Month: May 2021

Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore (MP) Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye would today Friday, May 7, 2021 start  a ten days thank you tour in some communities in his constituency, and noted that after elections the normal thing is to go round to thank your constitutes.

According to him it is not easy to complete the tour within a short time period, noting that though he has started, he would have to break and continue by June ending for another seven days.

He further noted in an interview that, this is the time to recognise the need to get back to your constituents, adding that it is crucial since his constituents are aware that Parliament is on recess.

“Your presence has to be felt in the constituency and you may have to organise town hall meetings to allow your constituents ask you questions, have your MP surgeries be in your office for them to come, as some would demand for jobs, others would ask for placement in schools”.

On the issue of job placement, he acknowledged it is not the job of the MP to work on job placement, but rather the work of a lobbyist, but constituents do not separate MPs from the work of a lobbyist

“We move from one agency to the other, you get in touch with your friends to help you, this has become part of our social responsibility, and this comes with the issue of admission into schools, but admission is critical and should be on merit.  But people would come to you to get admission for their wards”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

A former member of the Ghanaian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Clement Kofi Humado, has said the study tour to be embarked on by Ad Hoc Committee, to draw a road map for direct election of MPs would depend on the COVID-19 situation.

According to him, whether the intended study to East African Economic Community Parliament, Southern African Economic Community Parliament and the European Parliament depends on COVID-19 situation in the wake of the third wave hike.

He further noted that in India and Nepal the situation is serious, and in his opinion, the program of the study tour may be on hold for a while. “Let us see how things go this year, it is likely that at the end of year or next year that this programme can be resuscitated”.

In a telephone interview, the former Community lawmaker on the Ad Hoc Committee charged to draw a road map to ensure election of Community lawmakers noted that, the last time the Committee met was in Sierra Leon, a draft programme drawn for the year came up.

As to when the final work of the Committee would be brought up for debate at the plenary, as the Community Parliament prepares to hold its Ordinary Session  this month, he noted that, after the study visit is completed and a report written, then it would be submitted to the plenary.

“When adopted it would be sent to the ECOWAS Commission, for onwards transmission to the Authority of Heads of States so that is roughly the programme that I saw when we met in Sierra Leon”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

President, Nana Akufo- Addo has accepted the nomination of Kissi Agyebeng as the Special Prosecutor.

This was made known in a statement issued by the presidency today, Thursday, May 6, 2021.

The statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Eugene Arhin, said a letter has been sent to the Speaker of Parliament to that effect to seek parliamentary approval in accordance with law.

“It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo accepted the resignation from office of Mr. Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor on November 16, 2020, and in accordance with section 13 (8) of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), is required to appoint a replacement within six months of the position becoming vacant.”

“To this end, the Attorney General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, on 16th April 2021, nominated Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, under section 13 (3) of Act 959, to the President for consideration as the second occupant of the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” the statement added.

The Presidency in the statement said “it is hopeful that Parliament will expedite the confirmation process of Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, so he can assume the position without delay.”

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Members of Council of State have pledged to work closely with Parliament for the overall development of the country’s democracy.

This was when key members of the Council called on the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin and his two Deputies and Leadership of the House.

Key among the discussions were constitutional provisions on the role of the Council of State in the Legislative process and its interface with the President and the Executive arm of government.

Chairman of the Council  Nana Otuo Siriboe II,  took the opportunity to call on Members of Parliament to be measured in their actions and utterances both on the floor of the House and in the public space, urging them to put the interest of the country ahead of any other interest at all times.

The Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu referring to Members actions on the floor said heckling and filibustering is part of Parliamentary practice, but also said the Leadership is working with Members to project a more positive image of the Membership and institution of Parliament.

The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu pointed out a few lacunae in the law and sought to get the former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood’s views on how to fill the gaps in the provisions in some of the country’s laws.

Speaker Bagbin spoke about his willingness to lead Parliament to work closely with the Council of State in the legislative process and in other endeavors for the ultimate good of the country. The Speaker spoke also about his views on a constitutional review and said it is time the country took a serious look at this.

The 6-member delegation included the former Chief Justice and Lawyer Sam Okudzeto.

Ghanamps.com

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, H. E. Iain Walker has paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament with a three member delegation.

Delegation from the British High Commission called on Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin to discuss bilateral issues of mutual benefit to both the United Kingdom and Ghana.

The UK delegation touched on threats of violence in the West African sub-region and how they can help to reduce or eliminate same and work knowledge exchange programmes between both countries.

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The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda Constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah has cut sod for the construction of a sixty-eight {68} lockable market shops with ancillary facilities and lorry terminal at Old Premier Market.

The project also include a precast blocks paving of the Old Premier Market {3000sqm} and construction of 600mm diameter concrete “’U” drain {240m} at Akim Oda.

In his address, he expressed his happiness for having this market constructed for the people. He said, the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Project (GSCSP) is a five-year World Bank (IDA) funded credit facility from 2019-2023 which is aimed at improving urban management and basic urban service in participating Municipalities.

According to the MP, this will add up to the already exiting Oda major market and lorry station terminal which is currently under construction at Nkwantanum.

He assured the people that the project would commence and complete successfully because the President always ensures that he keeps to all his promises.

He used the opportunity to introduce the contractor of the project New Era Discovery Company Limited and Umasco Company Limited to the people and promised that the duration of the project is nine (9) months but will ensure that it is completed as early as possible.

The Krontihene for Akim Kotoku Traditional Council, Obrempong Gyamfi Saforo Kyere in his closing remarks expressed his support for the government for the good works they are doing and prayed that more projects be brought into their area.

He advised the youth to work diligently when they get the opportunity to work with the contractor so that the project will go on successfully without any hindrance.

He also appealed to the contractor to make sure that he completes the project as early as possible to enable the market women use the facility.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo Mrs. Adelaide Ntim in the Sekyere Central District has donated GHC5,000 to the Nsutaman Catholic Senior High School to assist students who were affected by the fire outbreak that destroyed part of the girl’s dormitory.

Mr. Kwabena Kwarteng who presented the cash on  behalf of the MP stated that the MP is committed towards the development of education in area.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere Central Mr. Kwadwo Banahene Bediako also explained that though most of the students have been displaced by the fire, the Assembly is making alternative arrangements to house the affected students.

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Victoria Asher also indicated that none of the students in the school premises were injured but so many properties of the students were destroyed. She then assured that the money will be used for the purpose for which it was donated.

Susana Danso/GhanaMPs.com

As part of measures to help promote youth participation in the development of the District, Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, Betty Mensah with her team has held a workshop for all private school teachers in the district.

According to her the exercise was held to educate the teachers on the history of Afram Plains and the role of the youth in the development of the district and the way forward.

The Afram Plains lawmaker admonished all private school teachers as well as the youth not to allow politics to divide them, adding; “we may be divided prior to the 2020 elections, but we should all come together and fight for the betterment of our beloved constituency after elections”.

Again, the development of the constituency is in our hands, as united we stand and divided we would fall, she noted.

She also used the opportunity to thank all who helped in her re-election to serve her people in parliament for a second term.

Members of the MP’s team, Fuseni Aminu, leader of the team and Safo George, Assemblyman for Baadu Electoral Area took their turn to give a power point presentation on the various subject matter.

The MP donated thirty bags of Royal Aroma rice, ten boxes of oil, four boxes of sanitizers and an amount of three thousand Ghana cedis to the private school teachers in her constituency.

The initiative is to ameliorate the plight of teachers who are still facing financial challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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Director of Public Affairs of the Parliament of Ghana, Kate Addo said her outfit undertakes regular fumigation exercise to avoid diseases and insects Parliament.

To this end, a team of fifteen men on Sunday, May 2, 2021 undertook a fumigation exercise, which runs through the chamber block, the speakers block, and lawmakers’ offices.

In a telephone interview, the Director of Public Affairs Kate Addo pointed out that the exercise is a regular activity that Parliament embarks on from time to time since the outbreak of the novel coronal virus pandemic.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ranking member on the Committee of Health in Ghana’s Parliament, Kwabena Minta Akandoh has said it is confusing, as Ghana is working on obtaining different types of vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him researchers have warned against mixing the different types of vaccine on the market now.

“It is worrying as to whether we are going to get the first kind of vaccine we use AstraZeneca, we are now talking about sputnik, but I am of the opinion that we should have something than having nothing. It is not ideal to be mixing the vaccines, we have heard of the arrival of Sputnik vaccine and we do not know what to believe anymore”.

In an answer to questions from journalists at a press conference held on the Ghana mixing the different types of vaccine, he noted that government indicated that the country would take delivery of vaccines on April 28, 2021 “today is Sunday, May 2, 2021”.

He further pointed out that the Ministry of Health appeared before the Health Committee, presented a budget and steps to the next does of vaccines, “but government composure is as if it is waiting for freebies”.

Again, they will wait until some vaccines are going to expire then they go for it. “We do not see conscious efforts by government to go and procure vaccines for this country, as COVID-19, knows no bound, “we have to be proactive.

Government has to be proactive, it has invested not less than seventeen billion (17b) Ghana cedis in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and when the Health Ministry appeared before the Health Committee, it only accounted for six hundred million (600m) Ghana cedis, he stated.

Meanwhile, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo disclosed that the second AstraZeneca vaccine consignment to fight the coronavirus will arrive in the country on Tuesday, 4 May 2021.

This is in addition to the first consignment of 600,000 vaccines that arrived on 24 February 2021.

The President also noted that by May 15, his government would have procured some 1.3 million Sputnik vaccines to help fight the virus.

“We are receiving 350,000 more AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility on Tuesday, in addition to the first consignment of 600,000 that came to hand on 24 February. By 15 May, the government would have procured some 1.3 million Sputnik vaccines,” the President stated.

 Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com