Month: March 2021

The Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah led a delegation from the family of the late Francis Agbotse, former Member of Parliament of Ho West Constituency to officially invite the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin to his funeral on Friday, April 16, 2021 in the Volta Region.

According to him, the late MP was the class mate of the Speaker and his colleague in the second, third and fourth Parliament of the fourth Republic of Ghana.

Mr. Bedzrah further noted that his predecessor was a member of the ECOWAS Parliament but unfortunately passed on the January 1, this year. And announced that he has been appointed to the ECOWAS Parliament with the re-composition of Ghana’s members to the fifth Legislature.

His colleague Kofi Attoh who is a special aid to the Speaker, noted that the late MP brought electrification to most part of the Ho West Constituency, and recounted how he was good to his MPs and related well with his people.

Again, he was one of the MPs who championed the use of common fund to give scholarship to students to the extent that at a point in time, he was invited to face auditors because it was the practice then to buy cement for projects.

“What is more than building the human capacity of a people and everybody is doing that now. He was so committed to the NDC, despite his ill health he went out to vote. Again, he made a powerful statement to the extent that we got a judiciary committee”, he noted.

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As the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) like the rest of the World is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Parliament in its first Extraordinary Session in Freetown Sierra Leon March 29 to April 2, 2021 would be briefed on the status of the pandemic in the sub-region.

A parliamentary seminar on the theme: “Involvement of members of the ECOWAS Parliament in monitoring the implementation of the protocols relating to the Community levy”, would be organised ahead of the session.

The seminar would allow the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), a specialized ECOWAS institution responsible for coordinating the region-wide intervention against the novel coronavirus to appraise Parliament with the most current information.

The Community levy of 0.5 percent imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS member states is the main source of funding for the ECOWAS budget, from 70 to 90 percent of overall revenue, however, the remittances by Member States into the Community fund accounts remain low.

Again, the seminar is part of the continuation of parliament’s efforts to make a significant contribution to the resolution of the challenges that arise in the course of implanting the protocol relating to the Community levy.

In a statement, the Communication Division of the Community Parliament noted that, highlight of the session would center on consideration and adoption of a draft strategic plan for the fifth legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The strategic plan is a framework which would guide the programs and activities of the Parliament under the current legislature on its vision, mission, goals and objectives, whiles it takes into account the achievements of the previous legislatures.

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The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has said, he would be forced to form his own Parliamentary Service Board to assist him carry out other important and mandatory duties, should the advisory committee fail to advise him by Friday, March 25, 2021.

He explained that, the Constitutional provision is clear on how the Parliamentary Service Board is constituted where two have been identified by the Constitution, which is the Speaker himself as Chairman and the clerk of Parliament, and four others that are to be appointed by the Speaker, Acting in accordance with the advice of the Committee of Parliament.

Rt. Hon.  Bagbin further said as at today March 22, 2021, the advisory committee has remained mute without advising him on which other four people are to be selected or appointed to be part in the formation of the Parliamentary Service Board.

He has therefore sounded a word of caution to this advisory board to act between today, Monday 22 to coming Friday March 25, 2021 to come up with their advice or else, he would be left with no option than to form his own Board to carry on with other duties that the Parliamentary Service Board is mandated to perform.

Responding to Speaker’s comment, the Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh said, the advisory committee which the Speaker is referring to is made up of both NPP majority and NDC minority and such matters need not to be discussed at the plenary or on the floor of Parliament.

Mr. Dompreh said, the two leaders, both Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu and Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu were informed about contributing to how to resolve this matter of advisory committee, therefore, this matter should have been left with the two leaderships to handle it privately instead of open chamber.

But the MP for Bawku Central and member of the Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Mahama Ayariga was really wondering why the Speaker has not formed the Parliamentary Service Board, since the advisory committee is failing to perform its duty.

This discussion ensured when the Member of Parliament for Banda Ahmed Ibrahim sought to know from the Speaker why the board was not in place, and wanted to know the challenges confronting him in its formation.

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Ahead of ECOWAS Parliament’s First seminar this year which starts on March 23 to 25, 2021 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a member of Ghana’s representative, Clement Kofi Humado has said discussion on the Community levy would be very tough.

According to him import duties account for a large part of the revenue from most countries of the fifteen member states in the West African sub-region, especially those in the Sahel regions like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

And further added that those with coastlines are more diversified and the issue is not just the collection of the Community levy, but the total revenue that accrued to the states of which part would be used as the levy.

“We need to look at it, holistically and how these countries can generate revenue outside the import duties so that the Community levy would be free to be sent to the ECOWAS Commission for the work of the Commission and all its agencies, it is not going to be easy but we would see what we can do”.

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Deputy Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo- Markin is now the leader of the country’s delegation to the 5^th Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

After the country’s Presidential and Parliamentary election on December 7, 2020 which resulted in both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), having one hundred and thirty-seven seats (137) each, with the NPP having an independent candidate working with it to form the Majority, the House on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 approved eight members to the ECOWAS Parliament.

The list include Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, leader, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, Musah Ayaba, Abdul-Aziz, Samson Ahi, Mahama Ayariga, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, and Laadi Ayii Ayamba.

In an interview with Kwamena Afenyo-Markin as to what to expect from the Ghanaian delegation, he noted that the ECOWAS mandate is clear and the delegation is supposed to raise the national issues within the sub-region which would be incorporated for the good of the region and its citizens.

And added that, that was the spirit within which they would approach their work, and commended the outgoing leader of the Ghanaian delegation in the previous parliament, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh and his team.

“We would continue with their good work and see how to explore new areas for the betterment of the West African sub-region and its citizens”.

As to why, Ghana keeps presenting only one female out of the eight slots the country has, leader of the delegation noted that it has to do with the female representation in the current 8^th Parliament of forty (40) with twenty (20) on each side.

Again, he pointed out that “if you are a Minister you cannot double as a member of the ECOWAS Parliament; there are limitations but quickly pointed out that in the future steps would be taken to make room for women to be adequately represented.

On direct elections of Community lawmakers, Kwamena Afenyo-Markin noted that he has to consult with his other colleagues, on the matter and need to know the position of the country. “In ECOWAS Parliament you do not go there with your individual views but the position of the country”.

He further, added that the position of Ghana’s Parliament is also important and they would be going to the fifth Legislature as a collective, carrying the aspiration of the Ghanaian Parliament into the Community chamber, “let us get to that bridge and cross it”.

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CAMPAK, Durmus Findikci has called on the government through the Ministry of Health to come up with a policy, to control, regulate medical waste collection and disposal.

According to him what is happening in Accra is so unfortunate where medical wastes are mix with domestic waste for disposal.

The Turkish company CAMPAK in collaboration with its local partners Juspong Group of Companies has establish ZOOMPAK, a sanitation and medical waste treatment plant in Teshie Nungua, the first of its kind in Africa, with a branch in Kumasi, and setting up in the other fourteen regions.

Mr. Durmus Findikci, who was briefing members of the Parliamentary Press Corp on Saturday, March 20, 2021 underscored the importance of segregating medical wastes at the various hospitals and the need to have a specialized vehicle that goes in for these wastes.

He further pointed out that if the government does not monitor and regulate, control medical waste collection and disposal going into the future, there would be a lot of issues. “You cannot force private and public hospitals, they refuse to give us their medical waste sometimes”.

And pointed out that, they would rather prefer, to give it to some domestic waste collectors who take low fees but are not specialized in medical waste collection and disposal.

Mr. Durmus called for transparency in this area, and there should be more talk on the subject matter and was happy journalists from Parliament were visiting them.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said more than two million people are affected by medical waste and it is economic burden to the government if this is not checked. The Government should take the necessary steps to control operations in this sector”.

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Ministers for Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu; Education, Dr. Adu Twum; and Energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh would this week come before the House to answer one urgent question and two oral questions on the floor of the House.

Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin in presenting the Business statement for this week further pointed out that, estimates of a number of Independent constitutional bodies, Ministries,  Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been submitted to the Committees to be considered for approval.

He further pointed out that the Appropriation Bill would be passed before the end of this month, and the Business Committee urged the various committees having estimates before them to expedite consideration to be fast tracked to the plenary for approval.

And added that, due to the backlog of work to be carried out, the House would commence sitting each working day from 10:00am and have extended sittings on Mondays as part of the meeting days. The House is expected to sit on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

He told the House by the end of this month the House is expected to adjourn sine die on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

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Ghana’s representative on the Ad Hoc Committee tasked by the Rt. Hon Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament to draw a road map to elect lawmakers directly, Clement Kofi Humado,   hopes the issue of direct election would feature in the upcoming first 2021 Extraordinary Session to be held in Freetown, Sierra Leone this month.

According to him the Committee at the last virtual meeting presented its report, but there was not much interaction on the matter and believes if it had been a physical meeting, MPs would have contributed much to the report.

“I am looking forward that this meeting, this issue would come up, it is the right way to go and we just have to push it”. Adding that he knows some individuals think advocating for it means that person is pushing for his or her own demise.

He noted in an interview on the subject matter that, for the sake of the West African sub-region election of Community lawmakers, “we need to do that and I am looking forward for the reactivation of this matter”.

On the issue of having physical contact meetings in the wake of the vaccine found against COVID-19, he noted that by now most of the ECOWAS MPs should have taken their first jab of the vaccine depending on the country.

And further added that, he knows not all the countries within the sub-region were able to take their allocation from the World Health organisation.

He also suggests that lawmakers would have to go to the meeting with their COVID-19 test results, and hoping for the best in the upcoming meeting. “We just have to be bold in having these physical meetings”.

The Community Parliament would hold its first Extraordinary Session and seminar from March 23, to April 2, 2021 in Sierra Leone on the theme, “Involvement of members of the ECOWAS Parliament in monitoring the implementation of the protocol relating to the community levy”

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The Volta Caucus has noted that Ghana cannot be said to be complete without the people from the Volta Region.

This was in response to recently published textbooks for Ghanaian schools that portray the Ewe’s in a very bad light.

In a statement on the floor of the House which was presented by the North Tongu lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted that people from the Region continue to play a very important role in the economic, social and political development of the country.

He further pointed out that, despite the role played by the people from the Volta Region, they do not receive the needed recognition as citizens of Ghana as having equal opportunity in political economic and social affairs of the country.

And added that the first kind of derogatory remarks about the Ewe’s was in 1960 when a leading political figure in this country referred to Ewe’s as inward looking people and is still  on the lips of some Ghanaian politicians.

Again, a recent statement by another politician was that all Ewes and for that matter former Voltarians became an integral part of the Gold Coast now Ghana through legitimate means and that the people were not annexed through wars.

“The last straw which broke the camel’s back is the derogatory remarks contain in a number of textbooks written for use in our basic schools in the country. It is naïve for a textbook to portray the Ewe ethnic group as a voodoo worshiping People”.

“Mr. Speaker, the Volta Caucus of Ghana’s Parliament has taken notice of the public outrage and condemnation of the publication as a clear ethnocentric and divisive content and as a caucus finds the content of the books most distasteful, backward, unacceptable to poison the minds of people against the Ewe ethnic group.

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Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has said she looks forward to Ghana being first in the West African sub-region, to have a waste energy plant in the wake of government introducing levy in the 2021 budget to comprehensively address sanitation and pollution problems of the country.

Contributing to the budget debate on the floor of the House on Thursday, March 18, 2021, the Minister told the House the introduction of the levy would help address the management of land fill facilities and provide state of the act waste treatment facilities.

According to her Accra generates five thousand tons of waste in a day while Kumasi produces four thousand tons, and in the year seven point five million tons of wastes are generated. “What are we going to do with these waste that is why it is so prudent of government to introduce a levy?”

Again, in addressing open defecation, she noted that if she had her way and there was funds, the nation should build one million toilets as she is aware Members of Parliament help their constituents in constructing house hold toilets.

“Mr. Speaker sanitation gives us dignity, once and for all we should eliminate open defecation and I have problem with people who get worried with the building of toilets, we need toilets for our homes for the vulnerable groups in our societies”.

Despite few hecklings, she still made her point that evaluation of waste should be properly done in a hygienic manner, as waste should be treated for other uses.

And pointed out that the coming in of the sanitation and pollution levy would help address the huge refuse in our towns and villages.

On water, Cecilia Abena Dapaah placed on record that because of the empathy of the government during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic free water was given out which cost government one billion Ghana cedis and the policy is still in place up to June this year.

The free water policy, she noted, has deepened the country’s quest for improved hygiene, and to the extent that the country has not recorded incidents of cholera outbreaks is a positive news. Again government has put in place a lot of clean water projects in Wenchi, Tamale, Yendi, Damongo, Keta and Upper East as well as other places to increase access to clean water”.

Madam Dapaah urged members of the House to approve government’s policy budget as work would be done to ensure sanitation and pollution issues in the country are addressed.

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