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Month: June 2021

Rural Electrification: Minister allays fears of Akatsi North communities

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minister of Energy, Mathew Opoku Prempeh has assured that Rural Electrification works for a number of communities under the China Water Electrification Agreement of 2016 in the Akatsi north Constituency would be duly carried out.

According to him, the implementation of the electrification project which covered Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Brong Ahafo Regions had to be phased out in line with financing arrangement by the Finance Ministry.

As such the phase I which covered a total of 507communities was completed in 2019, while phase II is currently ongoing and is expected for completion by the end of 2022.

Responding to a question by the Akatsi North Member of Parliament, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe on the steps the Ministry is taking to restore communities in the Akatsi North Constituency, which were deleted from the project in 2017, but the  Speaker directed in November 2019 that those affected communities be restored, the Minister indicated that work orders for eight (8) of the communities, including Ekpekope, Glime, Hordagbakope/Agblonu, Kamiakope, Kadzeagbakope, Nyitawuta, Bavikope, and Sodokpokope have already been issued for installation works.

He added that the Ministry of Energy has also requested the contractor, Messrs China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) to carry out engineering survey in the remaining communities that include Hukportsikope, Asikortor, Zemuga, Boekpe, Tonkor, Adanukope/Buolan, Normenyokope/Lomnava, Ekpekope, Kudzeagbakope, and Adadevokope for considerations in line with the implementation schedule.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Niger receives commendation for promptly paying ECOWAS levy

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Republic of Niger received commendation from ECOWAS lawmakers for paying its Community Levy religiously.

Leader of delegation, Boukari Sani Malam Chaibou presenting his country’s report was praised by the community MPs for the manner in which Niger had paid its Community Levy to the extent that, they have over paid, and now ECOWAS owes them.

Mr. Muhamed Magassy, a member of the Gambian delegation expressed satisfaction in this direction and further commended Niger for its peaceful transition.

This, the second Deputy Speaker Chaibou, explained to the plenary that his country takes payment of the Community Levy very serious since that would help ECOWAS survive, and the institution is their priority, and it is important to protect the Parliament and the Commission.

MPs, however, expressed reservations in other developments in Niger, and hope things can change for the better.  Some contributors were worried that the opposition in Niger is not allowed to demonstrate, while others also think not much is done to increase the number of females in politics.

Again, the issue of early marriage of the girl-child came to play as the female MPs in particular expressed worry and wanted to know if efforts were in place to reduce the practice. There was also a call on the country to put measures in place to allow its citizens in the diaspora to participate in their electoral system.

On the issue of insecurity in Niger, the Leader of the delegation noted that he is unable to comment because it has security implications.

Again, he stated that demonstrations in Niger had to be backed by law, and further pointed out that if one holds illegal demonstration, one needs to face the music and is the reason why some people have been arrested and are in prison.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja

ECOWAS Bureau to address issue of assault on Guinea Bissau MP

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The third Deputy Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima has given assurance that the issue of assault on Marciano Indi, a lawmaker from Guinea Bissau, would be addressed, and a decision a taken.

Guinea Bissau’s leader of delegation, Califa Seidi raised the issue at the ECOWAS Parliament Secretariate but there was no condemnation of the situation by the Parliament.

He further pointed out that he hopes pressure would be brought to bear so that there would be protection of citizens and lawmakers.

Meanwhile, in a related development, MPs in the ECOWAS parliament contributing to the report presented on Niger and Benin said both countries should allow demonstration as part of the democratic practice.

Egoh Oghene, a lawmaker from Nigeria made a strong case on this at the plenary, saying; “where people demonstrate and their rights not protected is not good, police should be out there protecting people”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com