Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu has asked the petitioners and respondents in the pending election dispute before the Supreme Court to comply with the directives and the final ruling by the nine-member panel sitting on the case.

Making her contributions on Oman FM’s political programme on Wednesday, the NPP firebrand advised the two parties not to hold their hopes high because the verdict could take an unexpected turn.

To her, both parties should rather come to the reality that “once the court has decided, whether you like or not; you are enjoined to obey it and abide by it. It doesn’t depend on you to choose to obey it.”

She also explained that “it is possible that it (verdict) may not go according to their (petitioners) expectation and the court will tell John Mahama to remain in his seat. It is also possible for the court to order (President) Mahama to step down for Nana Akufo Addo (to rule as president).”

The outspoken NPP MP touched on the tenets that shaping the NPP, stating that the party has proven to the “entire world that we are peace seekers. We comply with the law; whether we admit or not, we will follow the structures laid down.”

She further appealed to the nine-member panel to “be fair and dispassionate in their enforcement of their own rules and regulations.”

Peacefmonline.com

Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has vowed never to check out of bungalow No. 2 Mango Street at the Ridge Residential area to NPP Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

This was after an Accra High court directed government to hand over the keys of the house to the NPP Chairman who bought the building which he occupied while serving as a the Chief of Staff under the erstwhile Kufour Administration.

Several Months after the Supreme Court dismissed the case in which, two Ministers, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah and Edward Omane-Boamah challenged Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey’s acquisition of the bungalow, he is yet to receive the keys to the property.

The court then directed government to release the keys to the house which is currently being occupied by Hon.Nii Lamptey Vanderpuije who is also the Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo.

The two ministers, in their personal capacities, in 2008 brought a suit against the NPP Chairman over his purchase of bungalow No. 2 at Mango Street, Ridge residential area, Accra, when he was the Chief of Staff at the Presidency.

They were seeking to restrain by order of injunction the Chairman of the Lands Commission of Ghana and the Chief Registrar of Lands at the Land Title Registry from registering the title in the name of Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

However the Supreme Court by a majority decision dismissed the case.

But in an interview Hon. Nii Lamptey Vanderpuije has declared that he would only vacate the house when he has been instructed by the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing which locate to him the house in question.

He said to the best of his knowledge the late President Mills directed that no state bungalow should be sold and that position has not yet been reviewed by President Mahama, and until that is done he still remains the rightful occupant of that house.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Baba Jamal is pushing for the compulsory retiring age in public service to be extended to 65 years while voluntary retiring age is pegged at 60 years.

According to him, the current retiring age of 60 years and compulsory retiring age of 55 years is denying certain public servants who still have enough energy and possess tremendous amount of experience the opportunity of further serving the country.

The Deputy Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Akwatia in the Eastern Region of was contributing to a discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Thursday on government’s acceptance of the recommendation by the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee that the current retiring age of 60 years in the Public Service be maintained.

However Parliament will reserve the power to increase the retiring age of certain categories of public servants to reflect specific needs of the Service concerned

He noted that he would make a strong case for the extension of the retiring age if the matter should come up in the next meeting of Parliament.

Hon. Baba Jamal wondered why there is no barrier to age when it comes to serving Members of Parliament but public servants are required to go on pension at age 60.

“Come to Parliament and you will realize that there are lots of MPs who are way above 60 years but are strong with sharp minds contributing to national growth, but other people around the same age in public service can equally render a lot of service to Ghana’’ he added.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Kpandai constituency in the Northern region, Matthew Nyindam is calling on the Ministry of Interior for assistance to beef up the capacity of the security systems in the whole district.

He averred that the crime level in the area has increased conspicuously because of the small number of policemen available to man operations and also protect the safety of the general public at the district.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, the MP recounted that a total number of 5 policemen were at the moment present in the area which critically unmatched the total population of about 70,000 in the district.

In addition, he said logistics and vehicles to facilitate their operations and assist them embark on essential task like patrols was also a problem.

According to him, this has created significant lapses with the security level of the district, hence called for a concerted effort to give a boost in the capacity of the sector so the safety of the residents could be guaranteed.

He estimated that development cannot thrive in an environment of chaos, disturbances and disorder, hence the need to improve security for the district.

Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Parliament has, during an emergency sitting yesterday, approved the nomination of 35 deputy ministers designate to occupy various deputy ministerial positions in government.

The endorsement was made as per recommendations from the Report from the Appointment Committee in Parliament.

They nominees are:

Name Ministry
Dr Dominic Amine – —                               Justice and Attorney-General’s Department
Ms Barbara Sera Asamoah –                     Lands and Natural Resources
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – – –        Education
Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu —                      Information and Media Relations
Mr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson —              Finance
Mr. George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan – – – Finance
Mr. Thomas Kwesi Quartey —               Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration,
Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum – – – Local Government & Rural Development
Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo – – –                    Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation
Mrs. Joyce Bawah Mogtari – – –               Transport
Mr. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi – – –         Defence
Dr Alfred Sugri Tia, Health – – –             Mr. Alex Kyeremeh, Education
Mr. Yaw Effah-Baafi – – –                         Lands and Natural Resources
Mr. James Agalga – – –                             Interior
Mr. Vincent Oppong-Asamoah —        Water Resources, Works & Housing
Mr. Sampson Ahi – – –                              Water Resources, Works and Housing
Mr. Joseph Yammin – – –                       Youth and Sports
Dr Musheibu Mohammed-Alfa – – –   Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor – – –            Energy and Petroleum
Mr. Benjamin Dagadu – – –                  Energy and Petroleum
Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan – – –       Food and Agriculture
Mr. Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim — Information and Media Relations
Mr. Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye – – – Trade and Industry
Ms Victoria Lakshmi Hamah – – –       Communications
Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed – – – Local Government and Rural Development
Mr. John Alexander Ackon – – –          Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs
Mr. Isaac Adjei Mensah – – –                Roads and Highways
Ms Ablah Dzifah Gomashie – – –         Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts,
Mr. Antwi-Bosiako Sekyere – – –         Employment and Labour Relations,
Alhaji Bashir Fuseini Alhassan – – –   Northern Region
Mrs. Benita Sena Okity-Duah – – –     Gender, Children and Social Protection
Dr Hannah Louisa Bisiw – – –              Food and Agriculture
Mr. Aquinas Tawaih Quansah – – –    Fisheries and Aquaculture Development
Ms Rachel Florence Appoh – – –         Gender, Children and Social Protection.