Month: March 2021

The ECOWAS Commission joined the international community in observing the international women’s day March 8, 2021, which was set aside by the international community to reflect on and commemorate the achievement made by women globally.

Commemoration took place virtually through a videoconference, which was attended by important dignitaries of the ECOWAS Commission during the commemoration in recognizing statutory female staff and the Amazons.

In her solidarity message on the occasion, Finda Koroma, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, underscored the importance of the celebration and said that millions of women are at the frontline of the ongoing strategy to rebuild and ensure justice in the world.

Commissioner for Gender and Social Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission Fatima Jagne began by journeying through her academic education and work experience stating that the opportunities she was given from entry level to her present position taught her importance of responsibility, budgeting, decision making and human interaction.

And said she has always been fascinated with writing which is the secrete of her success and ultimately influences every aspect of her life and concluded by saying that words have made her who she is and today she tirelessly encourages people to use words appropriately.

Speaking at the event, Halima Ahmed, Commissioner for Finance of the ECOWAS Commission presented, a theoretical perspective to give context to her own personal journey as a woman leader within ECOWAS as pioneer Secretary General of ECOWAS Parliament.

And as a Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and presently Commissioner for Finance Halima Ahmed encouraged women to go for the top position, “you the Amazons in the House, can help in realizing this. What is wrong with have a woman as the next president of the ECOWAS Commission or speaker of ECOWAS Parliament?”

Again, why do we have gender parity on appointments of commissioners’ statutory appointees at the African Union Commission and not in ECOWAS?

Mrs. Jacqueline Brou, wife of the President of the Commission and godmother of ECOWAS Amazons noted that women have always been discriminated against.

However, their ascension to decision-making position in our societies is a catalyst for progress, stability, peace and development and welcome the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the first woman Director-General of the World Trade Oranisation (WTO) after six male Directors at the head of the global institution.

And encouraged more work for the advancement of more women in national and international bodies.

In a statement by the Director of Commission of the ECOWAS Commission she, noted that Professor Jeremias Dias Furtado, Commissioner for Human Resources at the Commission made a presentation.

As he elaborated on the overview of female staff of ECOWAS in terms of statistics, and assured that they were working hard to address the gender balance situation in all ECOWAS institutions.

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Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has said the Minority would have nothing to say about 2021 budget as they demanded figures, and on Friday, March 12, 2021 they were presented with figures.

According to him, it is clear that, the budget which is on the theme, “CONSOLIDATION, COMPLETION & CONTINUATION “WƆN YA WƆHIƐƐ” BUDGET” has duly been presented and Ghanaians have duly received it”.

He further responded to the Minority Leaders comment on VAT and made it clear  that,  the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in opposition was not oppose to VAT but, “we were interested in the rate,  time and how it was going to be utilized”.

Again, he pointed out to the Speaker that his side was ready for debate on the budget on the day it was presented and on issues in the budget, the Minority cannot match them and added that COVID-19 has devastated every single economy in the world.

“This country through its leadership has demonstrated competence, therefore, there is no doubt that the future is bright”.

Mr. Markin further pointed out to the Minority Leader, on the lighter note that, with the kind of system of Legislature that Ghana runs, there is nothing wrong with the Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu presenting this year’s budget.

“He presented the budget on behalf of the president, the Minority he said are disappointed because they now have nothing to say. The thirty minutes they are asking for if they get the opportunity they would speak for only five minutes”.

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Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, in seconding the motion for adjournment on Friday, March 12, 2021 after this year’s budget was presented by Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, noted that Ghanaians should brass up for hard times ahead, with the introduction of new types of levies.

According to him what is surprising is that the current government when in opposition in 1995 to 98 did not believe in the Value Added Tax (VAT), they had “Kumepreko” demonstration (kill me now), when VAT was introduced.

“Today it would be ‘bury me instantly’. Where is the value and principles? You did not see merit and worth in VAT, today you are going to be dependent on it. They owe Ghanaians an explanation”

Again, as the current government have failed Ghanaians to keep Accra clean, they are coming with sanitation and pollution levy, after failing to keep our city clean.

“We look forward to a healthy debate and we would remind Ghanaians that with this ‘bury me instantly budget’, if petrol prices have been increased more in the future than now, Ghanaians are the better judges”.

And Leader of Government Business presenting budget on behalf of the president, he was going to go into the matter of separation of powers, and as the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, the House needs to scrutinize and play its oversight.

He noted further that, he does not doubt the competence of the Majority leader, and again pointed out that issue of allotting more time for the debate on this year’s budget, he together with the Vice Chairman of the Business Committee would find a way of adjusting the time.

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The Vice Chair of the Business Committee, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo Markin has given details on the modalities for the debate on the budget statement and Economic Policy of Government for the year ending 31^st December 2021

According to him seconder and the ranking member of the Finance Committee has been allotted twenty minutes each to debate the budget whiles other members have been allotted ten minutes,  and fifteen minutes for chairpersons of various committee rankings.

He indicated that the budget debate is structured in the following areas, governance, security, public safety, finance and economic generally, energy, infrastructure sector, social sector, local government, youth, sports, tourism and culture.

Meanwhile, the four days debate would be concluded on Friday, March 19, 2021 by both Leaders of the House.

Mr. Afenyo Markin further noted that each day’s work would start 10:00am in the morning and the budget estimates of Government Agencies, Department and Ministries   would be considered on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

There would be a post budget workshop in Ho in the Volta Region, from Sunday, March 21 to 22, 2021 as the House would adjourn sine die on Tuesday March 30, 202.

Meanwhile, most MPs were displeased with the limited time for the debate and called for extension to enable them debate the budget well.

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Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has said putting a ceiling on the budget of Parliament and the Judiciary for the financial year ending December 31, 2021 is totally unacceptable.

Speaking before adjourning the House on Friday, March 12, 2021 after the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs presented this year’s budget; the Speaker said the development is below the belt and would not be tolerated.

He urged the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadou Bawumia who was on the floor of the House when the budget was being presented and further directed that Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, with additional responsibility on Minister of Finance Ministry, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to pass this message onwards to the President Nana Akufo-Addo for further action.

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Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has said the two days allotted for debate on message of the State of the Nation Address is inadequate to do any proper scrutiny of the address.

“Less than 72 hours for debating issues that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presented to Parliament yesterday is woefully inadequate for adequate and proper scrutiny. The time is inadequate even for you to gather research,” he lamented.

Mr. Iddrisu cited the developments on the Ghana Card emanating from President Akufo-Addo’s state of the nation address that stipulates that the Ghana Card number will from April 1 also serve as a Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Tax Identification Number for persons yet to acquire one.

In a brief remark on the matter, Mr. Iddrisu suggested that “the fact that you have a national ID card does not make you a contributor of SSNIT pensions and beneficiary of pensions.”

“The idea is a good one, but I need research to debate him, but I have only today and tomorrow to prepare for the debate,” the Minority Leader added.

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 Member of Parliament for Assin Central and immediate past Chairman on Local Government Committee in Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has urged President Akufo-Addo to reduce banking interest rates  further in order to enhance Ghanaian businesses.

According to him, especially during this COVID-19 era, even though, the current rate is better than that of former President John Dramani Mahama led-administration, there is the need to reduce interest rates further down.

He said, in 2017, many business people were complaining about high banking interest rates when the prime rate (BANK OF GHANA RATE) was Twenty Two percent (22%) whilst the commercial rate was Thirty Two to Thirty Six percent (32%-36%). This was how the then NDC John Dramani Mahama led government left it.

Mr.  Agyapong further explained that, under President Akufo-Addo, between 2018 till date, the prime rate is fourteen point five percent (14.5% at BANK OF GHANA) and the commercial rate is between twenty two and twenty six percent (22% – 26%), which he believes is a dramatic reduction in the banking interest rate.

He pleaded with President Akufo-Addo and his government to further consider reducing the banking interest rate to allow Ghanaian businesses to grow, more especially in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Assin Central MP comments came up at the plenary of Parliament, when he was contributing to the Message of the State of the Nation address delivered by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Tuesday March 9, 2021.

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The President in accordance with order 140 clause (2&3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, has assigned temporary responsibility of Ministry of Finance to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on Thursday, March 11, 2021 announced the new role of Mr. Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, when the House resumed from an hour suspension,

The announcement followed a communique received from the President Nana Akufo-Addo.

President Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the House for its cooperation.

Meanwhile, checks conducted by Ghanamps.com in Parliament indicates that the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs would be presenting this year’s budget statement on Friday, March 12, 2021.

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Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon.  Sidie Mohammed Tunis has said the Parliament is pushing to ensure governments of Member States make the COVID-19 vaccines available to all their citizens.

He made this known during the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Fifth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament  in Abuja.

According to Tunis, the health of the people of the Community is more important to the ECOWAS Parliament than any other projects, hence the need for governments to prioritize vaccination for citizens irrespective of their status.

Rt. Hon Tunis said the fifth legislature was inaugurated in the wake of the global challenge, the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of vaccines is a sigh of relief.

“In the light of the fight against COVID-19, it gives a sigh of relief to note that governments and Health Institutions within the sub-region have started procuring and acquiring vaccines. This is a welcome development, and as a Parliament we will continue to push and ensure that vaccines are made available to every citizen of the sub-region”.

“However, let me encourage everyone to keep all measures to keep us safe from contracting COVID-19 by observing all COVID-19 preventive measures. ECOWAS Parliament is advocating for governments to prioritize vaccines for everyone, health of the citizens are more important than any other projects”.

The vaccines should be available to everyone irrespective of who you are, either rich or poor, Tunis said.

And noted that although the fifth legislature was inaugurated amid the COVID-19 crises, one year after, great achievements have been recorded in policy advocacy and interventions in Member States.

The speaker said after the opening of the borders in 2020, the Parliament had three delocalized meetings in three different countries in the sub-region which yielded positive results. “Also opening of the borders motivated us to swing into action. We quickly rose to the occasion and organized three joint committee meetings in three different countries of the sub-region”.

It is worthy of mention that these meetings continue to yield positive results on member states.

“It is gratifying to report that some governments and National Assemblies in the sub-region have started implementing and adjusting policies on issues such as Cyber Security, African Continental Free Trade Area, Communications and education, economic policies and so much more. These developments were a direct outcome of our joint committee meetings.”

Arising from these meetings in December 2020 in Lagos, the report of the ad-hoc committee on direct Universal Suffrage recommends that parliaments ensure the elections of Members by Direct Universal Suffrage before the end of the fifth legislation in March 2024.

“Since inauguration, Members of parliament and staff have joined in strengthening election observation missions to five Member States; Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger”, Tunis said.

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Parliament would today Wednesday, March 10, 2021 start debate on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Message of the State of the Nation address first of his second term and first of the 8^th Parliament.

Moving for adjournment on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the House, the debate on the Message on the State of the Nation address delivered by the President would end on Thursday, March 11, 2021.

Mr. Osei-Kyei told the House debate would start on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 and the House is expected to have extended sitting looking at the tall order the House has to deal with.

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