Month: February 2024

The Parliament of Ghana has adopted new Standing Orders since the 2nd day of January 2024.

The revised Standing Orders according to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin seeks to address the evolving needs of Ghana’s dynamic and hybrid parliamentary democracy.

The Speaker, affirming the need for the new Standing Orders said the processes and procedures in the House is challenged, with time and practice exposing the gaps and deficiencies in the November 2000 Standing Orders.

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The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South Joseph Appiah Boateng has criticized the New Patriotic Party led government for not showing any interest in constructing roads in Afram Plains North and South areas.

in an interview with Ghanamps.com that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not interested in constructing roads in Afram Plains North and South to a motorable status.

The MP in an interview with Ghanamps.com disclosed that even though Parliament has approved a loan facility from the German and United Kingdom government for roads in the Afram Plains areas, it has rather been diverted to the Ashanti Region.

According to him, he was not convinced with answers given by the sector Minister on the floor of the House on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 when he asked a question on how the Ministry is going to construct their roads.

He noted that the Minister’s answer to the effect that thirty-nine percent of the roads have been done cannot be accurate because “there is nothing going on. There is no road construction going on despite the NPP government declaring 2022 as year of roads. We did not see anything in Afram Plains in 2023 and currently 2024 the story is the same; there is not even road patching going on. I do not know why they keep telling falsehood to the public, NPP government has failed us big time”, he added.

Hon Joseph Appiah Boateng further pointed out that when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) comes to power in 2025 he would lead the crusade for the roads in Afram Plains to be done since the constituency both South and North holds the food basket of the nation and he believes the John Mahama led administration would ensure the roads are done.

He noted that currently, it is difficulty to ply roads in the Afram Plains with salon cars without heading straight to the mechanic shop.

On the issue of attacks on market women who send food items to other part of Ghana by arm robbers, he noted that the situation has improved as the Ghana Police have helped a lot in that direction.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Francisca Oteng-Mensah, the Member of Parliament for Kwabre East Constituency in the Ashanti Region is the youngest MP in the fourth Republic. Born on February 14, 1993, she entered parliament in 2017 at the age of 24.

She is currently a two-term MP having been in the 7th and 8th Parliament.

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The Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin in moving for the motion of adjournment after the President Nana Akufo-Addo presented is last but one State of the Nation Address said his side is prepared to debate the Minority on their past record of SONA which was full of lamentation from 2013 to 2015.

And further pointed out that like the president alluded to as a country we are down but we would rise again under his able leadership with the hope he is providing moving into the future, his side was prepare to debate the SONA but members need to prepare for this hence he would call for adjournment.

H assured the Minority Leader who was busy jotting down notes that they are fully prepared for them as they would play back their previous records of lamentation and he should go according to the standing orders by seconding the motion for adjournment and not deviate.

Meanwhile, the Minority did what was unexpected by shouting and demanding the return of Mr. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the immediate past leader of the majority caucus while Afenyo was on the floor. They chanted, “we want Kyei, we want Kye”; but Mr Afenyo Martin reminded them that the Majority side had a smooth transition unlike the Minority sider that had brouhaha.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has expressed disappoint in President Nana Akufo-Addo for not touching on corruption in his last but one State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

In an interview after adjournment of the House, Mr Ayariga queried why the president failed to mention his fight against corruption saying “why did he not mention his fight against corruption? He has totally failed in his crusade”, he stated.

Again, one other major incident he did not mention is the Akosombo spillage. He could not even remember the plight of our brothers and sisters; he could not be bothered about the affected Communities.

“I am disappointed; even if you have done nothing about it mention that it was one of the things that happened. No plans to address this problem is very sad, he emphasized.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

President Akufo-Addo today presented his last but one state of the nation address (SONA) to parliament giving overview of the country’s socio-economic standings even as the country is currently pursuing an IMF programme.

Below is the full Statement as presented to Parliament.

2024 Message on the State of the Nation

Member of Parliament for Effutu Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Martin has been confirmed as the Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament on Friday, February 23, 2024.

The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) confirmed Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu, as the new leader of the majority caucus in Parliament.

This change follows a recent interpretation of parliamentary procedures and aligns with the Speaker’s ruling on the selection process.

The confirmation was made at a meeting led by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong.

The meeting, which involved members of the Majority Caucus, deliberated on recommendations from the National Executive Committee concerning the leadership reshuffle.

The General Secretary presented the recommendations, along with the concurrence letter from the Majority Caucus to the National Council, which approved them at a meeting at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.

This process adheres to the stipulations of Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament (2024), as interpreted by Speaker Alban SK Bagbin.

The Speaker’s interpretation clarified that while parliamentary caucuses play a pivotal role in leadership selection, the involvement of political parties in this process cannot be sidelined, ensuring a balance between internal party democracy and parliamentary norms.

The Speaker of Parliament will officially announce the leadership changes on the floor, following the receipt of a detailed letter from the NPP General Secretary confirming the changes.

This will be followed by a farewell statement from the outgoing Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, symbolizing the end of his tenure.

In a ceremonial act of transition, Kyei Mensah Bonsu, along with Adansi Asokwa MP, KT Hammond, will then formally install Alexander Afenyo-Markin as the new Majority Leader.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com