Month: October 2020

Parliament on Friday, October 16, 2020 passed the Complementary Education Agency Bill, 2019 with the objective of the Bill being to provide programmes outside the formal education system.

Deputy Educational Minister, Dr. Yaw Adutwum explained that the yet to be singed Bill into an Act would provide opportunities and complement education for those who are outside the mainstream formal educational system, and help equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills.

In an interview with journalists in parliament, he further explained that the needs of the old aged who did not have access to formal education due to some circumstances and were left behind in class during their childhood age would be addressed.

He added that it is a great day, because in the history of the nation President Nana Akufo-Addo through the Education Ministry is transforming the process of adult learning in the country.

“Government is going to create many learning centers across the country to enable adult who were left behind access education through the passage of this Bill”, he added.

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Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye has dismissed the idea of holding a bye election at Mfantseman in the wake of the murder of the sitting Member of Parliament, Ekow Hayford.

He pointed out to Article 112 (6) of the 1992 constitution; “Notwithstanding clause (5) of this article, a by-election shall not be held within three months before holding of a general election”, he told the House.

He made this remark, when the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu drew the attention of the House of the Speaker to some reportage in the media, pointing out that with the demise of the MP there was going to be a by-election.

Mr. Iddrisu cautioned the media not to mislead the Ghanaian general public on the issue.

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Mr. Kwesi Jonah a senior research fellow of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has said despite the funding challenges that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country are faced with even as the December 7, 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections are approaching.

CSOs would work hard to ensure that Ghana’s elections are peaceful, credible and acceptable to Ghanaians including the international community.

According to him looking at Ghana’s democratic reputation, it has a big reputation to maintain. Global Peace Index has ranked Ghana first and second on the African continent and now third which means it’s within the first-class zone when rated.

At a forum organised by the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs on the theme, “CSOs and democratic elections in Ghana: The 2020 elections in focus”, speaking on behalf of CSOs, he pointed out that they are wholly funded by international donner organisation. And the outbreak of COVID-19 coupled with some domestic issues have affected their prominent role they play during previous elections.

Mr. Jonah further pointed out that stakes are very high in this year’s elections where for the first time in the nation’s history, a former president is contesting a sitting president, as previously it has been a sitting president going for a second term and it was a referendum on what he has been able to achieve.
“In this case, a former president coming back saying I delivered a lot of infrastructure development, vote for me let me come back and it’s a do or die for his supporters”.

He further pointed out that, previously IDEC would have conducted parliamentary debates but that is not the case now because of their constrains, and again election observers are going to be cut down drastically, due to financial constrains in the wake of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Again, Collation of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and IDEC which got four thousand and thousand two hundred observers out there, this would not be the case this time around, he said.

Mr. Jonah further lamented that, seven months into a general elections, previously in all regional capitals IDEG usually sets up a situation room to keep watch of political campaign within a particular region. But as at Thursday, October 15, 2020 they are yet to set up such an office despite the fact that they are late they are going to set it up.

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The Chief Director of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh has justified the engagement the Ministry has held with various stakeholders with the four years period of its re-establishment.

According to him the various engagements have brought out various critical issues that had been put on the public agenda which would lead to a lot of changes in the system.

“We are operating on the assumption that ideas matter, with our interactions with all the key stakeholders we have flagged a number of issues for consideration”.

He made this remark when Ghanamps.com wanted to know if the engagement has yielded any benefit to the country, within the four years.

Dr. Aggrey pointed out that, in the case of the Electoral Commission, they cautioned them to strengthen their Public Relations outfit and insulate the Commissioners from daily engagement with the media. “There has been a total change in the way they engage the media”.

Again, on the Independent Governance Institutions, he said a platform has been created for them to network among themselves and share ideas of dealing with their challenges that would collectively enhance their work.

He argued that change does not occur overnight, it takes time, as discussion of the critical issues put on the public agenda would improve the quality of public discussion. Again, “we on the high attrition rate and when we see an issue is close for action to be taken we flag and put it into the public agenda and it gathers momentum”.

In addition, last year we put the issue of monetization on the public agenda and had a national engagement on the subject matter.

Institute for Democratic Governance took on the issue of monetization this year, and when the issue gathers momentum, policy makers would pick on them.

Dr. Aggrey further noted that the issues that come up are given to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. And being the majority leader, he needs to have the capacity as Leader of Government Business, and to be sensitive to the different perspectives that exist within the different society.

“The engagement would provide the Minister with all kinds of perspectives and helps shape his appreciation of legislative proposals”, he said.

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Ahead of the December 7, 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, Chief Director of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh has said they would engage the Council of State, Security Services and probably the media again.

According to him the Ministry is going to be busy engaging all kinds of stakeholders who have proper stake in Ghana’s governance system.

In an interview on Thursday, October 15, 2020 just after the Ministry’s engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the them, “CSOs and Democratic Elections in Ghana: The 2020 Elections in Focus”, he pointed out that a lot of contributions were made by CSOs more especially from the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), admonishing the media to be civil, decorous and professional by putting the interest of the nation first.

“Over partisan interest and selfish interest which is a huge statement coming from the GJA president and I believe would go down to the border media practicians”.

And further pointed out that, CSOs have been charged to continue to interrogate the workings of political parties and workings of governments and their various institutions of state that is consistent with the public good.

“Critical discussions on constitutional reforms were also brought up; whether we need it at all, nations are developed by ideas not just minerals, and that is what we are seeking to do with our governance in general. So that at the end of the day we improve upon the governance which the public would enjoy the dividend of democratic governance”.

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