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Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

Economy rebounding stronger than anticipated – Finance Minister

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The Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam told parliament during the mid-year fiscal policy review presentation that the country’s economy is rebounding stronger than anticipated.

He noted that over the last two years, Government has embarked on a number of decisive measures to get us back on the path of fiscal consolidation, economic stability and growth and was happy to note that these policies that have been implemented are yielding the expected results.

• Growth continues to exceed our expectations. The 4.7 percent growth rate reported by the Ghana Statistical Service for first quarter 2024 exceeds the revised target of 3.1 percent;

• Inflation is declining. End-June inflation rate of 22.8 percent, a reduction of 31 percentage points since December, 2022, confirms the target threshold of +/-2 of 15 percent by end 2024 is possible;

•Exchange rate has largely stabilised, compared to December, 2022, despite the recent pressures. The 18.6 percent depreciation rate to the US Dollar as of June 2024, represents an improvement over the 22.0 percent recorded for the same period last year; and

• Gross International Reserves reached 3.1 months of import as at end June 2024 against 2.5 months of imports in the same period last year.

These he said attest to the fact that the economy is on the right trajectory, saying, “the choices we have made and the policies we are implementing are yielding results. We have reversed the negative trends, all the indicators are looking better. I want to assure you that we will stay on this path and continue to make the right choices. Our economic recovery is fast and strong”, he affirmed.

Ghanamps.com

Finance Minister to present Mid-year budget review on Tuesday

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The Minister of Finance Dr. Amin Adams is expected to present this year’s mid-year budget review on the floor of House on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

Deputy Majority Leader Patricial Appiagyie disclosed this when he presented the business statement for the ensuing week on the floor of the House.

She further urged Members of Parliament from both the Majority and Minority sides of the House to make it a point to be on time as proceedings would start at ten in the morning.

And further pointed out that Monday, July 22, 2024, in view of the work load the House would seat.

On the debate that would ensue after the presentation of the mid-year budget review, Majority and Minority leaders are supposed to speak for thirty minutes whiles committee chairs and rankings would have fifteen minutes and other members ten minutes.

There are seventy-seven questions of which eleven are of urgent nature.

Ghanamps.com

ECG board chair proposes four plan agenda

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The newly sworn in board chair of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin says he is coming on board with four proposed agenda;

• operational efficiency,

• financial sustainability,

• employee empowerment and

• regulatory compliance.

“My diverse expertise equips me with unique perspectives and strategies that I intend to leverage to help my colleagues on the board of ECG propel this great institution into a new era of growth and innovation. We stand on the shoulders of these efforts, learning from both their successes and their challenges. Our task now is not to start anew but to continue this trajectory of thoughtful reform and innovation. Let us celebrate and build upon the work of those who have led the way, as we chart a new course forward for ECG”.

In his acceptance speech, he noted that the road ahead will be challenging, as we face ageing infrastructure, financial constraints and a rapidly evolving global energy landscape. Yet, I believe that within these challenges lie opportunities for transformative change.

“And I want to assure you that under my leadership of the ECG Board, we will deploy our best efforts to improve what we came to meet at ECG. Let us begin by embracing a spirit of innovation and efficiency. We can start by deepening the deployment of smart grid technologies in big cities like Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.

This technology has the power to reduce outage response times, boost businesses and enhance the quality of life for our citizens. We must also prioritize customer service, by developing a more interactive and user-friendly digital platform; we can reduce complaint resolution times and improve overall customer satisfaction”.

Again, let us embrace innovative financing instruments like green bonds; this will not only support infrastructural upgrades but also    but also align with global sustainability trends, securing a greener future for Ghana.

In addition, let us approach these possibilities with a sense of purpose, urgency and responsibility. We have a short timeframe, but we have a long-term vision. We are not just building for today; we are building for tomorrow. We are not just building for ourselves; we are building for our children and our grandchildren, he added.

He commended the employees of ECG, saying “your dedication has kept this company running through difficult times, your insights will be crucial as we implement these changes. To our partners in government and the energy sector: We need your continued support and collaboration to succeed”.

He assured of setting ambitious targets, though admitting that there would be obstacles. “But as we’ve seen throughout our history, when Ghanaians unite behind a common purpose, there’s no challenge we cannot overcome”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

EC Chairperson briefs Parliament on December 7 elections

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Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensah appeared before Parliament on Friday, July 19, 2024, to brief members on several activities which have been carried out so far and yet to be done in making sure the December 7, 2024, general elections are conducted successfully.

She revealed some of the activities carried so far as follows:

• No new C.I would be laid before Parliament ahead of 2024 elections and as such the commission would rely on the current registration C.I (C.I 91) to conduct the voter registration exercise and also rely on current election C.I (C.I 127) to undertake the 2024 general elections.

• The proposal of pushing the election date forward to November would not be implemented in 2024 but rather consult the Attorney General on it for its implementation by 2028.

• In addition, the EC would continue to use the indelible ink for the 2024 elections.

• filing fees for 2020 would be maintained for this election as well; Gh100,000 charge for Presidential candidates and GH 10,000 charge for Parliamentary candidates.

• EC would waive 25 percent of the filing fees for women and persons with disability to help increase the number of women and disability in our elections.

• The EC would waive the filing fees for the media accreditation fees to help the media fill more of their personnel to serve as election observers.

ON ELECTION CALENDAR:

The EC said the elections’ calendar has been discussed extensively at the Inter Party Advisory Committee meeting (IPAC) and has received the inputs of the political parties and indeed the feedback from the parties has been fed into the final plan for the 2024 elections on May 7 to May 29; the revision of the voter register was conducted.

The commission extended voter registration exercise for 2 days due to feedback received from the political parties due to slow network they experienced for the first 2 days of the exercise.

And explained that, the registration exercise was carried in all their 268 District Offices across the country including Guan District in addition to 800 difficult to reach centers or 800 other locations made up of 775 difficult to access electoral areas and 25 public universities.

At the end of the 23-days exercise, a total of 778,447 new voters which exceeded the original target of the EC 622,000 were recorded.

Out of the total 778,447 persons registered, 63.68 percent used the GUARANTOR system, 36.28 percent used the GHANA CARD and finally, 0.34 used Passport to provide their citizenship and age.

Total number of females registered 408,332 constituting 52.45 percent; total male voters amounted to 370,115 constituting 47.55 percent of total registered people for 2024 registration exercise.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Snowe blames external influence for lingering violent extremism in Africa

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Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr.  has bemoaned the constant external factors in the fairs of Africa, which he blames as the main cause of violent extremism in the continent.

Leader of the Liberian delegation to the Community Parliament’s  attempting to answer the reason for the lingering terrorism, banditry, kidnapping in West Africa and the Sahel, despite every effort by the governments and multilateral institutions to nip the violent crisis in the bud said one thing that stands tall is the endemic influence from external factors.

“In Africa, we have African solidarity, but of late, we have been witnessing persistent interference from external forces. So, what is happening in Africa is that we need to work on very seriously and urgently the overbearing influence of external factor. The external factor is playing a major role in what is happening, be it security, slow pace of development or even the perennial poor economic outlook.”

He identified the fact that various countries in the continent have alliances with different countries from the western countries; and “the geo-politics has taken deep root into our African culture.”

“There are some African countries that are working with the United States, for example Liberia. There are some others that are working with France, example, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, and Senegal. There are a few others that are working with Russia – Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. We would not also forget the growing influence of China and its involvement in African Affairs”, he affirmed.

The geo-politics, he affirmed has penetrated the leadership as well, “because our leaders are relating with those powers that be and as they fight for space in the global sphere, it has a trickling down effect on our continent; particularly in our sub-region and it is affecting us severely. The sooner we realise that the better it will be for us”

Mr Snowe queried if the West is surreptitiously replicating the 1884/5 scramble for Africa in the 21th century? “It is not far from it”

He said African now has the sophistication to curb and correct this overbearing influence of our erstwhile colonial masters, but warned that “if we allow it to linger for so long, it might leave our hands and of course we will continue to suffer in the hands of Western powers.”

Ghanamps.com

Annoh-Dompreh assures board would strive hard to achieve success

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The newly sworn in Board Chairman of the Road Fund Management who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Nsawam Addoagyiri, Mr Frank Annor Dompreh has assured that, he and the rest of the members would strive hard to achieve great success for the Roads and Highways Ministry and for that matter, Ghanaians in general.

He explained that, as the ministry is embarking on serious maintenance culture in making sure the needed maintenance works are carried on our roads to prolong the lifespan of roads in the country, the board would give its best to get this policy work for the benefit of the country.

Mr. Annor Dompreh reassured the Roads and Highways Minister, Mr Asenso Boakye that, as chairman of the road fund infrastructure board, every effort and dedication would be committed into their work for the success of all.

He finally expressed his gratitude to the President, Nana Akufo-Addo for honoring him by offering such a great position and promised not to disappoint him with respect to discharging his duties as a board chairman.

Mr. Annor Dompreh made these remarks today when he and two others were sworn into office as a board chairman and members respectively of Ghana road fund infrastructure of the ministry of road and highways.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Afenyo Markin heads ECG Board

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Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin has been appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited.

A letter dated 16th July, 2024 and signed by NanaBediatuo, Secretary to the President urges the Minister to take the necessary steps to give effect to the President’s nomination in accordance with the Companies Act, 2029 (Act 992 and the Registrations of the Company.

By this appointment Afenyo replaces Herbert Krapa , the new Minister of State at the. Energy Ministry.

Ghanamps.com

L.I. on Road Traffic Regulations Amendment withdrawn

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The Legislative Instrument seeking to effect amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) has been withdrawn just days after it was laid on Friday, June 14, 2024.

The Ministry of Transport bowed to pressure from the public following the barrage of criticism that greeted the LI.
The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, formally withdrawn the L.I. on behalf of the Minister for Transport on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

He said, “Mr. Speaker, I rise to move that the Road Traffic Regulation Amendment 2024, which was laid on Friday, June 14, 2024, be withdrawn. This has become necessary based on extensive engagement with leadership. Therefore, it is so withdrawn.”

The new Legislative Instrument had included provision granting certain public officials, including Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Head of the Judiciary Service, Ministers of State and the 275 Members of Parliament (MPs), who were not originally captured in those privileges as captured in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180); thus the privilege to use sirens on the road and not be liable for exceeding speed limits.

Many voices that were critical about the L.I. said government should rather focus its energy on addressing the economic challenges including high unemployment, depreciating cedi, food high food and fuel prices.

Ghanamps.com

NDC MPs proposed siren privileges – Annoh-Dompreh

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The Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annor Dompreh, has chastised the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, for displaying acts of cowardice and hypocrisy by not owning up to a proposal the NDC MPs included in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations for consideration and approval by Parliament.

The new Legislative Instrument had included provision granting certain public officials, including Ministers of State and the 275 Members of Parliament (MPs), the privilege to use sirens on the road and not be liable for exceeding speed limits.

The intention of the government for introducing that amendment in the Legislative Instrument was to include the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Head of the Judiciary Service who were not originally captured in those privileges as captured in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180).

However, the NDC MPs on the Subsidiary Legislation Committee led by Dominic Ayine, insisted that if MPs were not included in those privileges, they will not participate in the consideration and passage of the Amended Legislative Instrument.

In view of this, when the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah resisted those efforts made by the Minority NDC MPs, they even delayed the laying of the Amended Legislative Instrument for over two months until consensus was made to include their proposal.

Following the laying of the Amended Legislative Instrument by the government through the Ministry of Transport on Monday, July 14, 2024, the inclusion of the 275 Member of Parliament received a public backlash with vehemence.

This has compelled the Minority NDC MPs to hurriedly release a press statement signed by its leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, calling for its immediate withdrawal.

However, in an interview with the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh on Tuesday, July 15, 2024, he expressed shock that the minority through its Leader, Ato Forson, is not owning     up to the proposal they made in the Legislative Instrument at the Committee level.

“I was rudely shocked when I saw that statement. Even though from my sources, it appears to be a personal statement he had issued. Members of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee were engaged extensively by the Minister of Transport because he wanted to pick their views on the Amended Legislative Instrument”, he noted.

He added “In the 2012 L.I. the Vice-President doesn’t have a provision; the Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament were all not included in those privileges. And for that matter, the intention of the Transport Minister was to include the Vice-President, Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice. Then there was a strong suggestion led by the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Hon. Dominic Ayine who insisted that they Members of Parliament be captured in the L.I. But the Transport Minister resisted it. But the Minority NDC MPs made it a condition else they won’t participate”.

He said it was after the proposal to include Members of Parliament that were captured in the Amended L.I. that the Minority gave the green light for it to be laid.

Nevertheless, Annoh-Dompreh noted that the Ministry of Transport has withdrawn the Amended Legislative Instrument for further consultations.

Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh further noted that the behavior and the attitude of the Minority Leader, Hon Ato Forson, for feigning piety after the huge the public uproar is what baffles him, creating the impression that the NDC MPs had no hand in it.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

No government business without Majority presence — Murtala declares

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The Minority side of parliament has cautioned the Majority that government businesses would suffer if they (Majority) don’t correct their ways.

In what is becoming a growing trend on the floor of the House where the Minority Members of Parliament show up in their numbers on the floor of the House while their colleagues in the Majority abstain themselves from the floor of the House, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Murtala Mohammad told the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin that, the Minority would not carry government business if the members on the majority side are not ready to show up in Parliament to lead in that regard.

On Monday July 15, 2024 the Tamale Central lawmaker expressed serious reservation on the Majority side to have abandoned the core mandate in Parliament only to follow the flag bearer of the NPP’s campaign in the constituencies of the minority seeking for votes.

He said members of the Minority could have done the same by abandoning their duties in Parliament and also campaign for themselves and their flag bearer to enhance their chances in the general elections.

The Tamale Central MP’s comments came up when he raised the issue of quorum (stopping proceedings of Parliament for lack of required numbers of 91 MPs).

The best numbers on the floor of the House was 41 of which 31 of that were from the Minority side and only 10 Majority MPs.

This forced the speaker to call for not more than an hour suspension of the House, and when they returned they were compelled to adjourn proceedings because they did not have the required numbers to do business.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com