Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

Former Minister for Energy under the John Mahama administration Emmauel Kofi Armah Buah has taken a swipe at the ruling New Patriotic Party government as the energy minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh announced government has signed two new power purchase agreements (PPA) to shore up the country’s power generation by 720 megawatts.

According to him the agreement with AKSA Energy Company Limited for a 370 megawatts (MW) thermal plant in Tema and another 350MW thermal plant in Kumasi is part of the government’s strategy to stabilise and enhance power reliability across the country and encourage power exports.

The Deputy Minority Leader at a media engagement with members of the parliamentary press corps noted that this is a clear vindication and a confirmation of a wise decision by the NDC led by former President John Dramani Mahama.

“It, clearly shows he was a visionary and the decision he made when Ghana found itself in dumsor was a wise decision. The reason why Ghana went into dumsor was the eight years that NPP was in power they failed to properly plan by adding power additions on annual bases”.

This country’s economy was increasing so you can see on annual basis there was the need for two hundred megawatts, NPP for eight years failed to address that so by the time NDC came to power this deficit among other things the drying up of the Akosombo dam then we had to be in crises, he said.

Again, it took us a lot to do, so president Mahama decided that we have to address this problem and we took a systematic step to increase the power generation capacity and increasing it. We took steps by bringing Ghana to the gas era by establishing the Atuabu plant. ENI was to address that but as soon as NPP took over instead of thanking President Mahama for the last seven years all they have done is to paint a picture of a government that was reckless in adding more power.

He stated that the NPP said PPA was over subscribed that is the reason why we are in debt. Today, NPP says we need to increase the power capacity; the Energy Minister announced seven hundred and twenty megawatt PPA have been signed. “Have they just gotten up from their slumber. Why is it that all of sudden they have woken up from their slumber? It’s important we understand we take decisions in the national interest”.

According to him, A country like ours needs power as we are calling for industrialisation, but NPP was throwing slogans about big industries, “where are you going to get the power? In the last seven years they cannot point to one power addition, now they are panicking to have power additions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister for Trade and Industry K. T. Hammond has noted that cabinet has taken a clear decision for the La General Hospital which was demolished because the structure was weak to be reconstructed.

He made this remarks in an interview with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps on Friday, November 10, 2023, as business was on going on the floor of the House.

He was compelled to speak to the issue following agitations from some youth in the a La area who are up in arms demanding that the La General Hospital should be reconstructed.

According to him nurses, doctors and patients were not comfortable with the poor condition of the structure.

In addition, he noted that there have been some issues with the financing so the matter has protracted. “You might have heard about agenda 111”, hence the president and his cabinet have taken a very clear decision on this that it was going to be reconstructed in its original design after it was demolished. The contractor made another design from India, it has been agreed that that design is what is going to be put up in the same place. They started yesterday”, he said.

According to him, the finance minister is committed to raising money for the structure to be put up in its original design, adding that it would be as beautiful as it was.

He said government came to the floor and parliament approved some loans but there were difficulties and the loan did not come in time that is why the project has delayed. “Finally a new financing arrangement has been put in place.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South Samuel Atta Akyea ahead of the ruling New Patriotic Party’s flag bearer election on Saturday, November 4, 2023 said any of the presidential aspirant who loses and leaves the party is not a good candidate.

According to him there are rules of engagement and no one can come and deceive the party, go into an election and break away to give semblance of disunity in the party.

In an interview with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps just after adjournment, he point that that if you sign an undertaking not to leave the party after the contest it adds up to one’s integrity.

“You think you can just go and do anything just as you like in this world if you do not want to come under laws and rules you are a lawless person, people should fear you”.

As to what message he has for the delegates ahead of the Saturday’s election, he pointed out “this is not the first time such an exercise is being undertaken in the NPP. It has been done before, the current President Nana Akufo-Addo went through it, same with Professor Adu Boahen and they all displayed maturity.”

Again, if the system says this is the one we should endorse, that is the end of the matter. It is upon you to team up with the winner to generate the result the common enemy in the NDC not ourselves. If you do not understand what we are about doing, then you do not love your party.

In addition the big fight in 2024 is not an individual matter; it is a whole party matter, the one who wins becomes the next president of Ghana.

On the issue of the Majority whip saying ninety-five percent of the lawmakers are supporting Dr. Bawumia, he noted that, it’s the truth and a huge statement because the endorsement is overwhelming. These are not ordinary people and not everybody is under any governmental control.

When they say that someone is being remote control, that is not the reflection on the ground, rather it is what the ground is saying. The same thing that he is one who should be the flag bearer that should minister to everybody that this man is very strong and has the support of those of us at the grassroot that is all you need as leader; and a leader is the one who has the support of all the serious people at the background.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Mavis Nkansah Boadu has assured Members of Parliament that no Ghanaian has been caught up in the impasse between Israel and Hamas that has let to deaths in the Gaza strip according to Ghana’s mission in Tel Aviv.

According to her in the early hours of Saturday, 7th October, 2023, Hamas launched a multi-faceted brazen dawn assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and areas north of Tel Aviv by air, land, and sea killing at least 1,400 Israelis including 289 soldiers and some foreign nationals, leaving over 4,010 wounded and dozens kidnapped into the Gaza Strip in a statement on the floor of the House.

As of now, the issue of evacuation of our nationals from Israel has not been raised and in addition, the Ghana Mission is in close contact with the leaders of the Ghanaian community and is providing the Ministry with updates on their welfare and will provide the general public with updates pertaining to the welfare of the Ghanaian community in Israel.

In a Press Release on 8th October, 2023, the Government of Ghana unreservedly expressed its condemnation of Hamas’ actions and reiterated Israel’s right to exist and defend itself.

The statement further called on Hamas to withdraw its militants from southern Israel and urged the Government of Israel to exercise restraint in its response to Hamas’ attacks. The African Union on its part issued a Communiqué in which, the Chairperson called on both parties to put an end to the hostilities and return to the negotiation table to implement the principle of the Two-State solution.

Again, Ghana has always advocated for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Middle East conflict therefore, supports all international efforts geared at finding a just, peaceful, and lasting solution that will guarantee the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure and universally recognized boundaries, as well as the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian State.

Ghana believes that the proposed Two-State solution based on negotiations and dialogue is the most viable option within the global efforts at bringing about a durable peace to the ordinary people of Israel and Palestine.

The Israeli Government has expressed displeasure with regards to Brazil’s Resolution that was tabled before the United Nations Security Council on 18th October, 2023, and a subsequent resolution tabled at the United Nations General Assembly.

Concerns raised by the Israeli Government indicate that although the Brazil’s Resolution condemned Hamas’ attacks and called for the release of the abductees, it did notrecognise Israel’s right to self-defence. Israel has accordingly asked for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, a public denunciation of Hamas, and public declaration of Israel’s right to self-defence.

As of 27th October, 2023 through negotiations mediated by Qatar, four (4) out of about 224 hostages have been released by Hamas so far. Efforts to resolve the conflict are being undertaken by the European Union, the United Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Arab League who are calling for the cessation of hostilities by the two parties.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has provoked divided support and opinion over the past few weeks, with countries in the Middle East and North Africa showing solidarity with Palestine while most Western countries have also shown support to Israel. At least 44 countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, have condemned the attack by Hamas and declared its tactics as terrorism. On the other hand, regional players such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria and Iraq have pinned responsibility on Israel. Additionally, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called for the cessation of hostilities by both parties.

The UN Security Council, of which Ghana is currently a member, is scrambling for answers in the wake of the crisis. The paralysis in the Council is not unexpected considering the political sensitivities that have traditionally characterised the Council’s handling of the Palestine question. Attempts to adopt a unified position on the unprecedented attacks in Israel and Gaza have proven futile, with several resolutions tabled by Russia, Brazil, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (on behalf of the Arab Group) unable to achieve consensus.

Some of the resolutions have lacked the balance needed to garner the support of all sides. Ghana voted in favour of a resolution which condemned violence and hostilities against civilians and called for “humanitarian pauses” to allow for full, safe and unhindered access for aid agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilian populations.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority leader Dr. Cassiel Atto Forson has given indications that their side would take a critical look at the 2024 budget statement particularly if it fails to address the poor conditions of the economy and the hardship Ghanaian are going through.

He made this remarks at the opening of the third meeting of the third session of the eighth parliament after the House return from a two months recess.

Dr. Forson further gave indications that the Minority would present a motion to demand a parliamentary enquiry into the Volta River Authority (VRA) dam water spillage.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga, has added his voice to condemnations of the brutalities meted out by soldiers to residents in Garu and Bugri in the Upper East Region.

He described the soldiers’ action as “barbaric and unacceptable” in the current dispensation.

On Saturday, October 28, the military launched an operation to seize weapons in the two areas after a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers deployed by the Ministry of National Security to Garu on a critical, special operation was attacked on Tuesday, October 24 by an irate youth group armed with AK 47 rifles, machetes and other weapons.

The weekend’s operation led to injuries to some residents who are receiving treatment in health facilities.

But the Bawku MP said following perennial calls he received the dawn of Saturday, he reached out to the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, who denied knowledge of the operation.

The Minister was in Europe then, the Bawku Central MP said.

As a result, Mr Ayariga is calling for a full-scale inquiry into the incident.

“I will join my fellow Members of Parliament from the Upper East Region to call for a full scale inquiry into what happened,” he indicated in a statement on Monday, October 30.

“I recall being involved in a discussion with the Minister for National Security a few days earlier about some national security operatives who had been stopped in Garu and handed over to the police.

“I saw media reports of alleged shooting of the vehicle used by the national security operatives by unknown persons in the Garu area.”

Ghanamps.com