Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin in moving for the motion of adjournment after the President Nana Akufo-Addo presented is last but one State of the Nation Address said his side is prepared to debate the Minority on their past record of SONA which was full of lamentation from 2013 to 2015.

And further pointed out that like the president alluded to as a country we are down but we would rise again under his able leadership with the hope he is providing moving into the future, his side was prepare to debate the SONA but members need to prepare for this hence he would call for adjournment.

H assured the Minority Leader who was busy jotting down notes that they are fully prepared for them as they would play back their previous records of lamentation and he should go according to the standing orders by seconding the motion for adjournment and not deviate.

Meanwhile, the Minority did what was unexpected by shouting and demanding the return of Mr. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the immediate past leader of the majority caucus while Afenyo was on the floor. They chanted, “we want Kyei, we want Kye”; but Mr Afenyo Martin reminded them that the Majority side had a smooth transition unlike the Minority sider that had brouhaha.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has expressed disappoint in President Nana Akufo-Addo for not touching on corruption in his last but one State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

In an interview after adjournment of the House, Mr Ayariga queried why the president failed to mention his fight against corruption saying “why did he not mention his fight against corruption? He has totally failed in his crusade”, he stated.

Again, one other major incident he did not mention is the Akosombo spillage. He could not even remember the plight of our brothers and sisters; he could not be bothered about the affected Communities.

“I am disappointed; even if you have done nothing about it mention that it was one of the things that happened. No plans to address this problem is very sad, he emphasized.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Effutu Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Martin has been confirmed as the Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament on Friday, February 23, 2024.

The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) confirmed Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu, as the new leader of the majority caucus in Parliament.

This change follows a recent interpretation of parliamentary procedures and aligns with the Speaker’s ruling on the selection process.

The confirmation was made at a meeting led by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong.

The meeting, which involved members of the Majority Caucus, deliberated on recommendations from the National Executive Committee concerning the leadership reshuffle.

The General Secretary presented the recommendations, along with the concurrence letter from the Majority Caucus to the National Council, which approved them at a meeting at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.

This process adheres to the stipulations of Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament (2024), as interpreted by Speaker Alban SK Bagbin.

The Speaker’s interpretation clarified that while parliamentary caucuses play a pivotal role in leadership selection, the involvement of political parties in this process cannot be sidelined, ensuring a balance between internal party democracy and parliamentary norms.

The Speaker of Parliament will officially announce the leadership changes on the floor, following the receipt of a detailed letter from the NPP General Secretary confirming the changes.

This will be followed by a farewell statement from the outgoing Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, symbolizing the end of his tenure.

In a ceremonial act of transition, Kyei Mensah Bonsu, along with Adansi Asokwa MP, KT Hammond, will then formally install Alexander Afenyo-Markin as the new Majority Leader.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Committee on Mines and Energy has requested the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) to furnish it with information on the alleged expenditure of US$I2 Million expended by MIIF on Agyapa Royalties with supporting evidence, if any.

A letter from the Committee dated February 20, 2024 and signed by Benjamin Tachie Antiedu, Esq., Senior Assistant Clerk/Schedule Officer to the Committee on Mines and Energy to the Chief Executive Officer of MIIF states that their action is based on publications and public discourse relating to the above subject matter.

The Committee notes that the purpose of the request is to guide the Select Committee on the appropriate steps to take in respect of the allegation.

Meanwhile, MIIF has been given up to Tuesday, February 27, 2024, to have the information delivered to the Secretariat of the Committee.

Ghanamps.com

 

The Deputy Education Minister, Rev Ntim Fordjour said the Ghana Education Service has adopted play-based education system as the way to train children at their early stages in school.

He explained that, GES has realized that, early childhood education is very vital that’s why GES has partnered Lively Minds, Liberty Creation, Right to Play and others to use playing to introduce formal education to Ghanaian children at their early stages in order to build their interest in learning.

The deputy minister added that, government is training about 48,000 teachers that would be handling kids in the kindergarten and nursery to help build children with such knowledge in their local languages (mother tongue).

Rev Ntim Fordjour made these comments soon after he contributed to a statement made by MP for Tamale North, Mr Suhuyini Sayibu Alhassan on how to design educational programs through playing for children in early childhood education.

Ghanamps.com

The first deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bekwai, Mr. Joseph Osei Owusu said, he is disappointed that Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu took the decision to resign.

He asserts that Mr. Kyei-Mensah is a fantastic leader and the caucus should have kept him to the end of the 8th Parliament.

He explained that, Mr Kyei Mensah has been extremely hard working both in his role and leadership as majority leader.

Mr Osei-Owusu added that, though he was disappointed, their caucus will take steps to fill his position with equally qualified person who would be able to hold the fourth peacefully.

He denied the speculation that, the NPP caucus has elected Mr. Alexander Afenyo Markin as the Majority Leader and that the caucus will remain focused in achieving its objectives.

The lawmaker shot down the suggestion that the former Leader, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu was forced to step down.

Mr Joseph Osei Owusu made these comments at a press interaction soon after the adjournment of proceedings on Thursday.

Ghanamps.com

The minority through its ranking member on the Health Committee of parliament and MP for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has called on the Majority side in Parliament to cooperate with the Minority to investigate into the COVID-19 expenditure.

He explained further that, an Ad-hoc committee involving both health and finance committee which was constituted by the Speaker to investigate into the expenditure has failed to do its work since it was formed.

Mr Akandoh further said, the Chairman of Committee, Dr Ayew Afriyie is not showing any seriousness about the mandate assigned to them as a committee and has called for meeting just once.

Mr Akandoh used the opportunity to call on the Chairman to show leadership by calling members on the committee to begin the investigation immediately for Ghanaians to know everything about the COVID-19 expenses.

Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has withdrawn his proposals to the Anti-Gay bill.

His motion was to give an alternative to convicted persons a community service instead of custodial sentence were all shot down by the House.

The leader was surprised about Speaker’s directive to withdraw his amendments since those proposals are alien to the process of law enactment in the House.

On another proposal from Mr Afenyo Markin on the mandatory commission of counselling to the convicted persons was also shot down and finally withdrawn from the Bill.

It is the sense of the House that there will be no further delays in the passage of the Bill.

The Nigo- Prampram MP, Mr Samuel Nartey George argued that the proposal of Mr. Afenyo Markin which seems to introduce a mandatory counselling will put cost on the consolidated fund which is contrary to the constitution of Ghana on private members’ Bill.

But the Deputy Majority Leader argues that the custodial sentence in the current form still puts a charge on the consolidated fund.

Ghanamps.com