Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

The Electoral Commission has set Tuesday, 30th April, 2013 to hold by-election in the Kumbungu Constituency in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region, in accordance with Article 112(5) of the Constitution as amended by section 3 of Act 527.

The Member of Parliament for the constituency Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni abdicated his seat following his appointment as the Secretary-General of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

A statement issued by the EC and signed by its Chairman Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said the Commission will take nominations for the said by-election on Tuesday, 16th and Wednesday 17th April 2013, at the district office of the Commission at Kumbungu District Assembly from 8.00am to 12.30pm and 1:30pm to 5:00pm.

Nomination forms can also be obtained from the the Regional office of the Commission at Tamale, it said.

The statement asked candidates for the election to provide two recent photographs (bust) with red background on the submission of their nomination forms.

Candidates would pay GH¢1,000.00 as the filing fee for the election.

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni was endorsed by the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) to serve the unexpired term of Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas as General Secretary of the ACP after the latter was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini as the Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

The Member of Parliament for Lower West Akim, Gifty Klenam, has launched a scathing attack on the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament for its inability to explain the rationale behind the payment of ex-gratia for MPs in the 5th Parliament.

According to her, the refusal of the Directorate to do its work of explaining issues from the perspective of Parliament to the public, has resulted in a situation where MPs have had to defend themselves in the media often with a lot of emotion which has contributed to public resentment against MPs.

All 230 Members of the 5th Parliament of the fourth Republic, who exited the House on 7th January 2013, have been paid their ex-gratia totaling GHC 39 Million.

MPs who did not return to Parliament after the 2012, December 7and 8 elections, received GHC 211,000whereas those who maintained their seats had between GHC270, 000 and GHC 275,000 depending on whether or not they were in leadership position.

The payment of these hefty amounts to MPs at the current harsh economic conditions at a time when government has said it has no money to pay striking teachers and Doctors has sparked a lot of public antagonism against the Legislators.

Speaking on Okay FM’s Morning show on Monday, Hon. Gifty Klenam expressed her indignation at the inertia on the part of the Public Affairs Directorate as they are paid to do exactly what they have failed to do saying “I’m wondering if the people at the Public Affairs Directorate are for us or against us they have failed woefully when we needed them most’’.

She entreated the public not to see the MPs as suddenly rich people since most of them are likely to go home with a small amount of their ex-gratia because they contracted huge loans from banks and used their ex-gratia as collateral.

Hon. Klenam noted that MPs have prevented mass of people from going directly to the seat of government to demand monetary support to improve their living conditions as they serve as the first point of call for their constituents in their time of needs, and as such must rather be appreciated when their ex-gratia entitlements are given them.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Berekum East, Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah,  has said he would summon the Energy Minister before the Government Assurance Committee of Parliament, if the promise made by President Mahama over the current load shedding is not fulfilled.

According to him his job as a member of the important committee is to ensure that promises made by the government is accordingly honoured, adding that he is keenly watching to find out if the promise made will be fulfilled..

The President on Sunday 7th April 2013, at the National Thanksgiving service at the Independent Square assured Ghanaians that his administration will end the off-peak load shedding and the entire load shedding exercise by the end of April this year.

He further stated that government will take steps to ensure that never again will the country experience electricity load shedding in the coming years.

However commenting on the President’s assurance on Oman FM’s National Agenda show on Monday, Hon. Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah, stated that he‘s unconvinced of the President’s promise as earlier dates he gave for ending the power crisis proved not to be true.

The Medical Doctor turned politician noted that though he is prepared to give the President the benefit of the doubt this time around, the government has not yet amply demonstrated its capacity to deal with the current energy crisis.

“I can assure you that I will be the first to drag the minster responsible for Energy to Parliament to explain why the government could not honor its promise should it fail to do so’’ he said.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has donated 14 set of jerseys worth GH¢5,000 to first cycle schools in all the seven circuits in the area.

The gesture followed a request placed before the MP’s desk by the District Sports Federation (DSF) to come to their aid. The MP said the donation formed part of his commitment towards the promotion of sports in schools in the district.

The District Coordinator of the Non-Formal Education, Mr. Issaka Shaibu made the presentation on behalf of the MP to climax the District Inter-Schools annual sports competition of the eight schools in Aiyinasi South.

The Aiyinasi Anglican Primary beat Menzezor Catholic by 3 goals to 2 on penalty with the Menzezor Catholic JHS taking the trophy home by beating the Akoto District Assembly (D/A) 2 goals to 1.

Mr Buah appealed to school authorities and sports officials to consider the selection of students and pupils through the scale, which disqualifies fat students from participating in sporting activities.

The MP, who is the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, appreciated the efforts of circuit sports officials and announced plans to reward their efforts in due course.

The District Physical Education (PE) Coordinator, Mr. Alfred Kudzo Kumah told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the sports activity would enable the all the seven circuits to select teams towards the District Inter Circuit Sports Competition somewhere in May this year.

He said the winning school in each circuit would go home with one set of jersey and a silver cup.

Mr. Kumah said the District placed 5th in Sports Competition last year at the Regional level.

District Director of Education, Madam Caroline Dinah-Gyimah urged school authorities to be serious with extra curricula activities to unearth the latent talents of students.

She used the occasion to appeal to sports officials to allow girls to partake in football games and appealed to Mr. Buah to help the District with goal post nets.

Madam Dinah-Gyimah maintained that the selection of players to participate in football and volleyball games would still be based on the scale to determine their weight.

GNA

A total of GH¢47 million has been paid by the government as ex gratia to the 230 Members of Parliament (MPs) who served in the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

Out of the amount, the MPs who retained their membership of the House after the December 7, 2012 elections received GH¢276,000 each, while those who lost their seats were paid GH¢311,000 each.

Highly placed sources in Parliament told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the amount paid to the MPs who were no longer in Parliament included a resettlement grant.

More than 90 MPs who served in the Fifth Parliament are not members of the present Parliament.

One of the beneficiary MPs who is serving in the Sixth Parliament explained that the ex gratia was not paid in bulk but in three tranches.

The first tranche was paid in January this year, the second in February, while the final tranche was paid last month.

According to a source, IOUs which were taken by some MPs just after the December 7, 2012 elections were deducted from the ex gratia.

In addition, those who had not completed the payment of their car loans also had their debts deducted.

The Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, would, however, not comment on the issue, saying he was not privy to it, since it had been discussed behind closed doors.

Members of Parliament are part of Article 71 office holders whose salaries and emoluments are determined by committees set up by the President.

Members of Parliament who served in the Fifth Parliament are lucky to have received their ex gratia without any impediment from the Executive.

The payment of ex gratia to MPs who served in the Fourth Parliament generated a lot of public discussion and outcry.

When he took office in 2009, the late President John Evans Atta Mills ordered a freeze on the payment of the benefit, following public outcry over the quantum of ex gratia.

The action followed arguments over whether the document based on which the ex gratia was to be paid received proper parliamentary and Executive approval.

The MPs were, however, paid what was due them, with each of them receiving an average of GH¢80,000.

The payment of ex gratia to MPs who served in the Fifth Parliament was based on the recommendations of the Professor Ewura Ama Addy Committee which had been set up by the late President Mills.

Daily graphic

Muslim communities have been urged to use the ongoing Ramadan festivities to pray for peace and unity especially after the Supreme Court’s final judgment on the 2012 election petition case.

The Manhyia North Member of Parliament, Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah made the call when he visited about 15 mosques in the Manhyia North Constituency over the weekend as part of this year’s Ramadan celebrations.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by their 2012 Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwah-Akuffu-Addo, Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia and Party Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamtey submitted a petition to the Supreme Court calling for the removal of John Dramani Mahama who was declared as President by Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Kojo Afari Gyan.

The Petitioners however prayed the court to revoke the Electoral Commissions declaration after sighting over-voting, voting without biometric verification among other factors as main reasons for heading to the court.

The MP meanwhile advised Ghanaians not politics separate us but rather work together for the development of the country, adding that references from other African countries such as Cote d’ Ivoire, Kenya among others should been seen as warning to us all.

Hon. Owusu Amankwah also as part of his visit donated food items such as rice, sugar among others worth GHs 10,000 to the Muslims group.

However, leaders of the Muslim groups in the area expressed their appreciation to the MP and pledge their support to help spread the peace message to the many Muslim communities within the region.

Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah/GhanaMPs.gov.gh