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Month: October 2021

LGBTQ+: Parliament would not turn its back on the citizenry—Osei-Kyei

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs

In the wake of the brouhaha that has surrounded lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, (LGBTQ+), Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament said the House would not turn its back on the Ghanaian citizenry as Members of Parliament (MPs) represent the people and their interest.

According to him they would do what is needful as the very first portion of chapter 11 of the 1992 constitution article 125 says “Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the public by the judiciary which shall be independent and only subject to this constitution”.

And the operative clause being that justice emanate from the people and as Ghanaians, “we have our own set of values, wherever we come from we have our set of values that guide us in life. Again I am a Christian and belong to the Assemblies of God and cannot say my up bringing has not been impacted by my Christian values equally for my colleagues who are Muslims”.

At a press conference addressed by the Majority caucus in parliament on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the Majority Leader noted that the LGBTQ+ issue should be confronted as a parliament and should not be seen as a Minority or Majority issue, and he has been calling his colleague the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and was thinking the two could come together but the decision by the Majority side to organise the press conference was taken quite late on Monday.

He further pleaded with those making contributions on the subject matter on television and radio stations to cut off emotions and sentiment they have attached to it.

He said the bill is before parliament and has duly referred to the appropriate committee – Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and citizens of Ghana reserve the right to participate in its discussion. He thus urged civil society and faith based organisation to submit memoranda to the Committee.

“We hear some people saying parliament should have debate on the matter telecast live, it only means those people making these calls do not understand how parliamentary business is conducted, and there is no bill in Parliament which is considered in camera”.

He further added that all bills in parliament are considered in the open and are not hidden, he is surprised that anyone would make such a suggestion, it only points out that such people do not follow parliamentary business.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament to visit Guinea Conakry as soon as possible

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Speaker of the Community Parliament in an exclusive interview with Ghanamps.com has revealed that he would be visiting Guinea Conakry as it is his duty as Speaker to represent the citizens of the Community.

According to him since there is a coup in Guinea Conakry and the Constitution has been suspended and the National Assembly dissolved, it is his responsibility as a Speaker to go in there and engage the military junta.

Authority of Heads of States of ECOWAS  in Guinea Conakry

“To see how as quickly as possible, in line with the Authority of Heads of States demand to return the country to constitutional rule, as Speaker, it is my duty to maintain and uphold democracy, so I intend to visit as soon as possible”.

He further indicated that maybe during the Extraordinary Session in Winneba, Ghana, whiles the Committees are working, he would make a fast dash to meet with the military junta in the coming days.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

ECOFEPA to focus on land border closure and increasing their numbers—Ayamba

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Vice Chairperson of the ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, Laadi Ayii Ayamba said the upcoming Extraordinary Session of the Parliament to be held from Tuesday, October 12 to 22, 2021 in Winneba Ghana would have female lawmakers’ association focusing on measures to adopt to increase the number of women in the Parliament, as well as the land border closure and its impact on women.

According to her the ECOWAS Female Parliamentary Association (ECOFEA) on the gender front would throw more light on how the closure of the land borders within the West Africa sub-region is preventing women from going about their businesses. “It is posing a lot of problems, and when you look at the whole issue who can go by air are those who are free, but our women who actually do business across the borders are worse hit”.

The Pusiga lawmaker pointed out at a press briefing on Friday, October 8, 2021 ahead of the session that her constituency borders two countries in the sub-region, Togo to the East and Burkina Faso to the North, hence her people are hard hit by the border closure.

She said their discussion would also be centered on increasing their numbers. “We need more females, and it should not be about Ghana alone, we should look at the Community Parliament, we should be able to discuss and get support to ensure that women come up to take up leadership roles, not only in the parliament but other institutions”.

Also on the agenda for discussion according to Madam Ayamba is the issue of early marriage which is a problem in the sub-region, and needed some attention to address. This, she said they would have to move round member states to educate people on the subject matter, “I am hoping we would be able to make impact and promote more women into our Community Parliament”, she said.

 Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Malian and Guinea MPs cannot be invited to Extraordinary Session in Winneba— Rt Hon Tunis

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Rt. Hon Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis in an exclusive phone interview from his base in Sierra Leone with Ghanamps.com has said the former Members of Parliament (MPs) from Mali and Guinea Conakry cannot be invited to the upcoming Extraordinary Session in Winneba, Ghana from Tuesday, October 12 to 22, 2021.

According to him due to the military coup in the two countries, both countries are under sanction from ECOWAS and the decision of the Council was taken by the Authority of Heads of States, “so I as Speaker cannot go against it”.

Dr Sidie Mohammed Tunis pointed out that the inference from what happened in the case of Mali is true, when they had their interim legislature, they had issues with them, and some of the Community MPs objected to their attendance in Sierra Leon, Freetown at the first Extraordinary Session.

President of ECOWAS Justice Edward Amoako Asante

“So, I sent the matter to the ECOWAS Court of justice, and interpretation was made, and we were asked to accept them. At that particular point, they could have attended parliament because the court has decided on that and that was the ruling. But just between that time and now, there was a second coup, then ECOWAs came again with sanction, and Mali was suspended from the activities of ECOWAS”.

Again, he pointed out that it brought them back to square one, so the issue of the court ruling does not stand any longer considering the fact that there was a second coup in Mali. “There is no way I would accept Mali because of that. The one from Guinea Conakry is quite recent, and to set the record straight I cannot invite membership of the two countries”

Secretary General John Azumah left Rt Hon Speaker right

Commenting on the Community Court’s ruling with regard to Guinea, he said; “If there is transitional Legislature and Government of Guinea accepted by ECOWAS, and they send a delegation to the parliament, then I would accept them; we do not have to even go to court again because the court has already given a ruling on that”.

Again, “I condemned the coup in Guinea, but at the same time it is not acceptable, when a constitution gives two terms, we have our political leaders amending the constitution to favor them”.

As to whether he thinks presidents in the sub-region are doing much to kick against presidents changing the constitution to elongate their tenure, he said “absolutely, that is why we as parliamentarians must ensure that we push for that as much as possible. I agree coup is not part of us but what about those who are tampering with the constitution, are they also not responsible for the problems that we are having?” He queried.

And added that; “We should not only condemn coups but we should also condemn those who tamper with their constitution when it gives them two terms and they change it to third term.”

 Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Guinea to participate in the ECOWAS Extraordinary Session in Winneba, Ghana

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Leader of the Ghanaian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has clarified that a delegation from Guinea Conakry, would participate in the upcoming Extraordinary Session to be held in Winneba, Ghana.

Contrary to his earlier position that Guinea would not be part of the session, Mr. Afenyo Markin corrected that because Guinea’s parliament is dissolved, the elected MPs who were part of the ECOWAS parliament cannot participate. However, following from the ECOWAS Court of Justice’ ruling on Mali that recognized the interim government’s delegation to the Community Parliament, same would apply to with regard to Guinea.

He said, because the interim government has a six months mandate, they can also appoint delegations to the session to be held in Winneba, Ghana.

At a press conference addressed by the Ghanaian delegation ahead of a seminar and an Extraordinary Session, he stated that “the Speaker of Parliament is bound to accept them, and allow them take an oath to the point that their legitimacy is accorded them by the sub-regional body and where it terminates. Those who would be coming would not be our colleagues who were elected, there is no parliament”.

The Effutu lawmaker, recounted that in an Extraordinary Session in Sierra Leon, with the military takeover in Mali, MPs from Mali who had been sworn in before the coup came for the session insisted on their right to be recognised, whiles the interim government sent a new delegation; “that led to the question of which of them should be recognised?”.

Rapporteur for the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Mahama Ayariga in his opinion supported the leader of the Ghanaian delegation saying that during the six months period given the interim government in Guinea to return to constitutional rule, they can nominate people to represent them.

“As properly delegated persons to the parliament but they can only be there for the transitional period. If their transitional period ends, then their legitimacy at the parliament also ends.  That was the opinion of the court on the issue of Mali, if you apply that principle of the court to that of Guinea, I take a position and my leader shares that position which means the transitional government is vest with all the powers within that period to run the country”, he emphasized.

On security arrangements he assured that the country has beefed up security in the Winneba and its surroundings to ensure the safety of all the individuals that would be participating in the event, adding that the session would be attended by senior politicians from the sub-region, some of whom are Speakers and deputies from their countries, Senators, and Ghana being a peaceful country would do all to protect them.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Volta moves to harness resources through effective collaboration among stakeholders

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Participants at the 1st Volta Stakeholders Conference, under the auspices of Volta MPs, Held at Ho on October 4, 2021 have agreed to make the stakeholders’ conference a permanent platform for effective engagement on matters of common interest relative to the holistic development of the Volta Region.

The conference aimed at harnessing the resources of the region through effective collaboration between Political Representatives, Chiefs, Business Leaders from the private sector and the Media towards a more realistic development agenda.

Participants also believe the development of the Volta Region should be linked with positive engagement between both elected and appointed political leaders from the region, traditional authorities and the private sector periodically. Such engagements they opined should elevate the discussions above partisan political interests.

Read below the full communiqué:

COMMUNIQUE:

1st Volta Stakeholders Conference Under the Auspices of Volta MPs, Held at Ho on October 4, 2021

The Members of Parliament from the Volta Region in collaboration with the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the Volta Development Forum and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council held its first stakeholders Conference on October 4, 2021 in Ho. The meeting which was held under the auspices of Volta MPs Caucus focused on harnessing the resources of the region through effective collaboration between Political Representatives, Chiefs, Business Leaders from the private sector and the Media towards a more realistic development agenda.

Participants agreed that the stakeholders conference must become a permanent platform for effective engagement on matters of common interest relative to the holistic development of the Volta Region.  The conference thus made the following observations:

  1. The development of the Volta Region is inextricably linked with positive engagement between both elected and appointed political leaders from the region, traditional authorities and the private sector periodically. Such engagements should elevate the discussions above partisan political interests.
  2. The meeting noted with concern some key projects in the region that needed urgent attention from government. These projects include but not limited to the following; the trunk road from Accra to Ho, the Eastern Corridor Road, retooling of the Ho Teaching Hospital with Equipment and Staff, the operationalization of the Ho Airport as a Sub-Regional Aviation Hub and Aircraft Maintenance Center, expedite work on the abandoned Keta Harbor Project, construct a sea-defense wall at the shoreline from Aflao through Anloga and see to the completion of all abandoned school projects in the Volta Region before new projects are awarded.
  3. The Eastern Rail Extension Project is not only strategic but a laudable one that must focus on creating employment opportunities for the youth and private sector investors. Funding and operationalization of the rail project should be consultative enough while creating opportunities for indigenous investors who may be interested in participating in the processes.
  4. Project implementation processes in the Volta Region should involve traditional authorities who are major stakeholders and could provide effective monitoring roles. This will ultimately help in reducing the sad phenomenon of wanton project abandonment across the region.
  5. Impediments placed at Asikuma and Sogakofe by the Ghana Immigration Service ostensibly looking out for foreigners while land borders are supposed to have been closed are not only affecting free movement of citizens from the region to other parts of the country but are demeaning and discriminatory. This conduct only reminds. Voltarians of apartheid South Africa anytime the people who are made to disembark from their vehicles and trek across these immigration roadblocks on daily basis. Besides, the state of the road at these checkpoints are so deplorable that commuters have no option but to walk in the mud, whenever they disembark at these points for immigration inspections.
  6. Youth unemployment in the Volta Region deserves urgent attention from all stakeholders as it has become a security threat.

Signed:

  1. Volta Members of Parliament
  2. Volta Regional House of Chiefs
  3. Volta Regional Minister and VRCC
  4. Volta Development Forum
  5. Volta GJA

Ghanamps.com

North Dayi MP celebrates with teachers in her constituency on teachers’ day

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Teachers undertaking health check

The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dayi, Joycelyn Tetteh as part of teachers’ day celebrations commemorated the day by celebrating with teachers in the North Dayi Constituency in the Volta Region.

As part of the days the MP launched a health check initiative, an annual free health screening for the teachers within the North Dayi District.

In addition, she donated cash and provided refreshment and branded diaries and T-Shirts to the teachers.

Ghanamps.com

President Nana Akufo-Addo to address ECOWAS Extraordinary Session

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

President Nana Akufo-Addo would address the Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS to be held in Winneba, in the Central Region.

The ten days session is one of two Extraordinary Sessions outside Abuja, the seat of the ECOWAS parliament.

Nana Akufo-Addo would be address the session in his capacity as the host president and the President of the Authority of Heads of States.

The Spokesperson for the 8-member Ghanaian delegation, Mahama Ayariga, at a press conference said President Akufo-Addo would be speaking to the West Africa through the ECOWAS Parliament on some land mark issues in the sub-region including some of the events in Guinea Conakry, the issues in Mali, two upcoming elections before the end of this year – one in Cape Verde, and another in the Gambia.

The Extraordinary Session on the theme: “two decades of democratic elections in ECOWAS Member states: achievement, challenges and prospects”, is dedicated to reviewing, and approving the budget of the parliament of ECOWAS.

However, the session as usual practice, would be preceded by a seminar that is focusing on democratic consolidation in the sub-region, thus looking at issues of elections, election monitoring, general democratic practice and its entrenchment, challenges of security, and how the problems of democratic consolidation is also linked to some of the security challenges that we face in the sub-region.

According to Mr. Ayariga, the essence of the parliament trying to sit in other countries is for visibility to its work; and to bring parliament closer to the people, “and so the people see there is a parliament, and appreciate the value of the parliament”.

He therefore appealed to the media to give the necessary coverage to the session to ensure the impact on the citizenry is felt.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Railways Minister points out how Volta Region would benefit from his ministry

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Minister for Railways Development, John Peter Amewu has made a presentation pointing out on the policy direction of his ministry to and the benefits therein for the Volta Region.

According to him, most towns in the region will benefit from the current railway’s development project.

At a stakeholders’ conference in the Volta Regional capital, Ho which witnessed a lot of MPs from the Region participating, politics, he said, is all about development and urged the need for collaboration between political parties to promote the progress of the region.

The conference is expected to issue communique on the development of the region at the end of the engagement.

Mr. Benjamin Kpodo, MP for Ho prayed for God’s guidance so that the time and resources spent in organising the conference would not be in vain.

The special guest for the conference was Fiaga of the Anfoega Traditional Area and President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbega Tepre Hodo IV expressed his happiness about the event stating the region will witness the much-needed development it requires as a result.

He urged the Volta MPs to do away with all partisanship and think about the development of the region.

The Chief, who bemoaned the lack of collaboration between Chiefs, MPs and Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) said it hinders the development of the Volta region, and said there is an urgent need for improved relationship irrespective of party affiliations.

The Fiaga of Anfoega Traditional Area also expressed worry on the non-involvement of chiefs in projects in their areas and calls for the charting of a new course.

The Paramount Chief (Fiaga) of Battor, Togbega Patamia Dzekley I who chaired the event urged all stakeholders, irrespective of their political affiliation to act as one family in the interest of the region.

He noted that resources of the region cannot be harnessed for development if they are divided along political lines.

Togbega assured of the continuous support of the Regional House of Chiefs to help achieve the full potential of the Volta region.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Volta MPs host stakeholders’ conference on development

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Members of Parliament from the Volta Region are holding a three days stakeholders’ conference in the region’s capital, Ho.

The bipartisan forum is aimed at charting a pathway to harness the human and capital resource potentials for rapid development of the region.

Chairman of the Volta MPs’ Caucus, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah in a welcome address said the conference is expected to provide an opportunity for Stakeholders especially the MPs and business leaders from the region to take stock and brainstorm for the efficient development of the region.

Two important issues including infrastructure and human development is expected to take center stage in the discussion from the perspective of government and opposition.

Mr. Bedzrah who is also MP for Ho West urged the need for the exploits of the forebears to inspire the current generation of citizens for greater development of the region.

Some urgent infrastructure and human challenges confronting the region include the poor nature of the trunk road after the Adomi bridge to the regional capital, Ho, the eastern corridor road network, the security threat posed by youth unemployment and the non- operationalisation of the Ho Airport five years on after its completion.

 Other challenges are the lack of requisite equipment for the effective functioning of the Ho Teaching Hospital, the forgotten Keta Port project, the untapped tourism potential of the region, underutilised arable lands and water bodies for agriculture purposes.

Mr.  Kwasi Bedzrah expressed the hope that through effective collaboration, much can be achieved by minimizing the challenges.

“These and many challenges facing the region can be tackled if we grab the bull by its horns through effective and sustained collaborative efforts such as the one we are having today. I am confident in our collective energies that we are capable of rewriting the score and impacting the lives of our people” he stated.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa assured of the total support of his outfit to the initiative and stated that the people of the region becomes happy whenever they see all irrespective of their political persuasion fight for the development of the region.

He expressed the hope that a lot can be achieved if they work together with a common destiny.

Dr Archibald Letsa hinted that the Volta Trade and Investment Fair will be held from 15th-28th November, 2021 and expressed appreciation to all Volta MPs and the Volta Development Forum for the level of corporation and support offered him.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com