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Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

Speaker cautions service personnel to be polite in the chamber

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye has served a caution to National Service Personnel who serve in the chamber to comport themselves and conduct themselves well in the chamber.

According to the Speaker, the service personnel, serving in the chamber are strangers and they have been given privilege to serve in the chamber, “no clapping, giggling and acts that are absolute not right”.

He noted that on his left hand side when he sits in the chamber he sometimes hear certain things and he should not be compelled to take one or two steps.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

President is serious on Ministers appearing in Parliament —Majority Leader

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Leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has given assurance to Members of Parliament (MPs) that President Nana Akufo-Addo have been a Minister and MP before and is committed to Ministers being on the floor of the House to answer questions.

According to the Majority Leader it has been said at Cabinet that Ministers should take workings in the House very serious.

He however complained of transition of questions sometimes being the problem because some Ministers would be bill to travel outside the country a day before leaving they are told they have to appear before the House to answer questions.

And added that, during the exigency of time sometimes the only solution is that Ministers designate their deputies to come to the House to answer questions.

Former Minister for Energy and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembele, Kofi Armah Buah questioned why just during the first week of the third sitting, Ministers under the President Akufo-Addo’s government are failing to come to the House and are being represented by their deputies instead?.

He further questioned why Ministers are not taking the House serious by attending to business on the floor of the House.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Adaklu MP visits victims of rainstorm disaster

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Mr Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for Adaklu, has toured communities hit by heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds in the Constituency and consoled victims of the disaster.

The visit was for the MP to ascertain the magnitude of the disaster and commiserate with the about 100 victims.

A rainstorm that lasted for about 40 minutes ripped off the roofing’s of seven houses, including a church and destroyed personal belongings of victims running into thousands of cedis at Adaklu Vodze and Have.

The thunderstorm also levelled large hectares of cassava and plantain farms, Mr Nicholas Kodzo Amafu, the District Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Mr Mateo Nonu, Regent for Adaklu-Have, said the victims were putting up with relatives and friends.

Mr Agbodza expressed great concern over the situation and promised to mobilise some support for the victims.

A middle-aged woman, who is a victim, said they needed clothing, roofing sheets and foodstuff.

MPs recall from recess to consider “urgent businessâ€

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye has exercised Order 42(3) by recalling all the 275 legislators back from recess to consider “urgent business”.

Order 42(3) “Mr. Speaker may, if he thinks fit, call a sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned or at any time after the house has been adjourned sine die”.

The House will sit from Thursday 26th to Friday 27th April 2018 at ten o’clock in the forenoon each day to consider some urgent Parliamentary business.

In a statement, the Acting Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo noted that the principal purpose of the urgent recall is for the consideration of and ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

She further noted that Ghana is hoping to host the Secretariat of the Africa Free Trade Organization as other agreements will be considered.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC start Southern Sector public hearing

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After public hearing of the, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Northern Sector touching on Pre-tertiary Institutions, Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies and Poly technical Universities, PAC has started the South Sector of the Auditor General’s report of 2015/2016 in the Western Region which would also deal with the Central Region.

Chairman of the Public Account Committee and Deputy Minority leader, Dr. James Klutse Avedzi indicated that the committee would be in the Western Region for a week looking at five reports of the Auditor General.

Technical Universities would appear before the committee, Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and pre-tertiary institutions.

The Committee is expected back in Accra next week and would be going to the Volta and Eastern Regions as it looks at the Auditor General’s report from 2015/2016.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker has not taken rent advance-Public Affairs

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Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye has not taken any money as rent advance, the Public Affairs unit of Parliament has dismissed media reports suggesting that despite official accommodation provided to the Speaker.

The Acting Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo in a statement pointed out that at the beginning of every term, Members of Parliament are paid some allowance towards their rent, however, the Speaker by his position is not, “entitled to such allowance and was therefore not paid any such advance”.

And added that the Speaker has been allocated an official residence which he uses for official purpose and yet to move into his residence since renovation is yet to be completed in May.

As a result of the situation, the Speaker was only given a monthly stipend for rent while he awaits his official residence.

Parliament therefore wants the media to crosscheck with its offices before publication, saying it takes a strong exception to the reportage in sections of the media which seeks not only to bring the Speaker’s name, but the entire institution into disrepute.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Support the less privileged in society- Agona East MP

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The honorable Member of Parliament for Agona East constituency in the Central region, Queenstar Opokuah Sawyer constituency has urged the general public to put aside partisan politics and help provide support to the less privileged in society.

She made the call as she puts smiles on the faces of school pupils within her constituency with the donation of 500 pieces of dual desks to selected schools.

According to her, the gesture is a manifestation of benefits that can be derived from voting for people who can respond to their needs.

The gesture by Obaapa Maame Pokuah as she is affectionately called was in response to a promise she made to the schools where five students used to share a single desk in class.

The MP during an interactive section with party faithful on the upcoming branch elections of the NDC urged them to vote for dedicated leaders who will serve their interests at all times.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Politicians culpable in Australia visa scandal – Nii Lantey Vanderpuye

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Former Minister for Youth and Sports in the erstwhile John Mahama administration, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has stated that politicians are culpable in the alleged visa disgrace that rocked the Ghanaian contingent in Gold Coast, Australia.

Mr Vanderpuye who is also Member of Parliament for Odododiodio constituency in the Greater Accra region said until politicians desist from interfering in sports activities for the benefit of their party stogies the country would continue to face such disgraceful conducts during international sports tournaments.

The former Minister claimed that politicians use such international tournaments to satisfy their political followers by promising to take them abroad.

He also reiterates the Minority NDC’s call for a full scale independent investigation into the scandal to forestall future occurrences.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Criticize State institutions to make them effective- MP

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Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye has stated that criticizing state institutions is the only panacea to make them effective in the delivery of service to the entire citizenry.

The MP has therefore urged every citizen to constructively criticize state institutions especially for their excesses.

Dr Okoe Boye expressed worry that it is not good for opposition party members of the government to accuse the President of interfering in the work of State institutions when they go wrong in the performance of their duties.

The counter accusations of Presidents by political parties of interference in state institutions depending on who is in government he said is not good for the country’s image.

The young lawmaker conceded that he believed there has been a long hand interfering in the work of the police but believed it is important for politicians to develop an objective position in criticizing such institutions in and out of government.

The first time lawmaker made these remarks on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show in Accra last Wednesday.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Parliament to cooperate with double salary claim investigations

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In an effort to enhance transparency and accountability, the Parliament of Ghana has pledged its readiness to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies investigating the alleged double salary claims against some Members of Parliament who were also Ministers of State during the sixth Parliament.

In a press release signed by Acting Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Kate Addo noted that an offence of criminality in the payment of salaries has not been established against the said individuals who fall under Article 1 of the 1992 of the constitution.

The release therefore urged the “Police, Members of Parliament and the general public to remain calm and circumspect in their comments until the full facts of the matter are determined” as the matter is brought under conclusion.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com