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Author: Fred GhanaMPs

Mali Coup: Heads of states demand immediate restoration of constitutional order

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the military takeover in Mali that brought pressure on President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to announce his resignation.

According to a statement signed by the chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government H. E. Mahamadou Issoufou on Thursday, August 20, 2020 after an Extra Ordinary virtual meeting noted that any form of legitimacy for military takeover is unacceptable and demand immediate restoration to constitutional order, and unconditional release of the Malian President together with all arrested government officials and immediate reinstatement of the president of the Republic in accordance with the constitutional provision of the country.

The Authority of Heads of State and Government has suspended Mali from all Community decision making bodies with immediate effect, in accordance with the Supplementary protocols on democracy and good governance until effective restoration of constitutional order.

Again the Heads of States and Government had decided to close all land and air borders as well as stop all financial, economic and trade flow transactions between member states in the case of Mali; “except for basic essentials drugs and other supplies and equipment for the fight against COVID-19, petroleum products and electricity.

It also encouraged all partners and collaborators to ensure that a delegation led by the mediator comprising chair of the Council of Ministers and the president of the Commission task to ensure a speedy return to constitutional order gets to work for positive result.

There has been a call for immediate activation of ECOWAS standby force as there is another expected virtual meeting in a week’s time to assess the situation in the light with the mission report to be submitted by the mediator-led delegation.

ECOWAS Heads of States and Government welcomed the support expressed by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council on August 19, 2020 through a firm condemnation of the action by the military.

“Heads of States and Government express their solidarity with the people of Mali and reaffirm their commitment to continue to work towards a quick resolution of the crisis”.

The video conference of August 20, 2020 before moving into their main agenda expressed condolences and solidarity with President of Burkina Faso H. E. Roch Christian Kabore and H. E. Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and citizens over the terrorist attack of August 7 and 9 this year which left many dead and wounded.

The Heads of States and Government further noted that the coup d’état comes in the contest of a socio-political crisis triggered by the parliamentary election of March-April 2020, and took the form of protests, sometimes violent held by some political stakeholders, civil society organizations and members of religious associations.

They also approve government programme by the National Assembly in the Guinea Bissau and welcome progress made in that development.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Let us draw lessons from disinformation eroding democratic gains—Ablakwa

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

As the world celebrates World Press Freedom day, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is calling on the nation to draw lessons from how disinformation is eroding democratic gains in other jurisdictions.

According to the Ranking member on Foreign Affairs Ghana should get ahead of the curve to formulate policy and legislative reforms that will seek to protect our relative nascent democracy.

“Mr. Speaker as we mark this day, we must take judicial notice of our decline in the 2019 world press freedom index where we dropped from the rank of 23 to 27 sadly and lost our status as African’s best ranked country”.

He added that Ghana has come too far as a country to have any threshold of tolerance whatsoever for reports such as the police brutalities meted out to the three Ghanaian Times Journalist, Raissa Sambou, Malik Sulleman and Abdul Salifu Rahman.

That of Latif Iddrisu of Joy news, Victor Kawukume and Timothy Gobah of Daily Guide, we must send a clear message to all that this nation will not countenance any abuse or attack whatsoever on journalists carrying out their legitimate duties.

Also there is a positive trend where journalist do not only tell the story and move on but take up the story as a cause and pursue it until there are clear tangible results, “I congratulate the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, the spirited effort to find the kidnapped girls from Tarkoradi, the camping to disband political vigilantism and the resilience of the Right to Information Coalition”.

This is a most refreshing and inspiring development that we must all encourage and indeed provide the necessary support as a legislative arm seeing that we are natural allies in our oversight mandate.

He further took the opportunity to celebrate Ghanaian Journalists who had made the country proud by winning awards like, Anas Aremeyaw Anas in January at Lausanne, Switzerland, Manasseh Azure Awuni winning journalist of the year 2018 of West Africa and Parliamentary correspondent of multimedia Joseph Opoku Gakpo, best video journalist, International Federation of Agriculture Journalists (IFAJ).

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

We need to consolidate sub-regional democracy — Commission President

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou has underscored the need to consolidation sub-regional democracy, at the opening of the First Ordinary session for 2019.

According to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the sub-region is beset by several challenges in areas of conducting peaceful elections.

He further congratulated Nigeria and the Republic of Senegal for conducting successful Presidential and Parliamentary elections, as well as in Guinea Bissau in accordance with the July 2019 roadmap adopted at the ECOWAS Summit in Lome.

“Recent Parliamentary elections in Benin took place amidst tension, ECOWAS will continue to strengthen its intervention mechanisms in order to support the organization of peaceful elections in all Member States”.

In the wake of mounting threats President of the ECOWAS Commission noted that it remain concerned about security issues,  as the community would continue working with its partners to stabilize and protect the region from, “terrorism, piracy, cross-border crimes and inter-ethnic clashes”.

Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou noted that in terms of economy, the region’s prospects are promising given the good performance of major macroeconomic indicators.

And this effort will be continued to consolidate the regional economy with several achievements which will be presented during the session.

“We will continue to address the challenges of youth unemployment, migration, epidemiologic diseases, as effort will not be relent in addressing these issues and many more”.

He welcome the impetus given to the implementation of Supplementary Act A/SA. 1/12/16 relating to the enhancement of the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

1D1F is a success, we need to strengthen it going forward — Konadu

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
The National Coordinator of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme, Gifty Ohene Konadu has said the policy initiative has been successful, and that going forward the President Nana Akufo-Addo led administration would strengthen it.

According to her, there are factories in all the districts since the business ideas are coming from the districts including the new districts, and it is a promise fulfilled.

“When the Trade and Industry Minister says it’s at various levels of either completion that is what it is. Some of the factories came in immediately the policy was announced when we came into power while others came in later. They are all at different stages and every district has a project”, she said in an interview.

Mrs. Konadu further explained that all private entrepreneurs moving the 1d1f have been provided with utility incentives and government is not looking at profit from the factories rather it is for the future of the nation for people to get jobs.

And as they earn incomes when they are employed, “you are happy because they need good lives”. And this would address the issue of Ghanaian youth not just roaming about and engaging in all kinds of social vices that would not benefit the nation at the long round.

She expressed delight that the 1d1f has materialized because people are employed and with the coming in of the Free SHS with a lot of people going to school, when they come out, they would definitely be employed in the factories.

“The SHS graduates are better equipped to handle issues after their secondary education as they have a bit of broader outlook; it is a promise fulfilled”.

The National Coordinator of the programme also emphasized that the whole concept is not for people within the ruling government, rather it is for the whole nation and about building the nation for everyone to benefit.

Again, personnel within the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) had been moved into the 1D1F and added that the fact that people are employed and working “gives us the needed joy as a government”.

In addition, government has given tax wavers to those who come under 1D1F as they import machines into the country. “It is clear that it is a private sector led initiative and they are connected to the national grade in terms of electricity for free”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

“Commissioning of Ekumfi Pineapple Factory comes as a joy”—1D1F Coordinator

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

As President Nana Akufo-Addo commissions the Ekumfi Pineapple Processing Factory on Friday, August 21, 2020, the National Coordinator of the One District, One Factor (1D1F) programme says actualization of the factory comes as a joy to Ghanaians.

According to her, the whole country is looking forward to this because there has been a lot of stories and misconception about the Ekumfi pineapple factory spear headed by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party that it is an “existing factory”.

Again, people said after cutting of the sod for the factory that the place had been left bear and was a playing grounds for grass cutters and all kinds of talk about this project.

“We knew what we were doing; building of a factory is not just a simple thing, it is difficult than building a house, anybody who is into construction knows putting up a platform alone can take not less than six months, it is a gradual process. And at each stage there is something to show”.

She further emphasized in an interview that the commissioning of Ekumfi factory would come as a joy to the people of Ekumfi in the Central Region and to “us as NPP that the President has been vindicated”, that he stood by what he promised.

Mrs. Konadu recounted that President Akufo-Addo made a promise to the chiefs and elders of Ekumfi during a tour of the 2016 presidential election as they supported the idea of 1d1f and pleaded with then candidate Akufo-Addo when he wins to establish the first factory in Ekumfi.

And added that it is not only at Ekumfi where a factory has been establish but it is in other districts in the Central Region, but Ekumfi is the first and the major focus.

When questioned as to why education has not gone down well on 1d1f that it is a private initiative driven, she responded that the opposition NDC is harming on that as those who had been to her outfit has been clear to them that it is a private sector led initiative.

“Those working on the initiative are happy that we are recommending them for the banks to give them loans and those who are really entrepreneurs are excited about it. We are not looking at blue or green, anyone who is serious and has a viable business plan we would help the person to put up a factory in the right location”.

And further explained that the real promoters do understand that this is a private led sector initiative and expressed frustration in explaining this issues over and over as the opposition have made it a point to do propaganda with it.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader demands accountability in supervision and regulation of collapse banks

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has called on government and the Bank of Ghana to provide transparency and accountability in the management, supervision and regulation of the collapsed financial institutions.

According to him his demand of transparency has to do with  eight banks (8) and over four hundred small and micro finance institutions (400) and some twenty three other savings and loans companies.

At a media briefing, he pointed out that in accordance with banks and specialized deposit institutions Act 930/section 130/1; “A receiver shall establish a new financial position for the bank or specialized deposit institution based on a determination of the liquidation values of the assets of the bank or specialized deposit taken institution”.

He further said, section 130/4 of the Act states that, the receiver shall within one month taken possession of a bank or specialized deposit taken institution and transmit a copy of the inventory report to the Bank of Ghana and demanded that the Bank of Ghana the regulator to produce the inventory report they received from the receiver of the collapsed banks.

Mr. Iddrisu  went further  to  ask the Bank of Ghana where  exactly,  they have published the inventory report as required by Act 930, section 130, and that, this country must be governed in accordance with law but not on the minds of the individual.

He further explained that, under the contract, the receiver is entitled to five percent of every asset recovered on auction of the assets of the collapsed financial institutions and seek to know how many percent was paid to the receiver in this regards. He believes the receiver might have been paid more than what has been stated in the contract.

The Minority Leader refreshed the memory of the journalists that government issues a sovereign bond in 2018 and added that it was dedicating an amount of four hundred and fifty million Ghana cedis to the Consolidated Bank of Ghana (CBG) to finance the sectors bail out.

“We in the Minority demand to know who the owners of the CBG. We need to know because public funds is being invested in CBG. We want to know if the amount spent if it is a loan or equity, I do not have answers and I am demanding answers to this”.

The Tamale South lawmaker also pointed out that President Nana Akufo-Addo had said ninety-six of the depositors had been paid but pointed out that government is not being transparent and noted that the irony of the issue is that same depositors have not gotten their money.

Again, he demanded an audit on depositors who have been paid for the Minority to ascertain if they can rely on the presidents “so called ninety-six percent payment”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

CBG belongs to Government of Ghana, Minority should know—Anthony Effah

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Anthony Effah has categorically stated that the Consolidated Bank of Ghana is state owned bank and government of Ghana owns the fiver merged collapse banks.

According to him, the Minority should know this facts as he was reacting to the Minority Leader’s press briefing which sought to know the owner of CBG.

He added that government has paid a chunk of monies to depositors of the collapsed banks and financial institutions.

And further pointed out that the Finance Minister came to the House to report on how much the state has spent on paying depositors with the collapse of the banks and other financial institutions as twelve billion Ghana cedis has been provided.

Additionally, five billion Ghana cedis has been provided to the microfinance institutions adding up to ninety-two percent, and there was an additional three billion Ghana cedis provided during the mid year review for fund management company.

On the auditing demanded by the Minority Leader, he noted that the Security and Exchange Commission has started the process of liquidating and winding up and validating some of the claims.

He assured that the Auditor General would audit every single funds that has been released; saying that is the responsibility of the Auditor General. “When we get to the plenary and they have any issues, they can ask and even at the Committee level”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Okaikwei Central MP thanks gov’t for facility to provide bridge and asphaltic roads

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah has thanked the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government for a facility approved by Parliament on Monday, August 10, 2020 to provide fifty bridges across the country.

He was appreciative of the twenty-eight million Euros facility and thanked the government on behalf of his constituents for the facility.

According to him, lives have been lost in his constituency in places like Abeka and Lapaz and at a press briefing, he thanked God for the facility.

“The N-1, you know I have been advocating for this bridges and I am happy to use the medium to announce to my constituent this good news”.

He further recounted that last week the House approved a facility of over fourteen million Ghana cedis to provide over seven point five kilometers of asphaltic road in his constituency, and lauded government for the intervention.

Meanwhile, he expressed the Foreign Affairs Committee’s condolence to the people of Lebanon over a sad incident which occurred in the port of Beirut where about two thousand seven hundred tons of ammonia nitrate exploded sending a worrying signal to the world.

“We are told over hundred and sixty people died and hundreds of people injured, with thousands displaced. Government of Ghana has issued an official statement on that and the Foreign Affairs Minister visiting their Embassy in Ghana”.

The former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee noted that there are a lot of Lebanese who live and work in Ghana and he is expressing sympathy to them and let them know Ghana is with them through this difficult time.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Four communities in South Tongu to benefit from potable water—Minister

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecelia Abena Dapaah has told parliament cabinet and Parliament has secured approval for the implementation of phase three of the 5-districts water supply scheme.

According to her, communities like Yorkutikpo, Dorkploame and its environs would be connected to portable water for distribution from Agotakpo which is the end of the distribution network currently under the phase two of the project.

She made this remarks when the Member of Parliament for South Tongu, Kobena Mensah Woyome wanted to know steps being taken to supply potable drinking water to Dendo, Yorkutikpo, Atseieve, Drokploame and surrounding areas.

The sector Minister told the House Government is committed to improving on the supply of potable water to communities mentioned by the South Tongu lawmaker as a result of population increase.

“Mr. Speaker, in an earlier submission to the House in July 2018, I indicated that Ghana Water Company Limited had signed a contract with Messrs UEM International to rehabilitate and expand the Agordome-Sagakipe treatment plant to include extension of distribution pipes to the communities under consideration and beyond. However, the company was unable to secure funding for the project”.

And further told the House Cabinet and Parliament have also approved the Keta Water Supply System Project.

Under the project, the Agordome –Sogakope water treatment plant will be expanded and this will improve supply of water to Sassekope, Dendo and Atsieve communities and their environs to meet the increasing water demand.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

“We met ECOWAS chairman to initiate direct election at their level”—Ayariga

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

A member of the fifth Community Parliament Mahama Ayariga who was part of Speaker’s delegation that had a working visit to the chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments, H. E., Mahamadou Issoufou said the visit was to initiate discussion of direct elections of lawmakers at the level of Heads of States.

And further noted that the visit is as a result of the chairman’s call to ensure direct elections during the inauguration of the fifth parliament in Niger, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic they were unable to get back to him on the matter.

According to him Heads of States have to approve direct election policy, and there were a lot of issues involve in the whole process.

Mr. Ayariga noted that the first issue was, if all the fifteen member countries were ready to proceed with the direct election and was something they need to confirm. Secondly, how it should be implemented.

Again another issue is the determination of the constituencies in each member country on how the election should be conducted and financed.

He said an important issue of note is “when the Community lawmakers are full time

Ghanamps.com