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Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso no more remit levies to ECOWAS – Bedzrah hinted

Second Rapporteur of the Community Parliament’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah has revealed that the three Sahel countries that gave notice of exiting the West African sub-regional bloc have stopped remitting their levies to the bloc.

According to him despite Guinea being under sanction for its military coup, same as the other three, Guinea continues to remite its levy to the bloc and cooperating to return the country back to democratic rule.

In a telephone interview with Ghanamps.com as he represents Ghana at the Community Parliament’s third Extraordinary Session ongoing in Lome -Togo, he pointed out that the shortfalls in the levy has affected salaries of ECOWAS staffs who have not seen increment, same with the allowance of MPs despite increment in goods, services and transport around the sub-region.

“When the Director of Finance and Administration in her presentation brought this to our attention, we noted that if we are not careful the Community institutions will collapse, as funds is the engine that is supposed to move the institutions in the Community”.

He further added that funds which are not forth coming as they should, will affect programs and projects, “Why will the three Sahel remit to ECOWAS their levies when they have served notice to sever ties with the bloc?

Because in their minds they are no longer members of the bloc. It is the reason ECOWAS institutions hit the wall each time they try to approach them, “they do not respond to any of our request, and we have up to January 2024 which will be the end of one year for their exit”.

Hon Bedzrah further pointed out that, the Speaker’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget had their meeting early before the third extraordinary meeting, to discuss the Community budget for 2025.

And the speaker formed an Ad Hoc Committee to prepare the budget of the parliament and as a member of that Ad Hoc Committee, the ECOWAS Commission has indicated that they should have a zero increment.

Which means, what was given to them as a budget in 2024, in 2025 they would not increase it, the Community leavy has not been coming, those doing their best to remit have reduced drastically, hence there is shortage in income, he disclosed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chairman of Committee on APRM calls for crucial meeting in Togo

Chairman of the Community Parliament’s, Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. has called for a long awaited crucial meeting at the ongoing third Extra Ordinary Session in Lome – Togo per a document sighted by Ghanamps.com to update and deal with some political situations ongoing in member states in the sub-region.

Other members of the Committee are Hon. Salifou ISSA, Hon Awaji-Inombek-Dagomie Abiante, Hon Johnson Kwaku Adu, Hon Rosa Lopes Rocha, Hon Abdoulaye Keita, Hon Ireti Heebah Kingibe and Hon Abdoulaye Vilane.

The Committee will meet delegations from four countries in Lome -Togo on Friday, September 27, 2024, later in the day.

The sub-regional countries to meet the Committee are;

• A delegation from Ghana to update the Committee on preparation of Ghana ahead of its December 7, 2024, presidential and Parliamentary elections.

• Senegal – As a result of the political situation in country; that is the dissolution of their National Assembly;
• Guinea Bissau also due to the dissolution of their National Assembly.

• An update on the roadmap to return to constitutional rule in Guinea and the ongoing mission of the ECOWAS Commission in the Member State.

High on the agenda of the Committee meeting will also be an update on the withdrawal of the three Sahel Member States (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic) and their Alliance des du Sahel (AES) confederation.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

MoPA is doing a good work; but John Mahama will merge it with another Ministry—ABA Fuseini

Chairman of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs Alhassan Bashir Fusein has lauded the works of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA).

He affirmed that the MoPA is doing a good work by serving as a coordinating link between the House and ensuring speedy passage of legislations, Bills like the Affirmative Action Bill, that had stayed in the House for so long.

According to him another success of MoPA is the passage of the Private Members Bill, one of the most important Bills that have seen the passage of Anti LGBTQ Bill.

In an interview he noted that President Nana Akuffo-Addo “is running away” from a lot of positive things that have happened under MoPA.

But pointed out in an interview that it’s the prerogative of the President to decide which Ministries to keep and should President John Dramani Mahama emerge victorious, MoPA will not stand alone as a Ministry.

“MoPA will be merged with another Ministry as we see the NPP government has large number of Ministers and a lot of Ministries; we want a downsized Ministries and Ministers”, he noted.

The Sagnarigu lawmaker, further pointed out that, the engagement by MoPA on the validation of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) report on the 1992 constitution is very important, adding that “wisdom does not reside in the head of one person. So the more you open yourself to the participation of people, the greater the perspective of you getting input to enrich the content of your legislation. I salute this ideal of getting broad stakeholder consultation”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Dual role of Ghana’s lawmakers not the best—Sege MP

Member of Parliament for Sege Christian Otuteye Corleytey has bemoaned the current hybrid system of Ghana’s legislature and expressed worry over lawmakers playing dual roles as Ministers, and Members of Parliament.

According to him they have divided attention because the lawmakers who are Ministers and thus belong to the Executive arm of government and at the same time the Legislature.

In an interview he noted that, when you bring a Bill to the House as a Minister from the Executive at the same time you are an (MP), “as an MP you are expected to play a role on this Bill, you are now a Minister at the same time you have to defend the Bill from the Executive arm of Government, where do you stand?”

“It will be better for us as a Nation, if we can quickly do something about it. If we want the work of parliament to go on well we should get a clear distinction between workings of the Executive and workings of Parliament. It is not helping in terms of attendance to the House.”

He affirmed that people only rejoice over this because to beneficiaries, they are enjoying two powers “but is not the best for the nation as at now”, he lamented.

He said this in an interview on the sidelines of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) workshop on validating the report of the Constitutional Review Commission of the 1992 Constitution.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Kwesimintsim MP/Apremdo Palace smoke peace pipe

Nana Nketsia V, Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area has harped on the need for peace and unity among duty bearers and chiefs, to ensure unity, development and progress.

He said: ” Whether New Patriotic Party (NPP) or National Democratic Congress (NDC), we’re all Ghanaians.”

The revered chief said this during a pacification rites at the palace of Nana Egya Kwamina XI Chief of Apremdo to end the feud that ensued between the Chief and Dr. Prince Hamid, the Member of Parliament for the area over a KG block project in the area.

On September 16 this year, the new KG block was to be unveiled by Dr Armah at the Apremdo School Complex, but Nana Kwamina’s name was excluded on the plaque of honour despite his contribution towards the process.

The matter generated much controversy between the Apremdo palace and the office of Dr Armah, and even attracted media attention, which nearly marred the peace of the area.

Nana Nketsia noted that the chief was the father for everybody in the community and found it disturbing that the impasse should generate media attention instead of being settled in the room.

But, happily, Nana Kwamina and Dr Armah agreed to a truce through the mediation of the Omanhene of Essikado, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, to ensure peace in Apremdo and beyond.

As part of the settlement, Dr Armah presented a ram, a bottle of drink and undisclosed cash to the Apremdo palace, to pave way for the peace processes.

Nana Kwamina and Dr Armah shook hands, embraced and also observed libation prayer for the peaceful settlement of the impasse.

Abusuapanyin Kow Kan supervised the sacrifice of the ram to seal the peaceful settlement and also ensure unity among Apremdo stakeholders.

Abusuapanyin Kan highlighted concerns of Apremdo community about the exclusion of the name of Nana Kwamina on the plaque, arguing that, “the land belongs to Nananom and so the right things must be done.”

The Municipal Chief Executive of Effia Kwesimintsim, Mr. Kojo Acquah, who led the delegation, thanked Nana Nketsiah and elders of Apremdo for the peaceful settlement of the matter.

He gave assurance that the plaque that sparked the contention had been removed and replaced with a new one that included the name of Nana Egya Kwamina XI.

By Mildred Siabi-Mensah

Election of MMDCEs in Ghana is long overdue—Sege MP

The Member of Parliament for Sege, Christian Otuteye Corleytey says the elections of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) is long overdue.

According to him electing leaders at the local levels allows people to make choices of leaders they believe can best push the needed development in the area.

In an interview on the sideline at a stakeholders’ engagement organized by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) to validate the Constitutional Review Committee Report of 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Sege MP pointed out that, it should not be that when a party is in power, they put someone there to direct affairs at the Assembly.

Rather there should be an election of MMDCEs so that the people at the local level would have someone to better serve them and be accountable to them. Thus, the people will hold the person responsible for his stewardship. “In the legislature we elect our representatives; so same should be done at the local level”, he affirmed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Butchers and ordinary peoples’ 1992 constitution lasted longer than that of intellectuals— Sagnarigu MP

The Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu Hon Alhassan Bashiru Fuseini said the 1992 Ghanaian Republic Constitution which has been described as the constitution of “butchers and ordinary people” has lasted and stand the test of time than the ones written by “so called intellectuals”.

Sagnarigu MP ABA Fuseini said this in an interview at the stakeholders’ consultations organize by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) on the validation of the CRC report of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

According to him the 1992 Constitution of Ghana is long overdue for review and amendment, and this will not be the first time that such an exercise has been embarked on, stating that as far back as 2010 under the Presidency of late Professor Atta Mills, there was a Constitutional Review Commission that tried to look at some aspects of the amendment of our constitution. The constitution is a living document, and after thirty years, this is the constitution that has had the long span of life in our country’s history, he stated.

“Even if you are handsome you still need to bath, no document is sacrosanct as time passes we need to look at some others, review and let it be a living documents of the times we live. This is a very good exercise, it should be done to complement with previous constitutions together so that we have a living document, so I support this exercise; its very good to help us get that renewal process to make our constitution more relevant to our people today”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com