old today

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Professor Michael Aaron Oquaye is 76-years old today having been born on April 4, 1944 to Mr. E.G.N. Oquaye of Osu, Accra (a cocoa merchant) and Mrs. Felicia Awusiki Oquaye, (nee Azu) of Odumase-Krobo.

He is the third of 7 children, he  was brought up at Asamankese in the Eastern Region where he attended the Catholic and Presbyterian Schools before proceeding to Presec., Odumase-Krobo (O’Level) and Apam Secondary School (A’ Level), the University of Ghana, University of London and Lincoln’s Inn, London . He holds B.A. Hons. (Political Science); LL.B. Hons., B.L. and Ph.D degrees.

His working life has been mainly a combination of private legal practice, lecturing in political science, doing active politics and pastoral work.

A barrister of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, he is also a senior member of the Ghana Bar. As an academic. Prof. Oquaye achieved the singular distinction of winning within four years, the coveted International Rockefeller Senior Scholar Award (1993) and the Senior Fulbright Scholar Award (1997).

The Fulbright is considered the highest award in Academia. He was a Visiting Scholar in connection with these in London (SOAS), and Virginia (George Mason), USA, respectively. He was Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon (Oct. 1999-Jan. 2002.). He was Vice-President of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), with headquarters in Zimbabwe (1997-1999).  He won the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Silver Award for his published doctoral thesis, among several awards.

He has researched and written extensively, on good governance, conflict, political education, decentralization and development, human rights, military intervention in politics, NGOs, rural development and gender issues.  He is a keen advocate of the rights of women including affirmative action. His numerous books and articles have been published in England, Canada, USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ghana.

Prof. Oquaye attained renown as a diplomat, legislator, politician etc. He served as Ghana ’s High Commissioner to India (2002-04); Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya (2005 to 2013); Minister of Energy (2005-06); Minister of Communications (2006-07); The Second Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana (2009-2013).

Prof. Oquaye is currently the Speaker of the 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

As a Baptist Pastor from early 1980’s till now, his theme has been: Contending for the Faith once delivered. He is a Baptist Fundamentalist, opposed to unbridled liberalism and those tendencies which have led to such modern deviant.

Prof. Oquaye is married to Mrs. Alberta Oquaye (nee Asafu-Adjaye) (Major Rtd.) with children. His hobbies include soccer, table tennis, reading, writing and music.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

COVID-19 Trust Fund Bill 2020 goes under certificate of urgency

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has unanimously recommend to the House to pass the COVID-19 Trust Fund Bill 2020 under a certificate of urgency in the light of the threats possessed by the Pandemic.

This Bill when passed would ensure the establishment of a management fund which was presented to the House on Thursday April 2, 2020 as it went through the first reading on the floor.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo urged the Committee to consider the Bill under certificate of urgency.

The Committee found it laudable that individuals and organizations were generously responding to the clarion call by government in the fight to reduce the spread of the disease and provide adequate care for those affected and limit the effect on socio-economic life of Ghanaians.

In the debate on the urgency of the Bill when it went through the first reading the House unanimously agreed that it pass under a certificate of urgency.

Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, Speaker of the House referred the report to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to work on the Bill to come before the House same day to go through the necessary process; second reading, consideration stage and third reading, then pass into law.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Committee of the whole to be briefed on security operation of lockdown—Chairman

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee, Seth Kwame Acheampong has noted that Committee of the whole made up of all lawmakers in Ghana’s Parliament would be briefed on the operations undertaken by the security agencies on the lockdown.

According to him it is not in his capacity to determine when that would take place as an extension of he being a leader of a committee, he got the opportunity to be briefed on Wednesday by head of the Interior and Defense Ministries.

He made this known in an interview with Journalists in Parliament after a briefing to the Committee on Defense and Interior in the wake of alleged abuse by the security personnel of some civilians who are not observing the partial lockdown.

Mr. Acheampong noted that this is a major deployment situation which cut across various sectors; immigration, police, airforce, navy and the Military. He added that tracing people in the various district and regions come under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Investigations conducted by Ghanamps.com revealed that the House is likely to have a Committee of the Whole where lawmakers would be briefed by the various sectors involve in ensuring a successful lockdown.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

We should be able to sing victory song after lockdown —Dep. Minister

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Kodwwo Kom Abban is optimistic of the country singing a victory song at the end of the lockdown period which has affected Greater Accra, part of the Central Region, and Kumasi.

His statement followed news of the recovery of some thirty-one persons from the coronavirus who have been under treatment for some time now.

In an interview with members of the Parliamentary press corps, he thanked the frontline health works for the efforts they are putting in so far to fight the COVID-19 as the contact tracing is ongoing with persons who have come into contact with those who have tested positive.

“We are taking the tracing vigorously but sometimes the efforts of the health workers get frustrated by our own actions and inactions as some of the people in the wake of the lockdown are trying to leave Accra and Kumasi to the country side”.

He pointed out that the purpose of the lockdown was to get people to remain where they are so that the contact tracing could be done effectively as it is the only way to deal with the disease conclusively.

“It is not in the interest of those leaving Accra and Kumasi or the country we are pleading with them to stay where they are for the contact tracing process to continue, the thirty one that have recovered we have majority being Ghanaians it cut across, and more people would be discharged”.

On the issue of those fleeing to the Northern Ghana, he noted that it is a good development they had been brought back to Accra since they did not have the advice of a doctor to leave, in the case of an outbreak.

“I accompany the Gender Minister to talk to them, she has promised to provide for them all their basic needs they require and for their stay to be comfortable, they are in some kind of monitoring and in that case should there be any outbreak we would be able to deal with it rather than just leaving them to go and spread it into the public what would have been the case”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Sanitation Ministry donates to frontline staff in crusade against COVID-19

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has donated two thousand packs of G-water bottle drinking water to the frontline medical staffs managing the outbreak of the COVID-19.

The gesture is part of the government’s appreciation of the work of the frontline medical staff during this critical period of combating the spread of the virus.

Beneficiary health institutions include, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), 37 Military Hospital, Tema General Hospital and other facilities in the Ashanti Region.

According to the Minister, she is of the believe that the donation would help ease the burden of leaving the workplace in search of water to quench their test as the work around the clock to save lives.

Madam Dapaah used the opportunity to urge Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to use the period of the lockdown to intensify their cleaning and cleansing activities as well as emptying of litter bins to keep their cities cleans.

And reminded the general public to continue to be responsive to the personal hygiene protocols directed by government through the Health Ministry and the Ghana Health Service in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

I would be most ungrateful not to thank President for Polyclinic —Achiase MP

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Member of Parliament for Achiase, Kwasi Robert Amoah has said he would be the most ungrateful human being if he does not thank President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government for providing his constituency with a polyclinic for which a loan facility was approved in Parliament on March 31, 2020.

According to him since he entered Parliament in 2013, he has been pushing for such a project to be made available to the people of Achiase.

“I have filed three questions to the sector Minister for our health facility to be renovated to improve our status from 2013 to 2016 as eight polyclinics would be provided in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions. I am happy that Achiase is one”.

In an interview with journalists in the House, he noted that the chiefs and people of his constituency are so grateful for the loan facility that has been approved to provide a polyclinic in the constituency, “most importantly when I am the MP for the constituency”.

As to whether there are not health facilities and if the health system is bad in his constituency, he noted that there are health facilities in the district which are not bad and he even commissioned three chips compound he provided last month.

He added that he had also provided a vehicle for the health directorate to aid in health delivery and quickly pointed out that they need a polyclinic.

“Again, we need a polyclinic since we have a Jungle Warfare Training School in Achiase, people from all over the world come there for training and when there are casualties we have to go all the way to Oda which is eleven kilometers away for quality health care, this is a good news”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Lectures should not be restricted from sourcing for funds for research—Ayariga

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Former Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has cautioned the House not to restrict lecturers from sourcing funds outside Ghana for their research works.

According to him the regulatory bodies must focus on funds coming from government but not external funds so as not to discourage lecturers from conducting research.

Educational Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on his part explained that all research funds both external and internal must be channeled through regulatory bodies for scrutiny before releasing them to lecturers for their research work.

He cited an example where University of Ghana, Legon, went for a loan to conduct a research work but the money was mismanaged without achieving the purpose, leaving a huge debt of eighty million dollars and five millions Ghana Cedis respectively hanging on the neck of government as of today.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

I have achieved 100% rural electrification in my constituency — Minority Leader

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has revealed to Parliament that he has achieved one hundred percent rural electrification, thanks to past and current Energy Minister for their good work with respect to electricity.

He made this statement on the floor of the House when it approved a loan agreement of fifty million dollars between the Government of Ghana and TBEA HENGYANG TRANSFORMER Company Limited to execute supply and erection of electrical materials and equipment for electrification of two hundred and ninety-two (292) Communities in Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Brong Ahafo Regions.

Also, another fifty million dollars to execute the supply and erection of electrical materials and equipment for the electrification of 234 communities in the North East, Savannah and Northern Regions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

COVID-19 Fight: I release pick-ups to support fight—Education Minister

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has noted that Government has not purchased new pick-ups in the fight against the Coronavirus.

According to him his Ministry has rather released their vehicles to assist government fight the Coronavirus.

He made this remarks on the floor of the House when he responded to comments made by the ranking member of Health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh’s criticism of government for not acting on the needful with providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers at this critical moment.

Mr. Akandoh further advised government to set its priority right by purchasing more PPE instead of buying pick-ups since there are many health facilities that do not have even the basic protective materials.

This came up when the House debated the approval of proposed formula for the distribution of the National Insurance Fund for the year 2020 which was done at the Committee of the whole.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com