Month: July 2021

 ECOWAS Parliament’s delocalised joint Committee meeting of Administration, Finance and Budget, Macroeconomic Policy & Economic Research, Public Account, Trade, Customs & Free Movement in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso have adopted report and make recommendations having extensively discussed and deliberated on the topic “Cryptocurrencies as Facilitator for Trade and Investment in West Africa”.

The meeting noted that Cryptocurrencies offers investment opportunities, but it however, pointed out that it comes with many risks, but with the risks, all relevant stakeholders (Investors, State authorities and Central banks) are expected to play a vital role in mitigating the dangers linked to Cryptocurrencies.

Consequently, the Parliamentarians on the joint Committees made the following recommendations to the plenary for consideration and recommendation to the Commission.

 1.The ECOWAS Commission should immediately carryout necessary studies to better understand the implications of Cryptocurrencies on regional economies. WAMA, the Central banks and National Assemblies of member states should be implicated in these activities.

2. The ECOWAS Commission should propose a legal and regulatory framework for regulating, where necessary, the use of Cryptocurrencies in the region; It should propose frameworks for Compliance and Regulation using KYC and KYT (Know Your Customer and Know Your Transactions) procedures on the public blockchain infrastructure. It should include all stakeholders in the Cryptocurrency ecosystem, such as centralized exchanges, blockchain data analytics consultants, cybersecurity experts, expert in social engineering, and Non-profit organizations.
3. The ECOWAS Commission should immediately commence studies on the possibility of establishing a central bank digital currency (MDBC), which could be used in parallel with the ECOWAS common currency, ECO.
4. The ECOWAS Commission should immediately propose a communication strategy for increased sensitisation and training of all stakeholders on the use of Cryptocurrencies. A high-level Blockchain and Cybersecurity Training for policymakers and compliance stakeholders should be considered.
5. The ECOWAS Commission should recruit in-house blockchain, social engineering, and Cybersecurity personnel that will be continuously trained by leading experts in the industry, considering the rapid-evolving nature of the technology. The in-house personnel would explore the current global threats of Cryptocurrencies, how other nations are tackling these threats, and adapt them to suit the peculiar problems in West Africa. (B) Recommendations to ECOWAS Parliament:
6. Recommend regional bodies (ECOWAS Commission, WAMA and the Central banks) to carry out necessary studies to better understand the implications of Cryptocurrencies on regional economies;
7. Reflect on a legal and regulatory framework for regulating, where necessary, the use of Cryptocurrencies in the region;
8. Reflect on the possibility of establishing a central bank digital currency (MDBC), which could be used in parallel with the ECOWAS common currency, ECO;
9. Parliament should advocate for increased sensitisation and training of all stakeholders on the use of Cryptocurrencies. In this vein, Parliament should organize for a high-level Blockchain and Cybersecurity Training for policymakers and compliance stakeholders.

Ghanamps.com

Parliament has constituted a nine-member ad hoc committee to investigate into the procurement contracts between the government of the Republic of Ghana through the Ministry of Health and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and one other for supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.

Members

1. Alexander Afenyo Markin- Chairman
2. Mintah Akandoh – Vice Chairman
3. Bernard Ahiafoh
4. Kwame Anyim-Adu Antwi
5. Nana Ayew- Afiriyie
6. Ernest Henry Norgbey
7. Elizabeth Ofosu -Agyare
8. Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama
9. Sheila Bartels

Terms of reference

• To determine whether or not the transaction with respect to the procurement and supply……qualifies as an international business and economics transaction under article 181(5) of the constitution and if so whether it was subjected to prior approval by parliament;
• To determine the procurement process that was followed, and the propriety of same
• To determine whether the services of a middleman was procured in the transaction, and if so the propriety of same having regard to the relevant laws;
• To ascertain the cost of the vaccine, the justification of the cost of vaccine, and whether the transaction guarantee value for money for Ghana;
• To determine whether or not any consideration has passed from government of the Republic of Ghana to the middleman;
• To determine whether or not the Ministry of Health misled parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine;
• To enquire into any other matters connected with the purchase and supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine in the agreement between the Government of Ghana and the other parties.

The Minority Leader, and a member of the 7 MPs who file the Private Members’ Motion stated that their quest is to ensure that “the people of Ghana have value for money, for the use of the taxpayer’s money, particularly that as a country we’ve not been able to cover a significant part of our population; only 450, 000, less than one percent of the population with over 19 billion is worrying.”

MOTION

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu together with six other MPs from the Minority side of the House, including Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, Mr.  Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, and Ernest Henry Norgbey on Thursday, July 8, 2021 filed a private member motion urging the House to constitute a bi-partisan Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the government of the Republic of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and one other for supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.

The Committee has 3 weeks to present its report for consideration by the House

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Parliament has adopted a private member motion to constitute a bi-partisan Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the government of the Republic of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and one other for supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.

This decision came up, when Haruna Iddrisu, minority leader together with six MPs from his side   called on Speaker of Parliament to constitute a committee to investigate into the price of COVID-19 vaccine which the government of Ghana through the health ministry is buying the vaccines at a cost of $19 and $26 Dollars per doze, whilst it has been accepted internationally at $10 Dollars per doze.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to constitute the committee on Friday, July 10, 20221 with its terms and refences

The members behind the Private Members’ Motion are as follows:

1. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu
2. Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak
3. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
4. Dr Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare
5. Mr. Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa
6. Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane
7. Ernest Henry Norgbey

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) has been cited for several  infractions in the 2017 Auditor-General’s Reports of the Public Accounts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

But officials of the Gender Ministry failed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 to provide answers to these infractions.

Last Wednesday was the last sitting of the Committee to look at the audited report of the Auditor General for Ministries Department and Government Agencies (MDAs) 2017 report.

Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi noted that the Ministry had not written to them and they do not have any option but to report to the plenary to prescribe the appropriate action.

Transport and Highways as well as the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General that were scheduled for Thursday 25th June 2021, had to be postponed to Wednesday, July 7, 2021 as PAC brought its proceedings to a close.

The Report indicted the MoGCSP for unauthorized investment of GHS 16,000,000 Ghana School Feeding Programme funds in Dalex Finance and Cal Bank, failure to pay withholding tax of GHS 9,461,880 to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and unretired impress of GHS79,500  contrary to Regulation 282 of Financial Administration Regulation 2004.

Other infractions the Report detected include payment of unearned salary at its Sekondi Social Welfare Office and an unearned salary totaling GHS 6,047.64 paid to a Social Development Assistant at Accra Head Office after the officer vacated post from January to December 2016.

When the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development took their turn to respond to their queries, it was established that the Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission at Kumasi failed to use a competitive process to select a supplier for the purchase of fish feed.

The Auditor-General could not therefore ascertain the reasonableness of the contract awarded Raanan Fish Feed West Africa amounting to GHS 23,260 and therefore urged the Commission to comply strictly with the requirements of the procurement law.

However, the Committee absolved Phillip Attakpah, a former National Project Coordinator for the implementation of FAO/GOG Co-operative Programme who was cited for receiving unearned salary of GHS 31,480 because it was found out that he actually worked during the period.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Godfred Dame flanked by his two deputies and top officials of the Ministry had little difficulty explaining the Auditor-General’s query of three payment vouchers without relevant supporting documents totaling GHS 6,371.90.

He however disclosed that the Delta Force vigilante group who stormed the Kumasi Circuit in 2017 to free 13 of their members facing charges of causing mayhem but were discharged by then Attorney General for nolle prosequi are still under investigation by the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The Roads and Highways Ministry led by the sector minister Amoako Attah apart from failing to meet specification in the construction of a modular ferry in respect of ladders with non-slip square rungs and manholes in the Damen Modular Pontoons had a smooth sail before the Committee.

The Audit Report revealed that the Modular Ferry constructed by Messrs Damen Ship Building Netherlands at a cost of EUR 2,788,500 failed to meet the required specifications the Committee found out that the anomaly was corrected when the Contractor was recalled to site.

While the Committee commended MDAs that appeared before the panel and those that responded to their queries, it lamented that many agencies have refused to comply with accounting systems put in place by the Office of the Accountant-General which is largely responsible for fraudulent transactions by some MDAs.

The Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi who is the Chairman of the Committee therefore tasked the Auditor-General to ensure that agencies of government comply with the accounting systems and procedures specified by the office of the Accountant-General.

He announced that the plenary would consider the eventual recommendations of the Committee after it comes up with a document that neatly outlines and summarises them for consideration including its recommendations on government agencies that failed to honor its invitations.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com