Residents of Weija Gbawe constituency in the Greater Accra Region made up of traditional leaders and mainly teaming jobless youth on Thursday, September 29, 2022 appealed to the President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene for the only cement factory in the constituency to start operation after two years when it was commissioned under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
At a press conference organised at the premises of the company and addressed by president of the residents association Mr. Kwaku Danso pointed out that early on a handful of residents staying at McCarthy Hill and form an association missed informed members of the general public that the operation of the company would cause pollution in the area.
According to them the Chines and Ghanaian partnership cement factory, Empire Cement has a high technology and ecofriendly system which would create thirteen thousand direct jobs for the youth in the constituency and would benefit the Ghanaian economy at large.
“This appeal has been necessitated by the fact that thirty-five million United States dollars has been injected into the company and it’s important that it does not go down the drain as it would serve as a disincentive to prospective investors both local and foreign”.
He further pointed out that the company which was registered at the Registrar General Department for the sole purpose of manufacturing and bagging cement and subsequently registered with the Ghana Investment Promotion Center and 1D1F secretariat at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, “is ready for operation for the past five months yet has not started work because of some unseen hands”.
Some of the unemployed youth who spoke to Ghanamps.com appealled to government to intervene and as a matter of urgency ensure that within a month, the factory would start operations for them to start working since they cannot afford to go round stealing, as they are jobless.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
Month: September 2022
Afenyo-Markin urges colleague politicians to help address country’s challenges
Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has urged his colleagues politicians to have a mind renewal of thinking of how to address challenges that confront Ghana and address them than thinking of the next elections.
According to him everything in the country has been made partisan; “we are unable to confront boldly the challenges that face our nation, so galamsey is destroying us, people are dying of cancer and people die without knowing why they die”. The Effutu lawmaker who is board chair of Ghana Water Company Limited, (GWCL) noted that the water that Ghanaians drink, is not safe hence the need to join hands to confront illegal mining known popularly as ‘galamsey’.
I call on my colleague politicians from CPP, NDC, NPP, let us come together and build a consensus on the key national issues that would benefit our people”. And added that in the long term that is what the Europeans and Americans have done, and “we all want to go there. If we continue with this and this type of parochial politics, trust me our country would go nowhere”.
Commissioning a three unit classroom block in Sankor in his constituency, he expressed worry over another bad practice that has found its way into the Ghanaian politics where party members take loan under regimes of the past president in Ghana and do not pay back those loans.
“Where is the loan we took under former president Rawlings, we took it and said we are NDC members and did not pay back, same under President Kuffour, we said we are NPP members and did not pay back, where is the Loan we took under former President John Mills and John Mahama?” And further pointed out that someone was given twenty million Ghana cedis, ten million Ghana cedis; some were ask to use the money to open factories, Guinea fowl but they did not pay back.
President Akufo Addo is president now, “ myself, even if I do not know, apart from MASLOC that people got, when we had COVID-19, I personally led people who got momo” and recounted years back where he worked with the bauxite industry and went to court. “If I get my money and I do not look after it well can I give someone to spend, if government gives you money and you do not look after it well and someone looks after it well and the person becomes well to do then you jealous the person, jealously is killing you and you go about bad mouthing ?”,he added..
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com
Effia-Kwesimintsim MP sponsors youth group in cat fish farming
As part of his Entrepreneurial and Job creation programme, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah Member of Parliament for Effia Kwesimintsim has started sponsoring over five hundred people representing twenty-five youth groups with training in cat fish farming.
The training program which was led by the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Agric Director, Mr. John Kwamena Gyimah saw the first batch of 7 youth groups successfully completing their training.
To ensure that these youth groups are successful in this venture, the MP has made available GHc 50,000 to assist the groups in the construction of their tarpaulin fish ponds, procuring of 5000 fingerlings and their feeding, among other operational expenses as they start their own cat fish farms after their training.
“Together with my ICT and Vocational training programmes previously organized where I supported 600 and 500 youth respectively in skills development, I hope this new programme will help create more jobs for the able and willing youth in my beloved constituency, and alleviate joblessness”, he said on his facebook post.
Ghanamps.com
Ad Hoc Committee in Togo working on draft 2023 Community parliamentary budget
The Community Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee is in Lome, the capital of the Republic of Togo to examine the budget of the parliament for next year 2023; they would look at personnel services, goods and materials.
The Secretary General, John Azumah who is the Administrative head of the Community, and his team would come out with a draft budget which the Ad Hoc Committee would look into line by line.
The meeting started, Wednesday, September 21, 2022 and would last until Sunday, September 25, 2022.
In a telephone interview with chairman of the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. who is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee noted that as part of their work areas, if the Committee deems it fit to increase the budget, it would be done, and if it needs cutting down, it would be done.
“Before the process starts, the ECOWAS Commission puts forward a ceiling to us, so we have a budget circular that would tell you this year the parliament budget is say for example twenty-two million dollars, then we work within the stated amount”.
He further pointed out that, the Committee would decide on the priority areas of the stated amount, then the Committee reports that budget funding to the Extraordinary Session. “This session is referred to as the budget session of the parliament and that would be done at the upcoming session in this case in Togo, then the plenary would approve the budget.
He added that, that budget goes to the Commission and sent to the AFC, the Admin and Finance Committee, where the parliament is also represented; and that would be voted at the level of the AFC.
When it is done, it goes into the consolidate account budget of the Community, “where you now have all Community institutions budget coming together, and goes to the AFC. “When they are done with their budget then the budget in its totality comes back to the Parliament, at that time the Parliament budget and that of other ECOWAS Institutions like the West Africa Health organisation ( WAHO), the Commission all of that comes back to the Parliament for the Parliament to run its opinion”.
The Parliament would invite the AFC different Commissioners to defend their budget, thereafter it goes to the Council of Ministers; when they pass, it goes to the Authority of Heads of States where the presidents meet, and when approved it becomes a working instrument for the community.
“So it is a long process, but the most significant with regards to the parliament is this Committee that formulates the budget for the ECOWAS Parliament and its operations as you may know there are three major elections next year, 2023 that of Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone . In my case, it has to do with Political Affairs Peace and Security, so I am here to defend that component of the budget to ensure that the right programmes are put in place, the necessary security concerns are addressed to the budget for its implementation during 2023 programme”, he said in an interview.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
Effutu MP commissions fully furnished 3-new classroom block for Sankor A.C.M
The Member of Parliament for Effutu in the Central Region, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo- Markin continues to positively impact his constituents as he commissioned and handed over a fully furnished 3-unit classroom block for Sankor African Christian Mission School (ACM) in his constituency – Winneba East.
Aside the newly built classroom block, he is also building another 3-unit block for the Junior High School (J HS) all in the spirit of providing conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Addressing the gathering, the MP said it is their duty to preserve and uphold the dream that the founders of the African Christian Mission had for the community particularly in establishing the school.
According to him, while they work hard to improve the infrastructure for the school, parents would have to do more to keep their children in check from going wayward and ensure they focus on their education so that the investment being made in them would inure to their benefit in future and keep the Effutu dream alive.
To this end, he has directed the Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Zubeiru Kasim to as a matter of urgency pull down all building projects that have encroached on the school land in order to protect it for future expansion. He asked all individuals who have encroached on the school land to provide their permits.
He said actions like that (demolishing) are important, saying “If we did not do that, like Kojo Badu, we would not have built a hospital there and the library”.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also promised to build a library for the school and was hopeful that before the school goes on Christmas break, he would commission the library and the ongoing junior high school block.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive for Effutu, Alhaji Zubeiru Kasim on his part also refurbished and handed over 3-unit classroom block which was falling apart close to the newly built block.
The headmaster of the school who appealed for measures to be taken to protect the school land and other properties called for fencing of the school since according to him, people have been performing rituals in the school which doesn’t augur well for the school.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Dominic Shiriemori/Ghanamps.com
“I will serve Effutu without discrimination”—Afenyo- Markin
Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has given assurance to his constituents that, he would serve them without any discrimination no matter the political party any of them belongs to, be it the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) or the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him they are all one people and one Effutu; “every one of you would benefit in one way or the other but let me add that everything cannot be done one day, today would be yours, tomorrow would be another person.
And assured them that he is going to make them proud in Parliament when the Effutu name is mentioned in Parliament, “you would be proud that your ‘do the do’ is representing you in Parliament”.
The Deputy Majority Leader recounted that since his childhood, he has been part of the Effutu Community, and since he was born they gave him the opportunity to serve as an Assemblyman, the youngest presiding member and again as a Member of Parliament.
“The Lord I serve be my guide, I shall never turn my back on you, I would work day and night, rain or shine, in poverty and riches, whether I have or not I would be honest with you, work with you for us to transform this community. There shall not be turning back in good and bad times in good health and in poor health; I am committed to serve you”.
Commissioning and handing over a fully furnished three unit classroom block at Sankor, for the African Christian Mission (A.C.M) basic school, a project he fully funded, the MP noted that he is going to be a leader who would focus on the next generation and not the next election.
Again, he stated that “I am going to be very strict on those of you who are taking advantage of opportunities, trust me the days of pampering are over, we are going to be strict to ensure that when you get financial support you work hard” adding that the developed counties that people are struggling to secure visa and visit are not lazy people, and they have done well to develop their place to make it attractive.
According to him, this is the time for us to change and he is not going to spare anybody, especially those young people he is preparing as private sector pioneers, “that I am calling the entrepreneur of Effutu, let me assure you if it’s all about the next elections, I am sorry I am going to be strict on you and ensure that there is value for money”, he stated.
The MP also warned the young entrepreneurs to show dedication to work with integrity stating that he would not allow them to use monies meant for projects to be diverted into executing private works at the expense of the general public; “we would not allow you anymore, those days are over, first work hard and earn your genuine money”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Domini Shirimori/Ghanamps.com
India High Commissioner praises Osei-Kyei over his role as they secure treasurer position at CPA
India’s High Commissioner to Ghana H. E. Ambassador Sugandh Rajaram has praised Ghana’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for his role at the just ended, 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Canada which saw Hon Anurag Sharma, MP and member of the Lok Sabha at the Parliament of India being elected as Treasure of the Associations Executive Committee.
According to him he invited the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and his colleagues at India house mainly to celebrate the great partnership as part of the relationship between Ghana and India in the context that they voted together in the recent elections at CPA in Canada which saw Majority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, being elected as vice chair of the Executive Committee of CPA, “we are happy working together closely” , when he hosted the Minister to a dinner at his residence.
He further pointed in an interview on Friday, September 16, 2022 that in April this year, the Minister together with the Chief Director and the First Deputy Speaker and Minority Leader and some Members of Parliament visited India.
“It was a good opportunity for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to be there on a study tour, to study the India Parliamentary system especially within the fact that there are few governments in the world that have democratic system of government, which has Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs”.
He added that, with the Legislature being part of the Executive where there is that kind of connection between the two arms of government, it was a great opportunity for both sides to learn the best practices, and the experiences of each other.
The Minister and his delegation visited the Parliament of India and the Legislative Assembly of one of the Regions, and further noted that they are taking that dialogue forward, and they are discussing that with the Hon Minister and his colleagues to see how they can strengthen that dialogue more especially when they are out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today was another occasion on how to carry that dialogue forward whiles celebrating the election of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs as vice chair and for the role he played to get our MP elected as treasure of CPA”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
CPA West Africa is doing well in its Parliamentary practice and attracting Francophones”—Vice Chair
Vice chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said Association’s member states in the West Africa sub-region are doing well in parliamentary practice hence attracting countries within the sub-region from the Francophone stock.
According to him tremendous strides are being made despite the fact that occasionally there are bumps on the way, even within the Executive presidency that has been adopted.
He noted in an interview that at the just ended 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) hosted by Canada in Halifax the good example that obtains in the sub-region is engendering a development where now the Francophones’ are now joining the Commonwealth.
In Halifax the Republic of Togo was there, the newest member of the Commonwealth fraternity. Gabon was there, “do not forget Rwanda has already joined not Anglophone or ruled by Britain in the pre-independence era, Mozambique has also joined”.
And the signals are that other Francophones’ want to join; and further added that the bond has to do with good governance that the Countries in CPA are offering and the good parliamentary practice that obtains in the Anglophones or Commonwealth countries.
“This is becoming a shining example to the rest of Africa in my view, which is one of the principal reasons they want to join to learn from best practice to improve their own governance”,
The Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament who is aluminous of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Parliament pointed out that in the sub-region there are three countries that are very strong in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) including Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria, adding that Gambia is the fourth country.
As to whether being member of the CPA sub-regional parliaments are learning best practices not to amend their constitutions to elongate the tenure at the presidency, he noted that, unfortunately Gambia is not a good story to tell in the immediate post-independence era.
Also there was an occasion in Ghana when a president tried to prolong his stay in power thereafter, the first Republic, Ghana had really lifted up its game with respect to the prolongation to the term of presidents under constitutional rule.
“So Ghana has distanced itself from that kind of arrangement; Gambia did and had to leave the Commonwealth after those events, they have now come back to the Commonwealth fraternity”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
Minority calls NCA/Communications Ministry to order over SIM blockade
The Minority in Parliament has cautioned the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications to refrain from the act of blocking people’s SIMs since that infringes on the right to communication.
According to the Minority, the action by the Ministry of Communication and the National Communications Authority is self-serving, adding that Ghanaians cannot be forced to suffer for administrative and institutional failures. At a press briefing on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, addressed by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, he stated that the Minority take strong exception to the ongoing blockage of SIM cards; and advised that the government should focus on ensuring easy access to the Ghana Card, which the government has made a prerequisite to registering one’s SIM.
“The frustrations in registration of SIMs with telecom companies through third-party private entities and the NIA with a different mandate can only be attributed to the repressive tendencies of this government. In the conduct of the SIM re-registration exercise, basic rights have been overlooked. Communication is a right and opportunity must be given to every citizen to procure communication services”.
“Today, digitalization and ICT are directly tied to key Fundamental Rights including the Right to privacy and communication “as no person’’ should be subjected to interference with the privacy of his communication’’. (Article 18 supra). It is the view of the minority that the NCA is acting ultra vires in curtailing the exercise and enjoyment of the Right to privacy of communication. The government is proceeding erroneously as if every Ghanaian has a Ghana card. This is simply not true, it is not the case.
The ministry and the NCA is simply ignoring the legitimate concerns of Ghanaians who are crying and saying ’we do not have the Ghana card, help us access this public goods”. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu describes as backward the decision to cut telecommunication services to subscribers. “The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) actually places premium on Emergency Telecommunication.
To completely cut telecommunication services to subscribers for no other reason than to limit usage by citizens is the lowest point in a nation’s telecommunications development. It is a backward regulatory/policy prescription to follow in any regime. Too much reliance of rules/regulations exposes a communications system as immature”. They have called on the Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority to desist from treating the Communications Sector as personal fiefdoms at the peril of the country’s development.
“We expect more professional and insightful approach to the management of the sector to avoid further worsening of the sector. The present level of competition leaves much to be desired. A return to the monopoly days, or any operation of pseudo-competitive environment or duopoly will be an unpardonable indictment”, Haruna emphasized.
Ghanamps.com
The Acts of Ghana
Acts of parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of a law passed by the legislative body of jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of parliament begin as a bill, which the legislature votes on. Depending on the structure of government, this text may then be subject to assent or approval from the executive branch.
Since the beginning of the 1st parliament of Ghana, it has been able to successfully pass different laws that govern its people. Below are the various Acts passed:
You can access the Acts by Clicking on them.
Source: Parliament of Ghana