Month: May 2021

The Member of Parliament for New Edubiase, Adams Abdul-Salam has bemoaned the poor state of Ambulance Services in the New Edubiase Constituency.

Making a statement on the floor of parliament on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, he said the situation has led to a number of needless deaths.
He said the response time of the ambulances in the country leaves much to be desired.

“Mr. Speaker, in the United States, the average response time for emergency service to arrive is estimated to be 7 minutes. In the United Kingdom, it is estimated to be 8minutes.In Ghana, the average response time in the Greater Accra Region is around 16.9 minutes. However, rural communities have an average response time of almost 60 minutes or more”.

Added that for people in critical conditions, 60 minutes could be too long a time for a medical response. “Yet, sadly, this is the state of emergency medical services in the New Edubiase Constituency, and I presume in many other rural constituencies”.

Mr. Abdul-Salam also called the attention of government to the deficit in the human capacity of the service that hinders service delivery to the citizenry.

According to him, check indicates that the National Ambulance Service has a total of 2147 Emergency Medical Technicians, and 900 Emergency Medical Technician trainees, which is inadequate.

There is also no efficient system for the ambulance service to ascertain availability of beds at the various referral facilities to enable them move patients who require help to these facilities.

The MP has therefore called
• Training and recruiting more Emergency Medical Technicians to augment the existing ones
• Strengthening ties with local health facilities to ensure timely emergency medical care and appropriate ness of transfers, as well as
• Enhancing public awareness about National Ambulance Service.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

As the fifteen member states forming the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament do not have a uniform parliamentary tenure, former member of the Parliament from Ghana, Clement Kofi Humado is advocating for a special team to orient new entrants into the Parliament.

According to him he does not recollect any special orientation when he entered the Parliament, and thinks the problem is because the various member states have different entry point and date.

He further noted in an interview that, when Ghana had its Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2016, in the following year its Parliamentary delegation moved into the Community Parliament, as well as various countries depending on their elections and the time they come to the Parliament.

“You find that anytime we have any major elections, an Ordinary Session in a year, one country or the other is making entry and because of that there has not been any orientation; what I can suggest we do is have a special standing orientation team at the Community Parliament, so that anytime a country makes an entrance they can have two or three-days orientation”.

Again, countries having orientation few days before the Ordinary Session, special document and pamphlets are prepared for orientation in all the three-official language of the ECOWAS Parliament, and given to the team, and apart from that individual delegates, “need to learn very fast if materials are available with a training coordinator”.

Mr. Humado noted that all these problems would be resolved when the Community Parliament has direct elections of its members from the fifteen different member states, pointing out that at the beginning of every Legislature, delegates from each member state would come at the same time so it becomes easier to have an orientation for all delegates.

Again, at the same time the way in which every member state comes to the parliament at any time is becoming difficult, “so the direct elections would solve that problem as well”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

 A first timer to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, and member of the Ghanaian delegation to the fifth Parliament, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah has said he has a lot of unanswered questions to ask in Abuja, Nigeria at the upcoming Ordinary Session.

According to him he was just sworn in, in an Extra Ordinary meeting in Sierra Leon and has not had any opportunity to sit in meeting of ECOWAS Parliament yet. “I am yet to have a feel of the whole thing”.

 

“I requested for their Supplementary Act, it is just like our standing orders in Ghana’s Parliament, I asked myself how does the parliament looks like, it is not partisan, you do not have party A and B, you have delegates from different member states, so if you take a decision it is based on country point of view and not political affiliation”.

He further pointed out in an interview that, he has put questions to previous colleagues who have been to the Parliament, he is not getting answers and he believes when he gets there, he would get answers to some of his question.

Mr. Bedzrah was responding to questions from Ghanamps.com on his expectations, and his preparedness towards the first Ordinary Session of 2021 as a first timer?

He further lamented over the number of COVID-19 tests carried out within the West African sub-region, giving example of having the test carried out on him in Ghana, but when he got to Sierra Leon, he had to undergo another test, leaving Sierra Leon another test and when he got to Ghana, he had another COVID test.

“So, with a space of six days four COVID-19 tests with same ECOWAS Region, I ask myself what is really going on, I told myself I was going to ask a question on that on the floor of parliament in Ghana?”

Mr. Bedzrah noted that the land boarders have been closed for almost a year, and now the issue of movement of persons, goods and services becomes difficult between the sub-region. “Our corridors, and we say we cannot move freely because of COVID?”, he questioned.

Again, he noted that it seems there is something wrong with the protocols that exist and he is keen on studying the protocols to see as a Community Parliament, “whether we can work through and talk it out with our heads of States, open our land boarders to allow a fuller integration process of our people”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chairmen of the Authority of Heads of States and Government, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on African leaders to intensify efforts at retrieving the continent’s looted cultural treasures, which are being housed in museums of nations that stole them from Africa.

He made this call on Monday, May 24, 2021 whiles delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa focusing on the African Union theme, “Arts, Culture and Heritage – Levers for Building Africa We Want.”

And added that, the theme is commendable, noting that: “a continent is defined by many things. It is defined by its history – to an extent. It is defined by its geography – to an extent. It is defined by its economy – to an extent that, it’s defined by many other things. However, nothing defines a continent more than its art, culture, customs, heritage, and traditions.”

 He recalled that aspiration five of the Agenda 2063 seeks an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values, and ethics, noting that inasmuch as the continent must be proud of its history, culture, and arts, all must be mindful of the notion of modernization not necessarily being same as Westernization citing reference to Japan being a modern but not a western nation.

“The success or failure of our modernization will be determined largely by how well we preserve what is good about our culture, whilst modifying the aspects that no longer suit our needs,” President Addo said.

 The Ghanaian President, however, makes an emphatic case for the protection of African arts and intellectual properties, saying “As we dedicate this year to the promotion of Africa arts, culture, and heritage, against the backdrop of increasing global expression of interests and investments in the sector, we should use the occasion to promote the patenting of African creative designs to protect intellectual property, folklore and traditional knowledge, and adopt other measures to protect us against counterfeiting and piracy,” President Addo said.

He added that the “Africa we want, may never be realized if we turn our backs on our arts, culture, customs, and heritage”.

 He, however, summed up his submission on the theme by highlighting that: “we must intensify our efforts at retrieving our looted cultural treasures, which are being housed in the museums of the nations that stole them from us, and making money for them, instead of for us. Come what may, whatever the obstacles, we must get them back. I encourage all others to emulate the laudable examples of those countries which have committed themselves to the process of restoration.”

He disclosed that the construction of a Pan African World Heritage Museum near Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana will house artifacts and cultural objects from all parts of the Pan African world contributing to the ability to imbibe a deep consciousness of the ideals and goals of Pan Africanism.

Ghanamps.com

The Minority in Parliament has vowed not to support government to increase road tolls if the Finance Ministry fails to decap the Road Fund and give all to the Road Ministry.

Addressing journalist in Parliament in response to the Minister of Roads and Highways.’ press briefing, the Ranking Member on Roads and Highways Committee, Kwame Governs Agbodza said unless government is able to decap the road fund, give all the money to the Road Ministry before they can discuss the gap that would be left. “Until that time they cannot get the support of our side of the house to increase road tolls

According to him, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah is unable to tell the Finance Minister to decap the road fund, adding that in the 2021 budget, though the Minister of Finance agreed that the road fund would get about GHc1.8 billion, only one billion would be available to the Road Ministry.

“The Minister of Finance takes all that money and use it for consumption, and later pay interest on that money”, he stated.

He said the Minority would support government to get more resources to the Road Ministry to improve on our roads until the money meant for the sector is released to them by the Finance Ministry.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

The second meeting of the first session of the 8^th Parliament starts on Tuesday, May 24, 2021.

The meeting is expected to work on a number of bills which include, the Ghana Standards Authority Bill 2021, Exemptions Bill 2021, Consumer Protection Bill 202, Advertising Council Bill 2021 and Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment Bill 2021).

A budget performance report in respect of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the period of January to December, budget performance in respect of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the period January to December 2020 are among other papers to be presented to the House during this meeting.

The Speaker is also expected to admit Motions for debate, as well as some petitions before the House, with sector Ministers expected to attend upon the House to answer questions related to their Ministries.

A statement from the Public Affairs Department of Parliament also disclosed that the Appointment Committee of Parliament would also commence its public hearing to vet deputy ministerial nominees with one minister of state.

The Public Account Committee is also expected to have its public hearing to examine reports from the Auditor General’s Department and other related matters, while the Select Committee would also sit as part of Parliament’s oversight duties.

The statement further noted that, the COVID-19 protocols would be strictly adhered to in this meeting.

Ghanamps.com

Leader of Government Business, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has warned that Parliament should not be put in the armpit of one political party.

His warning follows the appointment of the General Secretary of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia as member of the Parliamentary Service Board, and creation of an office for Kofi Attoh as well as Magnus Kofi Amoatey.

He indicated that he disagrees with the appointment made by the Speaker, but that is his choice, and he cannot eternally litigate it.

He said he raised the issue with Mr. Speaker, telling him, he disagrees with what he wants to do, “but if he still wants to do that fine, but at least I have registered my point and let nobody complain tomorrow if another thing happens; we should be truthful and honest with ourselves as a nation regardless of where we belong to”.

In an interview as to why he said the Speaker Bagbin has turned Parliament into an NDC enclave, he noted that it has to do with the officials of the NDC mentioned above and even at the inauguration of the board, the speaker justified what he did, saying that Hackman Owusu Agyeman was chairman of the council of elders of the NPP but was on the board.

This impression the Leader of Government Business corrected pointing out that Hackman was not taken on board because he was a chairman of the NPP Council of Elders, he was appointed and later assumed the chairmanship of council of elders because there was a death of the former Chairman C. K. Terderm.

He again pointed out that he did not have an issue with the former Daboya/Mankarigu MP, Mahama Shaibu being brought on board, he had worked with him in the 7^th Parliament and was always working with him on bills.

“The system would not continue forever, so tomorrow if there is a new Speaker from NPP and he brings in a National Chairman and General Secretary, what would you say?”

Again, he noted that the immediate past speaker brought in the two deputy speakers to be part of the board and not members so that in their dealings they would not take decisions or make pronouncements that is not in line with the board when the speaker is not around.

“Under the fourth Republic the Parliamentary Service Board has always had a female, this board does not have a female, after my discussion with the Speaker, he came back to me that he has challenges, I think he was under pressure and brought Aseidu Nketia”.

He asked at what point do they bring in a lady to the board? Saying they have brought in Abraham Osei Aido, the former Majority Leader which the speaker agreed with him as a perfect hand with experience. “Speaker then coopted one lady, a draft person madam Estell Appiah, but frankly speaking she is not a member of the board so the board is not female friendly”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said he cautioned against increasing constituencies every ten years, and for him it was ideal to maintain the Ghanaian constituencies at two hundred (200) instead of the current two hundred and seventy-five (275).

According to him now people are enquiring if the current Electoral Commission under the leadership of Jean Mensah would add on to the 275 constituencies Ghana has.

He recounted in an interview that we use to have one hundred and forty (140) then under the former President Kufuor, we moved to two hundred (200), then to two hundred and thirty (230) after which additional forty-five (45) was added which ballooned the number to two hundred and seventy-five (275).

“Those days, I raised issues that where we were going as a country was dangerous, if another party comes and the numbers are increased, we should not scream today because it favors you, you are laughing, I cannot tell if the EC would increase constituencies because I don’t work with the EC”.

Mr. Osei-Kyei further noted that everywhere else it is the population quota that changes and not the constituencies. Again, as a nation we cannot continue increasing our constituencies, “we do not even have the resources to do that; people did not listen when matters come up for discussion, let us discuss those matters in a nationalistic and objectively and not pick and choose, otherwise we would lose it as a nation”, he emphasized.

  Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Daniela D’orlandi has announced that her country is looking at opening an office for Italian Development Cooperation Agency to promote projects and initiatives that would mutually benefit both Italy and Ghana.

According to her, Italy is prepared to extend its expertise to support Ghana develop industries and create value in a sustainable way, when she called on the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin.

 Ambassador d’Orlandi stressed the need for Ghana to leverage on its potential in order to seize the opportunities offered by entering into force of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

She assured the head of the Ghanaian legislature of her unwavering commitment to further deepen the bond of friendship between Ghana and Italy.

On his part, the Speaker of Parliament Alban S. K. Bagbin commended the Italian government for the longstanding excellent economic cooperation between the two countries which has seen major investment projects carried out in different sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

He also called for more capacity building programmes for technical staff of the parliamentary service which will see them travel to the Italian parliament to learn best practices and support the work of parliament.

Speaker Bagbin emphasized the need for the two countries to build a strong and effective Ghana-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Association and create a platform for legislators of both countries to exchange ideas and build on parliamentary diplomacy.

Ghanamps.com