Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

The Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) is calling on parliament to vote out the Plant Breeders Bill, since it is yet to be passed.

According to them, the passage of the bill is a detriment to the country’s national development because it would “finally surrender our economy in the hands of these multinational companies.”

In a statement issued by PUSAG, they questioned why government wants to agree to the passing of the bill because it would allow the importation and exportation of genetically modified seeds.

“Numerous countries all over the world are resisting GMO foods, to the very recent, South Sudan. So what is causing the government of Ghana to agree to jeopardize the fortunes of this country by approving the plant breeder’s bill to adopt GMO foods?” they asked.

They also mentioned that because GM seeds are contract barring seeds; farmers will not be able to replant from the same seeds and would have to continue buying from the seed companies which “would cause more hardship to our farmers and also cause the devaluation of our cedi.”

They also revealed that Health wise, GMO foods have been associated with the cause of strange diseases, birth defects and cancers of all kinds in countries that are consuming GM foods.

Below is the full statement from PUSAG
PARLIAMENT MUST VOTE OUT THE PLANT BREEDERS BILL AND REJECT THE BIO-SAFETY ACT

The Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) is calling on parliament to vote out the Plant Breeders Bill, and it is cautioning the good people of Ghana to reject any attempt to adopt Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) foods, which would be propagated in the unlikelihood event of parliament approving the bill.

The parliament of Ghana had since the year 2011 passed the Bio-Safety Act 831.

This Act is to ensure the establishment of a National Bio-Safety Authority – an administrative body that will oversee to the administration of genetically modified organisms resulting from biotechnology, which includes GM foods in this country.

The Plant Breeders Bill is yet to be passed by parliament, and it passage would allow the importation and exportation of genetically engineered or genetically modified seeds.

Hitherto, Ghana is not producing genetically modified seeds. However, these plant variety GM seeds are licensed properties of multinational chemical and food companies such as Monsanto, Bayer Cropscience, Dow Agroscience etc.

The passage of the bill is a detriment to our national development and it would finally surrender our economy in the hands of these multinational companies.

Agriculture is the backbone of Ghana’s economic development. Section 23 of the bill states that, “a plant breeder right shall be independent of any measure taken by the Republic within Ghana the production, certification and marketing of a variety or the importation or exportation of the material”.

This implies that, the government of Ghana does not have any right to regulate the activity of companies’ in charge in the importation of GM seeds. Assenting to the plant breeders’ bill is closely associated with the Bond of 1844, paving up for neo-colonialism.

Numerous countries all over the world are resisting GMO foods, to the very recent, South Sudan. So what is causing the government of Ghana to agree to jeopardize the fortunes of this country by approving the plant breeder’s bill to adopt GMO foods? GM seeds are contract barring seeds, this means that farmers cannot replant from the same seeds they have used but would have to continue to buy from the seed companies.

This by far would cause more hardship to our farmers and also cause the devaluation of our cedi.

Health wise, GMO foods have been associated with the cause of strange diseases, birth defects and cancers of all kinds in countries that are consuming GM foods.

Early on, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, the Catholic Bishop Conference, the Food Sovereignty Ghana and the Convention Peoples’ Party have called on government to reject the plant breeders’ bill and GM foods. PUSAG in the spirit of solidarity and partners in national development is joining them to cause government to heed to these calls.

Generally, what we need is an agricultural ministry which supports farmers through training, loans, supervision, education, equipment construction of more roads to our farming communities and so on.

SIGNED
Benjamin Panlogo-Logodam (National President)
Raphael Apetorgbor (National Media Relations Officer)

The Member of Parliament for Tano North Constituency, Freda Prempeh, has donated assorted medical equipment worth GH¢ 30,000 to the Bomaa Health Centre.

The items which included hospital beds, computer with printer, delivery set, wheel chair, mattresses, electronic table, baby weighing scale, sterilizer, among others, was in fulfillment of her promise to the community during the campaign.

The intention of the MP is to equip the maternity block of the hospital with modern equipment in her fight against maternal mortality in the area.

At a short ceremony, the elated Midwife In-Charge of the Bomaa Health Centre, Philomena Attipoe, thanked the MP for her benevolence towards the facility.

Madam Attipoe used the opportunity to appeal to the MP to do something about the deplorable nature of the Bomaa-Duayaw Nkwanta road.

The midwife said the bad road was a major problem to them since pregnant women who were referred to Duayaw-Nkwanta during delivery “go through hectic time before they finally get to the district capital, a situation which sometimes leads to so many complications and sometimes death.”

Hon Prempeh assured the Bomaa community of her preparedness to work around the clock to ensure the construction of the road.

She explained that she had already taken all the necessary steps to fix it by bringing engineers from Feeder Roads to do the drawings. She said the only thing left was the Government Releasing Funds for construction to begin.

The MP explained, “It is my desire to work hard to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates in the area.” She, therefore, urged pregnant women to attend to regular antenatal clinic to avoid complications during childbirth.

Receiving the items on behalf of the staff, Rostancilla Kuuzune, Deputy Director of Nursing Services (DDNS) of the Tano North District In-charge of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), commended the MP for the items.

Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako, Bomaa

Minister for Food and Agriculture says he cannot be held responsible for the rot that has gone on in the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA) and has dared his critics to produce evidence of his culpability.

Clement Kofi Humado said he is “ready to debate anyone on any matter on GYEEDA provided it does not constitute interference into matters before the court.”

He was responding to media reports suggesting that he threatened to expose other people if he was charged with any offences in connection with the GYEEDA corruption scandal.

“I wish to respond that I have never made any such statement anywhere and I challenge the author to provide proof if any,” he said in a statement issued in Accra.

Critics have expressed surprise that Clement Kofi Humado who was then the Sports Minister, under whose tenure monies were said to have been misappropriated in the name of GYEEDA has not been charged; the National Coordinator of the Agency, Abuga Pele is rather being tried for willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment and misapplying public funds amongst others.

Members of the opposition NPP insist the big fishes in the GYEEDA scandal have been left off the hook but the minister says that can only be further from the truth.

He said his deafening silence on the matter must not be misconstrued to mean “intimidation or guilt.”

Humado said he has thoroughly answered questions about his role in GYEEDA during investigations conducted by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and if the investigative authority thought he was guilty of any offences, it would have proferred charges against him.

“It is therefore absolutely wrong and misplaced for some section of the media to feel that I am being left off the hook. Who says that I am going down and to where? I am as strong as ever and wish to focus on my new job as Minister for Food and Agriculture,” he charged.

He said the quality of work he did with GYEEDA and the reforms he initiated are matters of public record.

Read the full statement issued by the Minister.

REJOINDER FROM MINISTER FOR FOOD & AGRICULTURE-

CLEMENT KOFI HUMADO

My attention has been drawn to an article published on the Ghanaweb on 28th January 2014 by one Al Hajj titled “I won’t go down alone Minister warns”. Reference was then made to my person of statements I was purported to have made to my close associates.

I wish to respond that I have never made any such statement anywhere and I challenge the author to provide proof if any.

My relative silence on the GYEEDA matter should not be misinterpreted as that of intimidation or guilt. As a Cabinet Minister, I have to respect institutions of state. When the Minister of Youth and Sports set up the GYEEDA Committee, I did not complain because I wanted probity and accountability to prevail if only that was the objective of setting up the committee.

The committee only felt the need to meet with me after their first draft report was leaked and published on the Internet. I did not complain and I obliged to meet the committee even at that late stage and responded to any questions they asked.

When HE the President referred the committee report to the PV Obeng Committee and later to EOCO, BNI and the Attorney General, I was invited to EOCO not less than three times on the GYEEDA matter and I responded to all questions asked me and provided documentary proof of my claims and position on the GYEEDA matter.

The feeling by some section of the public and media that I am being left off the hook therefore cannot be true. If the investigative institutions of state had found anything wrong with my role in the GYEEDA matter they would have by now charged me.

It is therefore absolutely wrong and misplaced for some section of the

media to feel that I am being left off the hook. Who says that I am going down and to where? I am as strong as ever and wish to focus on my new job as Minister for Food and Agriculture.

As a person, I am NOT bigger than the party and government I serve.

I know the quality of work that I have put into initiating reforms in GYEEDA during my tenure in office. I am ready at anytime to debate anyone on any matter on GYEEDA provided it does not constitute interference into matters before the court.

Signed.

Clement Kofi HUMADO

The Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho has given the leadership of the House ten days to investigate and submit a report on a case against the Effiduase-Asokore Member of Parliament who has been accused of bringing Parliament into disrepute.

An incensed Frank Boakye Agyen alleged that the Speaker was compromised and externally influenced to dismiss a case brought by the Minority seeking Parliamentary inquiry into the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz.

The Majority Chief Whip Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak however said the comment by the MP was an affront to the dignity of Parliament and vowed to have him punished.

He filed a motion on the floor Wednesday bringing the comments officially to the attention of the Speaker.

According to Joy News\’ Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey both the Minority and Majority Leaders attempted to intervene in the matter and have the matter dropped.

Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu pleaded for leniency on the part of his colleague and referred to the close personal relationship the Speaker had with the MP during their school days.

Instead of referring the matter to the Privileges Committee the Minority Leader pleaded that the case should be handled at the leadership level of Parliament.

The Majority Leader Benjamin Kunbour in part agreed with his colleague and also pleaded that the matter be investigated by the leadership of the House.

Having gone through the transcripts of the interview granted by the Effiduase-Asokore MP the Speaker initially threatened to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee to investigate.

Elton John Brobbey, reported the Speaker as saying the matter had assumed huge public interest and ought be investigated by the dreaded Privileges Committee.

Not only was he accused of being influenced, the Speaker said allegations of bribery had also been levelled against the Majority members in the House, all of which needed to be investigated.

But after the intercession by the leadership of the House, the Speaker decided not to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee but to allow the Leadership of the House to investigate and present their report in ten days.

Myjoyonline.com

Over thirty communities have benefitted from a benevolent gesture by the Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin Constituency, Hon. Sanja Nanja when he provided an alternative source of light for residents who were not connected to the national power grid.

Although the gesture was to provide alternative source of light for deprived communities, Hon. Nanja particularly targeted school children within his constituency.

Hon. Sanja Nanja who made the distribution in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy was part of government’s initiatives to encourage the use of solar energy as well as give deprived areas the opportunity to also enjoy light.

According to the MP, more than thirty (30) communities within the Atebubu-Amantin Constituency and surroundings have so far benefitted from the programme adding that recipients of the lanterns were really elated when they received the facilities.

He said most of the areas that benefitted were those that were not connected to the national power grid adding that some schools within his constituency also benefitted from the gesture, a means of empowering them to study at nights.

The Atebubu-Amantin MP said he has so far distributed 300 out of the 400 solar lanterns whilst the rest will be disbursed soon.

In a related development, Hon. Nanja indicated that some schools within his constituency that have light have received desktop computers to help them have a feel of computers whilest learning ICT as a course.

Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/GhanaMps.gov.gh

The Tema Development Corporation (TDC) has rendered an unqualified apology to the Tema West Member of Parliament, Irene Naa Torshie Addo for not giving her prior notice before embarking on the demolishing exercise at Adjei Kojo, a suburb in her constituency.

Over hundred people have been displaced after the TDC accompanied with bulldozers under the supervision of armed police and military men raised down about 150 houses on Tuesday January 21, 2014.

The Tema West MP after fierce opposition has threatened to initiate legal action against the Corporation for rendering her constituents homeless.

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives in the area are calling for the head of the TDC Managing Director, Joseph Abbey for engaging in acts they deem detrimental to the party’s electoral fortunes.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Public Relations Officer, Dorothy Asare Kuma said they fully accept responsibility for not notifying Naa Torshie before the exercise.

According to her, it was totally an oversight and not a deliberate action as people claimed.

Despite the apology, Dorothy Asare Kuma said it doesn’t take away the fact that the TDC acted legitimately.

“TDC as a public institution will always follow due process. The people developed the land without any permit or land title, that is wrong. How ever you look at it, wrong is wrong”, she stressed.

Dorothy Asare Kuma further explained that the Corporation voluntarily acquired the land from the chiefs and compensated them accordingly, adding that the TDC did not flout any law as it was being potrayed.

Reacting to the NDC’s petition to President Mahama to sack her boss, the TDC PRO said the president is the appointing authority hence, reserves the right to appoint and disappoint.

Meanwhile, Dorothy Asare Kuma disclosed that the demolition exercise has been put on hold until further notice.

Myjoyonline.com

Charles Obeng-Inkoom, Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West has donated 50 bags of cement to the chiefs and elders of Agona Swedru Old Zongo, to help in the construction of a three-classroom block of the Islamic Kindergarten and Primary School.

The MP also donated two sets of jerseys and footballs to the Zongo youth, as part of his efforts to promote sporting activities in the area.

Addressing the chiefs and elders, Mr Obeng-Inkoom said the donation formed part of measures to support education in the old Zongo Community.

According to the MP, education is the only legacy Muslim parents can bequeath to their children, reminding them that pursing higher education also help to reduce abject poverty in society.

He charged parents to desist from spending all their resources on material things cloths, reminding them that such practice can affect the education of their children.

The MP also inspected the Zakat School in the same community, and promised to assist the chiefs and elders to renovate the old school block to enhance effective teaching and learning.

Mr Obeng-Inkoom assured the residents of Agona Swedru that the foot bridge at old Sawmills would soon be repaired to avert any future disaster.

Nana Salifu Daafi , Chief of Swedru Old Zongo thanked the MP for the donation, and assured him that it would be used judiciously..

He appealed to the MP and the Agona West Municipal Assembly to help complete the six-classroom block initiated through self-help to improve educational standards in the Zongo community.

The MP also addressed the chiefs and people of Agona Otapirow, near Agona Swedru, to climax their Annual Akwambo Festival.

He assured them that government would complete the construction of the road from Otapirow to the Swedru School of Business.

Nana Osompa Nyamekye, Chief of Otapirow, advised the youth in the area to stay away from pre-marital sexual activities.