Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

Minister of Roads and Highways Kwasi Amoako-Attah is citing pilfering of bolts and nuts on metal bridges across the country by unpatriotic Ghanaians as cause of collapsing bridges.

According to the Minister, the second cause can be attributed to heavy truck vehicle that are over loaded causing damages to the bridges.

As to what will prevent the overloading of the trucks the Minister responded by saying that if Ghanaians will be vigilant and report the over loaded trucks to the security agencies it will help reduce the collapsing metal bridges across the Country.

“This Nationwill have to spend the little resources we have in building bridges across the country, if the unpatriotic continue with their pilfering”.

The Ministers remarks comes in the wake of the Member of Parliament for Garu Albert Akuka Alalzuuga asking an urgent question on the floor of the House on steps being taken to reconstruct the Tamne steel bridge linking Garu-Tempane District to Bawku Municipal, Pusiga and Burkina Faso which collapsed recently.
He further noted that he has been to Tamne the location of the collapsed bridge with his Director of bridges to fix the problem and provided an alternative road to be used.

Roads and Highways Minister indicated that in the future when funds are available he is thinking of providing solid concrete bridges which will last longer, than the metal bridges where some Ghanaians have resulted to cutting of bolt and nuts which weakens the bridges.

The Minister assured Members of Parliament that across the Country the metal bridges are very strong and in solid state but for the cutting of bolt and nuts by the unpatriotic Ghanaians.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board has recommended that salaries of staffs be increased by 15%.
This was announced by Speaker of the House Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye as the House was breaking for recess.

He noted that the Board, after some considerations, decided to increase the salaries of staffs by 15% across board.

Staffs of Parliament have been agitating for increase in their salaries for the past four years to reflect their grades and the work they perform in the House.

Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye two months ago held a staff durbar with all workers, to introduce himself to the staffs, familiarize with them and present his vision to the staffs.

In addition, he noted that the Board had also approved the establishment of a legal department for the House, adding that recruitment of relevant staff would be done after applications had been considered.
The Speaker indicated that very soon a body will be set up to take inventory of all lands as well as properties and look at the possibility of partnering developers to develop the lands.

“Offers will be invited for possible developers on public/private partnership basis where appropriate, in order to develop lands and properties which are being taken over unlawfully by individuals”, he said.
According to the Speaker there is a body in place to review the Standing Orders of the House as action is being expedited.

Also a committee has been set up by the Parliamentary Service Board to look into the recent fire outbreak at the Job 6oo Tower block which, provide offices for Members of Parliament.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Food and Drugs Authority has for the second time failed to attend to the invitation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

FDA failed to appear before the Committee at its first sitting and has repeated same at the committees second sitting to answer questions on various issues.

Committee members of PAC are meeting to decide on the way forward with the conduct of FDA.
Checks done by ghanamps.com can reveal that there is the likelihood of the FDA to be subpoena to appear before the Committee if Monday’s invitation elapsed.

The Committee is chaired by the Minority and is made up of 25 members from both the Majority and Minority.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Former Second Deputy Speaker of the sixth Parliament of the fourth Republic and Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan Joe Ghartey says “Speakers of Parliament should not be allow to decide whether they will allow motions or not”.

He noted in an interview with ghanamps.com that Tuesday’s precedent where Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye allowing Kobina Tahir Hammond’s motion is a good development for our democracy it gives everybody the opportunity.

The Adansi Asokwa MP moved an urgent motion that the House rescinds its decision to approve the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group LIC (Ameri Energy) for the installation of ten GE TM2, 500+ aero derivative gas turbines, operate, maintain transfer and provision of support services that the House took on March 20,2015 for reasons of gross misrepresentation.

According to the former second Deputy Speaker, if the Speaker has not allowed K. T Hammond’s motion it will mean a right is being given to the Speaker to decide whether or not to bring motion before the House.

He further noted that, the Adansi Asokwa MP could not have jumped straight with his motion to the Committee. “Our rules does not allow that, rather there should be a referral from the House”.

Everything that the Minority leader wanted to say I had things to say to those things will be said at the committee level then the committee will bring its report, in fact the committee may disagree with K T Hammond or may agree with him, Parliament as a whole is not bound to agree with the committee, he said.

Also fundamental rule of justice is that nobody should be condemned without being given a hearing,people who are affected by the decision we are about to take, are people who cannot appear before Parliament when we are sitting in the plenary.

The affected people may appear before a committee of the whole in Parliament but how can parliament sit as a committee of the whole to decide on this matter, he remarked.

In addition what comes back to the House is not what K T Hammondthinks, it is the combination of what he thinks all the facts properly advised then it comes back to the people, the reason why agreements come to the House is that it is because you have the presentative of the people here and they should decide, he said.

“What the Minority leader was doing was wrong this is not a court of law, Speakers have rules on that and in Parliament when a motion is moved then you can make your point before the point could be made the Speaker in his wisdom has referred the matter to the committee”.

He said when you are speaking on the floor and the Speaker rules against you that is the end of your speech, you should not continue speaking if you disagree with him you come by a motion and there are ways of disagreeing and there are procedural way of doing that.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The honorable Member of Parliament for Agona East, Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr is keeping to her promise in the performance of basic functions required of her as a mother to her constituents.

Maame Pokua as she is affectionately called graced the first graduation ceremony of the Salvation Army Basic School in AgonaDuakwa as a demonstration of her concern for the welfare of the children.

Obaatanpa provided educational materials and packaged lunch of jollof rice and chicken for all the 527 children of the school and also donated an appreciable amount of money to the school.

The Agona East MP promised to provide financial assistance to needy children who will excel in their academic pursuits in the area.

Through the instrumentality of Maame Pokua, a modern six unit classroom block is currently under construction to enhance teaching and learning in the area.

Obaatanpa was also at the Duakwa Islamic school in fulfillment of a promise to spend time each year with school children during their “Our Day” celebration where she interacted with the children numbering about 300 and provided them with packaged lunch.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

In order to enhance Ghana’s Parliamentary democratic practice, there is an urgent need for the caucuses of Parliament to establish research centers, Minister responsible for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah –Bonsu has said.

According to him it is crucial that legislators resort the use of accurate research data to effectively function in their line of duty.

The only way to ensure availability of that data is for the caucuses of the house to have research departments.

MrOsei Kyei mensah-Bonsu who is the Member of Parliament for Suame in the Ashanti region made the call during the Information Week celebration by the Inter- Departmental Research and Information Group (IDRIG) of Parliament.

He acknowledged that those working in research and information department play very key roles in making parliament more functional.

The leader of government business in Parliament also advocates building network among all stakeholders especially civil society organization to enable Parliament work effectively.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com