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Speaker hints of recall of Parliament

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has given indication of recalling parliament in early November.
The Speaker gave the indication when a five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siribuor, called on him on October 30, 2024 over the impasse in Parliament leading to the Speakers indefinite adjournment of the House.

A release from the Parliamentary Service noted that “The Rt. Hon. Speaker however indicated that he will return to Ghana earlier than anticipated, due to a request by Members of Parliament to recall Parliament. He indicated that his office has already started processes to recall the House in early November.

This was after the Speaker informed the delegation that he was compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67th Conference of the CPA international at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the 3rd to the 8th of November, 2024.

Ghanamps.com

Impasse in Parliament: Council of State intervenes

The Council of state has intervened to resolve the impasse in parliament resulting in the indefinite adjournment of the House.

This follows a courtesy call on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin by a five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siribuor, to ascertain at first hand, happenings in the legislature in recent times, resulting in the adjournment of the House indefinitely. Per a release from the Parliamentary Service, dated October 30, 2024, after a long deliberation, members of the Council assured the Rt. Hon Speaker of their preparedness to assist him and the leadership of the House to resolve whatever impasse there may be, to pave the way for a recall of the House.

The Speaker, who gave a brief about the situation and the basis of his pronouncements on the floor of the House, assured the delegation of his commitment to the development of the country’s democracy and its people.

The Council applauded the efforts of the Speaker, in keeping the democratic credentials of the country high, through efficient handling of the legislature and his leadership as the President of Parliamentary Organizations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, International, (C PA), Conference of the Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) and an Executive member of the International Legislative Advisory Council of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in the United States of America. This, HRH Nana Otuo Siribuor encouraged him to continue with the good works in the interest of Ghana and all Ghanaians.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has informed the delegation that he was compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67th Conference of the CPA international at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the 3rd to the 8th of November, 2024.

A five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siribuor, today called on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to ascertain at first hand, happenings in the legislature in recent times, resulting in the adjournment of the Howe indefinitely.
After a long deliberation, members of the Council assured the Rt. Hon Speaker of their preparedness to assist him and the leadership of the House to resolve whatever impasse there may be, pave the way for a recall of the House.
The Speaker gave a brief of the situation in Parliament and the basis of his pronouncements on the floor of the House. He assured the delegation of his commitment to the development of the country’s democracy and its people.

The Council applauded the efforts of the Speaker, in keeping the democratic credentials of the country high, through efficient handling of the legislature and his leadership as the President of Parliamentary Organizations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, International, (C PA), Conference of the Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) and an Executive member of the International Legislative Advisory Council of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in the United States of America.
HRH Nana Otuo Siribuor encouraged him to continue with the good works in the interest of Ghana and all Ghanaians.

Mr Speaker has informed the delegation that he was compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67th Conference of the CPA international at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the 3rd to the 8th of November, 2024.

Ghanamps.com

Supreme Court halts Speaker’s ruling that declared four seats vacant

The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) position as Majority in parliament is short-lived as the Supreme Court of the land barely 24 hours stays execution of ruling of the Speaker of Parliament declaring four seats vacant pending determination of the substantive suit.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday, October 18, 2024, granted the stay of execution following an ex parte application filed by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Ghanamps.com

Korle Bu Elevator Breakdown:  Deputy Minister cautions against politicization of health issues

The Deputy Minister of Health, Alexander Akwesi Acquah has urged his colleague politicians particularly Members of Parliament to desist from politicizing issues of health as that could hinder confidence in the health sector in the country.

Reacting to the Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh’s visit to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital regarding the broken down elevators, Mr Acquah said the action of the Ranking Member smacks of someone with political motive than seeking to find genuine solution to the problem.

“My brother, health is health, we need to decouple health from our political issues”, he affirmed.

Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, he noted, is Ghana’s premier health facility that takes referrals from all other health facilities across the country, and anyone is likely to end there in search of health delivery. Therefore, it is not healthy to make the place look like a grave yard due to the negative image we give it, he said.

Mr. Acquah who was reacting on GhOne TV argued that instead of storming the place with cameras, Mr. Akandoh could have just called authorities at the facility to get briefing; and added that if the Ranking Member had done that, he would have been told that management was already working to solve the problem.

He asserts that that Korle Bu like any other institution has management that oversees the running of the facility and it was within their remits to find solution to the problem, and they were at it before Mr. Akandoh went to whip up public sentiment with the cameras that he sent there.

HE berates the action of the Ranking member saying it did not expose anything as the management was already aware and dealing with it.

“The Korle Bu administration knew about it and they’ve been working at it, Korle Bu has a CEO  who has underlying managers, it doesn’t take the Minister or the deputy to know that Korle Bu’s lift is not working; and they are working at it. This is a regular routine maintenance”.

He said the traffic alone that uses the lift at the facility is quite on the high side and these breakdowns are expected from time to time, and management would always step in to make them functional again. “And so if for a moment the lifts are spoilt and the technicians are working at it, it doesn’t have to take honourable Akandoh, to come there before it is fixed; no it has been fixed, they were working on it, they had fixed some and they were working on the remaining ones.

He said this attempt to always make government look bad, is not helping the sector as the Ministry’s mandate goes beyond just fixing elevators.

The Deputy Minister who revealed that he equally patronizes the services of the Korle Bu Hospital because he carries out all his health check-ups in Ghana said the lifts works all the time, and reiterates that the traffic on it accounts for why it breaks down from time to time because it is a gadget.

Ghanamps.com

Obuasi West MP donates 1000 desks to 12 schools

Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Obuasi West Constituency, has donated 1000 desks to the Municipal Education Directorate for onward distribution to 12 public schools in dire need of furniture.

Procured from his share of the Common Fund for Members of Parliament (MPs), the expectation is that the desk would enhance quality teaching and learning in the beneficiary schools.

At a short ceremony to hand over the desks, Mr. Kwarteng said he had always supported schools in the constituency with furniture in his quest to address furniture deficit in schools.

He said the presentation of the 1000 desks was in response to a request by the Director of Education to fix the furniture challenges facing some public schools in the constituency.

“I have always put a premium on education, so, I had to respond quickly to the request of the directorate on the lack of furniture in some schools. We will continue to supply furniture to schools to ensure our children are comfortable in their classrooms,” the Obuasi West MP stressed.

Mr. Kwarteng seized the opportunity to highlight key interventions he had provided in the education sector, indicating that quality education was the most integral component of development in any society, and pledged to put premium on quality education delivery in the area.

He mentioned the rehabilitation of the Apitikooko School where a computer lab and staff common room had been provided, the provision of WASH facilities at Kokoteasua School and the Obuasi Complex Schools as well as the provision of classroom blocks at Nhyieso School as some of the key projects he has undertaken over the years.

The Former Deputy Minister of Finance said he would not relent in committing more investment into improving the quality of education in schools in the Municipality.

Receiving the desks on behalf of the schools, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, Mr. George Alfred Koomson commended the MP for the quick response to the request.

Mr. Koomson assured that he would liaise with heads of the beneficiary schools to ensure that the furniture was properly maintained.

Ms. Jacqueline Asante, Headmistress of Kwabena Fori Primary School lauded Mr. Kwarteng for the various educational interventions he had rolled out over the years.

She said the donation was a welcome relief to the heads of the beneficiary schools who had been saddled with the challenges of inadequate furniture in their schools.

Gomoa Central MP Presents Motor Bikes To Okada Riders

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa Central, Mrs Naana Eyiah Quansah, has presented 15 motorbikes to Okada riders in the constituency on work and pay basis as part of efforts to empower them financially to improve on their livelihoods.

The MP also presented GHC200.00 each to the recipients as start-up capital to buy fuel to commence their operations.

She also presented driving licenses to 100 taxi drivers who had financial difficulties acquiring a license from the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Addressing the riders and party supporters, Mrs Naana Eyiah who is also the Deputy Interior Minister said the prevailing employment for many school leavers in Gomoa Central constituency was the driving profession.

According to the MP, she gave the motorbikes to the riders at reduced cost to enable them pay as they worked since it was difficult for them to purchase them outright.

The MP renewed promises by the government to create more job opportunities for the youth to avert economic hardship currently facing them.

She urged the youth to rally support for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to win the December 7, polls to continue its good policies and programmes.

The Deputy Minister called on the electorates in Gomoa Central constituency to vote massively to maintain her as MP and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming December elections.

Mrs Eyiah Quansah further explained the reasons to maintain her candidature as MP to enable her to do more to help improve the quality living of the electorates.

The Deputy Minister appealed to the chiefs and people in the Gomoa Central constituency to support the government and ignore propaganda campaigns by the opposition NDC since they had nothing good to offer Ghanaians.

Mr. Benjamin Kojo Otoo, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa Central, urged the recipients to well maintain the bikes.

The DCE urged the people in the Constituency to rally support for the party and government to continue rollout good policies and programmes to enhance quality living standards.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the MP and pledged to support her and Dr Bawumia to win the elections.

A look at Ghana’s 2nd Speaker of parliament in the 4th Republic RT. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey (Jan. 2001-Jan. 2005)

Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, born on August 11, 1931, in Accra, Ghana, served as the 2nd Speaker of Parliament in Ghana’s 4th Republic from January 2001 to January 2005. A distinguished lawyer, he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Nottingham and was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in London. Adjetey also held a Master’s degree in Law from the University of London. Before his tenure as Speaker, he was the President of the Ghana Bar Association and a member of the Consultative Assembly that drafted Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. His leadership in Parliament was marked by a commitment to parliamentary independence, democratic governance, and the rule of law, leaving a lasting impact on Ghana’s legislative body. Adjetey passed away on July 15, 2008.

Shang Annang Papa Nii/ghanamps.com

The last CPP MP of the 6th parliament ( 2013-2017) in the 4th republic of Ghana.

Hon. Moses Amadu Yahaya served as the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency in the Northern Region of Ghana from 2013 to 2017, representing the Convention People’s Party (CPP). Elected in a by-election in 2013, he focused on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare in his constituency. During his tenure, he contributed to parliamentary committees and worked on projects that improved roads, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Shang Annang Papa Nii/Ghanamps.com

A look at the Independent MPs of the 3rd Parliament of Ghana (2001-2005)

The 3rd Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana recorded two independent MPs including Joseph Kojo Akudibillah and James Victor Gbeho.

Joseph Kojo Akudibillah born January 1948 is also a Ghanaian diplomat and currently Ghana’s Ambassador to the Vatican.

James Victor Gbeho (born 12 January, 1935, in Keta, Ghana), represented the people of the Anlo constituency. He is a lawyer and diplomat and was once the President of the ECOWAS Commission from 2010 to 2012. He served under both Presidents Jerry John Rawlings, and John Atta Mills.

Shang Annang Papa Nii/Ghanamps.com