Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Vice Chairperson on Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament who doubles as MP for Mfantseman constituency, Ophelia Mensah Hayford has revealed that, based on their committee’s report Ghana is losing more trained Air Force pilots after investing huge sums of money to train them.

She explained that, Ghana as a country do not have enough fighter jets, helicopters, and other gadgets that are needed in fighting terriorism or for maximum protection of our airspace, and because of that, many trained pilots are not getting regular flight time during their duty hours and therefore decide to leave the institution.

The vice chairman further explained that, because per international practice, an experience of a pilot is measured on how regular or hours he or she has been flying the plane, most of these trained pilots are refusing to remain idle in the service and therefore prefer to leave to seek for employment elsewhere in order to enrich their working experience as pilots.

The lawmaker used the opportunity to call on government to make more funds available for the Defence Ministry to aquire more of their equipment so as to maximize the protection, security and Peace of Ghana, especially during this era where terriorist and other groups disrupt the peace of some countries within the sub-region.

Madam Ophelia Mensah Hayford made these known when she seconded the motion for the approval of Three billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety One Million, One Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Six Cedi
( Gh 3,891,151,856.00 ) for the ministry of Defence for the year ending 31 December, 2024 in Parliament.

Ghanamps.com

The deputy chairman on the finance committee and MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah has disclosed that government is in the process to secure an amount of $380 million Dollars for the rehabilitation and expansion, a minimum of ten lanes ( 10 lanes ) on the ACCRA-TEMA-MOTORWAY which is about 19.5 kilometres.

According to him the amount is to cover a total of 27.7 kilometres, meaning government is going to use part of the loan to work on Tetteh Quashie interchange, the construction of Teshie link interchange, construction of community 18 interchange, construction of Lashie-bi intercourse and eight toll booths, construction of ten new footbridges among others.

Mr Boamah further said, part of the loan would also be used to complete some works on the George Walker Bush highway (N-1) which is about 5.7 kilometres.

He concluded by saying, this loan would also be used for the rehabilitation of existing six lane on on the Accra-Nsawam Road and other works on that road.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful said government of Ghana has no plans of selling its thirty percent (30 %) shareholding in the Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited.

And further explained that Vodafone Ghana rather has transferred its seventy percent (70 %) stake in the company to the Telcel Group in February 2023.

The Minister made these comments on Monday, December 11, 2023 when the member of Parliament for South Dayi, Mr Rockson Nelson Etse Dafiamekpor asked the minister if government has any plans of selling its shares in Vodafone Ghana.

Ghanamps.com

Ranking member on the Committee of Trade and Industry, Yusif Sulemana has said as a Country we need to think of how to strengthen the cedi as the Trade and Industry Minister K. T. Hammond is seeking to lay a Legislative Instrument to restrict some imported items which is costly to the country as foreign currency is needed in this regard.

A joint business consultative forum of Ghana has petitioned Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee as the sector seeks to lay a Legislative Instrument to restrict importation of twenty-two items.

According to him their Committee has received five petitions from those who are affected by these proposed L I and they are looking out for them to engage them for further clarification; “thanks be to God you have offered that opportunity, I have gone through the five petition very well.”

He expressed delight that the House was able to do due diligence, identify the county’s limitations and offered the need inputs. “We have done our bit, it would have gone through by just laying it, but the House unanimously raised critical issues and it was not laid.”

He said it was obvious that the Minister was not happy subsequent attempts to lay the L.I. both failed; “you saw him on television he was not happy when he was not allowed same for the third time.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The deputy majority leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin has refuted claims by some NDC members in his constituency that some government officials and himself have sold the sacred forest of Effutu to a mining company to mine lithium.

According to him the forest is still reserved for the purpose it is intended for and that there is no plan to sell or lease such land for mining purposes since those claims are mere allegations and propaganda by some NDC members just to score a political point.

He concluded that, the CEO of the Minerals Commission, Mr Martin Ayisi has issued a release to that effect, that such forest has not been sold or given to any company for mining purposes.

He called out his colleagues in the NDC to focus on the real challenges facing the people so that they can engage and discuss such issues rather than polluting the minds of the people; adding that the practice of peddling untruth would not help advance the course of democracy.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Ada who doubles as second deputy whip for the minority has told Parliament that, Ghanaian ladies need sanitary pads to keep themselves during their monthly period but not rags “amuase”

The MP brought one sanitary pad and a rag to the chamber to justify her debate on the 2024 budget, calling on government to do everything possible to remove taxes from sanitary pads in order to make its prices affordable for ladies to purchase them.

On the other side, the deputy Finance Minister and MP for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare explained to the House that, government has made provisions in the 2024 budget by removing taxes and VAT on locally manufactured sanitary pads to make them affordable for Ghanaian ladies.

Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu has stated that, President Akufo-Addo has breached Article 90/A and B of the constitution where the President has within Fourteen days (14 days) to assent to a bill passed by Parliament to become a law.

He explained that President Akufo-Addo has failed to give his assent to the witchcraft bill passed by Parliament during the Second Meeting of the House and no explanation has been received from the President as to why it has become difficult for the bill to be assented to.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu further said, Parliament should never set a bad precedent where the President refuses to assent to a bill and be walking freely as if he has the mandate and the authority to do so.

The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin also confirmed that, he has not received any communication from the Presidency in respect to why the witchcraft bill has not been assented to by the President.

He added that, the constitution must be respected by all including the President and it is for a good reason why Ghanaians or for that matter, the constitution mandated Parliament to make laws.

Finally, the majority leader, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu used the opportunity to explain as to why President has not been able to communicate to Parliament on the matter.

He said, when President Akufo-Addo was available to send his reservation on the bill, the Speaker of Parliament was out of Ghana and vice versa, that’s why the community on the witchcraft has not been back to Parliament.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader Dr. Ato Cessile Baah Forson has accused the Majority in Parliament of not having the numbers to approve their own budget on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, despite the fact that the Minority NDC were ready to vote against the budget for good reasons.

According to him they had early during the conclusion of the budget remarks given reasons why they cannot allow the budget to go through with its current state because the ordinary Ghanaian would be the one who would suffer.
He affirmed that the only reason for the Majority NPP shamefully staging a walk out was because they sensed the danger of defeat knowing too well that a number of their members including the deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs who was not in town, John Kumah, and Ken Agyepong were all not around.

The speaker has adjourned the house, we would not stop there, and we would do whatever we have to do, so that our motion is still in place. We are challenging the voice vote, the Speaker has ruled and the NPP is aware, he stated at the media briefing.

“When a Speaker makes a ruling, they can challenge that through substantive motion and order 98 is very clear on the matter. As we speak, “the budget has not been approved. Let everyone be aware and let the NPP MPs get it that they have lost it; they have lost the mandate to do business in this House”.

If they have the men, they should come and let us vote. You can challenge the Speaker’s ruling under order 98, it is head count and that is what we should go for, no one can challenge the Speakers ruling, the Minority Leader stated.
“As it stands now the budget has not been approved, we have worn the day and we would win tomorrow.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com