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Month: January 2025

President Mahama breached Parliamentary order — Afenyo

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

The Minority leader, Mr Alexander Afenyo Markin has accused the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama of not following the acceptable means of communicating to Parliament and that amounts to a breach of Parliamentary procedure.

He explained that, the letter which was sent to Parliament introducing the three ministerial nominees for Finance, Energy and Attorney General and Minister for justice failed to follow the official procedure and therefore see such communication as problematic.

Mr Afenyo Markin made these comments when the Appointment Committee was about to engage the first nominee, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for vetting.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanaps.com

Minority Leader urges first-time MPs to take orientation seriously

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has urged first-time Members of Parliament (MPs) to take their four days orientation seriously, which will help them grasp the practices and conventions of the House as the 9th Parliament of the fourth Republic has started.

According to him it is important to provide the first-time MPs with the needed requisite skills through the workshop and training. He made these remarks on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Parliament House when the House started its first batch of training for first timers.

The Effutu MP further pointed out that one will have disagreement with the Rt. Hon. Speaker who is presiding but admonished both government and opposition side of the House not to be antagonistic to the Speaker but rather manage whoever the Speaker is.

Again, do not look down on yourself and do not punch above your weight if you are to survive the hallow chamber, and urged the first-timers to tell themselves they will survive as MPs.

None of you should fear speaking his or her mind as the acting clerk has said; and in addition never get personal with your dealings on the floor of the House, respect colleagues, use language that is acceptable, and you will survive.

Also do not under rate staffs of Parliament if you are to survive as a lawmaker; you do that at your own cost. I survived in the chamber because I made them my friends. Do not think because of your privilege of being an MP you are above them, if you see their CVS you will be shocked. Some have three masters, some have PhD but they do not even use it, they are very experienced and will teach you how to survive in the chamber, he advised.

The Minority leader also entreated them to make the Hansard their friend; “look for it, read it, you will be heckled but once you refer to the Hansard, you will be good to go, refer to precedents of the House”.

“We should check ourselves in the chamber with the coming in of social media else our mistakes become the news”. He gave example of the funeral of the late president of the United States of America, where former President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump were chit-chatting. The international media instead of focusing on the funeral as news, the chit-chat became the news.

And your success depends on how well you know the standing Orders of the House, he concluded.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Acting clerk admonishes new MPs on the daunting task ahead

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Acting clerk of Ghana’s Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror has told New Members in the 9th parliament who are undergoing a four day orientation to sharpen their skills as the task ahead is daunting.

According to him there is high public expectation of MPs to perform their functions and duties which to a large extent is not consistent with their core responsibilities as mandated by the constitution of the Republic.

In his welcome remarks, he pointed out the need to examine what has become the new normal role of expectation of constituents and the actual responsibility and roles of MPs. “Your representation, what is it, what is the nature of that role, and what is required of you under the constitution; adding that these may be diametrically opposed to the views and expectation of their constituents, and sometimes a section of the public.

And going through this training, the real role of the MP is one issue that will come up and dominate our discussions. In order to confront it and address the many expectations, it is important for the MPs to seek the requisite knowledge and skills on platforms such as this orientation and induction program, and short courses organize by the parliamentary training institute as well as coaching and mentoring by senior colleagues. When you do that, you will be able to balance your statutory duties and representational roles by articulating the concerns and addressing the needs of your constituents.

As part of educating your constituents and the public on the proper role of an MP, the parliamentary service board, under former Speaker Oquaye and current Speaker Bagbin restructure the communications division by having public engagements, media relations for the public to understand the role; and this education needs to be continued for it to register in the minds of Ghanaians that MPs have a specific role that they have to play; many other expectations will be a matter of appealing to the MPs, he said.

“We believe this is very critical to take off the pressure on MPs and the parliamentary service board under the leadership of the Speaker we will work with you in this direction”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

3 MPs lead President Mahama’s Ministerial Nominees

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

The list of the first batch of President John Dramani Mahama’s Ministers designate has been announced by the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin on the floor of the House on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

All three nominees coincidentally happen to be members of parliament and their expertise in the various portfolios they have been assigned to is not in doubt.

They include Majority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister designate for finance, Dr. Dominic Ayini; Minister designate for Attorney General and Minister for Justice; and John Jinapor, Minister designate for Energy.

These appointees are not new to these ministries having once served as deputies in those Ministries under the previous Mahama administration.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is currently the Majority Leader in Parliament having led his side as the Minority Leader in the 8th Parliament.

Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson is an Economist, Chartered Accountant, and Tax Practitioner with extensive experience in public finance, macroeconomics, fiscal policy, tax policy, and business management.

A five-term lawmaker, Dr Forson holds a PhD in Finance from the Kwame Nkrumah.

The Speaker has thus referred the nominees to the Appointment Committee for consideration and to report back to the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Returnee MPs confused about sitting places in chamber

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

At the second sitting of the first meeting of the first session of the ninth parliament, a lot of Members of Parliament were confused on the entrance to use to get to their seats in the chamber.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 most of the MPs on the Majority side of the House who not long ago where in the Minority in the 8th were still using the Minority entrance.

When Ghanamps.com caught up with most of the Majority MPs, it came out that they were using the wrong entrance and they pointed out that having used the entrance for the past eight years that was bound to happen.

The situation was not different from the now Minority MPs who used to be in the Majority in the 8th Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin on his part announced to the MPs that with the current configured Parliament, the bio of MPs are captured to address issue of absenteeism, a departure from the previous 8th Parliament where they had to register in an attendance book.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority leader objects to Speaker calling them ‘Micro-Minority’

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has taken objection to Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin calling his side “Micro-Minority” and pointed out it has no space in their Standing Orders.

“Our caucus protests that description and it is sad that when we are on our feet, our colleagues from the Majority are cutting our microphone off”.

Again from today, no one should describe us as Micro-Minority and Mr. Speaker we are saying you should protect us because we voted for you to become Speaker and our side were promoting you to be re-elected, he said.

When MPs from the Majority side wanted to respond to that the Rt. Hon Speaker noted that it is not open for debate, and the rules do not allow that and it is the Minority Leader who misled him.

“But do you say, Speaker should not use Micro- Minority but your leaders can use it?”, He teased.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority whip appeals to MPs to be patient as more committees are formed

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

The Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh has appealed to his colleagues to be a little more patient especially those who did not see their names on the first three committees constituted in the 9th Parliament, including Appointment, Business and Selection Committees.

According to him, usually whips from both sides of the House come under attack and pressure when colleagues do not see their names. “We become punching bags; thankfully the report says the Rt. Hon. Speaker chairs the Committee on selection”.

He commended the House for the prompt response in the composition of the first three committees to kick start composition of the other committees.

This is just the binging; there are more committees to be composed, we have to appeal to our colleagues that it is too early in the day. This is just three out of the lot, they are to set the tone for all the other committees to be composed for work to go ahead; there is no course for worry, he stated.

“If you do not see your name among the three committees, do not worry, your names will find expression, bearing in mind that the standing orders makes it clear that every member should belong to one select and standing committee and it is also important because the whips are working on other matters we consider very important matters.”

He noted that office allocations which are very critical, as well as where MPs will lay their heads, and we will expect the Majority leader to show leadership in this matters; our back benchers and members need a place to lay their heads, he emphasized.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

9th Parliament: Appointment Committee to vet Mahama’s Ministers set

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

The lists of members of the Appointment Committee to vet President John Dramani Mahama’s nominees are set and ready to begin work.

They are:
Majority
• Hon Bernard Ahiafor – First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee,
• Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah – Vice chair of the Committee
• Kwame Governs Agbodza,
• Mahama Ayariga,
• Agnes Naa Momo Lartey,
• Shaibu Mahama and
• Alhassan Umar.

Minority
• Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin – Ranking Member of the Committee
• Patricia Appiagyei – Deputy Ranking
• Annoh-Dompreh and
• Patrick Yaw Boamah.

Meanwhile, the revised Standing Orders make room for leadership of the sector Committee that has oversight of a Ministry to join the Appointment Committee in vetting, when a Nominee from the sector appears before the Appointment Committee.

The membership of the three committees, Appointment, Business and selection Committees are re-composed on the ration of 183:88 as contained in the report presented on the floor of the House and approve by the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

“We are going to be an effective Minority”—Sammi Awuku

Posted on by Enestina GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapen North, Sammi Awuku has said their side, the Minority will be a very effective, resilient and very formidable side in the 9th Parliament.

According to him it’s very clear that Ghana’s democracy has come of age looking at the level of civility and friendliness that exist among MPs, and despite the fact that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) might be small, they will achieve a lot in the coming days.

Also the unity among us will be our strength. We are resolved just as our leaders in 1997, when they were just 61 MPs against 133 MPs from the NDC side, we did rise to the occasion, we worked hard and with determination and courage we were able to move beyond our barriers and recaptured our lost grounds, he said in an interview.

He noted that from all the meetings his side has had so far with our leadership in the minority and our resolve, “I am very confident that the NPP will give a very good account of itself, and myself I promise to be an effective member of the minority where we going to hold government accountable to its promises.”

“Again, we will scrutinize government’s policies and budget, so we are going to work effectively.”

As to what his constituents should expect from him as a first time MP, he noted that he will work both effectively on the floor of the House and in the interest of his constituents.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Our Majority accepts the view that the Minority matters — Asiedu Nketiah

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

Former Member of Parliament for Wenchi West, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has said in the 9th Parliament of the fourth Republic of Ghana, the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Majority has accepted that the views of the Minority matters.

According to him being in the Minority does not mean you do not love your nation and was happy with the process leading to the election of leadership of the House.

In an interview just after the inauguration of the 9th Parliament, and the selection of the Speakers, he noted that in the immediate past 8th Parliament, the importance of the Minority was not recognized; the NPP were thinking that if you are in the Minority nothing of yours counted.

So, in the decision process your ideas were discarded and were not taken serious. They only see something good when it was coming from them. For instance E-Levy brought about a lot of brouhaha; they themselves came out to say it’s not good, and promised to scrap it off when voted into power.

“When the E-levy was being passed, they knew what the then Minority NDC was saying was right, but because it was coming from the Minority, they did not want to work with it. We are not like that so if you look at the election that took place, when they were in the Majority, they did not want the second deputy speaker to come from us the NDC, they gave it to an independent candidate. We could have given the second deputy speaker to anyone of the independent MPs, but we did not do that looking at the fact that they are new.

And, if we do not give it to the NPP, we will not be helping the nation. That is why we gave it to Asiamah, the Fomena MP; he has worked in the House and we believe in his ability. The fact that he is not with us does not mean if we have his contribution we cannot use that to build this Nation, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com