Month: February 2021

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has said his side may disagree with the Nana Akufo-Addo led government on policy issues but when it comes to efforts to improve the quality of lives of Ghanaians it should not be so.

According to him there should be a unanimous thought and action to support policy initiatives that are geared towards improving the quality of life of Ghanaians and this has been shown in the equal strength of numbers both parties have in the current parliament.

And challenged the leadership of the House to see the new paradigm that strengthen Parliament as a responsible institution that urges transparency and accountability that assist a lot of  trust, for the Executive arm of government to improve the life of a lot of Ghanaians.

He made this remarks at a three days induction seminar for the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) which started on Saturday, January 6, 2021 at Ada. He also pointed out that he would break the record of both the Majority Leader and Speaker as long serving MPs.

Again, when a member of the Minority Mahama Ayariga move a motion on absorbing school fees and the Majority is ready to point to Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, it is to remind the Minority that the motion is not coming from a Minister of  the president.

“But they have forgotten that the motion is coming from an elected Member of Parliament and his motion should not affect the consolidated funds, it is legitimate, but it would affect the pockets of MPs, between the consolidated funds and your pocket which one are you opting for?”

He further argued that, he is driving home on the theory of compromise and cooperation and MPs cannot fail the people of Ghana, in building compromises and consensus, as if he were to be an obstructionist Minority Leader.

“I would not wait for Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and the Majority any time a motion is moved on Article 174, 11 2 (6a), I would require the support of the Minority to have a decision, if we decide to pay them back with the Ayariga coin I would not do that, governance would surfer”.

Also it is Ghanaians whose quality of life we seek to improve that would surfer, hence my argument that we need to work together looking at the numerical strength of both parties in the current House, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

As crusade against, road carnage in Ghana becomes a top issue with various individuals and organisations joining in the crusade to end carnage on our roads, Member of Parliament for Akim Oda Alexander Akwasi Acquah has given indications that he would join the campaign to ensure that Ghanaian roads are safe for all users.

Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr. Acquah disclosed that he is putting himself together to make a statement on the floor of Parliament in respect of ensuring safety on our roads.

The lawmaker who escaped death after involving in an accident at Asuoyaa Bridge, near Koforidua on Monday, February 1, 2021, when he was returning to Accra from Koforidua after attending an orientation for newly elected MPs from the Majority Group said, if it had not been the Lord on his side, “I would have been dead by now”.

 “If you look at the valley under the bridge, it was close to hundred feet, if it had turned me into the valley, it would have been a different issue, and when it happen this way we would talk about it and get worried but what would have happened might have occurred already”.

He further pointed out that he is putting himself together to become an ambassador for road safety, “we talk about this always, but if it has not happened to you, you might think it is a joke”, he stated.

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Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah has dismissed news circulating on some portals that he is in coma after he had car accident on Monday, February 1, 2021 on his way back from a Majority Group orientation at Koforidua.

According to him he is surprised that it is being reported that he is in coma, and confirmed involving in an accident at Asuoyaa Bridge, a town close to Koforidua, when driving back to Accra.

“I was traveling on a narrow bridge, a taxi gave me way to pass, all of a sudden a commercial van (trotro) wanted to overtake and hit my vehicle, by the grace of God nothing serious happened to me”.

He further explained in an interview on Friday, January 5, 2021 with a section of the media in Parliament that the head-on-collation with the commercial vehicle at such a narrow bridge was a bit frightening.

He added that after the Monday incident, he went to the Koforidua Central Hospital as it was a bit serious since he had some injuries, but had been treated and discharged. “Almost six passengers on the commercial vehicle got injured to.”

Mr. Acquah revealed that after the accident on Monday, Tuesday he was in Parliament till Friday that he granted the interview, and assured his constituents that he is not in coma as being reported by a section of the news portals. “My constituents should take heart, I am working in their interest and not in coma”

He also pointed out that when incidents like this happen, people want to “embellish their stories a bit and get out there screaming headlines to make their stories sweet”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Leader of Government Business, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has given assurance to the House, that officials from Ghana Cocoa Board would appear before the House on Thursday to address concerns raised by the Buem lawmaker.

In a statement a week ago Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Iddie Adams lamented over the inability of Cocoa Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to pay cocoa farmers for the past two months for their cocoa beans purchased in his constituency.

According to him Ghana Cocoa Board secured one point three billion dollars facility to purchase cocoa beans for the 2020/21 crop season to assist cocoa board to make upfront payments for purchases from cocoa farmers.

“Most of the cocoa farmers in Ghana depend mainly on the proceeds of cocoa sale to fend for themselves and their families and most importantly to prepare new farmlands for the next farming season.”

Mr. Kwabena Minta Akandoh raised the issue on the floor of the House on Friday, February 5, 2021 when he pointed out that the Majority Leader did not bring that issue in the Business Statement presented to the House.

Mr. Mensah-Bonsu noted that initially there were difficulties establishing contact, and on Friday they were able to establish contact and the officials have agreed to be in the House on Thursday this week.

“We would programme them in good time, if we have to meet them a bit earlier ahead of our two o’clock meeting, because there is not sector Minister, the lead person have to be with us at the Committee of the whole and not plenary”.

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Former Ranking Member on the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has demanded the agenda for the first meeting of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic, quoting Order 33 clause 1 of the standing orders to back his argument.

According to him the clerk shall send each member an agenda for each meeting if possible fourteen days before the meeting, and if possible looking at the circumstances send supplementary agenda.

“I have not seen an agenda for this meeting, I have been looking forward for it, and there is no indication as to when it is going to happen. Ideally, this should be happening before the meeting starts, more than three weeks now into this meeting we do not have an agenda”.

On Friday, February 5, 2021, he demanded to know the reason for this after the Majority Leader presented Business Statement on the floor of the House. “We are prepared to function fully in this meeting”.

Mr. Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonus noted that ninety percent of the business they perform on the floor of the House are from the Executive arm of government, and as they do know technically Ministers are not in place.

And there is an exercise in place, by next week the president’s nominees for Ministers would be taken through an approval process and when they go through and are at their various Ministries they can bring an agenda to the House.

“It is the reason why, at the beginning of the term of a new Parliament, you cannot have an agenda presented to MPs few days before the first meeting and into the meeting few weeks”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa sought to know from the Majority Leader of the House, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the status of the new standing orders which the immediate past 7th Parliament worked on, for which a Technical Committee was put together by the 8th Parliament and they have concluded their work.

According to him there has been information that indicates that there would be a joint caucus meeting or committee of the whole last week, but it looks like the House is no longer working with original plan.

“We want to know, as the Majority Leader has not given any indications to what is happening as far as the review process is concerned. Members have input to make and it is not clear, more especially when MPs want Committees formed so that we can start work”.

He made this comments on the floor of the House on Friday, February 5, 2021 when the Majority Leader presented the Business statement for the ensuing week.

In his response, the Majority Leader noted that the Standing Orders Committee must own the new standing order, because the Technical Committee that had concluded its work cannot present it to the plenary.

Hence, the thinking that the joint caucus to take place on Friday, but was not announced by the Speaker, as the Standing Order Committee has to lead the discussion on consideration to any amendment for a holistic review.

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Minister designate for Communication and Digitization Ursula Owusu Ekufful has taken a swipe at the Noguchi Memorial Medical Institute for breaching patients’ confidentiality by disclosing that fifteen Members of Parliament have tested positive to COVID-19.

According to her going forward there should be an understanding where those being tested in Parliament can sign a document to indicate that if they test positive those information would be disclosed to the authorities of Parliament who contracted them to conduct the test.

Again, our individual right and doctor patient confidentiality is very important and Noguchi should be sanctioned. If they continue this way by sharing health results to a third party, and in the future this would discourage people from testing.

“We need MPs to be relax and willing to have repeated test for COVID-19, and our household should also be tested

She commended the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and the Parliamentary Service Board for their effort to keep everyone in Parliament safe, but was quick to add that there should be repeated test and should not be a onetime affair.

“If you tested negative today does not mean you cannot contract the disease, or after recovery you cannot contract the novel coronavirus”.

This happened on Thursday, February 5, 2021 when Speaker Bagbin disclosed on the floor of the House MPs and staff who have been infected with the COVID-19.

But Bolgatanga Central lawmaker Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine disagreed with the Minister designate and pointed out that since it was Parliament that contracted the medical institute to conduct the test there was nothing wrong disclosing the test and no need to sign a consent form.

Former Roads and Highway Minister and Minister designate, Kwesi Amoako Atta commended the Speaker for the test done, but since there are some members of the public entering the premises of Parliament, steps should be taken to guide the safety of those who have already taken the test as the disease moves as human beings move

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com