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Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

Ghana is better off having an Authority to regulate cement pricing — K. T. Hammond

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Minister for Trade and Industry, K. T. Hammond has argued that Ghanaian would be better served if there is an Authority in place to regulate pricing of cement, as prices keep sky rocketing.

According to him it has become a normal practice where you buy cement today at eighty Ghana cedis and the following morning it has escalated to one hundred Ghana cedis.

He made this assertion at a media briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in the wake of him laying a Legislative Instrument L. I. to set up an Authority to regulate cement pricing in Ghana which has been met with some level of resistance.

The Minister further added that Ghana is producing a lot of cement in the country and has a stored capacity of eleven million tons; but the demand is not that much, so it has become a profitable enterprise for the producers.

“It behooves on those in responsible position to ensure that Ghanaians do not buy it at that high price, I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the cement pricing in the country. We had similar situation during President Kufuor’s time in the petroleum industry where we had an Authority established to regulate it”.

Again, we should have a situation where, a price in the Northern part of Ghana should be same as the Southern Part of Ghana and we should have a holistic look at it and look at whatever factors that goes into it, he affirmed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

NDC will support Free SHS Bill to improve quality of Education—Atto Forson

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Contrarily to the Majority Leader’s assertion that the Minority is not ready and committed to the Free SHS Bill, the Minority Leader Atto Forson said the National Democratic Congress and for that matter the Minority will support the Bill.

Clarifying their position on the bill, he said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority caucus would support the Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill that seeks to improve the quality of education and fix the lapses identified in its implementation.

According to him, it should be on record that the Minority has not said anywhere that the NDC is opposed to the Free SHS policy as the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has said; rather, “we have the government of the day and the Majority side not presented to the House the said Bill”, he clarifies on the floor of the House on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Again, the matter has found itself repeated on a number of NPP related media houses that have run for some time now. “All we see is desperation on the part of the ruling government to create disaffection for the Minority MPs.”

“How long will the Bill take from Flagstaff House to the House; weeks, months, seven years, if it’s coming from the Ministry of Education, it is even closer”

The Minority Leader challenged the Majority side to come with the Bill to the floor within one week or tomorrow so that they can see the content of the Bill.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Osei-Nyarko berates Minority over road inspections

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Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Osei-Nyarko has described as very strange; the decision by his colleagues from the Minority side of the Committee to embark on inspections of some major road projects on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, whiles the Committee had decided to do same on Thursday, June 27, 2024, after a weekend’s workshop.

According to him Ranking on the Committee Adjie Mensah was with him at a workshop over the weekend, but he did not give any indications of selecting his side to go on road inspection, as it turned- out to be the case on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

In an interview just after a media engagement on plans the Committee has to embark on inspections of some major road works in the country; and when asked if he was aware of the trip embarked on by his colleagues from the Minority, he was surprised because he was hearing the information from a journalist.

“I would be disappointed in my Ranking if it turns out that they embarked on this trip. He never discussed this with me; more over the Committee has written to the sector Ministry and we would be embarking on this trip for inspection on Thursday. We must write a report when we return, so does it mean the Minority side will not join us for this trip?” He queried.

What they are doing, are they doing it for political gain, because we have agreed as a committee to embark on oversight road inspection to Kasoa, Winneba, Dodowa and Nungua, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

All six members of the Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation to Kenya safe

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All six members of the Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation from the Local Government Committee undertaking parliamentary duties in Kenya are safe.

The ranking member on the committee, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye disclosed this to Albert Ocansey, host of TV3’s Ghana Tonight show on Tuesday.

They are

• Emmanuel Gyamfi, MP for Odotobri the chairman of the local government committee,
• Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, MP for Odododiodoo
• Thomas Ampem, MP for Asuogyaman
• Sylvester Tetteh, MP for Bortiano-Ngleshie Amanfro
• Mohammed Tufeiru, MP for Nanton as well as the Clark to the committee, Rita Feo
Violent anti-tax protest against the parliament of Kenya erupted on Tuesday following the passage of tax amendments bill that imposes 17 additional tax burdens on the citizens.

The protesters, mainly youth-led groups in their thousands staged their opposition to the tax amendment bill with a peaceful protest some days ago across the capital, Nairobi and other parts of the country; but things escalated on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 following the passage of the bill.

The violent-protest resulted in part of the parliament house being set ablaze and the vandalization of facilities at the parliament house. At least five people are also reported to have been shot dead with dozens wounded.

The Speaker and Members of parliament including foreign delegations from different countries including Ghana had to be whisked away away to safety.

Mr. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, recounting the ordeal on the Ghana Tonight Show, said “what we saw in Kenya was frightening; was a determined force of civilians overpowering and overcoming security forces that have been detailed to prevent them from achieving their objectives of entering the parliament house.

According to him, the protestors over-powered the security, destroyed all barricades and even took over some of the security vehicles; and it took the intervention of military reinforcement to bring some level of calm.

Members of the Local Government Committee have been in Kenya since Saturday for bench marking of the Kenyan National Assembly and the Senate.

Ghanamps.com

Boankra port will attract investors to pump money into rail line—Osei Nyarko

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Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee Kennedy Osei Nyarko has noted that Government’s main idea of building the Boankra land port is to attract investors to also pump their money into building the Tema – Mpakadan Railways network to the port since government does not have enough money to fund both projects at the same time.

According to him heavy trucks hauling large containers by road destroy the country’s road network hence to avoid that the idea of the Eastern rail network came up.

In an interview, he pointed out that the Boankra inland port would save those coming from the Northern parts of the country traveling all the way to Tema port to carry their heavy containers.

And further pointed out that the last time he checked constructing the Mpakadan Railways to the inland port in Kumasi is not going to cost the country less than two million dollars and it could be more than that.

Hence the need to involve the private sector to invest since government cannot raise funds alone for this good initiative.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Sports Minister outlines measures for maintenance of ultra-modern African Games facilities

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Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has outlined measures by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure that the ultra modern sports facilities used for the African Games Accra 2024 are maintained.

Government invested large sums of money to boost Ghana’s sports infrastructure by building multi purpose sports facilities at the University of Ghana campus, as well as the Borteyman Sports Complex in Borteyman for the Games.

The facilities include the completion of the University of Ghana stadium, standard athletics and warm tracks, a rugby stadium – all at the University of Ghana, while a number of standard facilities, including swimming pool and it’s warm up pool, and multi-purpose domes were also constructed in Borteyman.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday to give a report on the Games, Mustapha Ussif outlined measures to maintain the facilities to avoid them becoming white elephants.

For the facilities at the University of Ghana campus, he revealed that they will he handed over to the University of Ghana to manage it, as part of its facilities.

“The University of Ghana Sports Stadium and other auxiliary facilities at Legon will be transferred to the management of the University of Ghana,” he said.

For the Borteyman Sports Complex, the Sports Minister announced that the National Sports Authority, an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is currently managing it in the interim, adding that the Ministry is also considering proposals from the private sectors for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to manage the facilities.

Once certainty, however, is that the Borteyman Sports Complex is being turned into a University for Sports Development, which the Minister revealed, plans are underway.

“As was announced before the construction of the Borteyman facilities and the commencement of the Games, Government intends to convert the Borteyman Sports Complex into a University Sports for Development, for the long-term sustainability of these ultra modern facilities, ” he said.

” In this regard, a cabinet memo has been prepared and it is on its way to Cabinet for approval. Once it is approved, Mr. Speaker, I will return to the House for approval for the new University for Sports Development.’
Ghanamps.com

Road and Transport Committee to visit ongoing projects — Committee Chairman

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Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee Kennedy Osei-Nyarko has pointed out that, they would be visiting various ongoing projects in the Country as part of their oversight responsibility.

According to him in the morning of Thursday, June 27, 2024, the committee would visit the Kasoa, Winneba and Dodowa road projects.

And the Committee has written to the Roads and Transport Ministry concerning these ongoing projects and they have met to consider bills that would be coming before the floor of the House including the Civil Aviation Authority bill.

At a press conference, he pointed out that the Committee would next week visit the Boankra Inland Port as Ghanaians are interested to know about where the project has gotten to and this is within the right of the Committee to know and give advice.

He also stated that the start of the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Project the Committee has not gotten the opportunity to be there to monitor the progress of work. Furthermore, it important to visit the Nungua road project and Obetsebi Lamptey interchange phase II projects to learn at first-hand about the date of completion, funding and inform Ghanaians appropriately.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

NDC is not ready and committed to the Free SHS Bill —Majority Leader

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Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has taken a swipe at the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) for not making the Free Senior High School (SHS) their priority.

According to him the Minority is not committed to the Free SHS and through their spokesperson on Education Peter Nortsu-Kotoe has given indication that they are opposed to it. “We want them to tell Ghanaians if Free SHS is not their priority as a responsible opposition”.

He further pointed out a quick press conference on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 that the Majority will want to enact a law to make free SHS mandatory. “We want to enact a law to make it mandatory; those provisions that talks about free in the constitution are very aspirational, so the way to go is to enact a law to regulate the policy, which is currently operational, but the NDC is opposed to it”.

He affirmed that the bill has received executive approval, and the sector minister is going to carry it to parliament as part of the engagement process. “We engage the Minority but they are adamant. The NDC is not ready for the free SHS bill; it is clear their spokesperson on Education has been very loud on it.”

The last time I wanted a response on the floor, he avoided talking on it and he stayed clear-off it and did not want to give a response, “so we know in parliament the caucus speaks though its spokespersons and they say they are opposed because there is some provision in the constitution; they should tell us where, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Rt. Hon Bagbin and Madina MP to receive 2024 Jacobs-Abbey awards in the US

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The Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies (Jagils) has named the Rt Hon. Speaker as an honoree at its 6th Annual Banquet and Awards Gala at Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Virginia.

According to the Institute, the Speaker’s “distinguished career as a Ghanaian politician, serving as the Minister for Health, a seven-term Member of Parliament for the Nadowli West constituency, and your current role as the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana exemplify the leadership and dedication that Jagils holds in high esteem” makes him a perfect candidate for the said prestigious award.

On Parliament’s facebook page, it was pointed out that, the award is presented to leaders who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to civil and human rights, recognizing their dedication to advancing justice, peace, and freedom for workers and community members through their daily work.

Previous recipients of this esteemed award included H.E. Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Isabelle Vladoiu, Founder of the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, The Hon. Cashenna A Cross, Mayor of the City of Glenarden, Dr. Nina L Meyerhof, President of Children of the Earth Inc., and Timothy Bowles, International Director of Youth for Human Rights International.

The NDC Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Hon. Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, (Esq) has also been approved to be awarded a life-time achievement recognition by a conferment of the Presidential Service Award in the USA.

This follows his voluntary service in Ghana and across a number of States in the USA. Hon. Sosu has been known to be a lawyer, author, and human rights activist.

His nomination was made by the Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute Leadership in Virginia and was approved by the Whitehouse in June 2024.

According to Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute of Leadership, “Hon Sosu rose from being a destitute street child into becoming a lawyer and human rights activist and eventually a legislator in Ghana championing major legislative changes including abolishing the death penalty and criminalizing witchcraft accusations”.

The event is scheduled to take place on November 9, 2024, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Virginia where Rt. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Sosu would both pick these prestigious awards.

Ghanamps.com

Three Minority MPs Walk out of the floor after prayers in solidarity with their leader

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In support of their boycott on Thursday, June 20, 2024, three members of the Minority who were on the floor of the House Walked out after the Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah came to the floor to chair proceedings and prayer was said.

Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, Etsey Kame Rockson-Dafeamekpor and Abed-Nego Bandim were on the floor of the House when the Second Deputy Speaker walked in. but just after prayers, Bernard Ahiafor called them to walk out and they did.

As at 2:30pm when business was ongoing on the floor of the House some Minority MPs and the Minority chief whip Governs Kwame Agbodza were at the coffee shop area waiting to hear information from the court before taking any action.

However, attendance by the Majority MPs was also not encouraging; as a count of the Majority Members of Parliament on the floor of the House doing business as at the time of filling this story was only sixteen, (16)

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com