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Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

Government seeks funds for Burkina-Ghana railway line—Deputy Minister

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Deputy Minister of Railway Development Andy Appiah Kubi has said government of Ghana is seeking a more sustainable and qualitative funds to construct a one thousand three hundred kilometers (1,300km) railway interconnectivity between Ghana and Burkina Faso.

According to the Deputy Minister, it would start from Tema, travel through Akosombo, Ho, Hohoe through Yendi Paga to Ouagadougou on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) policy.

At a stakeholders meeting at Ho in the Volta Region, he added that government will be more circumspect and careful in selecting partners for the largest railway interconnectivity project to be undertaken in the West African sub-region.

He further noted that, some companies had hoodwinked and shortchanged the country in deals like this in the past, “selected companies must exhibit technological competence and must have the financial muscle to shore up the project”.

Mr. Andy Appiah Kubi revealed that the technical team to study the proposal of interested partners would consider any source of funding that would stand the test of time.

“This day’s you can have a source of funding that will dry up in the next day and so we must be careful this time round that the financing that will be sourced will be more quality and sustainable”.

To this end, the Deputy Railways Minister said the technical team for the project will visit the interested financial institutions to ascertain the veracity of their claims in having the financial prowess to support the project.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

MPs should not betray the public trust—Minority leader

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Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has urged his colleague lawmakers not to betray the public trust that Ghanaians have impose on them to serve.

According to the Tamale South lawmaker Ghanaians should be serveed better with integrity since there are implications for the betrayer of the public trust.

“We should all ensure that we uphold the public trust as much is expected of us as legislators in the exercise of our legislative duties and ensuring that there is judicious use of government resources”

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu in his open remarks at the first meeting of the third session of the fourth Republic emphasised that more importantly is to hold Ministers accountable for their actions.

He again use the opportunity to welcome the new Marshal to Parliament who was shown round how to carry out his duty on the floor of the House and urged that he helps the Speaker maintain law and order in the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Let no one bring pressure on Parliament on RTI —Majority leader

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Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in his opening remarks on the floor of the House has served notice that no one should bring pressure on Parliament to pass the Right to Information Bill (RTI).

Accorder to Leader of Government Business, no one can bring pressure to bear on the House as work is being done towards its passage.

He recounted that before the House went on recess the RTI bill was before the House which had to compete with the budget statement presentation and approval and assure the public that, the House would work towards passage of the Bill in this meeting.

“Let no body say, if we are able to pass the RTI that, it is because of the pressure that they brought on to bear on us, we ourselves we do know it is important for this nation and its development and this is what we have purpose to do nobody can bring pressure to bear on us”, he lamented in his remarks.

Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu further added that the nation and its development is what the House have purposed to do, nobody should pressure MPs, “we would do what is right pertinent for God and country”.

And urged committee chairman and clerks to work on referrals before them to ensure that they are brought to the plenary early enough to enable the House conclude in the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Eight Ministers to take thirteen questions next week

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Eight Ministers would take thirteen question on the floor of the House next week, the business committee of the House programmed this when the Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah presented business statement to the House.

Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta would answer four questions on the floor of the House whiles the Minister of Roads and Highways Kwesi Amoako Atta takes three questions.

The following Minister would take a question each, Sanitation and Water Resources, Works and Housing, Communications, Chieftaincy, Fisheries and Foreign Affairs.

Majority Leader in presenting the business statement on the floor indicated that there would be a joint caucus meeting on Tuesday the 5th of this month.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

No more placards in the chamber —Speaker

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Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye has said it would be contemptuous for any lawmaker to carry placards to the chamber.

According to the Speaker upon serious consultation with leadership of both sides of the House and caucuses it was agreed that the seventh Parliament should put an end to placards.

He further pointed out that calling of names and other allied activities take away the dignity of the House.

“Our standing order prohibit placards, it is our decision and all of us that, no matter the political party in office, the President of the Republic whether New Patriotic Party (NPP) or National Democratic Congress (NDC) shall be greeted in this honorable House with decorum”

We have all agreed as it would constitute contempt of the House, the “Seventh Parliament has something which has never happened in the political history of this country, and should be recorded as a good example, I congratulate both side of the House”, speaker said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament to end debate on 2019 budget today

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Parliament would end debate on the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December 2019.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu is expected to start  winding up the debate for the Minority side of the House, while the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu is also expected to wind up for the Majority side.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta moved on Thursday 15th November, 2018 and was seconded on Tuesday 20th November, 2018 by Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament observes one week of late Ayawaso West Wuogon MP

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Members of Parliament (MPs) observed one week of the passing of the late, MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko on Wednesday the 28th of November, 2018.

Former MPs, Ministers and current MPs from both sides of the House were present alongside party supporters and friends.

Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu were present at the one week service of their former colleague, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Bawumia Chief of Staff, Senior Minister and other government officials were at West Lands Presby Church to observe the day.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Women compete for representation to be lawmakers in Ghana—Appiah-Pinkrah

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Member of Parliament (MP) for Akrofuom, Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah has told members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament that women in Ghana are elected to represent their constituencies on competitive basis.

According to the Akrofuom lawmaker women are not appointed as is the case in other Sub-regional National Assemblies. He gave this explanation at the ongoing second ordinary session at Abuja, when legislators wanted to know if women are reserved seats or appointed to its lawmaking body.

He further told his colleagues any woman who wants to contest to represent her constituency is allowed to do so and if strong enough she wins.

“Women representation in the 2012 general election was less than twenty-five, but in 2016 the number had improve we have thirty-five (35) female representation which is encouraging and huge”, he told the sub-regional legislative body.

Again the political parties are now being sensitive to issues of gender, and they subsidize the fees women pay to contest and “we hope to increase the numbers as we go along”, he pointed out.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Abandoned gallopers to be auction by government—Deputy Finance Minister

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Deputy Minister of Finance, Kwaku Kwarteng has revealed that government would auction abandoned gallopers parked for eighteen years at the Local Government Institute.

According to the Deputy Finance Ministers due to issues in court relating to those vehicles in the past made it difficult for customs and government to proceed to dispose of the vehicles, “a lot of those matters had been resolved now and the rate at which they are deteriorating   we have made a decision to dispose of them”.

In an interview with journalists in Parliament just after debate on the 2019 budget was brought to a close and the House adjourned, the noted that this exercise would be undertaken before the end of he year.

The vehicles numbering 86 were brought in to be used by District Chief Executives across the country under the Rawlings administration.

Successive governments thereafter failed to reach an amicable settlement with the importers of the vehicles, African Automobile Company Limited for them to be used.

“Given the rate at which those vehicles are deteriorating, we have made a decision to dispose of them and that the government is looking to do that before the year ends”.

“I can confirm the decision to dispose of the vehicles has been made and we will do so. All of us are concerned that the mere presences of those vehicles suggest to tax payers that their monies won’t be put to good use”, he lamented.

He indicated that government feels extremely concerned about that and it is the reason they are taking steps to ensure that those vehicles are disposed of as soon as possible.

He further pointed out that since duties have not been paid on the abandon vehicles government could come under the customs Act to dispose of them as an overstay vehicle.

By:  Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minority to disapprove budget for Special Development Initiative Ministry

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The Minority in Parliament is demanding the scraping of the Ministry of Special Development Initiative on grounds that the role of the Ministry created by President Nana Akufo-Addo conflicts with that of the Local Assemblies.

The Minority have indicated that they would not approve the GHC1.5 billion cedis allocated to the Ministry.

“We on this side of the House would not support any statutory allocation or appropriation to that Ministry and we will not because the creation of that Ministry is creating conflict with the established development authorities of the President” he lamented.

He made this remarks whiles concluding debate on the 2019 budget and further added that the one million dollars per constituency is something that must not be expended by a Minister sitting at the flagstaff House in the name of a Ministry of Special Initiative.

In addition there should be merger of the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation with Special Development Initiative, otherwise we would not approve of any allocation to the Special Initiative, he noted.

“You can use your numbers as Majority government to do so, we want the President’s development authorities to function and function effectively”, he said.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com