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Author: Fred GhanaMPs

“If parliament shutdown the country would shutdown”—Speaker Oquaye

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

As Government institutions shutdown down with the scare of COVID-19, Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye has said if the House shutdown the country would shutdown.

“Parliament has to sit to approve money for the running of the country, so it cannot be shutdown as people are calling for”.

According to him other government departments can operate separately and individually, but in case of emergency the last stop is parliament.

“If no parliament, no country; we are in a critical situation, let us operate as such and get anyone who does not have priority business in Parliament out. His comment follows the presence of an auxiliary staff in parliament who said an MP asked him to come to the House.

“We have a duty to perform, anyone who is not supposed to come to the House and comes the person would be picked up by the marshal, we are going to be very tough about this”.

Professor Oquaye further added that the experts have said there would not be mass testing and if anyone feel symptoms they should immediately report to the parliament clinic.

He also reminded the house that on Monday dawn, the chamber was fumigated fully and would be done again Monday July 13, 2020 and urged MPs to refrain from asking their research assistants from coming to the House and rather work electronically, because those who would flout the rules would be dealt with, and no MPs should come to plead on behalf of anyone.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament to debate motion on private members’ bill

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

A motion is expected to be moved on Thursday, July 16, 2020 for the adoption of a proposal of enhancement of Private Members’ Bill.

Majority Chief Whip, Kwesi Ameyaw Cheremeh announced this on the floor of the House on Friday, July 10, 2020 and urged his colleagues to come to the House in their numbers on the said date so that they can contribute meaningfully to enrich the debate towards a far-reaching decision.

He further emphasized that starting next week Monday July 13, 2020 the House would be sitting as announced on Friday, July 3, 2020.

He further announced to the House that the Business Committee has not scheduled any Minister to appear before the House to answer questions but pursuant to Order 70 (2), Ministers of state may be permitted to make statements on government policies.

He later added that his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Speaker’s office has admitted some questions and in the cause of the week some Ministers would answer questions on the floor.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu noted that asking of questions helps with the oversight responsibility of the legislative arm of government.

And added that there would be public office accountability bill which would also be taken, and advised that though they are in the constituency working they should avail themselves on Thursday.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Postpone BECE and WASSCE amidst COVID-19—Ranking Education

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Deputy Ranking Member on the Committee for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak is advocating for the postponement of this year’s Basic Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the light of COVID-19 spread in some senior high schools (SHS) across the country.

According to him Kenya and Nigeria have postponed examination of final year students of secondary schools to next year.

He noted that government held consultations with stake holders who were not in favour of reopening of SHS and JHS because of the outbreak of COVID-19, but the government gave assurance of putting measures in place to ensure there is no spread of the disease.

“Government promise to fumigate the various campuses, provide PPEs, sanitizers, veronica buckets, running water and thermometer guns and medical persons attached, unfortunately most of these things have not been met, some schools had their PPEs just this week”.

And added that at the various campus there are issues of schools recording positive COVID-19 cases. The media has not heard of it because students’ mobile phones have been taken away, how do they report when one is infected, and questioned if students can be in the right frame of mind to write their final exams with some of their colleague testing positive and they do not know who had the disease.

“Why are we keeping students on campus to write their exams, when cabinet of the President Akufo-Addo administration has suspended on suspicion that the virus is present among high government officials”.

Dr. Apaak said comments made by the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu indicates that government has lost the fight against COVID-19 and added that government should be held accountable because it has the responsibility to ensure that the safety of Ghanaians is guaranteed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority cautions security to stop intimidating and asking for citizenship

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
 Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has cautioned the Military and the Police to stop intimidating and asking people in the Volta Region undergoing the registration exercise for voters ID if they are Ghanaians.

According to him if the security have any issue with any ones citizenship they should follow the due process as stipulated by law as the Minority have received complains of intimidation and harassment across the country.

“Our caution to the Ghana Police and Ghana Armed Forces is that they should stay neutral as a state institution and rather work to secure the peace and stability of the country and not be a political appendage of the ruling government”.

Mr. Iddrisu again emphasised that the calling of the police and army do not have any authority under the laws of Ghana to ask any person of his or her citizenship.   “We would not sit aloof for them to continue to intimidate our party supporters and innocent Ghanaians to aid government at its voter suppression, their role is defined by law”.

He indicated that there had been instance that a colleague of theirs was brutalized, harassed and abused by the security, up until now there has not been any arrest.

On the issue of the EC registering students, he advised that the Electoral Commission works hand in hand with the EC for the purpose of transparency and accountability.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Transport Fare Hikes: Agbodza calls for reduction of taxes on petroleum products

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Ranking Member on Roads and Transport, Governs Kwame Agbodza has called on the government to consider reducing taxes on petroleum products following recent hikes in transport fares.

According to him members of the general public who use public transport are suffering and he puts himself in the shoes of commercial transport drivers who are suppose to break even because they run a business.

“If they don’t increase fares they can’t buy fuel and spare parts, government should be sensitive to Ghanaians. What happened to the sixteen billion cedis approved by Parliament? This can be used to cushion commercial drivers and Ghanaians. I do not know the level of insensitivity of this insensitive government and what they are perpetuating”.

Mr. Agbodza in an interview asked if the Vice President Dr. Bawumia is still part of the government economic management team that is bringing this hardship to Ghanaians as he is not heard on economic issues. He only comes out to do politics. “I wonder what they discuss at their economic management meetings”.

“We should not be seeing transport fares going up, rather they should be coming down because a lot of people have lost their jobs and are not working, and you are now telling me to pay more”.

He further pointed out that the free water enjoyment announced by the current government people in his constituency, Adaklu did not enjoy it, what they partly enjoy was the electricity. “What about the frontline health workers? Zero. What has government done with the sixteen million?”

“They are sharing money to party executives in my constituency. They ask them to fill a form and they are sent a mobile money of two hundred Ghana cedis to their phones. We need to ensure that the life span of this government does not go beyond January 7, 2021 for a better government which care for the people under John Dramani Mahama to take over this country”.

He added that the cedi is not doing well on the international market against all major currencies. A dollar to six Ghana cedis; spare parts would go up, and commercial drivers are suffering. Triple jeopardy and when they asked for fifty percent price up, they have been given fifteen.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

COVID-19 scare: “Close down Parliament if you have done that for others”—Agbodza

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Member of Parliament for Adaklu Governs Kwame Agbodza has taken a swipe at the current government under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo for being insensitive to Ghanaians in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He expressed worry that while the seat of government and the Finance Ministry is being closed down, the legislature is still working.

According to him Parliament House should have been closed down with the scare of the coronavirus spread as the Jubilee House, the seat of government has been closed and staffs are working from the House, same with the Finance Ministry.

“Again the registration exercise should have been stopped to ensure that we are safe even if we do not have jobs, we should ensure that we are alive and not dead as that would be better because there would be a better tomorrow”.

As to whether he suspects that the Government’s economic management team is not working because they have been advised to work from home and senior officials infected with COVID-19,  he noted that government cannot be trusted.

“Whenever they tell you everything is alright, it is until you see them falling down, it is sad for anybody is sick, those of my colleagues who have been infected I wish them speedy recovery. Compare the presidency and the Finance Ministry closing down but the registration for voters ID is going on”.

He noted in an interview that he finds it amazing that the seat of government which is more secure with people coming and going have been shut down, and they find the polling station more “secure” than Jubilee House and the Finance Ministry?

“This government does not care about the security of the people of Ghana and are so insensitive by allowing the registration to go on”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

“John Mahama’s government would address B5 Plus problems”—Sam George

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Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George Nartey has said less than hundred days in office should former President John Mahama be re-elected as president by Ghanaians, the electricity and water problems of B5 Plus Steel Company would be addressed.

According to him, he is worried that B5 Plus Company, the largest steel company in West Africa which employs a huge number of his constituents still has problem with regards to constant supply of electricity and water.

He lamented over the inability of the current government under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo to address their issues despite the fact that the nation needs industrial drive.

Mr. Sam Nartey in an interview pointed out that the issue of B5 Plus is sad because the current government was quick to put up a sign board that the company was one of its flagship programme; “One District, One Factory” initiative, despite the company being in existent for a decade.

“You would have expected that government being quick in taking credit, there would be dedicated line to provide B5 Plus with power, this is an eighty million dollars investment. And their plants are not working at the capacity in which they should work despite the claim that they are interested in industrialization”.

The lawmakers alleged that government is giving B5 Plus competition by giving tax exemption to a company that is bringing cheap steel despite the fact that B5 Plus is a local company and added that government is not giving the needed support.

“B5 Plus, a steel company located in the Prampram industrial enclave needs water to run its coolers and electricity to fire its plant, three of them at the moment only one is working because they don’t have adequate electricity power supply”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

COVID-19 Protocols: I don’t want to be an MP over unhealthy constituents—Same George

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel George Nartey has said with the ongoing voter registration exercise, he has observed during his rounds to the various registration centres that, it has been difficult for people to observe the safety protocols against the spread of COVID-19.

According to him, he does not want to be a Member of Parliament over unhealthy constituents and would want his people to observe the safety protocols.

In an interview, he pointed out that last week Tuesday, June 30, 2020 when the registration started the challenges Ningo-Prampram  had was breaking down of EC’s machine but has been managed and they have kept going.

“Day two of the registration processes there was heavy military detachment and the following day heavy police presence with the excuse that of maintaining peace should there be a problem, eventually there has not been any problem”.

Mr. Nartey further revealed that the numbers of voters who have registered are quite impressive and his constituents are not intimidated by the presence of the military.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Osei-Kyei questions the value Professor Jean Opoku would add to Mahama ticket

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Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has questioned the value Professor Naana Opoku Agyeman would bring on board patterning former President John Dramani Mahama as a running mate in the December 7, 2020, presidential election.

According to him he finds it extremely difficult to point out, despite the fact that he acknowledged that she is an acclaimed woman and speaks good English but that does not satisfy the tick to ensure quality improvement in governance.

“Perish the thought, let us assume that John Mahama becomes President tomorrow and is no longer there, is this woman capable to be described as the President of the Republic? It has nothing to do with her person, we are talking about quality in governance”.

He further questioned if Professor Jean Naana Opoku Agyeman can impact this country, “I don’t think so, that is where I have my problem but as a person she is an acclaimed woman, nice character, but I do not think that alone can rule this nation”.

The business of governance is acquired he said and added that one can’t be picked from the road side that is his problem either than that she is a good woman and has the brains but the ticket, “I don’t see that”, he said in an interview.

Mr. Osei-Kyei further backed his argument by pointing about that some women in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have demonstrated competence and have risen through the ranks and Parliament.

Madam Hannah Tetteh, former MP and Foreign Affairs Minister has learnt the rules and competent to partner John Mahama, same as former Attorney-General, Marietta Brew Appiah – Opong is solid. Again Betty Mould Iddrisu but has some skeleton with regards to the Woyome either than that she is okay.

According to him, John Mahama is a communicator and whoever would partner him should add value to the governance architecture through experience, be it economics going to impact the economy. “I was thinking he was also going to settle on either Dr. Kwabena Duffuor or Dr Nii Moi Thompson

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority women caucus congratulates Professor Opoku-Agyemang

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The Minority women caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has congratulated Professor Jean Naana Opoku-Agyemang for her nomination as running mate of their flag bearer John Dramani Mahama.

In a statement signed by the second deputy Minority whip and Member of Parliament for Ada, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah pointing out that finally the fifty-two percent of the Ghanaian population would have their chance at the decision making table of Ghana.

They further commended the former President John Dramani Mahama for demonstrating his passion and commitment to bring women forward into positions of responsibility by choosing a female.

“We promise our unflinching support for the John and Jane ticket in this year’s election and we are confident that all women and men who believe in the can-do spirit of women in this country will reward you with a resounding victory in less than five months to come”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com